MLB

Braves decline Billy Hamilton's optionATLANTA (AP) The Braves declined their part of Billy Hamilton's mutual option for 2020, allowing the speedy outfielder to become a free agent.Hamilton's contract, agreed to with Kansas City last December, called for a $4.25 million salary for this year and included a $7.5...

AP Baseball WriterMets hire Carlos Beltrán as managerBy MIKE FITZPATRICKNEW YORK (AP) Carlos Beltran, two years removed from his playing career and with no managerial experience, has been picked by the New York Mets to replace Mickey Callaway.Beltran received a three-year contract that includes a club option for...

Moustakas, Grandal go onto free agent marketMILWAUKEE (AP) Mike Moustakas and Yasmani Grandal declined their mutual options with the Milwaukee Brewers, becoming free agents.Moustakas, who turned 31 in September, is a free agent for the third straight offseason after earning $18.7 million in a pair of one-year deals.He...

AP Baseball WriterAP source: Mets decide to hire Beltrán as managerBy MIKE FITZPATRICKNEW YORK (AP) Carlos Beltran, two years removed from his playing career and with no managerial experience, has been picked by the New York Mets to replace Mickey Callaway.A person familiar with the Mets' decision told...

AP Baseball WriterAP source: Mets decide to hire Beltrán as managerBy MIKE FITZPATRICKNEW YORK (AP) Carlos Beltran, two years removed from his playing career and with no managerial experience, has been picked by the New York Mets to replace Mickey Callaway.A person familiar with the Mets' decision told...

Harrelson, Shannon among Frick Award finalistsCOOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) Former big league players Ken Harrelson and Mike Shannon are among the eight finalists for the Ford Frick Award for excellence in baseball broadcasting, presented annually by the Hall of Fame.Harrelson spent 28 years calling games for the Chicago White...

Mariners decline 2020 option on LHP Wade LeBlancSEATTLE (AP) The Seattle Mariners have declined Wade LeBlanc's $5.5 million option for the 2020 season, and the left-hander will become a free agent.LeBlanc was a starter for part of last season before being moved to the bullpen as the Mariners...

Associated PressPadres to turn to Tingler to end their losing waysBy JAY PARISSAN DIEGO (AP) The Padres introduced their new manager and hinted about old uniform colors they'll wear in 2020. It's easy to predict which the team's weary, patient fans are more excited about.When Jayce Tingler was...

AP Sports WriterNats-Astros World Series goes 7 games but third-least viewedBy JOE REEDYThis year's World Series between the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros went seven games but finished as the third-least viewed.The Series averaged 13.91 million viewers, Nielsen said Thursday, down 1.3% from 14.1 million last year for Boston's...

BB Hall of Fame gets nice array of World Series artifactsCOOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) Artifacts from the World Series are headed to the Baseball Hall of Fame, including the ball hit by Washington's Howie Kendrick off the right-field foul pole for the go-ahead home run in Game 7.Following the...

White Sox trade catcher Welington Castillo to RangersCHICAGO (AP) The Chicago White Sox have traded catcher Welington Castillo to the Texas Rangers, who might not exercise an $8 million option for next season and allow him to become a free agent.Texas also got an international signing bonus pool...

Associated PressPadres to turn to Tingler to end their losing waysBy JAY PARISSAN DIEGO (AP) The Padres introduced their new manager and hinted about old uniform colors they'll wear in 2020. It's easy to predict which the team's weary, patient fans are more excited about.When Jayce Tingler was...