Mets give retention bonuses to six

Texas Rangers pitcher Mike Minor throws against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning of a spring training baseball game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Surprise, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Texas Rangers pitcher Mike Minor throws against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning of a spring training baseball game Saturday, March 23, 2019, in Surprise, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

NEW YORK-The New York Mets said they'll give $100,000 retention bonuses to six players at spring training with minor league contracts, assuring depth by keeping outfielders Carlos Gomez, Rajai Davis and Gregor Blanco, left-hander Hector Santiago, catcher Devin Mesoraco and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.

Just three other players received the retention bonus offers before Saturday's noon EDT deadline: Chicago White Sox right-hander Ervin Santana, San Diego catcher Chris Stewart and Toronto right-hander Bud Norris.

Players will receive the bonus by April 15 and can start the season in the minor leagues. A player has until May 28 to ask for his release if not added to the 40-man roster by June 1.

The deadline was Saturday for teams to make decisions on players who exercised free agency rights after the World Series and then agreed to minor league deals. Teams could inform the player they will be added to the big league roster by opening day next Thursday, offer the retention bonus or release the player.

Texas told Logan Forsythe, Jeanmar Gomez and Hunter Pence they will make the opening-day roster, and Pittsburgh notified Melky Cabrera and left-hander Francisco Liriano.

Other players told they'll make the opening-day roster include Detroit second baseman Gordon Beckham, Miami outfielder Curtis Granderson, Cincinnati shortstop Jose Iglesias, San Francisco outfielder Gerardo Parra, Colorado first baseman Mark Reynolds and St. Louis catcher Matt Wieters.

Released players may re-sign with the same teams or elsewhere. Players released from minor league deals they signed as free agents included shortstop Alcides Escobar and outfielder Eric Young Jr. (Baltimore); right-hander Junichi Tazawa (Chicago White Sox); right-hander Tyler Clippard, infielder Ryan Flaherty and outfielder Matt Joyce (Cleveland); right-hander Randall Delgado and outfielder Brandon Guyer (White Sox); catcher Bobby Wilson (Detroit); right-hander Daniel Hudson (Los Angeles Angels); right-hander Josh Tomlin (Milwaukee); left-hander Tim Collins, first baseman Lucas Duda and infielder Adam Rosales (Minnesota); catcher Drew Butera and infielder/outfielder Andrew Romine (Philadelphia); outfielder Cameron Maybin and catcher Rene Rivera (San Francisco); right-hander Jason Hammel (Texas) and right-hander John Axford (Toronto).

 

METS 12, BRAVES 2

NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom tossed three perfect innings in his final spring start for New York. Amed Rosario drove in three runs and scored three times, and top prospect Pete Alonso had an RBI double and two singles.

Atlanta rookie Touki Toussaint entered in the fourth inning and retired just five batters, allowing seven runs-six earned-and six hits. Ronald Acuna Jr. hit his fourth home run.

 

CARDINALS 4, NATIONALS 4

Washington ace Stephen Strasburg struck out nine in 5 2/3 innings, but allowed three earned runs and eight hits. Strasburg gave up a two-run homer to pitcher Miles Mikolas.

Anthony Rendon and Matt Adams each hit a solo drive for the Nationals.

Mikolas, St. Louis' opening-day starter, allowed four runs in three innings, raising his ERA to 6.23. Tyler O'Neill had a double and three singles.

 

PIRATES (SS) 5, PHILLIES 3

Pittsburgh's Corey Dickerson hit a two-run homer run and doubled. Francisco Cervelli drove in a run with his first double. Jordan Lyles started, yielding three runs in five innings.

Philadelphia right-hander Zach Eflin allowed four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. Eflin also had a two-run single.

 

RED SOX 12, PIRATES (SS) 3

Boston ace Chris Sale pitched five scoreless innings in his first start since finalizing a new contract that guarantees an additional $145 million from 2020 to 2024. The wiry left-hander allowed two hits, struck out six and walked one.

