ANDREW HEANEY

Pedro Moura's new weekly baseball column examines the Rangers' risky rotation, the Giants' contract creativity and the Guardians' power play.

SAN DIEGO — (AP) — Cole Kuiper saw a report on Twitter: Aaron Judge was nearing a deal with the San Francisco Giants. While much of the majors awaited the resolution of Judge's free agency, Taijuan Walker, Mitch Haniger, Cody Bellinger, Josh Bell, Tommy Kahnle and Andrew Heaney all found new homes. Bell agreed to a $33 million, two-year contract with Cleveland, and Bellinger, another Boras client, reached a $17.5 million, one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs. Bell played for Washington and San Diego last season, batting .266 with 17 homers and 71 RBIs in 156 games. He had a $17 million contract this season and likely would have received a slight raise in arbitration.

SAN DIEGO — (AP) — Cole Kuiper saw a report on Twitter: Aaron Judge was nearing a deal with the San Francisco Giants. While much of the majors awaited the resolution of Judge's free agency, Mitch Haniger, Cody Bellinger, Josh Bell, Tommy Kahnle and Andrew Heaney all found new homes. Haniger got a $43.5 million, three-year deal with San Francisco. Bell played for Washington and San Diego last season, batting .266 with 17 homers and 71 RBIs in 156 games. The switch-hitting Bell also is expected to benefit from restrictions on defensive positioning coming to the game next year.

Aaron Judge remains a free agent as baseball's winter meetings continue in San Diego.

Cole Kuiper saw a report on Twitter: Aaron Judge was nearing a deal with the San Francisco Giants. Cole called his father, Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper, to share the good news. Then the report was scrubbed, and Cole had to get back to his vacationing dad.

After winning 111 games in the regular season, the Los Angeles Dodgers appeared on their way to fulfilling manager Dave Roberts' spring prediction of another World Series victory.

Padres pitcher Blake Snell gave up five hits over six innings. Trent Grisham knocked in a homer in front of a sellout crowd. San Diego beat the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLDS.

The atmosphere at Petco Park will be absolutely electric when Blake Snell and the Padres face Tony Gonsolin and the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the first playoff game at San Diego's downtown ballpark with fans in the stands in 16 years.

Albert Pujols rejuvenated his career at Dodger Stadium last season. The legendary St. Louis Cardinals first baseman hit one home run, then another against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday to join MLB's exclusive 700-homer club. The first homer came in the third-inning against Dodgers starter Andrew Heaney, a no-doubter to left field that traveled 434 feet. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided to pull the left-handed Heaney for the right-handed Phil Bickford, but the platoon advantage didn't matter. Pujols bashed another ball to left field and entered a club that once felt impossible.

LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Albert Pujols hit his 699th career home run on Friday night, continuing his remarkable run toward history in his final season. The 42-year-old St. Louis Cardinals slugger went deep to the left-field pavilion off Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Andrew Heaney on a 1-2 pitch with one out in the third inning. Pujols received a standing ovation from the crowd at Dodger Stadium. Pujols is trying to become the fourth major leaguer to reach 700 homers, following Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714). Pujols hit his 20th home run of the year, including 13 since the start of August.

Albert Pujols is on the precipice of once felt like a longshot, the exclusive MLB 700-home run club. 6⃣9⃣9⃣pic.twitter.com/1gtM8Tiy7l — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) September 24, 2022The home run is Pujols' 20th of the season and his 13th since Aug. 10. Albert Pujols climbing toward 700-homer clubThe year Pujols debuted in MLB, Barry Bonds hit 73 home runs on his way to summiting MLB's career homer leaderboard. "I'm still going to retire, no matter whether I end up hitting 693, 696, 700, whatever,'' Pujols told USA Today in August. Postseason homers don't count toward MLB's career leaderboards, but Pujols' place on the October-specific homer leaderboard might feel familiar.

