JOSH BELL

Rowan Kavner spotlights five free-agent signings who could rebound with their new clubs next season.

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.

Framber Valdez will start Game 2 of the World Series for the Houston Astros on Saturday night against Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies.

No U.S.-born Black players are projected to be on World Series rosters when the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros meet this week.

Aaron Nola and the Philadelphia Phillies had been rolling this postseason.

Drury and Josh Bell hit back-to-back homers for the Padres, and Manny Machado went deep late. The Phillies, trying to reach their first World Series since 2009, outscored Atlanta 17-4 in two home Division Series games last weekend to eliminate the defending World Series champion Braves. The Padres, playing in their first NLCS since 1998, appeared to be in deep trouble after Snell threw 37 pitches in the Phillies' four-run second. San Diego began its comeback with homers on consecutive pitches by Drury and Bell to open the bottom of the inning. Drury lined a shot to left field and Bell lifted a fly ball deep to right that stayed just fair.

Brandon Drury hit a go-ahead, two-run single during a five-run rally in the fifth inning and the San Diego Padres stunned Aaron Nola and the Philadelphia Phillies 8-5 to tie their all-wild card NL Championship Series at one game apiece.

Juan Soto, Manny Machado and unlikely star Trent Grisham went silent for the San Diego Padres, giving the Petco Park faithful little to get loud about in the city’s first NL Championship Series since 1998.

Bryce Harper homered again, Kyle Schwarber hit a jaw-dropping, 488-foot drive and Zack Wheeler was brilliant in throwing one-hit ball for seven innings to lead the Philadelphia Phillies over the San Diego Padres 2-0 in the opening game of the all-wild card NL Championship Series.

As a rare October rainstorm drenched Petco Park in the eighth inning, nobody at the packed downtown home of the San Diego Padres flinched.

It even had something never seen before: a postseason San Diego Padres victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. So often, actually, that’s the problem in baseball, the way successful play can bypass excitement on its way to a win. We’re quick to bemoan the boring baseball that results from ruthless efficiency, so let me be unequivocal in my delight. But the consensus, from Machado, Soto, Cronenworth and Melvin for the key moment was the pitching performance by 31-year-old journeyman rookie reliever Robert Suárez. Unbiased observers would likely say the most memorable moment of the night had nothing to do with baseball at all.

Trea Turner homered and doubled as the Los Angeles Dodgers started fast and held off the San Diego Padres 5-3 in their NL Division Series opener.

The panic meter exploded after Friday's embarrassing loss, but the New York Mets staved off elimination with a huge win over the Padres on Saturday.

NEW YORK — (AP) — Pete Alonso launched a tiebreaking homer and Jacob deGrom pitched well enough to help save the New York Mets' season with a 7-3 victory over the San Diego Padres that evened their wild-card playoff series at one game apiece Saturday night. Joe Musgrove is scheduled to start for his hometown Padres against 15-game winner Chris Bassitt. Ruf ended the season with four hits, none for extra bases, in his final 48 at-bats (.083). UP NEXTMusgrove (10-7, 2.93 ERA) grew up a Padres fan in the San Diego suburbs and signed a $100 million, five-year contract with his hometown team this season. Bassitt went 15-9 with a 3.42 ERA in his first season with the Mets after coming over in a trade with Oakland, where he pitched for Melvin.

Pete Alonso launched a tiebreaking homer and Jacob deGrom pitched well enough to help save the New York Mets’ season with a 7-3 victory over the San Diego Padres that evened their wild-card playoff series at one game apiece.

The New York Mets find themselves on the verge of getting aced out.

NEW YORK — (AP) — Josh Bell and Manny Machado smashed two of San Diego's four home runs off Max Scherzer, and the Padres romped past the New York Mets 7-1 on Friday night in their playoff opener. Blake Snell starts Saturday night in Game 2 against scuffling Mets ace Jacob deGrom. Darvish is 5-0 with a 2.56 ERA in eight career regular-season starts against the Mets, including 3-0 at Citi Field. It was the fourth time Scherzer allowed four home runs in a game, his career high. The 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner was 1-1 in two outings against the Mets this season.

The Mets paid Max Scherzer $43 million this year for October - instead, he had the worst start of the season, giving up four homers in the loss.

Josh Bell and Manny Machado smashed two of San Diego’s four home runs off Max Scherzer, and the Padres romped past the New York Mets 7-1 in their playoff opener.

For two teams that finished second fiddle in their divisions, the Padres and Mets bring an awful lot of star power into the playoffs.

