MLB

Cuba beats Puerto Rico 6-1 to open 2-0 in Caribbean SeriesMEXICO CITY (AP) William Saavedra homered and drove in three runs, Vladimir Garcia pitched six solid innings and Cuba earned its second win in the Caribbean Series by beating Puerto Rico 6-1 on Friday night.Garc?a gave up one...

AP Baseball WriterAP source: Mets agree to re-sign Blevins, Salas in bullpenBy MIKE FITZPATRICKNEW YORK (AP) Aiming to fill out their bullpen, the New York Mets are set to bring back a pair of important pieces from last year's playoff team.A person familiar with the deals says free-agent...

AP Sports WriterTwins take Byung Ho Park off 40-man roster to sign relieverBy DAVE CAMPBELLMINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Twins have designated slugger Byung Ho Park for assignment following a disappointing major league debut in 2016.The Twins made the potentially expensive move on Friday so they could make room...

Associated PressSt. Louis bans smokeless tobacco at Busch, other venuesBy JIM SALTERST. LOUIS (AP) Baseball players with big wads of chewing tobacco in their cheek are now a thing from the past at Busch Stadium.The St. Louis Board of Aldermen voted Friday to prohibit the use of smokeless...

AP Sports WriterBaseball owners look at rule changes to speed up gameBy STEVEN WINEPALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) For those rooting for baseball to speed up the game, Commissioner Rob Manfred says: have patience.Owners and players ratified a new collective bargaining agreement in December, but they're still negotiating innovations...

AP Sports WriterCarlos Martinez agrees to $51M, 5-year deal with CardsBy DAVE SKRETTAIn the final days of negotiations, the biggest thing standing in the way of the St. Louis Cardinals signing pitcher Carlos Martinez to a long-term deal was a few hundred miles of ocean.''It's not easy to get...

Miller goes to arbitration after awful start with D-backsST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Pitcher Shelby Miller has argued his salary arbitration case against Arizona after an awful first season with the Diamondbacks.A 26-year-old right-hander, Miller asked arbitrators Andrew Strongin, James Oldham and Phillip LaPorte for $5.1 million. Arizona argued...

Orioles beat catcher Joseph for 9th straight arbitration winST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) The Baltimore Orioles won their ninth straight salary arbitration decision over more than two decades, defeating catcher Caleb Joseph.Joseph, who set major league records for most at-bats and plate appearances in a season with no RBIs,...

Miller goes to arbitration after awful start with D-backsST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Pitcher Shelby Miller has argued his salary arbitration case against Arizona after an awful first season with the Diamondbacks.A 26-year-old right-hander, Miller asked arbitrators Andrew Strongin, James Oldham and Phillip LaPorte for $5.1 million. Arizona argued...

AP Sports WriterSteinbrenner says the future is now for young YanksBy STEVEN WINEPALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) Baby Bombers mean a lower payroll but higher expectations for the New York Yankees.Owner Hal Steinbrenner believes the Yankees' youth movement will pay off this season, and not just with a reduction...

AP Sports WriterAP source: Indians, Boone Logan agree to 1-year contractBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) A person familiar with the negotiations says free agent left-hander Boone Logan and the Cleveland Indians have agreed to a one-year contract.Logan's deal includes a 2018 club option, the person told The Associated Press...

Catcher Caleb Joseph loses to Orioles in arbitrationST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Catcher Caleb Joseph lost his salary arbitration case with the Baltimore Orioles after setting major league records for most at-bats and plate appearances in a season with no RBIs.Joseph was awarded the team's $700,000 offer rather than...