BARQUISIMETO, Venezuela (AP) — Dozens of Venezuelans waited in line outside a chapel in the state of Lara on Saturday, hoping to bid farewell to former major league baseball player Luis Valbuena, who was killed in a car accident along with teammate Jose Castillo.The corpse of Castillo was moved earlier in the morning to a different central-west state.The 33-year-old Valbuena and 37-year-old Castillo were both former players for the Houston Astros.They died late Thursday when their SUV crashed as it tried to veer around an object put on the road. Officials said some bandits place or throw objects on highways to force vehicles to stop so they can rob the occupants.Yaracuy state Gov. Julio Leon Heredia said four people were detained after being found with property of the athletes.Valbuena and Castillo were teammates on the Cardenales de Lara team in the Venezuelan winter league and were returning from a game in the capital when the crash occurred en route to the city of Barquisimeto in Lara.No... [More]

BARQUISIMETO, Venezuela (AP) — Dozens of Venezuelans waited in lines outside a chapel in the state of Lara on Saturday, hoping to bid farewell to former major league baseball player Luis Valbuena, who was killed in a car accident along with teammate Jose Castillo.The corpse of Castillo was moved earlier in the morning to a different central-west state.The 33-year-old Valbuena and 37-year-old Castillo were both former players for the Houston Astros.They died late Thursday when their SUV crashed as it tried to veer around an object put on the road. Officials said some bandits place or throw objects on highways to force vehicles to stop so they can rob the occupants.Yaracuy state Gov. Julio Leon Heredia said four people were detained after being found with property of the athletes.Valbuena and Castillo were teammates on the Cardenales de Lara team in the Venezuelan winter league and were returning from a game in the capital when the crash occurred en route to the city of Barquisimeto in Lara.No others details about the incident were available.On Saturday, their deaths caused an outpouring of grief as fellow teammates, family members and fans wore shirts from the winter league and lined up to say goodbye.Retired Cardenales player Robert Perez and Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera were both in attendance.Cardenales third baseman Carlos Rivero, who survived the crash, visited the chapel wearing dark sunglasses and bore a small bruise on his forehead.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Former major league players Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo were killed in a car crash in Venezuela caused by highway bandits who then robbed them, officials said Friday.The 33-year-old Valbuena and 37-year-old Castillo died late Thursday when their SUV crashed as it tried to veer around an object on the road, Yaracuy state Gov. Julio Leon Heredia said on his Twitter account. Officials said some bandits place or throw objects on highways to force vehicles to stop or crash so they can rob the occupants.Heredia said four people have been detained after being found with property of the athletes.Valbuena and Castillo were teammates on the Cardenales de Lara team in the Venezuelan winter league and were returning from a game in the capital when the crash occurred en route to the city of Barquisimeto.Third baseman Carlos Rivero was in the car and survived, according to the website beisbolplay.Valbuena, an 11-year major league veteran, hit .199 with nine homers and 33... [More]

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Former major league players Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo were killed in a car crash caused by highway bandits who then robbed them, officials said Friday.The 33-year-old Valbuena and 37-year-old Castillo died late Thursday when their SUV crashed as it tried to veer around an object placed in the road, Yaracuy state Gov. Julio Leon Heredia said on his Twitter account.He said four people have been detained after being found with property of the athletes.Valbuena and Castillo were teammates on the Cardenales de Lara team in the Venezuelan winter league and were returning from a game in the capital when the crash occurred en route to the city of Barquisimeto.Third baseman Carlos Rivero was in the car and survived, according to the website beisbolplay.Valbuena, an 11-year major league veteran, hit .199 with nine homers and 33 RBIs in 96 games this year for the Los Angeles Angels, who released him on Aug. 7."I will miss Luis' banter, smile, genuine love for his teammates,... [More]

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Former major league players Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo were killed in a car crash caused by highway bandits who then robbed them, officials said Friday.The 33-year-old Valbuena and 37-year-old Castillo died late Thursday when their SUV crashed as it tried to veer around an object placed in the road, Yaracuy state Gov. Julio Leon Heredia said on his Twitter account.He said four people have been detained after being found with property of the athletes.Valbuena and Castillo were teammates on the Cardenales de Lara team in the Venezuelan winter league and were returning from a game in the capital when the crash occurred en route to the city of Barquisimeto.Third baseman Carlos Rivero was in the car and survived, according to the website beisbolplay.Valbuena, an 11-year major league veteran, hit .199 with nine homers and 33 RBIs in 96 games this year for the Los Angeles Angels, who released him on Aug. 7."I will miss Luis' banter, smile, genuine love for his teammates,... [More]

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Former major league players Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo were killed in a car crash caused by highway bandits who then robbed them, officials said Friday.The 33-year-old Valbuena and 37-year-old Castillo died late Thursday when their SUV crashed as it tried to veer around an object placed in the road, Yaracuy state Gov. Julio Leon Heredia said on his Twitter account.He said four people have been detained after being found with property of the athletes.Valbuena and Castillo were teammates on the Cardenales de Lara team in the Venezuelan winter league and were returning from a game in the capital when the crash occurred en route to the city of Barquisimeto.Third baseman Carlos Rivero was in the car and survived, according to the website beisbolplay.Valbuena, an 11-year major league veteran, hit .199 with nine homers and 33 RBIs in 96 games this year for the Los Angeles Angels, who released him on Aug. 7."I will miss Luis' banter, smile, genuine love for his teammates,... [More]

