Spring training has started, yet two of baseball’s biggest stars, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, are sitting at home.

For those who think this is a strong indication that the national pastime is headed toward another paralyzing labor dispute, do not fret.

There’s too much money at ...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Roberto Osuna will close for the Houston Astros.

“I can pretend and create some false competition, and that doesn’t gain any credibility,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “Transparency goes a long way, and maybe the closer question can be put to rest.”

Hinch ...

A team-by-team look at the American League West entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:

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Houston Astros

Manager: AJ Hinch (fifth season).

2018: 103-59, ...

HOUSTON (AP) — Reliever Chris Devenski and the Houston Astros avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $1,525,000.

The deal contains a $2,625,000 team option for 2020, and the option price could escalate based on games in 2019: $2,725,000 for 50, $2,825,000 for ...

HOUSTON (AP) — Asked what attracted him to the Houston Astros, Wade Miley responded with a laugh and said: “Will Harris.”

The pair played together for Arizona in 2013 and 2014 and lived together on multiple occasions. They come small Louisiana towns north of New Orleans, about an hour ...

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros have long admired Michael Brantley’s game from afar.

They’re ready to appreciate it up close.

The Astros finalized a $32 million, two-year contract Wednesday with the free agent outfielder and introduced him in Houston.

“We like everything ...

HOUSTON (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press the Houston Astros have agreed to a two-year deal with free agent outfielder Michael Brantley.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity Monday night because the club has not yet announced the ...

BARQUISIMETO, Venezuela (AP) — Dozens of Venezuelans waited in line outside a chapel in the state of Lara on Saturday, hoping to bid farewell to former major league baseball player Luis Valbuena, who was killed in a car accident along with teammate Jose Castillo.

The corpse of Castillo was ...

BALTIMORE (AP) — New Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias called upon a familiar face to help rebuild the club, hiring former NASA engineer Sig Mejdal from the Houston Astros to be assistant general manager for analytics.

Mejdal will report to Elias and will oversee all aspects of ...

BALTIMORE (AP) — New Orioles general manager Mike Elias spoke excitedly Monday about rebuilding the worst team in the majors by drafting wisely, stocking the farm system and delving deep into the International market.

After finishing 47-115 this year, the Orioles essentially will start ...

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. will miss all of next season following Tommy John surgery.

Houston announced McCullers had the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow repaired Tuesday.

The 25-year-old was 10-6 with a 3.86 ERA in 22 starts ...

NEW YORK (AP) — Boston’s five-game World Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers averaged 14,125,000 viewers on Fox, down 25 percent from last year and the fourth-lowest ever.

The Series featuring a pair of large-market teams averaged an 8.3 rating and 17 share, Nielsen said Tuesday. ...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Another year, another World Series celebration at Dodger Stadium by a team that wasn’t the Dodgers.

It was almost too much to take for Los Angeles fans who watched the Boston Red Sox take the series in five games Sunday by winning 5-1, the same score of the Houston ...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Latest on Los Angeles Dodgers fans reactions to the World Series (all times local):

8:40 p.m.

For the second straight year, Los Angeles Dodgers fans had to watch another team celebrate a World Series victory on their home field.

The Dodgers lost the ...

BOSTON (AP) — When Alex Cora was hired to manage the Red Sox a year ago, he knew he wanted to put relationships with his players first.

It made him a success as general manager of Puerto Rico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, again as a GM and manager in the Puerto Rican Winter League ...

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros entered the AL Championship Series aching.

Jose Altuve was playing on just one good knee, Carlos Correa’s back was never right and Lance McCullers was pitching through an injury that will likely require surgery.

Now the Astros are hurting even worse, ...

It probably felt like a cutting-edge caper at the time: The New York Giants, using an elaborate spyglass-and-buzzer system, would have the opposing team’s signs relayed from their center-field clubhouse at the Polo Grounds to the bullpen and then to the batter, passing along valuable information ...

HOUSTON (AP) — David Price, at last, looked like a postseason ace. Craig Kimbrel pitched a lockdown inning. And much-maligned Jackie Bradley Jr. became an MVP.

Most everything went right for the Red Sox as they sailed into the World Series. Now the big question for Boston: Is everything ...

HOUSTON (AP) — What a birthday present for rookie manager Alex Cora. He’s taking the Boston Red Sox back to the World Series.

David Price put his postseason woes behind him, pitching the Red Sox past the defending champion Houston Astros 4-1 Thursday night in Game 5 of the AL Championship ...

HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros couldn’t soar into another World Series.

A year after Houston won the first title in the team’s 56 seasons, Verlander had a rare off night in an elimination game and the Astros lost the AL Championship Series to the Boston Red Sox in ...

HOUSTON (AP) — Carlos Correa has been moved from seventh to fourth in the Houston Astros’ batting order for Game 5 of the AL Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox.

Astros manager AJ Hinch made the switch for his team’s must-win game Thursday night after Correa had three hits and ...

HOUSTON (AP) — Andrew Benintendi charged in hard and left his feet.

Make the catch, Boston wins.

If not ... no telling.

On this night, though, even a ball the Red Sox didn’t grab went their way.

Benintendi made a

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve was sure he’d hit a tying home run for the Houston Astros in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series. He thought it was a double, at least, when he watched the ball ricochet back onto the field.

Then, he saw the signal: He was out, and couldn’t believe it.

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Houston Astros didn’t cheat. They didn’t want to get cheated.

That’s their story, and Major League Baseball agrees.

Following an investigation into two incidents this postseason, MLB said that the defending World Series champions were conducting surveillance — ...

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Latest on an MLB investigation of an Astros employee seen taking photos or video near Cleveland’s dugout (all times local):

7:30 p.m.

Dave Dombrowski doesn’t believe a person associated with the Houston Astros was trying to steal signs when he was removed from a ...

HOUSTON (AP) — Alex Bregman is in the leadoff spot for the Houston Astros in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox after batting third in the team’s first six playoff games.

Houston manager AJ Hinch made the change after the Red Sox walked Bregman seven times ...

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:

SPYGATE, THE SEQUEL

The Houston Astros might find themselves defending more than their World Series title. The champions are under scrutiny after Cleveland filed a complaint to Major League Baseball about a man associated with ...

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Houston Astros may be defending more than their World Series title.

The champions are under scrutiny after Cleveland filed a complaint to Major League Baseball about a man associated with Houston attempting to film in the Indians’ dugout during Game 3 of the AL ...

HOUSTON (AP) — Jackie Bradley Jr. didn’t let his demeanor change this season, even as fans begged Boston to trade him during a miserable first-half slump.

Stayed steady after the biggest swing of his career, too.

Bradley belted a grand slam for his second big hit in the AL ...

HOUSTON (AP) — Six-time All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve is a designated hitter for the Houston Astros in the playoffs for the first time.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch has Altuve as the DH for Game 3 of the American League ...

HOUSTON (AP) — Alex Bregman and the Houston Astros are brimming with confidence, even after a Game 2 AL Championship Series defeat to the Boston Red Sox.

For proof, just see Bregman’s social media feed.

Hours after Boston beat Houston 7-5 to even the best-of-seven series at a game ...

BOSTON (AP) — David Price went home a winner in a postseason start for the first time in his career.

That, he insisted, is all he ever cared about.

“This is bigger than David Price,” he said on Sunday night. “This isn’t about me. This is about the Boston Red Sox.”

Price was ...

BOSTON (AP) — Gerrit Cole struggled at the beginning of his second playoff start with the Houston Astros.

By the time he recovered, it was too late. Boston was well on its way to a big win.

Cole’s electric fastball was lined all over Fenway Park and he also committed a costly error ...

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora has shuffled his lineup for Game 2 against the Houston Astros, putting infielders Ian Kinsler and Rafael Devers and catcher Christian Vazquez in the starting lineup for the first time in the AL Championship Series.

Devers was batting sixth and ...

BOSTON (AP) — With temperatures dipping into the 40s, numbing their fingertips as they tried to grip the baseball, Justin Verlander and Chris Sale both struggled to get the ball over the plate.

Verlander recovered quickly.

Sale never did.

After walking in one run and giving up ...

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:

ACES ABOUND

Justin Verlander and the World Series champion Houston Astros face Red Sox lefty Chris Sale in a marquee matchup to start the AL Championship Series at Fenway Park.

The All-Stars met twice last year in AL Division ...

BOSTON (AP) — J.D. Martinez wants to thank the Houston Astros — not get back at them — for releasing him when he was struggling to make himself into a star.

The Red Sox slugger credits his growing pains in Houston for teaching him “how to fail,” a lesson he credits with transforming him ...

BOSTON (AP) — Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch has added pitchers Hector Rondon and Joe Smith and to the roster for the AL Championship Series against Boston.

Outfielder Myles Straw and reliever Will Harris will not be active for the best-of-seven series that begins Saturday night at ...