Blake Snell held St. Louis hitless until Albert Pujols beat the shift for a single with two outs in the seventh inning and the San Diego Padres beat the NL Central-leading Cardinals 1-0.

San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin says he reached out to suspended All-Star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. in a phone call.

Brandon Drury hit a go-ahead, three-run home run in the sixth and Austin Nola’s two-run homer capped a seven-run rally that carried the San Diego Padres to a wild 13-7 win against the San Francisco Giants.

Giants Padres Baseball San Diego Padres' Manny Machado reacts after hitting a game-ending, three-run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, in San Diego. The Padres started their winning rally when Jurickson Profar hit a one-out single off Rogers and Soto reached on catcher's interference. Machado then drove his 20th homer to left field and was welcomed by a wild celebration at home. Hader blew the save in his first opportunity with the Padres, allowing three runs as the Giants tied it at 4 in the ninth. Giants starter Alex Cobb allowed three runs and six hits in five-plus innings, struck out seven and walked two.

Manny Machado hit a game-ending, three-run homer and Juan Soto connected for his first long ball with the San Diego Padres, who overcame a blown save by Josh Hader to beat the San Francisco Giants 7-4.

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.

Rockies Padres Baseball San Diego Padres right fielder Juan Soto smiles during batting practice before team's baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) (Gregory Bull)SAN DIEGO — (AP) — Juan Soto arrived at Petco Park promising to bring “good vibes” to the San Diego Padres and issuing a warning to opposing teams. The two were flown to San Diego on a private jet Tuesday night. Try to bring my experience from 2019 as a World Series champ to here in San Diego. "That’s what I’m going to do, that’s what I have in my mind since I saw the trade yesterday.

Juan Soto has arrived at Petco Park promising to bring “good vibes” to the San Diego Padres and issuing a warning to opposing teams.

This is quite a time to be a season ticket holder for the San Diego Padres.

Jacob deGrom allowed one run on three hits and struck out six in five innings in his season debut before a bullpen meltdown cost the New York Mets in a 5-1 loss to the Washington Nationals.

The San Diego Padres have acquired superstar outfielder Juan Soto from the Washington Nationals in one of baseball’s biggest deals at the trade deadline.

The Juan Soto sweepstakes come down to the wire, with baseball’s trade deadline fast approaching at 6 p.m. EDT.

When Juan Soto turned down a $440 million, 15-year deal to stay with the Washington Nationals, it ensured Tuesday’s trade deadline would have a little juice.

Marlins Nationals Baseball Washington Nationals' Josh Bell reacts toward the dugout after he hit a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, July 3, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) (Nick Wass)WASHINGTON — (AP) — Dave Martinez writes Josh Bell's name on the Washington Nationals lineup card virtually every single game this season and plans to keep doing so. Bell, who turns 30 on Aug. 14, is batting .304 with 13 home runs and has driven in a team-leading 53 runs. Honestly, he’s really good about being where his feet are. “He’s really cut down his chases and is really trying to put the ball in play,” Martinez said.

Juan Soto could be the biggest star dealt before the Major League Baseball trade deadline if the Washington Nationals choose to make that move.

Nationals Dodgers Baseball Washington Nationals starting pitcher Josiah Gray throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (Mark J. Terrill)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — 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 Tuesday night for their second straight win against the NL West leaders. Mookie Betts hit his team-leading 23rd home run and threw out a runner at home plate for the Dodgers. Cody Bellinger also went deep, and Freddie Freeman added an RBI on a sacrifice fly as all three Dodgers runs came from former MVPs. Bellinger got the Dodgers even with a first-pitch home run to right field, his 13th of the season.

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.

(Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)The MLB trade deadline is approaching quickly and one name towers above the rest. After pulling the ball 40 percent of the time last season, he’s pulling the ball 27.3 percent of the time in 2022. Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs CA catcher who can hit is a rare commodity these days, which should give Willson Contreras plenty of value on the trade market. At the plate, Contreras offers a solid understanding of the strike zone. It’s unclear whether Bell is vaccinated against COVID-19 and whether that will impact his trade market.

Jesse Winker hit his second solo homer of the day and the Seattle Mariners won their 10th straight game, edging the Washington Nationals 2-1 to sweep a doubleheader.

Washington star Juan Soto is being checked out after exiting a game early because of an injured left calf.

Pirates Nationals Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates' Bryan Reynolds celebrates his two-run homer during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Wednesday, June 29, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (Alex Brandon)WASHINGTON — (AP) — Bryan Reynolds hit a career-high three homers and drove in six runs, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Washington Nationals 8-7 on Wednesday. The six RBIs are a career high for Reynolds, who became the second Pirates player to homer three times in a game this season. Nationals: RHP Aníbal Sanchez (cervical nerve impingement) allowed two runs in 2 2/3 innings Tuesday in a rehab start for Triple-A Rochester. Nationals: Washington has Thursday off.