Albert Pujols has hit his 699th career home run, continuing his remarkable run toward history in his final season.

Brendan Donovan hit a grand slam in the seventh inning to lead Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-4 victory against the San Diego Padres, snapping a three-game losing streak.

Justin Turner hit a grand slam and a solo homer for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who emphatically became the first team to clinch a playoff spot this season with an 11-2 victory over the San Diego Padres.

Freddie Freeman drove in the go-ahead run with a grounder in the top of the 10th inning, Chris Martin escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom half and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Miami Marlins 3-2.

Tony Gonsolin took a no-hit try into the seventh inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers won their 11th straight game, beating the Kansas City Royals 8-3.

The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 8-3 for their seventh consecutive victory.

Tony Gonsolin pitched five scoreless innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers threw a four-hitter against the San Diego Padres’ supercharged lineup, winning 8-1 after honoring Vin Scully.

James Outman homered on the first swing of his first big-league at-bat and finished with three hits and three RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 7-3 and closed out July with 21 victories.

Luis Garcia hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning and the last-place Washington Nationals rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-3 for their second straight win against the NL West leaders.

Padres Mets Baseball New York Mets' Max Scherzer pitches during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the San Diego Padres on Friday, July 22, 2022, in New York. Scherzer (6-2, 2.28 ERA) faces the Yankees in the wrapup of this two-game Subway Series at Citi Field. DeGrom is scheduled to make what could be his final minor league rehab start when he pitches for Triple-A Syracuse. He has a 1.00 ERA over his past four starts and also pitched a scoreless inning at the All-Star Game. HEANEY RETURNSDodgers pitcher Andrew Heaney is set for just his fourth appearance this season due to lingering shoulder woes.

Mets star pitchers Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom are both set to start, albeit not in the same ballpark.

The Los Angeles Dodgers surged past the San Francisco Giants with a seventh-inning rally and won 7-4 for their season-high eighth consecutive victory.

Mookie Betts broke an eighth-inning tie with a three-run homer and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 9-6 after blowing a five-run lead in the seventh.

Clayton Kershaw took a perfect game through the seventh and finished with eight scoreless innings of one-hit ball in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 9-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Daniel Hudson was placed on the injury list Saturday with a season-ending torn left ACL. The move was expected after Hudson’s knee buckled in the eighth inning of Friday night’s 4-1 win over the Atlanta Braves as he reacted to a dribbler hit by Ronald Acuña Jr. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said “it was a clean tear of the ACL.”

Dodgers Braves Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers' Trea Turner celebrates with Freddie Freeman (5) after Turner hit a home run, as Atlanta Braves catcher William Contreras watches during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 24, 2022, in Atlanta. The Braves, who remained four games behind the first-place New York Mets in the NL East, fell to 18-4 this month. Freeman shed more tears when he was presented with his World Series ring by Braves manager Brian Snitker before the game. Turner led off the game with a single and scored on Will Smith’s single. Trea Turner hit his 10th homer in the fifth, giving him three hits for the second consecutive game.

Trea Turner had three hits, including a home run, Freddie Freeman reached base three times in his emotional return to Atlanta and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Braves 4-1.

Dodgers star Mookie Betts is headed to the injured list with a cracked right rib.

Tyler Anderson of the Los Angeles Dodgers lost his no-hit bid in the ninth inning, giving up a one-out triple to Shohei Ohtani in a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

Walker Buehler pitched seven sparkling innings in his 100th career start, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the sliding Chicago Cubs 7-1 on Sunday night for their sixth consecutive victory. Buehler (4-1), a two-time All-Star who made his big league debut in 2017, improved to 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA over his last three outings. Cody Bellinger had three hits for Los Angeles, and Justin Turner and Freddie Freeman each contributed a sacrifice fly.

Clayton Kershaw dominated over seven innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the struggling Chicago Cubs 7-0 in the opener of a split doubleheader.