Jameson Taillon started for Pittsburgh's split squad, allowing four runs and eight hits in four innings. Top prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes hit his third home run-a three-run shot.

 

TIGERS 8, RAYS 7

Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera hit a solo drive for his fourth homer. Cameron Rupp lined a game-ending, two-run double to right in the ninth.

Tigers right-hander Jordan Zimmermann pitched four innings and was charged with three runs and five hits.

Tampa Bay's Charlie Morton allowed four unearned runs in two innings. Ji-Man Choi had a solo homer and RBI double. Tommy Pham added his first homer-a two-run shot.

 

BLUE JAYS (SS) 7, YANKEES 3

Toronto's Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit his fourth homer-a two-run shot-doubled and singled.

Gleyber Torres hit a three-run drive for New York. Miguel Andujar doubled and scored. Opening-day starter Masahiro Tanaka pitched two scoreless innings in his final tuneup, allowing one hit.

 

INDIANS 8, REDS 5

Kevin Plawecki had three hits and four RBIs for Cleveland, including his first spring homer. Carlos Santana had three singles and drove in a run. Trevor Bauer allowed five runs in 6 2/3 innings.

Jose Iglesias and Jesse Winker homered twice for Cincinnati. Winker finished with three RBIs.

The Reds announced that All-Star second baseman Scooter Gennett has a right groin strain and is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks. Manager David Bell will move Jose Peraza to second during Gennett's absence and Iglesias will start at shortstop. The Reds also are calling up catcher/infielder Kyle Farmer, who was one of Friday's roster cuts.

 

PADRES 11, ANGELS 4

Wil Myers homered, drove in two runs and scored three times for San Diego. Franchy Cordero and Ian Kinsler also connected, and Manny Machado had two hits and scored twice.

Padres lefty Joey Lucchesi pitched five innings of two-run ball.

Justin Bour hit a two-run homer for Los Angeles. Closer Cody Allen worked the fourth inning, allowing three runs and three hits.

 

BREWERS (SS) 7, RANGERS 3

Ben Gamel hit a two-run homer for Milwaukee's split-squad, and Jesus Aguilar had an RBI double.

Mike Minor started for Texas, pitching five innings and allowing four runs and seven hits.

Texas reliever Jason Hammel announced he will retire to spend more time with his family, one day after the Rangers informed him he had made their opening-day roster. The departure of the 13-year veteran means right-hander Jeanmar Gomez will break camp with the team.

 

ROYALS 6, BREWERS (SS) 4

NL MVP Christian Yelich and Travis Shaw each hit a two-run homer for the Brewers.

Lucas Duda hit a solo drive in his first game since signing a minor league deal with Kansas City. Hunter Dozier also went deep. Brad Keller yielded four runs in 4 2/3 innings.

 

WHITE SOX 5, DODGERS 1

Eloy Jimenez celebrated his new contract with three hits for Chicago, including a solo homer. Jimenez, one of baseball's top prospects, finalized a $43 million, six-year deal with the White Sox on Friday, nearly double the amount of the previous high for a player under club control yet to make his major league debut.

Yoan Moncada also connected for Chicago, and Manny Banuelos pitched five effective innings.

Chris Taylor hit a solo homer for Los Angeles.

 

GIANTS 3, DIAMONDBACKS 2

Joe Panik hit a two-run single and Alen Hanson added a solo home run for San Francisco. Derek Holland started, pitching four innings and giving up two runs and six hits.

Robbie Ray struck out 11 in 5 /3 innings in his final tuneup for Arizona. He was charged with two runs and five hits.

San Francisco released Cameron Maybin after the veteran outfielder hit just .163 in 43 at-bats and was arrested earlier this month on a DUI charge. The Giants also announced they had acquired outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, the grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, from the Orioles for right-hander Tyler Herb in a minor league deal.

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