SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Buster Posey gets going at Scottsdale Stadium around 7 a.m. most days of spring training, a couple of hours before he's due to be there.It gives him time for a quick bite to eat, to lift weights or do some extra baseball work then have a real breakfast ahead of the Giants' formal workout.Years ago, manager Bruce Bochy can't quite recall when but at least three or four seasons back, San Francisco began starting spring training practices later in the morning. The Giants have consulted a sleep specialist at various times for guidance on issues such as when to travel — sometimes staying overnight and leaving the next morning rather than flying immediately after late games — or how to best turn off the mind or electronic device at bedtime.Around baseball, many teams are now following suit — from the Cactus League in Arizona to Florida's Grapefruit League."I will say for me what's nice is I can get in at a little after 7 and if I want to get some work in taking care of... [More]

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Addison Russell was a rising All-Star on a World Series championship team going into last spring.His trajectory soon took a different path.The Chicago Cubs shortstop faced domestic abuse claims, which he denied, that led to wife Melisa filing for divorce.On the field, injuries to his foot and throwing shoulder limited him to 110 games. He wound up batting just .239 with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs, hardly what was expected of him."I definitely wanted to showcase some more of my talent than I displayed," Russell said. "Going into this year, I'm keeping a good mental (approach), staying level-headed and then also staying healthy and producing when I'm on the field.""You can't take anything for granted," he said. "You have to live in the moment. It was a tough season last year. We were coming off winning the World Series and the World Series hangover."Manager Joe Maddon said he feels the 24-year-old Russell is in a good place after seeing him rebound toward the end of the regular... [More]

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers entered spring training with five consecutive NL West titles and a major league-high 473 victories in that span.It is not enough for a team that was so close to winning it all in 2017."You can sense the hunger in this clubhouse," said Enrique Hernandez, noting that the majority of the Dodgers' position players arrived days ahead of the required reporting date.The first full-squad workout was set for Monday."We have five straight division titles and pretty much nothing to show for it besides the National League championship. This core of position players has been together for a few years now," he said Sunday."I think it is a cumulative thing that has been growing for years. Getting so close to it last year and seeing the other team celebrate at our home stadium, maybe that's the last bit of fuel that we needed to make that fire burn. We're ready," he said.The Dodgers added old friend Matt Kemp to basically the same position player group that... [More]

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — If people want to say James Paxton is a pitch away from landing on the disabled list, the Seattle Mariners lefty won't argue with them.Injuries to his fingers, forearm, elbow, pectoral muscle and back muscle have forced Paxton to miss significant chunks of each of the past four seasons."What am I going to do, go sit in a corner and cry about people telling me I'm going to get hurt?" Paxton said Saturday at the Peoria Sports Complex. "That doesn't help me at all. I'm going to go out and try to do everything I can to get better and find a way to stay healthy."That includes an overhaul of his diet after learning during the offseason that cow's milk causes inflammation in his body. Eliminating dairy hasn't been easy, said Paxton, who makes his offseason home in Eau Claire, Wisconsin."It's all about limiting the amount of inflammation your body experiences after starts and in between them," Paxton said. "If I can find more of those little things that can add up to me staying... [More]