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Former major league players Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo were killed in a car crash following a winter league game in Venezuela.The 33-year-old Valbuena and 37-year-old Castillo died late Thursday, according to Cardenales de Lara of the Venezuelan league.The team's administrative director, Gustavo Andrade, confirmed reports that the accident was caused by a rock placed on the highway, apparently by bandits trying to force cars to stop on the highway between the capital, Caracas, and the city of Barquisimeto."How many other Venezuelans on highways across the nation have lost their lives because ... of those people who put objects on the highway for the purpose of later making an assault?" he told local news media.Third baseman Carlos Rivero was in the car and survived, according to the website beisbolplay.Valbuena, an 11-year major league veteran, hit .199 with nine homers and 33 RBIs in 96 games this year for the Los Angeles Angels, who released him on Aug.... [More]

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Former major league players Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo were killed in a car crash following a winter league game in Venezuela.The 33-year-old Valbuena and 37-year-old Castillo died late Thursday, according to Cardenales de Lara of the Venezuelan league.The team said their vehicle overturned as they were heading to the city of Barquisimeto after a game in the capital, Caracas.Third baseman Carlos Rivero was in the car and survived, according to the website beisbolplay.Valbuena, an 11-year major league veteran, hit .199 with nine homers and 33 RBIs in 96 games this year for the Los Angeles Angels, who released him on Aug. 7."I will miss Luis' banter, smile, genuine love for his teammates, and, of course, the bat flips," Astros manager AJ Hinch said in a statement. "He was a beloved person whether he was on our team or across the field."Valbuena hit .226 with 114 home runs over 11 big league seasons with the Angels, Seattle, Cleveland, the Chicago Cubs and Houston."Luis was always smiling and was one of the happiest players in baseball," Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said in a statement. "He provided joy to his teammates and our fans. He helped our franchise turn a corner in 2015 and provided many cherished memories."Castillo played five seasons with Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Houston. He had a .254 average with 39 home runs.___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Rivero was dealt to the Red Sox on Sunday in exchange for cash, MLB.com's Greg Johns reports.

Rivero owns a .668 OPS with eight home runs over 96 games at the Triple-A level this season. He'll provide organizational depth for the Red Sox.

Rivero has signed a minor league contract with the Mariners that includes an invite to spring training.

The Mariners opted not to tender Rivero a contract earlier this month but brought him back on a minor league deal. A waiver acquisition in November, Rivero spent the 2014 campaign in the Red Sox system, splitting the year between Double-A and Triple-A. He had decent numbers with Triple-A Pawtucket (.286/.341/.407) and is a versatile defender, so there's an outside chance he could push for a utility role.

The Mariners did not tender Rivero a contract, MLB.com's Greg Johns reports.

Rivero was claimed off waivers by the Mariners in November, so he did not have strong ties to the organization. He made his big league debut with the Red Sox as a 26-year-old last season, hitting one home run in eight plate appearances. Rivero will likely get a minor league deal somewhere this offseason.

Rivero was claimed off waivers by the Mariners on Monday.

Rivero has only played in four big league games, but he slashed .286/.341/.407 at Boston's Triple-A affiliate last season, and should provide Seattle with organizational corner infield depth.

Rivero was not optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket as earlier planned, the Boston Globe reports.

The Red Sox instead optioned Anthony Ranaudo to make room for the returning Xander Bogaerts. Rivero will remain with the Red Sox as rosters expand September.

Rivero is expected to be optioned back to Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday to make room for the returning Xander Bogaerts (concussion), the Boston Globe reports.

Rivero was called up earlier this week when Bogaerts was put on the 7-day disabled list. He got into one game with Boston, taking a walk as a pinch hitter in Friday night's win over Tampa Bay.

The Red Sox called up Rivero from Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday, WEEI Boston reports.

Rivero was called up to take the roster spot of Xander Bogaerts, who was placed on the 7-day concussion DL. Rivero posted just a .704 OPS with Pawtucket this season, but he can play both the infield and outfield, so he will be counted on more for his ability to play multiple positions than his bat.

Red Sox signed INF Carlos Rivero to a minor league contract.

Rivero batted just .242/.298/.328 with five home runs in 114 games this summer between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse -- affiliates of the Nationals. The 25-year-old will act as organizational depth for Boston.

Nationals outrighted INF Carlos Rivero to Triple-A Syracuse

Rivero didn't make the Nationals' Opening Day roster and had to clear waivers before being sent to the minors. He batted .303/.347/.435 with 10 home runs in 126 games at the Triple-A level in 2012.

Nationals optioned INF Carlos Rivero to Triple-A Syracuse.

Rivero was hitless over 10 at-bats during Grapefruit League play. The 23-year-old was claimed off waivers from the Phillies in December after batting .270/.326/.440 with 16 home runs, 71 RBI and a .766 OPS last season between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. His ceiling is likely that of a backup infielder.

Nationals claimed INF Carlos Rivero off waivers from Phillies.

Rivero, 23, batted .270/.326/.440 with 16 home runs, 71 RBI and a .766 OPS over 568 plate appearances this past season between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He has a strong arm defensively and nice power potential from the right side, but his plate discipline remains a work in progress.

Phillies claimed INF Carlos Rivero off waivers from the Indians.

Rivero, 22, batted .232/.278/.325 with six home runs and 43 RBI in 406 at-bats in his second year with Double-A Akron this season. The Indians protected Rivero from the Rule 5 Draft last December waiting for his breakout season on offense, but things just haven't come together for him yet.