Tony Gonsolin tossed six shutout innings and Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer in the first to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-1 win over the Atlanta Braves.

Reds Dodgers Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers' Trea Turner, left, and Freddie Freeman congratulate each other after they scored on a double by Max Muncy during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds Sunday, April 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. Max Muncy, Will Smith and Chris Taylor had RBI doubles during a seven-run fourth on another dominant day for Los Angeles, which has won six straight. After pitching scoreless ball into the fifth at Minnesota in his Dodgers debut last Tuesday, Heaney retired the first seven Reds he faced. Tyler Mahle (1-1) struck out five before finding big trouble in the fourth, eventually yielding seven runs on seven hits by the Dodgers’ powerhouse lineup. Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 0.00 ERA) starts for Los Angeles after throwing seven perfect innings in his season debut.

The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a four-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds with a 9-1 victory.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have so many stars this season that Clayton Kershaw is just one of the guys.

A one-time colleague has testified that former Los Angeles Angels employee Eric Prescott Kay confided that he watched Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs do drugs the night before he was found dead in Texas.

Wynn said Skaggs told Kay a drug Kay didn't recognize was something he had shared with Matt Harvey, who pitched for the Angels that season. Kay faces charges of drug distribution and drug conspiracy in Skaggs’ death. He was placed on leave shortly after Skaggs’ death, and never returned to the team. All played for the Angels at some point from 2017-19, the years prosecutors allege Kay was providing drugs to Skaggs and others. Beran said evidence would show Kay kept providing drugs to some players after they left the Angels.

Prosecutors say a former Los Angeles Angels employee accused of providing Tyler Skaggs the drugs that caused the pitcher's overdose death lied to police about seeing Skaggs the night before he was found dead.

A former Los Angeles Angels employee accused of providing Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs with the drugs that caused his overdose death is set to go on trial.

Five major league pitchers are on the government’s witness list for the trial of a former Los Angeles Angels employee accused of providing Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs with the drugs that caused his overdose death.

Despite an offseason that figures to be different than any since baseball’s last labor stoppage in 1994-95, the general manger meetings went on as planned in Southern California.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to an $8.5 million, one-year contract with free agent left-hander Andrew Heaney, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The 30-year-old Heaney split 2021 between the Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees, going 8-9 with a 5.83 ERA. The Angels traded him to New York on July 30 for two minor leaguers, and he was 2-2 with a 7.32 ERA in 12 games, including five starts, after the swap.

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Jose Altuve hit a two-run double in the 12th inning and the Houston Astros, after throwing out Shohei Ohtani at the plate to preserve a tie, broke away to defeat the Los Angeles Angels 9-5.

Aaron Judge tied it with his second homer of the game in the eighth inning, Mets infielder Javier Báez gave away the lead with an error a few at-bats later and the New York Yankees beat their crosstown rival 8-7 at Citi Field following a stirring ceremony on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

Bo Bichette thumped a leadoff homer in the first inning and singled in the tiebreaking run in the seventh, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 42nd homer, and the Toronto Blue Jays held off the skidding New York Yankees 6-4 for their eighth straight win.

Gary Sánchez hit a grand slam and a two-run homer, but the New York Yankees blew a late lead and lost again to Baltimore, falling to the last-place Orioles 8-7.

Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 43rd home run and Jose Suarez pitched a five-hitter, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 4-1 win over the Texas Rangers.

Shohei Ohtani hit his major-league leading 42nd home run, Jack Mayfield connected for his first grand slam and the Los Angeles Angels were able to defeat the New York Yankees 8-7.

Yankees White Sox Baseball Chicago White Sox's Tim Anderson celebrates his walk-off home run against the New York Yankees in the ninth inning during a baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021 in Dyersville, Iowa. The White Sox won 9-8. What a leader,” said White Sox acting manager Miguel Cairo, who filled in for Tony La Russa. “That was as special and breathtaking a setting for a baseball game as I’ve ever been part of,” manager Aaron Boone said. White Sox: RF Adam Engel left the game in the eighth with tightness in his right groin.

