COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — John Altobelli’s team knew there was only one way to honor its late coach — by playing on his favorite day. Altobelli’s Orange Coast College baseball team opened its season as scheduled on Tuesday against Chula Vista Southwestern. The game occurred two days after Altobelli, his wife and their 13-year-old daughter were killed in the ...

Andrew Knizner on getting comfortable in the big leagues: “I really wasn’t able to settle down at the plate until that second time I got called up when I knew I was going to be up for a month. … The more experience I get, the more I can slow the game down.”

If there’s one person we can count on to make sure that the integrity of the game is upheld at Winter Warm-Up, it’s Jim Hayes.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ryan Zimmerman and the World Series champion Washington Nationals finalized a $2 million, one-year contract on Wednesday. The 35-year-old first baseman, who has spent his entire 15-year big league career with the Nationals, can earn $3 million in performance bonuses. He can earn $1.5 million based on games: $250,000 each for 65, 80, 95, 110, 125 and ...

HOUSTON (AP) — Dusty Baker is working to finalize an agreement to become manager of the Houston Astros, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been completed. The 70-year-old Baker becomes the oldest manager in the big leagues. He takes over ...

CINCINNATI (AP) — Free agent outfielder Nick Castellanos signed a $64 million, four-year deal Monday with the Reds, Cincinnati’s latest big-money move to emerge from years of losing. The deal allows Castellanos to opt out and become a free agent after the 2020 or 2021 seasons. He gets salaries of $16 million in 2020, $14 million in 2021, and $16 ...

PITTSBURGH (AP) — When the Arizona Diamondbacks landed ace Madison Bumgarner in free agency last month, the three-time World Series winner made a surprising offer, one that came with a very urgent catch. Bumgarner told the Diamondbacks they could defer some of the money on his five-year deal if they promised to spend the up-front savings on making the club ...

CINCINNATI (AP) — Free agent outfielder Nicholas Castellanos agreed to a $64 million, four-year deal in the Cincinnati Reds‘ latest big-money move to emerge from years of losing, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the club hadn’t announced the deal, which would allow ...

Alex Anthopoulos on Marcell Ozuna

Cole Hamels on signing with Braves