Mike Leake
Los Angeles Dodgers' Corey Seager (5) gets a high-five from Mookie Betts (50) after Seager hit a home run during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball against the Colorado Rockies game Monday, March 15, 2021, in Scottdale, Ariz. Betts also scored. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
National League West Preview Capsules

By The Associated Press Mar. 18, 2021 10:36 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2020, file photo, Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish throws during the first inning in Game 2 of the team's NL wild-card baseball series against the Miami Marlins in Chicago. The San Diego Padres traded for another big arm on Tuesday night, Dec. 29, acquiring Darvish in a blockbuster deal with the Cubs. The Padres got Darvish, catcher Victor Caratini and cash from the Cubs for right-hander Zach Davies and four young minor leaguers. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
NL West teams at the start of spring training

By The Associated Press Feb. 11, 2021 10:52 AM EST

Dozen MLB players have options turned down, go free

Oct. 28, 2020 09:31 PM EDT
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — What figures to be a down and perhaps brutal market for baseball free agents in the offseason following the pandemic began Wednesday...

D-backs decline options for three pitchers, including Leake

Oct. 28, 2020 08:42 PM EDT
PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks have declined options for the 2021 season for right-handed pitchers Mike Leake, Hector Rondón and Junior Guerra. ...

FILE - In this Sunday, July 5, 2020, file photo, San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey carries his bats during a baseball practice in San Francisco. Posey is the latest big-name player to skip this season because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. Posey announced his decision on Friday, July 10, 2020. He says his family finalized the adoption of identical twin girls this week. The babies were born prematurely and Posey said after consultations with his wife and doctor he decided to opt out of the season. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
Giants star catcher Posey out this year over virus concerns

By Josh Dubow Jul. 10, 2020 01:00 PM EDT

FILE - In this July 18, 2018, file photo, Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford speaks during a news conference at the ACC NCAA college football media day in Charlotte, N.C. Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford is retiring after the 2020-21 academic year, ending his tenure after 24 years. Swofford, 71, has been commissioner of the ACC since 1997, the longest run in that position in the history of the 67-year-old conference. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
The Latest: Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott tests positive

By The Associated Press Jul. 10, 2020 11:44 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 2, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher David Price throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning of a spring training baseball game in Goodyear, Ariz. Price will not play this season because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, delaying his Los Angeles debut until next year. The five-time All-Star became the latest player to opt out, posting Saturday, July 4, 2020, on Twitter that he would not participate in the 60-game season that is scheduled to begin July 23. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
Dodgers pitcher Price won't play this year because of virus

By Ben Walker Jul. 04, 2020 05:47 PM EDT

FILE - In a Monday, March 2, 2020 file photo, Washington Nationals pitcher Joe Ross throws during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Miami Marlins, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Longtime infielder Ryan Zimmerman and pitcher Joe Ross are opting out of playing the 2020 season as Major League Baseball tries to get back amid the COVID-19 pandemic. General manager Mike Rizzo says the team is 100% supportive of Zimmerman and Ross deciding not to play.(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Roster shuffle: Plans change in MLB because of health issues

By David Brandt Jun. 29, 2020 05:09 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2019, file photo, Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Mike Leake throws against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game, in Phoenix. Diamondbacks right-hander Mike Leake has opted out of the 2020 season due to concerns about the coronavirus. Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen did not elaborate on Leake’s decision during a Zoom call, but the pitcher’s agent issued a statement saying he made a personal decision not to play during the pandemic. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
Diamondbacks right-hander Mike Leake opts out of 2020 season

By John Marshall Jun. 29, 2020 02:57 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 4, 1977, file photo, Bob Howsam, center, president of the former world champion Cincinnati Reds, smiles during the free agent re-entry draft in New York. Reds vice president of administration, Dick Wagner, is at right. Person at left is unidentified. Baseball's amateur draft this week will look much different because of the coronavirus pandemic, and more permanent changes could be coming soon. (AP Photo/Harry Harris, File)
A look back at big hits, bad calls as MLB eyes new draft era

By Mike Fitzpatrick Jun. 08, 2020 02:42 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2019, file photo, Tampa Bay Rays' Kevin Kiermaier, top left, relaxes in the dugout with teammates in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto. Major League Baseball’s average salary as opening day approached remained virtually flat at around $4.4 million for the fifth straight season, according to a study of contracts by The Associated Press. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
AP study: MLB average at around $4.4M for 5th year in row

By Ronald Blum May. 05, 2020 02:00 AM EDT