Bryan Reynolds hit a career-high three homers and drove in six runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Washington Nationals 8-7.

Dansby Swanson and the Atlanta Braves won their 12th straight game, beating the Washington Nationals 9-5 despite losing All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies to a broken left foot.

Yadiel Hernandez and Maikel Franco homered and the Washington Nationals ended the Houston Astros’ 11-game winning streak with a 13-6 romp.

Taijuan Walker pitched seven no-fuss innings and the New York Mets remained unbeaten in 10 series this season, cruising past the sloppy Washington Nationals 4-1.

Shohei Ohtani hit a tying, two-run double in the ninth inning, Anthony Rendon followed with a game-ending single against his former team and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Washington Nationals 5-4.

Austin Slater smacked a three-run homer as part of a seven-run second inning against struggling Washington starter Patrick Corbin, and the San Francisco Giants cruised past the Nationals 7-1.

Rookie Seth Beer had three hits and three RBIs, and Daulton Varsho added a two-run homer to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Washington Nationals 11-2.

Nelson Cruz hit his 450th home run and added a tiebreaking two-run single in three-run eighth inning that lifted the Washington Nationals over the Mets 4-2 and prevented New York from an opening four-game sweep.

A benches-clearing interruption after Mets star Francisco Lindor was hit by a pitch overshadowed Max Scherzer’s return to Nationals Park even as the three-time Cy Young Award winner pitched New York to a 7-3 victory over Washington.

Benches and bullpens emptied and the Mets and Nationals confronted each other on the infield grass after Francisco Lindor was struck by a pitch from Steve Cishek in the fifth inning.

Will Strasburg bounce back from surgery? Will Corbin and Robles hit their strides? Unknowns make interesting baseball.

Christian Vázquez tripled home the tiebreaking run in the ninth inning and the Boston Red Sox moved to the brink of a postseason berth with a 5-3 win over the Washington Nationals.

Javier Báez and his New York Mets teammates turned the boos at Citi Field to cheers this weekend — and turned their thumbs upside down at frustrated fans.

Rookie reliever Daniel Camarena hit a stunning grand slam off Washington ace Max Scherzer and the San Diego Padres overcame an eight-run deficit, finally beating the Nationals 9-8 on Trent Grisham’s RBI single in the ninth inning.

Trea Turner completed his record-tying third career cycle by hitting a sixth-inning triple for the Washington Nationals, accomplishing the feat on his 28th birthday in a 15-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

(AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson) (Laurence Kesterson)PHILADELPHIA — (AP) — Starlin Castro hit a go-ahead, two-run single off closer Hector Neris in the ninth inning and the Washington Nationals rallied three times to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 13-12 Wednesday. It was the first game in major league history that featured a grand slam and three-run homer for each team. Josh Bell answered Andrew McCutchen’s slam with one of his own as the Nationals overcame deficits of 5-0, 9-5 and 12-11. Castro then lined a single to center to put Washington ahead to stay as Neris (1-4) blew his fifth save in 15 tries. Phillies: Velasquez yielded four runs and three hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Starlin Castro hit a go-ahead, two-run single off closer Hector Neris in the ninth inning and the Washington Nationals rallied three times to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 13-12.

Max Scherzer threw his glove and hat to the grass, then stared down Phillies manager Joe Girardi after getting checked for a third time by umpires for sticky stuff as the Washington Nationals beat Philadelphia 3-2.

Jon Lester pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning to gain his first win for Washington, Kyle Schwarber backed him with four RBIs on a pair of home runs and the Nationals beat the New York Mets 6-2 to split a day-night doubleheader.

For a third straight year, the Washington Nationals have dug themselves an early hole.

In a bizarre scene, stadium workers using tractors scrambled to hoist the protective netting behind home plate after it suddenly collapsed Sunday, interrupting the Philadelphia Phillies’ 12-6 win over the Washington Nationals.

Stephen Strasburg pitched into the sixth inning in his return from the injured list, allowing just one hit as the Washington Nationals defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4-2.

Willson Contreras, Jason Heyward and Javier Báez homered off Jon Lester in his return to Chicago, and the Cubs beat the Washington Nationals 7-3.

Bryce Harper treated heckling fans to a long home run, Andrew Knapp delivered a key pinch-hit in place of injured catcher J.