Wandy Peralta retired Freddie Freeman with the bases loaded for the final out, and the New York Yankees held off the Atlanta Braves 5-4 in a thriller to extend their longest winning streak in 36 years to 11 games.

Padres Rothschild Baseball FILE - In this June 17, 2021, file photo, San Diego Padres pitching coach Larry Rothschild walks back to the dugout after a mound visit in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in San Diego. The slumping Padres fired Rothschild on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. San Diego has lost nine of 11, falling one game behind Cincinnati for the second NL wild card. Three of the Padres’ main starters — Yu Darvish, Chris Paddack and Dinelson Lamet — are on the injured list. The first-place Brewers have a 7 1/2-game advantage over Cincinnati, which leads San Diego by one game for the second NL wild card.

One day after firing pitching coach Larry Rothschild, the slumping San Diego Padres begin a three-game series Tuesday night against the NL West rival Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yankees Braves Baseball New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton follows though on a solo home run in the second during a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) (John Bazemore)ATLANTA — (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton homered and drove in three runs to carry the New York Yankees to their 10th straight victory, cooling off the streaking Atlanta Braves 5-1 on Monday night. In the second, Stanton put the Yankees ahead with his 21st homer — going the opposite way with a 387-foot shot into the Chop House restaurant in right. New York went ahead for good in the sixth, taking advantage of Ynoa's only spurt of wildness. The Phillies won 4-1 for their 10th straight victory, but Pittsburgh went on to capture the NL pennant.

Giancarlo Stanton homered and drove in three runs to carry the New York Yankees to their 10th straight victory, cooling off the streaking Atlanta Braves 5-1.

Red Sox Yankees Baseball New York Yankees' Andrew Velazquez reacts after hitting an RBI single during the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, in New York. “We got beat in every aspect of the game,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “If you ask Bobby, probably he’ll tell you he needs to make that play,” Cora said. ... RHP Ryan Brasier is close to joining the Red Sox, Cora said. Yankees: RHP Jameson Taillon (7-4, 3.89 ERA) takes the ball Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series against Minnesota.

Red Sox Yankees Baseball New York Yankees pitcher Andrew Heaney winds up during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, in New York. ... RHP Ryan Brasier is close to joining the Red Sox, Cora said. Bench coach Will Venable, who tested positive for the coronavirus while the team was in Toronto and was forced to quarantine in Canada, will rejoin the Red Sox at home Friday. ROSTER MOVERed Sox RHP Tanner Houck was returned to Worcester after serving as the 27th man for Tuesday’s doubleheader. Yankees: RHP Jameson Taillon (7-4, 3.89 ERA) takes the ball Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series against Minnesota.

Andrew Heaney pitched seven smooth innings, Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run single in his return from COVID-19, and the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 5-2 to match a season best with their sixth straight victory.

Miguel Cabrera’s next attempt to reach 500 career home runs comes Wednesday night at home in Detroit against Shohei Ohtani and the Angels.

Tim Anderson recently admitted he has never watched “Field of Dreams.” Well, he just submitted a pretty good script for a sequel.

Yankees White Sox Baseball Chicago White Sox's Tim Anderson celebrates his walk-off home run against the New York Yankees in the ninth inning during a baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021 in Dyersville, Iowa. The Yankees and White Sox are playing at a temporary stadium in the middle of a cornfield at the Field of Dreams movie site, the first Major League Baseball game held in Iowa. The White Sox won 9-8. José Abreu hit the first drive into the sea of green stalks, and teammates Eloy Jiménez and Seby Zavala followed him with homers for the White Sox. RHP Jameson Taillon (7-4, 3.82 ERA) pitches for the Yankees on Saturday night, with RHP Dylan Cease (9-6, 3.99 ERA) taking the mound for the White Sox.

