MLB

Nola, Phillies agree to $45M, 4-year deal, avoid arbitrationCLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) Pitcher Aaron Nola and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a $45 million, four-year contract, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for this week.The 25-year-old right-hander set career bests last year when he was a first-time All-Star,...

Associated PressKyler Murray chooses NFL over baseball and A'sBy CARRIE MUSKATMESA, Ariz. (AP) When Kyler Murray won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma last season, the Oakland Athletics knew there was a chance he might chose football over baseball.That is exactly what happened.On the day the A's started spring...

Associated PressName game: Britton says wife, Yanks led to spelling changeBy MARK DIDTLERTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Even Zack Britton gets confused about the proper spelling of his first name.Known throughout his baseball career as Zach, the 31-year-old New York Yankees reliever said last week that going forward his name...

Associated PressNick Hundley agrees to minor league deal with A'sBy CARRIE MUSKATMESA, Ariz. (AP) The Oakland Athletics added depth at catcher on Monday, agreeing to a minor league contract with Nick Hundley.If added to the 40-man roster, the 35-year-old would get a one-year contract paying a $1.25 million...

Correction: Cardinals-Spring Preview storyBy The Associated PressIn a story Feb. 8 about the St. Louis Cardinals, The Associated Press misspelled the surname of catcher Yadier Molina.A corrected version of the story is below:Cardinals hope Goldschmidt, Miller push team over the topThe Cardinals knew they were short a couple of...

Associated Press=Kyler Murray chooses NFL over baseball and A'sBy CARRIE MUSKATMESA, Ariz. (AP) - When Kyler Murray won the Heisman Trophy, the Oakland Athletics knew there was a chance he might chose football over baseball.That is exactly what happened.On the day the A's started spring training workouts, Murray said...

LH reliever Zach Duke signs 1-year deal with RedsGOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) Zach Duke has signed a $2 million, one-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds, who wanted a left-hander for the bullpen.Duke agreed to the deal last week. It was completed Monday after he passed a physical.Cincinnati overhauled its...

AP Baseball WriterCatcher Stephen Vogt agrees to minor league deal with GiantsBy JANIE McCAULEYSAN FRANCISCO (AP) Stephen Vogt is ready to do whatever he can to take pressure off Buster Posey as both players work to bounce back from surgeries that cut their 2018 seasons short.Vogt is returning...

Gerrit Cole goes to arbitration with AstrosST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Pitcher Gerrit Cole has gone to arbitration with the Houston Astros, asking to be given $13.5 million rather than the team's offer of $11,425,000.Cole made $6.75 million last year, when he earned his second All-Star selection and went...

LH reliever Zach Duke signs 1-year deal with RedsGOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) Zach Duke has signed a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds, who wanted a left-hander for the bullpen.Duke agreed to the deal last week. It was completed Monday after he passed a physical.Cincinnati overhauled its rotation and...

AP Baseball WriterCatcher Stephen Vogt agrees to minor league deal with GiantsBy JANIE McCAULEYSAN FRANCISCO (AP) Stephen Vogt is ready to do whatever he can to take pressure off Buster Posey as both players work to bounce back from surgeries that cut their 2018 seasons short.Vogt is returning...

Associated PressWith rotation uncertain, A's ponder "openers" as camp opensBy CARRIE MUSKATMESA, Ariz. (AP) Like every other pitcher in the Oakland Athletics' deep bullpen, Liam Hendriks is expecting to pitch a lot this season.The tricky question for manager Bob Melvin going into spring training: Who gets to go...