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 Mookie Betts and Arizona pitcher Shelby Miller won the first two cases of the year.Houston closer Ken Giles had a hearing Thursday, and his decision is not expected until Saturday.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PHOENIX (AP) — All-Star outfielder Mookie Betts beat the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday in the first salary arbitration decision of the year and will get a raise from $950,000 to $10.5 million instead of the team's $7.5 million offer.Miami catcher J.T. Realmuto and Arizona pitcher Shelby Miller went to hearings on the second day of offseason cases that could see as many as 25 decisions, which would be the most since 1987.Arbitrators Daniel Brent, Mark Burstein and Phillip LaPorte ruled for Betts one day after hearing arguments. The 25-year-old hit .264 with 24 homers and 102 RBIs last year, when he made his second straight AL All-Star team. He batted .318 with 31 homers and 113 RBIs in 2016.The gap between Betts and the Red Sox was the largest among the 27 players who swapped figures with their teams on Jan. 12.Realmuto, 26, asked for a raise to $3.5 million instead of $2.9 million. He made $562,500 last year and was eligible for arbitration for the first time after hitting .278 with 17 homers... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — Catcher J.T. Realmuto, among the Marlins who could be traded as part of the team's payroll purge under new chief executive Derek Jeter, went to salary arbitration with Miami on Thursday and asked that he be given a raise to $3.5 million instead of $2.9 million.Arbitrators Andrew Strongin, Elizabeth Neumeier, Allen Ponak are expected to decide Friday.Realmuto, 26, made $562,500 last year and was eligible for arbitration for the first time after hitting .278 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs in his third full season.Miami has traded major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich for prospects since Jeter's ownership group bought the team in October.First baseman Justin Bour and reliever Dan Straily, who are likely to remain with the Marlins, also are scheduled for hearings this month. Bour has asked for a raise from $552,500 to $3.4 million and has been offered $3 million. Straily has requested a raise from $552,100 to $3.55 million... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — As one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, Alex Reyes was expected to play a vital role for St. Louis last season.That was before Reyes suffered an elbow injury during spring training and missed the regular season after surgery.After a year of rehabilitation, the 23-year-old Reyes is back and ready for spring training for St. Louis — and he's in the best shape of his career. Thanks to a year's worth of physical conditioning while away from the game, Reyes has dropped 10-15 pounds, and he's already in Florida doing some light throwing in preparation for camp in a few weeks.Reyes is hoping the off-the-field work helps him regain the form that led to a 1.57 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 46 innings while splitting time between the starting rotation and bullpen in his first go-around with the Cardinals in 2016."Our goal from the beginning was just to get as strong as possible, and do it in a way where it's going to help me in the future," Reyes said. "I think we've done a... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge sat side by side on the dais, together in public for the first time as Yankees teammates.Truly a big night in New York baseball.The towering duo joined several of the game's top stars in attendance Sunday night as the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America held its 95th annual dinner.Acquired by the Yankees in a December trade with Miami, the 6-foot-6 Stanton was on hand to collect the National League Most Valuable Player award after leading the majors with 59 home runs and 132 RBIs last season."This has been an amazing ride and I'm excited to be here in New York and experience the big city, bright lights, and this is going to be a lot of fun for me," said the eight-year veteran, drawing loud applause.Standing a smidge taller at 6-foot-7, Judge took home his own share of hardware. The 25-year-old outfielder was selected New York player of the year and also received the Joe DiMaggio Toast of the Town award.Stanton... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge sat side by side on the dais, together in public for the first time as Yankees teammates.Truly a big night in New York baseball.The towering duo joined several of the game's top stars in attendance Sunday night as the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America held its 95th annual dinner.Acquired by the Yankees in a December trade with Miami, the 6-foot-6 Stanton was on hand to collect the National League Most Valuable Player award after leading the majors with 59 home runs and 132 RBIs last season."This has been an amazing ride and I'm excited to be here in New York and experience the big city, bright lights, and this is going to be a lot of fun for me," said the eight-year veteran, drawing loud applause.Standing a smidge taller at 6-foot-7, Judge took home his own share of hardware. The 25-year-old outfielder was selected New York player of the year and also received the Joe DiMaggio Toast of the Town award.Stanton... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Concerned after the Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates cut major league payroll, the baseball players' association has taken the first step toward trying to force changes in the clubs' behavior.The union said it expressed concern to Major League Baseball that the teams are not spending revenue-sharing proceeds to improve play. The commissioner's office responded by saying it is not worried about any violations.Both teams are in the midst of rebuilds. The Marlins dealt major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich for prospects since new chief executive Derek Jeter's ownership group bought the team in October, and the Pirates traded longtime franchise face Andrew McCutchen and ace pitcher Gerrit Cole.Baseball's collective bargaining agreement states "each club shall use its revenue sharing receipts ... in an effort to improve its performance on the field" and prohibits use of that money to service debt related to franchise... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Concerned after the Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates cut major league payroll, the baseball players' association has taken the first step toward trying to force changes in the clubs' behavior.The union said it expressed concern to Major League Baseball that the teams are not spending revenue-sharing proceeds to improve play. The commissioner's office responded by saying it is not worried about any violations.Both teams are in the midst of rebuilds. The Marlins dealt major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich for prospects since new chief executive Derek Jeter's ownership group bought the team in October, and the Pirates traded longtime franchise face Andrew McCutchen and ace pitcher Gerrit Cole.Baseball's collective bargaining agreement states "each club shall use its revenue sharing receipts ... in an effort to improve its performance on the field" and prohibits use of that money to service debt related to franchise... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Concerned after the Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates cut major league payroll, the baseball players' association has taken the first step toward trying to force changes in the clubs' behavior.The union said it expressed concern to Major League Baseball that the teams are not spending revenue-sharing proceeds to improve play. The commissioner's office responded by saying it is not worried about any violations.Both teams are in the midst of rebuilds. The Marlins dealt major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich for prospects since new chief executive Derek Jeter's ownership group bought the team in October, and the Pirates traded longtime franchise face Andrew McCutchen and ace pitcher Gerrit Cole.Baseball's collective bargaining agreement states "each club shall use its revenue sharing receipts ... in an effort to improve its performance on the field" and prohibits use of that money to service debt related to franchise... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Longtime Marlins fan Lewis Brinson is excited about the direction of the franchise in the wake of an offseason reboot that now involves him.Brinson, who had been the Milwaukee Brewers' top prospect, was acquired by Miami along with three other minor leaguers for outfielder Christian Yelich. Brinson grew up in South Florida as a Marlins fan and is delighted to join his hometown team."In elementary school or middle school, any time I had to write a paper on what you wanted to be when you grew up, mine was to play major league baseball for the Marlins," Brinson said Friday. "My mom might have proof at home. I would get A's on those papers, because I poured it out."Along with the 23-year-old outfielder, Miami acquired outfielder Monte Harrison, infielder Isan Diaz and right-handed pitcher Jordan Yamamoto on Thursday.Yelich's departure means the Marlins have dismantled their entire outfield, widely regarded as the game's best. They earlier dealt major league home run champion Giancarlo... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Miami Marlins general manager Michael Hill was traveling Thursday to participate in a series of marathons when he swung the team's latest trade, sending center fielder Christian Yelich to the Milwaukee Brewers for four prospects.And so the Marlins' dismantling marathon continues.Yelich became the fourth starter traded by the Marlins as they reduce payroll and rebuild their weak farm system under new CEO Derek Jeter. The Marlins earlier dealt away major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, stolen base champ Dee Gordon and All-Star left fielder Marcell Ozuna.Hill made the trade as he began a trip to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. Former Marlins executives David Samson and Jeff Conine also are taking part in the charity event."I'm boarding a plane for South Africa," Hill said. "The job goes with you wherever you are. When the opportunity presents itself to make our organization better, you do what you need to do."Miami acquired highly regarded outfielder... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Miami Marlins general manager Michael Hill was traveling Thursday to participate in a series of marathons when he swung the team's latest trade, sending center fielder Christian Yelich to the Milwaukee Brewers for four prospects.And so the Marlins' dismantling marathon continues.Yelich became the fourth starter traded by the Marlins as they reduce payroll and rebuild their weak farm system under new CEO Derek Jeter. The Marlins earlier dealt away major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, stolen base champ Dee Gordon and All-Star left fielder Marcell Ozuna.Hill made the trade as he began a trip to run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. Former Marlins executives David Samson and Jeff Conine are also taking part in the charity event."I'm boarding a plane for South Africa," Hill said. "The job goes with you wherever you are. When the opportunity presents itself to make our organization better, you do what you need to do."Miami acquired highly regarded outfielder... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Miami Marlins center fielder Christian Yelich was traded Thursday to the Milwaukee Brewers for four prospects, including highly regarded outfielder Lewis Brinson.Yelich became the fourth starter traded by the Marlins as they reduce payroll and rebuild their weak farm system under new CEO Derek Jeter. The Marlins earlier dealt away major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, stolen base champ Dee Gordon and All-Star left fielder Marcell Ozuna.In the wake of the earlier deals, Yelich had said he preferred to play elsewhere this year rather than be part of a Marlins rebuilding effort. He'll make $7 million this season in the third year of a $49.57 million, seven-year contract.Yelich batted .282 with 18 homers and 81 RBIs last year.Miami also acquired infielder Isan Diaz, outfielder Monte Harrison and right-handed pitcher Jordan Yamamoto.The 23-year-old Brinson, who is a native of Fort Lauderdale, batted .106 in 47 at-bats with the Brewers as a rookie last year but is rated... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees reached one-year contracts with their remaining six players eligible for arbitration, leaving their projected luxury tax payroll at $177 million — $20 million below the threshold.Shortstop Didi Gregorius agreed at $8.25 million Friday, pitcher Sonny Gray at $6.5 million and setup man Dellin Betances at $5.1 million. Also reaching deals were relievers Adam Warren ($3,315,000) and Chasen Shreve ($825,000), and backup catcher Austin Romine ($1.1 million).New York's luxury tax payroll rose to $149,927,500 for 15 players with agreements, and the projected total is well under the $197 million tax threshold. The projection includes $10 million for the rest of the 40-man roster, $14,044,600 for benefits and a $3 million charge for cash transactions: a $5.5 million payment to Houston as part of the Brian McCann trade, a $500,000 payment to San Diego as part of the Chase Headley deal and a $3 million credit from Miami as part of the Giancarlo Stanton acquisition.Yankees... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Outfielder Aaron Hicks agreed to a $2,825,000, one-year contract with the New York Yankees, who settled with reliever Tommy Kahnle at $1,312,500 in the first deals among the team's eight players eligible for salary arbitration.New York's luxury tax payroll rose to $124,837,500 for nine players with agreements and Thursday's moves left the Yankees' projected tax payroll at about $178 million — well under the $197 million tax threshold. The total includes $26 million estimated for the six players still eligible for arbitration, $10 million for the rest of the 40-man roster, $14,044,600 for benefits and a $3 million charge for cash transactions: a $5.5 million payment to Houston as part of the Brian McCann trade, a $500,000 payment to San Diego as part of the Chase Headley and a $3 million credit from Miami as part of the Giancarlo Stanton trade.Hicks spent a pair of lengthy stretches on the disabled list but still managed to set career highs with a .266 average, 15 homers... [More]

