MLB

TORONTO (AP) Lourdes Gurriel Jr., the younger brother of Houston Astros infielder Yulieski Gurriel, has agreed to a $22 million, seven-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. According to the Blue Jays, the 23-year-old - primarily a shortstop and center fielder - hit .344 with 17 doubles, 10 homers and...

Mariners acquire infielder Danny Valencia from OaklandSEATTLE (AP) The Seattle Mariners have acquired utility player Danny Valencia from the Oakland Athletics for minor league pitcher Paul Blackburn.Valencia played four positions for Oakland last season and hit .287 with 17 home runs and 51 RBIs in 130 games.Seattle general...

PHILADELPHIA (AP) The Phillies got the veteran hitter they wanted. Howie Kendrick was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday for first baseman Darin Ruf and utilityman Darnell Sweeney. ''Howie Kendrick brings a proven, veteran presence to our young lineup,'' general manager Matt Klentak said. ''He is a hard worker,...

AP Sports WriterPhillies get Howie Kendrick from DodgersBy ROB MAADDIPHILADELPHIA (AP) The Phillies have acquired Howie Kendrick from the Los Angeles Dodgers for first baseman Darin Ruf and utilityman Darnell Sweeney.A 2011 AL All-Star, Kendrick hit .255 with 26 doubles, eight home runs, 40 RBIs, a team-leading 10...

Angels sign RHP Jesse Chavez to $5.75 million, 1-year dealANAHEIM, California (AP) The Los Angeles Angels have signed right-hander Jesse Chavez to a $5.75 million, one-year contract.The Angels also designated outfielder Rafael Ortega for assignment Friday night.Chavez went 2-2 with a 4.43 ERA in 62 games last season...

Angels sign RHP Jesse Chavez to $5.75 million, 1-year dealANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) The Los Angeles Angels have signed right-hander Jesse Chavez to a $5.75 million, one-year contract.The Angels also designated outfielder Rafael Ortega for assignment Friday night.Chavez went 2-2 with a 4.43 ERA in 62 games last season...

Rangers sign Middlebrooks, Bernier to minor league dealsARLINGTON, Texas (AP) The Texas Rangers have signed third baseman Will Middlebrooks and infielder Doug Bernier to minor league contracts.Both players will receive invitations to major league spring training on the deals announced Friday.The 28-year-old Middlebrooks spent most of last season...

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Proponents of Arlington taxpayer funding for a $1 billion retractable-roof Texas Rangers stadium have won approval. With 98 percent of the vote counted, voters approved by a 60-to-40-percent margin Tuesday the extension of a half-cent sales tax, 2 percent hotel-occupancy tax and 5 percent car-rental tax for...

NEW YORK (AP) Catch this: Buster Posey is the new Gold Glove backstop in the National League. The San Francisco Giants star unseated Yadier Molina behind the plate Tuesday when Rawlings announced its annual honors for fielding excellence. Posey was picked as the NL catcher, ending Molina's eight-year reign with...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Hitting coach Tom Brunansky and first base coach Butch Davis will not be back with the Minnesota Twins next season. The Twins said Tuesday that pitching coach Neil Allen, third base coach Gene Glynn, bullpen coach Eddie Guardado, assistant hitting coach Rudy Hernandez and bench coach Joe Vavra...

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) Right-hander Dillon Gee and outfielder Daniel Nava have become free agents after refusing outright assignments from the Kansas City Royals to Triple-A Omaha. The 30-year-old Gee signed with the Royals in December after six seasons with the New York Mets and went 8-9 with a 4.68 ERA...

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona (AP) Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander and slugger Miguel Cabrera could be available for the right price. The Chicago White Sox might be prepared to deal Chris Sale, too. Not even a week has passed since the Chicago Cubs won their first World Series title in more than...