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired first baseman C.J. Cron from the Los Angeles Angels and designated outfielder Corey Dickerson for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.The 28-year-old Cron was acquired Saturday night in exchange for a player to be named. He appeared in 100 games with 92 starts last season, hitting .248 with 16 homers and 56 RBIs.Dickerson was the AL's starting designated hitter in last year's All-Star Game. His production dipped after the All-Star break, however the 28-year-old still posted career highs in several categories, including runs (84), hits (166) and home runs (27).The Rays acquired Dickerson from Colorado in January 2016. He batted .265 with 51 homers and 132 RBIs in two years with Tampa Bay. He's a .280 career hitter with 90 homers and 256 RBIs over parts of five seasons with the Rockies and Rays.The Rays also traded right-handed pitcher Jake Odorizzi to the Minnesota Twins for minor league infielder Jermaine Palacios.The... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins acquired right-handed pitcher Jake Odorizzi from the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night for minor league infielder Jermaine Palacios, securing some needed depth for their rotation after missing out on several free agents.The 27-year-old Odorizzi will join his third major league team in the Twins, who won't have right-hander Ervin Santana for the first several weeks of the regular season while he recovers from surgery on his middle finger. Kyle Gibson, Jose Berrios and Adalberto Mejia are the only other returning pitchers who made more than 10 starts for the Twins in 2017.Phil Hughes is also in the mix, recovering from a second thoracic outlet surgery on his ribs in as many years, but the Twins were concerned enough about their lack of proven candidates to make the trade for Odorizzi. They've also, according to multiple reports, reached an agreement with right-hander Anibal Sanchez, who has made 262 starts for the Tigers and Marlins over the last 12 seasons.For... [More]

Free-agent first baseman Eric Hosmer has agreed to an eight-year, $144 million deal with the San Diego Padres, according to published reports Saturday night.The 28-year-old, two-time Gold Glove winner hit a career-high .318 and matched his best from the previous season with 25 homers, and drove in 94 runs and scored 98 for the Royals last season. He also had a career-best .385 on-base percentage.Hosmer was among the top free agents in the offseason that remained unsigned into the start of spring training. Right-hander Yu Darvish signed with the Chicago Cubs earlier this month, but Jake Arrieta and outfielder J.D. Martinez are still without contracts.Hosmer's deal was first reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune.He is the latest addition by the Padres this offseason. Previously, they re-acquired third baseman Chase Headley from the New York Yankees and got shortstop Freddy Galvis from the Philadelphia Phillies.

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Just the thought of free agent first baseman Eric Hosmer joining the downtrodden, youthful San Diego Padres sent a morning jolt through the spring training clubhouse.The on-field vibe seemed equally cheery, as country music blared as players went to work under sunny skies in the Arizona desert.Hosmer reached a preliminary agreement on an eight-year contract with the Padres, pending a physical. A person with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed the tentative deal, speaking on the condition of anonymity Sunday because there had been no formal announcement of Hosmer's potential signing.It would become official once he passes a physical early in the week. While the final position players reported Sunday — most were already in spring camp — ahead of Monday's first full-squad workout, Hosmer wasn't expected in the desert until at least Monday.Hosmer, who spent his first seven major league seasons with Kansas City, would receive a reported $144 million.Padres manager Andy... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Houston manager A. J. Hinch elected to give the Astros a shortened work schedule Sunday, the day before for position players report for workouts.Closer Ken Giles was having none of it."I don't take light days," Giles said. "That's the thing with me. I don't like taking short break days. I always go out there with a mindset of getting something done. I set a goal for myself and I'm going to go do it."Sunday work for most of the Astros pitchers and catchers involved little more than stretching.Many weren't on the field for more than an hour."This will be as close to an off-day as we get when we actually still show up," Hinch said. "We have some long days coming ahead."Giles, however, went through his normal program of full long toss along with additional throwing off flat ground."I'm going to probably go in the gym right now when no one's in there," Giles said after many of the Astros had already headed home for the day.Many of the World Series champion Astros... [More]

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — The bat Rajai Davis used to hit one of the biggest home runs in Cleveland Indians history is nicely displayed in his office. The moment is deeply engraved in his memory.Now the 37-year-old outfielder who hit that game-tying homer late in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series is back in the Indians spring training clubhouse after a season away."I just want to be able to deliver now, and I want to be able to help us win a World Series," Davis said Sunday, a day after signing a minor league deal. "That's my goal, that's my mission, and I'm going to do everything in my ability in preparing to do that."In that Game 7 two seasons ago, Davis hit a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning off Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman. But the Indians then lost that season-ending game in 10 innings.Davis led the American League with 43 stolen bases in 134 games in 2016. He had a reunion with Oakland in free agency last year before being traded midseason to Boston, hitting a combined .235... [More]