Tim Anderson hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning into the cornfield to end the Field of Dreams game in cinematic fashion.

The diamond is built, and now they will come -- José Abreu, Aaron Judge and all, to Iowa.

Orioles Yankees Baseball Yankee Stadium grounds crew members try to catch a cat that entered the field in the eighth inning of a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in New York. The cat sped past Baltimore left fielder Ryan McKenna, then got on the warning track and dashed back and forth. MVP!” as the cat eluded its would-be captors, even after being surrounded by several of them near the 318-foot mark in left field. Joey Gallo started in left field and ended López’s no-hit bid with a clean double to open the sixth. STANTON IN RIGHTAfter two appearances in left field during the weekend in Miami, Yankees star Giancarlo Stanton started in right field for the first time since June 24, 2019.

In a game delayed for several minutes while a bevy of groundskeepers tried to corral a scaredy cat in the outfield, the Baltimore Orioles hit four solo homers off Yankees newcomer Andrew Heaney to beat New York 7-1.

Orioles Yankees Baseball Yankee Stadium grounds crew members try to catch a cat that entered the field in the eighth inning of a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in New York. The cat sped past Baltimore left fielder Ryan McKenna, then got on the warning track and dashed back and forth. MVP!” as the cat eluded its would-be captors, even after being surrounded by several of them near the 318-foot mark in left field. Joey Gallo started in left field and ended López’s no-hit bid with a clean double to open the sixth. STANTON IN RIGHTAfter two appearances in left field during the weekend in Miami, Yankees star Giancarlo Stanton started in right field for the first time since June 24, 2019.

Anthony Rizzo continued his remarkable debut for the Yankees with another key hit and New York completed a three-game sweep with a 3-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Sunday.

Now this truly was an All-Star trade deadline day.

Shohei Ohtani continued his power display Wednesday, crushing a three-run home run, and Phil Gosselin had a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning for the Los Angeles Angels, who rallied for an 8-7 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 32nd homer and broke the single-season major league record for homers by a Japanese player during the Los Angeles Angels’ 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

Shohei Ohtani pitched seven innings of five-hit ball and hit an early RBI double, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

Aaron Judge and Gary Sánchez powered a long-awaited onslaught from New York’s star-studded lineup, helping the Yankees overcome two more home runs by big league leader Shohei Ohtani to beat the Los Angeles Angels 11-5.

Ohtani scorched a cutter by Brett de Geus down the right-field line for a three-run shot to give the Angels a 9-1 lead in the fourth inning. But Shohei plays by his own rules," said Jared Walsh, who also homered for the Angels. Walsh had two hits and three RBIs while Upton added two hits and two RBIs as the Angels matched their highest-scoring game of the season. The right-hander — who got his first victory since April 9 against Toronto — did not allow a hit until the fourth inning. None of this pitchers were effective and he got in trouble right away,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward said.

The Angels capped one of the most stunning days in franchise history by blowing a late three-run lead as Tampa Bay completed a four-game sweep. The Rays then broke it open in the eighth, sending 12 batters to the plate and getting six hits off three Angels pitchers. Josh Fleming (2-3) got the win for the Rays, who have won five straight and posted their first four-game sweep at Angel Stadium since 2012. The left-hander allowed three runs in five innings after Collin McHugh opened with two shutout innings and five strikeouts. Shohei Ohtani hit his 10th home run of the season for the Angels, who have dropped a season-high five in a row.

(CNN) - A moment of silence was held Tuesday before the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers took the field, in memory of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Skaggs' image was displayed on the electronic billboard in Globe Life Park in Arlington before Tuesday's Major League Baseball game. Angels players wore Skaggs' number -- 45 -- on black patches on their uniforms in their first game since his death. Angels pitcher Andrew Heaney grabbed Skaggs' jersey and held it with another player during the moment of silence. Monday's game, the first of a four-game series against the Rangers, was postponed after Skaggs' death.