J.T. Realmuto reportedly wants to be part of the player exodus from Miami.The Marlins' catcher has requested a trade, according to multiple reports, after the new ownership began dismantling the team to slash payroll.The group, which includes Derek Jeter, has already traded National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton to the New York Yankees, fellow All-Star outfielder Marcell Ozuna to the St. Louis Cardinals and two-time All-Star infielder Dee Gordon to the Seattle Mariners.In fact, outfielder Christian Yelich is also reportedly unhappy with the recent trades, according to ESPN. Yelich expects to have a conversation with Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill in the near future to discuss the situation.Yelich, 26, has four seasons remaining on his seven-year, $49.57 million contract but the club hasn't been shopping him. He is slated to make $7 million in 2018.Yelich batted .282 with 18 homers, 81 RBIs and 16 steals last season. He is a career .290 hitter with 59 homers, 293 RBIs and 72 steals in five big-league seasons.The 26-year-old Realmuto set career highs of 17 homers and 65 RBIs last season while batting .278 in 141 games.Realmuto has a career batting average of .280 with 38 homers and 169 RBIs in three-plus seasons.Realmuto made $562,500 last season. He is eligible for arbitration in 2018.

RF Giancarlo Stanton was officially traded to the New York by the Miami Marlins. The reigning National League MVP was acquired in exchange for second baseman Starlin Castro, minor league right-hander Jorge Guzman and minor league infielder Jose Devers. "I'm very excited to be here and be a part of the Yankees," Stanton said at a news conference Monday during the Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The two teams reached terms of the deal on Saturday pending final approval from the 28-year-old Stanton under the terms of his no-trade clause and passing a physical. Stanton hit 59 home runs for the Marlins this past season.

The New York Yankees officially announced Monday the blockbuster trade acquiring reigning National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton from the Miami Marlins.The Yankees also received cash considerations from the Marlins in exchange for second baseman Starlin Castro, minor league right-hander Jorge Guzman and minor league infielder Jose Devers."I'm very excited to be here and be a part of the Yankees," Stanton said at a news conference Monday during the Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. "I'm just looking forward to stepping up and being with this winning environment and winning culture so I'm happy to be here."The two teams reached terms of the deal on Saturday pending final approval from the 28-year-old Stanton under the terms of his no-trade clause and passing a physical.Stanton, who hit 59 home runs for the Marlins this past season, is now in pinstripes and will be joining another slugger in the Yankees outfield -- American League Rookie of the Year Aaron Judge, who hit 52 homers in... [More]

OF Giancarlo Stanton agreed to a deal to be traded to the New York Yankees from the Miami Marlins, according to multiple reports Saturday. The two teams reached terms for a deal pending final approval from the 28-year-old Stanton under the terms of his no-trade clause and passing a physical. The approval is expected to be a formality. Yankees second baseman Starlin Castro and two minor league prospects would be traded to Miami as part of the deal, according to reports.

The New York Yankees agreed to acquire National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton from the Miami Marlins in a blockbuster trade, according to multiple reports Saturday.The two teams reached terms for a deal pending final approval from the 28-year-old Stanton under the terms of his no-trade clause and passing a physical. The approval is expected to be a formality.Yankees second baseman Starlin Castro and two minor league prospects would be traded to Miami as part of the deal, according to reports.The news comes a day after the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants both announced they agreed to deals to acquire Stanton, but he declined to waive his no-trade clause.Talks between the Yankees and Marlins picked up Friday after two more teams dropped out of the running for the superstar. New York and Miami re-engaged in talks earlier in the week, according to ESPN.The Cardinals and Giants both targeted Stanton from the time that new Marlins ownership -- led by former Yankees great Derek Jeter... [More]