MLB

Rangers sign IF/OF Charlie Culberson to minor league dealARLINGTON, Texas (AP) The Texas Rangers signed utility player Charlie Culberson to a minor league deal Monday and invited the veteran to big league spring training.The 31-year-old Culberson played for Atlanta the past three seasons. He batted .143 in nine...

Associated PressVerlander has lat strain, unlikely to be ready for openerBy CHUCK KINGWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) Houston ace Justin Verlander has a mild strain of a back muscle and said it would “probably take a miracle” for him to pitch in the Astros' opener at Oakland on...

Orioles 1B Mancini expects to miss season to treat cancerBALTIMORE (AP) Orioles outfielder Trey Mancini is undergoing chemotherapy for stage 3 colon cancer and expects to miss the season if major leaguers return this summer.Mancini had a malignant tumor removed shortly before turning 28 on March 18. He...

Ilitch group mulls creation of sports network in DetroitDETROIT (AP) The Ilitch companies, which include the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings, is considering the creation of a regional sports network to cover its teams and offer other programming.Officials with the Detroit-based organization said Thursday they have put no...

Bauer's agent says he is rejecting $18.9M qualifying offerCINCINNATI (AP) Trevor Bauer's agent says the pitcher is rejecting the Cincinnati Reds' $18.9 million qualifying offer.The right-hander, who turns 30 in January, was given the offer on Sunday and had until Nov. 11 to make his decision.''Why wait for...

LEADING OFF: Cubs lose their closer, Indians try to clinchBy The Associated PressA look at what's happening around the majors today:PEN PALSThe Cubs will try a closer-by-committee approach down the stretch after learning Pedro Strop is out for the rest of the regular season because of a strained left...

AP Sports WriterGosselin homers twice, Wheeler sharp in Phillies' 7-1 winBy DAN GELSTONPHILADELPHIA (AP) Phil Gosselin homered twice, Didi Gregorius went deep again and new dad Zack Wheeler won his Philadelphia Phillies debut in a 7-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Saturday.J.T. Realmuto added a three-run drive...

AP Baseball WriterAP study: MLB average at around $4.4M for 5th year in rowBy RONALD BLUMNEW YORK (AP) Major League Baseball’s average salary ahead of a postponed opening day remained at around $4.4 million for the fifth straight season, according to a study of contracts by The Associated...

Andrus stays with Rangers, passing 2nd chance to opt outARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Elvis Andrus is staying with the Rangers after the shortstop passed up on a second chance to opt out of his contract and become a free agent.Andrus has $43 million and three years left on his...

AP Baseball WriterChapman, Yankees agree to $48M, 3-year contractBy RONALD BLUMNEW YORK (AP) Aroldis Chapman is staying with the New York Yankees, amending his contract to a $48 million, three-year deal.The 31-year-old All-Star closer had been owed $15 million in each of the next two seasons as part...

Associated PressShields, now a side-armer, hopes to lead White Sox staffBy JACK THOMPSONGLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) James Shields changed his delivery, and he hopes to be a part of a Chicago White Sox turnaround.''My whole career I've been part of rebuilds. In Tampa we were rebuilding every year. When...

AP Baseball WriterAP source: Hill has elbow surgery, to miss 1st half of 2020By RONALD BLUMFree agent left-hander Rich Hill had surgery on his pitching elbow and is likely to miss the first half of next season, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Monday.The...