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Josh Harrison is still with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and his feelings aren't much different than they were a month ago.Harrison spoke to reporters Sunday, the day before the first spring training workout for Pittsburgh's full squad. The Pirates traded outfielder Andrew McCutchen and right-hander Gerrit Cole this offseason, a retooling that inspired little confidence in the team's short-term chances for success. The 30-year-old Harrison told The Athletic last month that if the Pirates don't expect to contend in the next couple years, maybe he should be traded too."My statement was something that was from the heart," Harrison said Sunday. "I spoke what I spoke, said my feelings, but at the end of the day, I can't control certain things. All I control is me."Harrison hit .272 last year with a career-high 16 home runs, and the talented second baseman isn't the only Pittsburgh player who has expressed reservations about the team's outlook. Third baseman David Freese spoke... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Yankees outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury says the team has not approached him about waiving his no-trade clause.There has been speculation that the Yankees would like to move some of the money due Ellsbury, who has three years remaining on a $153 million, seven-year contract.Ellsbury, 34, enters spring training as the odd man out in the outfield after losing his center field job last year to Aaron Hicks. Brett Gardner is locked in as the left fielder. Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge will rotate between right field and designated hitter, and could also get time in left when Gardner is rested."There's not a lineup made up yet, that's how I look at it," Ellsbury said Sunday on reporting day for position players. "Every year you come in and compete. One game, one pitch, your role could totally change."Yankees manager Aaron Boone hasn't officially named Hicks as the starter but pointed out the success the 28-year-old had in 2017. Hicks had a .266 average, along with 15 homers... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Tim Tebow arrived at the New York Mets spring training camp on Sunday, and the attention immediately turned to whether the quarterback who became an outfielder could make it all the way to Citi Field in the future.Guess what? Mets general manager Sandy Alderson votes yes."Somebody asked me if thought he'd be a major league player at some point. I think he will play in the major leagues. That's my guess," Alderson said."This experiment is not going to last forever, but he's made meaningful progress. We thought he would best benefit from being in major league camp — that that would accelerate his development," Alderson said.The 30-year-old Tebow has already had success on another field. A former Heisman Trophy winner and two-time national champion at Florida, he reached the NFL and threw an overtime TD pass for Denver to beat Pittsburgh in the playoffs."As an athlete, you always want to be the best you can and play at the highest level, win a championship, be the... [More]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals came to camp Sunday and finally knew for sure: Eric Hosmer was gone.The move was not unexpected, but they had been dreading this day.Hosmer agreed to an eight-year, $144 million contract with the San Diego Padres this weekend, leaving the Royals with a big void at first base and in the clubhouse."I had a pretty good sense about four days ago that it probably wasn't going to work out here," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. "You still hold out hope. We began to develop a mindset that he is probably going in a different direction."The 28-year-old Hosmer hit a career-best .318 last year with 25 home runs. He is a four-time Gold Glove winner and was the MVP of the 2016 All-Star Game, which was played in San Diego. Hosmer helped the Royals to back-to-back World Series appearances, and they won it all in 2015."Eric Hosmer was a huge part of that," Moore said. "We're forever grateful for his leadership, what he meant and does mean to this organization.... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have re-signed infielder Eduardo Nunez to a one-year contract with a player option for 2019, giving them another proven second baseman to fill in while Dustin Pedroia recovers from knee surgery .Nunez's deal was done on Sunday, the day before the Red Sox hold their first full-squad workout of spring training. He gets a guaranteed $6 million, according to multiple reports, including $4 million this season and a $2 million buyout. Nunez can reportedly exercise a $4 million option for 2019.The 30-year-old batted a career-high .313 with 33 doubles and 12 home runs over 114 games last season between San Francisco and Boston. After being acquired by the Red Sox in a trade on July 25, Nunez made 25 of 38 starts at second base. He also hit eight homers in only 38 games for Boston."The time I was here last year was amazing," Nunez told reporters at the team's facility in Fort Myers, Florida. "There was a lot of energy, and I love to win. I think that's... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — With his hulking 6-foot-4 body that's built for football and a slugger's mentality at the plate that can swiftly produce majestic drives soaring high over the wall, the presence of Miguel Sano looms larger than anyone else around the Minnesota Twins.This spring, so do the questions.Sano arrived at the team's training facility in Fort Myers, Florida, on Sunday in advance of the first full-squad workout on Monday, addressing reporters for the first time in 2018. Since his last public comments, Sano had surgery on the lower part of his left leg to address the injury that forced him out of the lineup for the last six weeks of the regular season and kept him off the AL wild card game roster.Then he became the subject of a Major League Baseball investigation into a freelance photographer's accusation that he grabbed and tried to kiss her after she covered an autograph signing he participated in more than two years earlier. Sano issued a statement through his agent on Dec.... [More]

