BILLY EPPLER

New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte has been placed on the bereavement list following the death of his grandmother, which came nearly two years to the day after his wife died of a heart attack.

Robinson Canó has been cut by the New York Mets with nearly $45 million remaining on his contract, ending an ill-fated marriage and possibly signaling the end of his decorated major league career.

With opening day less than a week away, every team in Major League Baseball is hoping to finish spring training without any significant injuries.

New York Mets ace Jacob DeGrom will miss major time because of inflammation in his shoulder area, a huge blow to a team that heavily invested in making a deep run this season.

Mets general manager Billy Eppler said he spoke to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman well before hiring away Eric Chávez as the team's hitting coach and that both sides had an understanding that Chávez may end up in Queens. The 44-year-old Chávez was hired by the Yankees in November as one of two assistants to new hitting coach Dillon Lawson — and projected to take on a role beyond his title. A few weeks later, the Mets hired the 17-year big leaguer to be their primary hitting coach.

Buck Showalter has been hired as manager of the New York Mets, bringing him back to the Big Apple to take over his fifth major league team.

Billy Eppler embraced the bright lights of the big city, promising on his first day as Mets general manager to pursue pricey free agents and create a perennial World Series contender.

The New York Mets have hired Billy Eppler as their general manager, giving him a four-year contract.

FILE - Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Houston Astros in Anaheim, Calif., in this Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, file photo. Mike Trout is back in spring training with the Angels to chase his first playoff victory. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)ANAHEIM, Calif. – Mike Trout is beginning a new season with the same old question. How long will the Los Angeles Angels' three-time AL MVP have to wait for his first playoff victory? Not even the expanded 2020 postseason helped Los Angeles, which finished 26-34 for its fifth straight losing campaign — the franchise's worst stretch since the 1970s.

Minnesota has a couple of ailing hitters in third baseman Josh Donaldson (right calf) and center fielder Byron Buxton (mild concussion symptoms). Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Buxton is improving and the team hopes he’ll be ready for the postseason opener. Brett Phillips exited Sunday’s game with right hamstring tightness, and fellow outfielder Manuel Margot (sore foot) was scratched from the lineup. Acuña was scratched Sunday with renewed irritation in his left wrist. Because of the reworked schedule caused by the virus outbreak, the Yankees didn’t play in Cleveland this year.

Members of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game to earn a playoff birth Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in St. Louis. That’s when the Brewers, at 29-31, open their series against Los Angeles ace Walker Buehler at Dodger Stadium. In a win-and-you’re-in game, St. Louis clinched by beating Milwaukee 5-2. That’s how you see it,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. St. Louis played a total of 58 games — it was prepared for a doubleheader in Detroit on Monday if needed to settle the playoff picture.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Los Angeles Angels fired general manager Billy Eppler on Sunday after the long-struggling franchise finished its fifth consecutive losing season under his watch. But Eppler was dismissed when the Angels couldn't even make the eight-team AL playoff field this month. “Billy and I really, I thought, were great together,” Maddon said after the Angels ended their season with a 5-0 loss to the Dodgers. Eppler's Angels went 332-376 (.469) under three managers with a rotating cast of supporting players around Trout and Pujols. They've endured five straight losing seasons for the first time since 1977, and their winning percentage over the past two seasons is the Halos' worst two-year run since 1992-93.

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons throws to first to get Texas Rangers' Rougned Odor out on a ground ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons throws to first to get Texas Rangers' Rougned Odor out on a ground ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)ANAHEIM, Calif. – Shortstop Andrelton Simmons has opted out of the remainder of the Los Angeles Angels' season. But the Angels haven't publicly closed the door on Simmons' return, and he could be given a qualifying offer. The Angels haven't had a winning season during Simmons' five years in Anaheim, although Simmons said last week he wasn't discouraged by the lack of team success. Simmons also said he hadn't been involved in any recent contract talks with the Angels, but he had enjoyed playing for the club.

Ohtani is traveling with the Angels to Seattle, where they open a six-game road trip Tuesday night. The Angels also use Ohtani as their primary designated hitter between his mound starts, and he is day-to-day as a hitter, the team said. Ohtani said afterward he was reluctant to throw at his full velocity, but believed he would be capable with time. He went 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA and 63 strikeouts during 10 largely successful starts, and he batted .285 with 22 homers as a designated hitter. He spent 2019 solely as the Angels' designated hitter while patiently rehabbing his pitching arm, hitting steadily but not spectacularly.

Trout and his wife, Jessica, are expecting the couple's first child in August. Honestly, I still dont feel that comfortable," he said. The three-time AL MVP continues to have discussions with general manager Billy Eppler and manager Joe Maddon. Trout did leave open the possibility of possibly not playing until the baby arrives. I'm appealing to our guys to be as informed as they can and then arrive at their own truth.

ANAHEIM, Calif. Shohei Ohtani will resume his two-way career with the Los Angeles Angels when baseball returns. Angels general manager Billy Eppler confirmed Tuesday that his Japanese star will pitch and hit in the majors this season. He wasn't expected to pitch in 2020 until at least May, and Eppler confirmed that the coronavirus pandemic hasn't altered the Angels' plans. Eppler said none of the Angels' players are currently intending to opt out of playing in the shortened season. Eppler confirmed that first-round pick Reid Detmers will be on the Angels' summer roster as the 56th player, although the left-handed starter hasn't officially yet been added.

The league announced Thursday it will starting testing for opioids and cocaine, but has removed marijuana from its list of banned substances. The new program calls for treatment, rather than suspension, for players who test positive for banned substances, MLB and the player's association said. Under the new changes, MLB will test for opioids, Fentanyl, cocaine and synthetic Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The changes come months after the July death of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Like alcohol, those who test positive will face mandatory evaluation, voluntary treatment and the possibility of discipline.

The league announced Thursday it will starting testing for opioids and cocaine, but has removed marijuana from its list of banned substances. The new program calls for treatment, rather than suspension, for players who test positive for banned substances, MLB and the player's association said. Under the new changes, MLB will test for opioids, Fentanyl, cocaine and synthetic Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The changes come months after the July death of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Like alcohol, those who test positive will face mandatory evaluation, voluntary treatment and the possibility of discipline.

Manager Brad Ausmus #12 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim walks from the dugout before the game against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on August 3, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by DavidDETROIT - The Los Angeles Angels have fired former Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus after just one season. "I want to thank Brad for his hard work and dedication to this organization over the last two seasons as both a special assistant and field manager," Angels general manager Billy Eppler said in a statement. Ausmus lasted just one season with the Angels, leading them to a 72-90 record and fourth place in the American League West Division. It was a difficult season for the Angels, highlighted by the death of starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs and a season-ending injury to potential MVP Mike Trout.

DETROIT The Los Angeles Angels have fired former Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus after just one season. "I want to thank Brad for his hard work and dedication to this organization over the last two seasons as both a special assistant and field manager," Angels general manager Billy Eppler said in a statement. "He navigated this franchise through one of its most difficult seasons with class and professionalism." Ausmus lasted just one season with the Angels, leading them to a 72-90 record and fourth place in the American League West Division. It was a difficult season for the Angels, highlighted by the death of starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs and a season-ending injury to potential MVP Mike Trout.