MIAMI (AP) — Speaking Tuesday at Marlins Park, Derek Jeter said he was about to jump in the car and head down to spring training, even though the Miami Marlins' camp is actually up in Jupiter, 90 miles north on Interstate 95.Now in his fifth month on the job, Jeter acknowledged he's still finding his bearings as the Marlins' CEO.The team opens camp Wednesday following a Jeter-led fire sale that purged the batting order of four starters, including NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton. The trades netted mostly prospects, making the immediate outlook even bleaker than usual for a team that hasn't been to the playoffs since 2003.But before heading to his first spring training since his final season with the New York Yankees in 2014, Jeter said his ownership group is on the path to long-term success."We're in a good spot," Jeter said. "We are doing exactly what we set out to do."A beloved five-time World Series champion in New York, Jeter is now a rookie owner who has been faulted for his handling of the... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Derek Jeter is heading to his first spring training since his final season with the New York Yankees in 2014.Now the CEO of the Miami Marlins, Jeter says the franchise is on a path to long-term success following an offseason fire sale that purged the batting order of four starters, including slugger Giancarlo Stanton. The trades netted mostly prospects, making the immediate outlook bleak for a team that hasn't been to the playoffs since 2003.Jeter was a beloved five-time champion with the Yankees, but now he's a rookie owner who has been faulted for his handling of the Stanton deal and other offseason moves. Even so, Jeter said he has been encouraged by the reception he has received around baseball and from the South Florida business community.The Marlins open camp Wednesday in Jupiter, Florida.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Talk about a house divided.Giancarlo Stanton and AJ Ramos, former teammates with the Miami Marlins and still close friends, are looking into living together this season now that both play in New York. It would seem to be a convenient arrangement, with one on the road most of the time anyway — except when Stanton and the Yankees face Ramos and the Mets in the Subway Series."I'm going to be setting some traps for him. You know, might mess up his sleep a little bit, stuff like that," Ramos said. "But no, we're still looking. Nothing set in stone just yet."At spring training Monday, the Mets' reliever was asked how you split a grocery bill with a roommate who has a $325 million contract?"Oh, he buys it all. For sure," Ramos said with a smile. "I'm just playin'. Nah, it's good times, man."Ramos, a 2016 All-Star, was traded by the Marlins to the Mets last July. Stanton was dealt to the Yankees in December as part of Miami's payroll purge under new ownership.The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Stanton socked 59 home runs last year, most by a major leaguer since 2001, and won the NL MVP award. Now he moves from cavernous Marlins Park into hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium, with its familiar short porch in right field."I mean, he can get jammed and hit a ball out there. That park is very small," Ramos said. "He can basically burp a ball out. So I think he's gonna do pretty good."___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Talk about a house divided.Giancarlo Stanton and AJ Ramos, former teammates with the Miami Marlins and still close friends, are looking into living together this season now that both play in New York. It would seem to be a convenient arrangement, with at least one player on the road most of the time anyway — except when Stanton and the Yankees face Ramos and the Mets in the Subway Series."I'm going to be setting some traps for him. You know, might mess up his sleep a little bit, stuff like that," Ramos said. "But no, we're still looking. Nothing set in stone just yet."At spring training Monday, the Mets' reliever was asked how you split a grocery bill with a roommate who has a $325 million contract?"Oh, he buys it all. For sure," Ramos said with a smile. "I'm just playin'. Nah, it's good times, man."Ramos, a 2016 All-Star, was traded by the Marlins to the Mets last July. Stanton was dealt to the Yankees in December as part of Miami's payroll purge under new ownership.The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Stanton socked 59 home runs last year, most by a major leaguer since 2001, and won the NL MVP award. Now he moves from cavernous Marlins Park into hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium, with its familiar short porch in right field."I mean, he can get jammed and hit a ball out there. That park is very small," Ramos said. "He can basically burp a ball out. So I think he's gonna do pretty good."___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