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels have signed veteran slugger Chris Carter and longtime outfielder Chris Young.Carter got a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training on Sunday, while Young agreed to a one-year contract.Carter played for the New York Yankees last season, batting .201 with eight homers. The first baseman is only one season removed from leading the NL with 41 homers for Milwaukee in 2016.The 31-year-old Carter has 158 career homers, including three straight seasons with at least 24 homers for Houston.Young spent last season with Boston, batting .235 with 25 RBIs in 90 games. He also has played for Arizona, Oakland and the Mets and Yankees.The Angels traded first baseman C.J. Cron to Tampa Bay on Saturday.___More AP baseball: www.apnews.com/tags/MLBbaseball

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Something about being back with the San Francisco Giants has Gregor Blanco feeling rejuvenated.The veteran outfielder won two World Series rings with them and will forever be remembered by Giants fans for his diving catch that preserved former pitcher Matt Cain's perfect game in 2012.At 34, Blanco hopes he can still run down a ball in the outfield that same way."This is home for me. I worked really hard in the winter to show my abilities again. I worked the whole winter on my speed," Blanco said. "I feel like I'm a kid again."What's getting older is new again for the Giants, who have brought back World Series veterans Blanco, catcher Hector Sanchez, and — after a stint for part of last season — infielder Pablo Sandoval, who is at spring training with San Francisco for the first time in four years.All three players will have to compete for a major league bench spot in camp. The Giants added a third baseman in major offseason acquisition Evan Longoria, two catchers... [More]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Back in October 2015, everything looked so rosy for the New York Mets and their pitching prodigies.With two impressive rookies in a dazzling young rotation that featured four power arms, the team had already reached the World Series and the future was full of possibility.Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz — with Zack Wheeler working his way back from Tommy John surgery. None older than 27 at the time, each with immediate big league success under his belt."When I saw them back in '15, I was very envious. I was very jealous. You know that's a special group," said new Mets pitching coach Dave Eiland, who held the same position with the Kansas City Royals squad that beat New York in the World Series that year.With all five starters under club control for three more seasons, it was an electrifying rotation to dream on for fans and the front office alike.Imagine all they could accomplish together: Cy Young Awards, multiple championships, strikeout... [More]

As teams started spring training workouts across Florida and Arizona, the players' association had a Kansas City Royals scout escorted out of the union's opening training session for unsigned free agents.About 15 players attended the first day of workouts Wednesday at the union's camp in Bradenton, Florida. Media were barred from the IMG Academy. The scout was told he was not welcome but could set up a session with an individual player at the player's discretion, several people familiar with the situation said. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized.More than 90 players remain without agreements among the 166 who exercised their free-agency rights last November, the most sluggish market since the final offseason of collusion in 1987-88.Union head Tony Clark, who attended the session, said approximately15 more players are likely to arrive at the free-agent camp this week while the remainder of unsigned players seeking jobs work out at their regular... [More]