The Boston Red Sox plan to print 5,000 copies of their media guide during the last week of February. Their opening-day roster could include several players who won't make the deadline.Perhaps 100 free agents still seek contracts as the start of spring training workouts on Feb. 14 draws near, a group that includes J.D. Martinez, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Jake Arrieta and Yu Darvish.In a historically slow market, players and management are feuding publicly about riches and rules, and teams seemingly are seeking bargains like shoppers awaiting a closeout."Some guys feel like they're worth a little more than maybe what they're being offered," All-Star outfielder Andrew McCutchen said ahead of his first spring training since Pittsburgh traded him to San Francisco. "It's just all about being fair."As soon as the Houston Astros won their first World Series title last November , attention turned toward 2018 and the start of stretching in Scottsdale, catching in Clearwater and bunting in Bradenton.... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — There's a new manager in the dugout and a new slugger in the lineup.After reaching Game 7 of the AL Championship Series, the Yankees are back in the familiar position of a favorite. Aaron Boone, a rookie manager who succeeded Joe Girardi, has no grace period heading into his first spring training."Hopefully, I think in short order I'll be able to earn that respect, that they'll be able to look at me, trust in me, know that I have their interest at heart, but know that hopefully I know what the heck I'm talking about," Boone said.In baseball's biggest offseason move, the Yankees acquired major league home run leader Giancarlo Stanton from the payroll-paring Miami Marlins for All-Star second baseman Starlin Castro and a pair of prospects. Stanton, who hit 59 home runs, joins Aaron Judge, voted AL Rookie of the Year after hitting 52."We're excited to get better together and use our talents together because we're very similar," Stanton said. "And we're going to learn from each... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — With Khris Davis slugging in the middle of a young lineup, the Oakland Athletics realize they still have much ground to overcome in a division featuring the World Series champion Houston Astros.And that's fine with this group, which is counting on using the momentum from a strong September finish going into spring and a new season.Last month, Davis received a $10.5 million, one-year contract, more than doubling his salary after he beat the team in arbitration last winter.He hit a career-best 43 home runs in 2017, connecting on the season's final day to surpass the season high he set the previous year for Oakland. The 30-year-old is the only A's player aside from Jimmie Foxx from 1932-34 with consecutive 40-homer seasons.The A's won 17 of their final 24 games after trading more stars in favor of the youth movement."I'm glad we had the success that we did at the end of the year because we talked about it the last day going into this next season, 'Remember what's happening... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League East entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Boston Red SoxManager: Alex Cora (first season).2017: 93-69, first place, lost to Houston in ALDS.Training Town: Fort Myers, Florida.Park: JetBlue Park.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: Manager Alex Cora.He's Outta Here: Manager John Farrell, RHP Doug Fister, INF Eduardo Nunez, OF Chris Young, RHP Addison Reed, OF Rajai Davis, LHP Henry Owens, LHP Fernando Abad, RHP Blaine Boyer.Going campin': The Red Sox won 93 games for the second straight season and claimed the franchise's first back-to-back AL East titles. But Farrell was fired after they failed to advance in the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. They are virtually the same team as last year; boss Dave Dombrowski said he was looking for a bat with power and still might add one of the free agents remaining on the market, including... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League West entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Houston AstrosManager: A.J. Hinch (fourth season).2017: 101-61, first place, won World Series.Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida.Park: The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.First Workout: Feb. 14/19.He's Here: RHP Gerrit Cole, RHP Joe Smith, RHP Hector Rondon.He's Outta Here: DH Carlos Beltran, RHP Luke Gregerson, RHP Joe Musgrove, RHP Mike Fiers, RHP Michael Feliz, INF Colin Moran.Going campin': This team is basically set after retaining almost every key player from last season's championship squad. The two strongest areas are the middle infield, where shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve, last year's AL MVP, return to anchor the middle of the order. Correa hit .315 with 24 homers — both career highs — and Altuve had his finest season, hitting a career-best and major... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League East entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Washington NationalsManager: Dave Martinez (first season).2017: 97-65, first place, lost to Chicago Cubs in NLDS.Training Town: West Palm Beach, Florida.Park: The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.First Workout: Feb. 16/21.He's Here: 1B-OF Matt Adams, C Miguel Montero.He's Outta Here: Manager Dusty Baker, LF Jayson Werth, C Jose Lobaton, 1B-LF Adam Lind, RHP Matt Albers.Going campin': It's become an all-too-familiar story for the Nationals and their fans: terrific regular season, followed by quick playoff exit, followed by a managerial change. Martinez will be the latest skipper to try to lead the club to postseason success — and GM Mike Rizzo has made it clear that ownership expects nothing less than a World Series championship. Martinez has been Joe Maddon's right-hand man with the Chicago... [More]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays will have a new look in 2018.A lingering question entering spring training is to what extent.Evan Longoria is gone. So are Alex Cobb, Logan Morrison and Lucas Duda.Jake Odorizzi, and maybe even two-time All-Star Chris Archer or closer Alex Colome, could be on the way out, too, with the budget-minded team committed to trimming payroll while also trying to remain competitive in the tough AL East.Closing the gap on defending division champion Boston and the big-spending New York Yankees, who've added Giancarlo Stanton after coming within one victory of reaching the World Series, won't be easy.The Rays finished 80-82 in 2017, their fourth consecutive losing record on the heels of a stretch in which they made the playoffs four times in six seasons."It's a challenge. You can't sugarcoat it," manager Kevin Cash, entering his fourth season, said of the Yankees adding Stanton, baseball's home run leader, to an already potent batting order."I've already... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — The New York Yankees, Boston's biggest rival, added NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton to a lineup that already included fellow 50 home run-hitter and AL Rookie of the Year Aaron Judge.The Houston Astros added Gerrit Cole to a pitching rotation that was already good enough to win the World Series (knocking the Red Sox out of the playoffs along the way).And what did Boston do to improve this offseason, knowing that its top competition has only gotten better?(Awkward silence.)Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski made it his goal this offseason to add power to a lineup that was last in the AL in homers in 2017. But while several potential free agents remain on an unprecedentedly slow market, the only move Boston has made to fill that hole is re-signing first baseman Mitch Moreland.And it's not just a slugger.The Red Sox haven't really changed much of anything this winter.Dombrowski and new manager Alex Cora like to point out that the team won 93 games last year and... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — A group of Miami Marlins fans angered by new CEO Derek Jeter's offseason salary dump wants to protest by not attending games.Wait. Hasn't South Florida been boycotting the Marlins for years?A franchise notorious for poor attendance and losing records might achieve new lows in both categories this year under Jeter. He gutted the lineup by trading four starters, including major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, antagonizing an already small fan base.The result will likely be another long season, but spring training should actually be interesting as manager Don Mattingly sorts out the numerous prospects acquired for Stanton, stolen base champ Dee Gordon, All-Star left fielder Marcell Ozuna and center fielder Christian Yelich.___Some things to know as the Marlins report to spring training in Jupiter, Florida:NEW LOOKPayroll paring was the primary motive for the trades, and the only established player the Marlins obtained was infielder Starlin Castro in the Stanton deal... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Masahiro Tanaka went with his heart when deciding not to opt out of the final three seasons of his $155 million, seven-year contract signed in January 2014 with the New York Yankees."We went into battle with these guys, last year especially," Tanaka said Wednesday through a translator after a bullpen session at the Yankees' minor league complex."My thought was I want to go out and battle with these guys again and try to really get to where we want to get."New York came within one game of reaching the World Series last season, losing in Game 7 of the ALCS to Houston.It turns out if Tanaka would have decided for free agency last fall, the right-hander might have found himself trapped in a slow-moving market with few big deals being completed a week from the start of spring training."You want to be here or you want to be wherever and get ready for the season," Tanaka said."On that note I think it was good for me to know where I'm going. You would never know that after the... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Joe Girardi has an idea what Aaron Boone will face when the Yankees and the rookie manager open their spring training schedule on Feb. 23.Girardi was a first-time manager with the Florida Marlins in 2006, leaving after a single season, a 78-84 record and repeated disagreements with owner Jeffrey Loria and the front office.For a big league manager, the job is more than dugout decisions."We had some things happen with the Marlins that I was not prepared for, and it was like a crash course in handling things that you don't expect to have to handle," Girardi said Wednesday when he started work for the MLB Network.Girardi had experience handling pitchers because of his catching career. Boone, a former third baseman and ESPN analyst, takes over from Girardi with no manager or coaching experience at any level."I think the harder thing for me that you have to take the crash course in is learning your players and understanding what makes them tick, in what situations they're uncomfortable,"... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Former Marlins pitcher Charlie Hough understands the frustration of Marlins fans, who have watched the team jettison Giancarlo Stanton, Dee Gordon, Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich soon after Derek Jeter took over as chief executive."I know they've made some moves that may be the fans are not really comfortable with," Hough said Tuesday as the team unveiled a 25th anniversary logo at Marlins Park.Season ticket holders since the inaugural 1993 season were invited to the event. Jeter left after the second question from reporters."I think if they have the right plan, it's to build and to get this organization building with some depth inside of it instead of just a handful of players," Hough said. "Meeting Derek today — it was the first time I ever met him — I think they have a good idea."Miami announced it will wear a throwback pinstripe uniform during a series against San Diego from June 8-10. The Marlins won World Series titles in 1997 and 2003 but also have had three roster purges. They average 20,395 fans for home games last year, worst in the National League and 28th among 30 big league teams.Jeter briefly addressed about 50 fans and posed for photos."I'm very proud to have a relationship with these fans for many, many years," he said.___More MLB baseball: https://apnews.com/tags/MLBbaseball

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The New York Yankees will open the gates three hours before spring training home games, allowing fans to watch Aaron Judge and new teammate Giancarlo Stanton take their thwacks during batting practice.An announcement was posted on the website of Steinbrenner Field, the team's spring training home in Tampa, Florida. The website reminds fans to "remember to bring your glove in case you get lucky!"In the past, the Yankees opened the dates two hours before the first pitch, after the start of their batting practice.Judge destroyed a flat-screen television with a drive during BP at Yankee Stadium last May.Stanton, the big league home run leader with 59 and the NL MVP, was acquired from Miami in December to join Judge, voted AL Rookie of the Year after leading the AL in homers with 52.New York plays its spring training opener under new manager Aaron Boone at home against Detroit on Feb. 23.___More MLB baseball: https://apnews.com/tags/MLBbaseball

MIAMI (AP) — The latest person to be engulfed in the sweeping personnel changes with the Miami Marlins is the man who plays the team's mascot.News outlets report that John DeCicco, who has appeared as Billy the Marlin at home games for more than a decade, was fired this week. The team confirmed the termination Tuesday, saying Billy the Marlin will remain the team's mascot but with a different person in the costume. Team officials didn't give a reason for the firing.The Marlins have fired a number of executives and traded some of the team's best players — including Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich — since a new ownership group led by CEO Derek Jeter took over last fall.The Associated Press couldn't find a telephone listing for DeCicco in a public records search.__More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PHOENIX (AP) — Catcher J.T. Realmuto lost his salary arbitration case against Miami and first baseman Justin Bour beat the Marlins to leave players with a 3-1 record this year.Realmuto was given a $2.9 million salary Friday instead of his request for $3.5 million. The decision was made by arbitrators Andrew Strongin, Elizabeth Neumeier and Allen Ponak, who heard arguments Wednesday.Bour was awarded $3.4 million instead of Miami's $3 million offer by James Oldham, Steven Wolf and Mark Burstein, who presided over Thursday's hearing.Realmuto may be traded as part of the Marlins' payroll purge under new chief executive Derek Jeter. Miami already has dealt major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich. Realmuto made $562,500 last year and was eligible for arbitration for the first time after hitting .278 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs.Bour hit .289 with 25 homers and 83 RBIs last year, when he had a $552,500 salary.Boston All-Star outfielder Mookie... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Catcher J.T. Realmuto lost his salary arbitration case against Miami and first baseman Justin Bour beat the Marlins to leave players with a 3-1 record this year.Realmuto was given a $2.9 million salary Friday instead of his request for $3.5 million. The decision was made by arbitrators Andrew Strongin, Elizabeth Neumeier and Allen Ponak, who heard arguments Wednesday.Bour was awarded $3.4 million instead of Miami's $3 million offer by James Oldham, Steven Wolf and Mark Burstein, who listened to arguments Thursday.Realmuto may be traded as part of the team's payroll purge under new chief executive Derek Jeter. The Marlins already have dealt major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich. Realmuto made $562,500 last year and was eligible for arbitration for the first time after hitting .278 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs.Bour hit .289 with 25 homers and 83 RBIs last year, when he had a $552,500 salary.Boston All-Star outfielder... [More]