Veteran starting pitcher Merrill Kelly has agreed to return to the Arizona Diamondbacks on a $40 million, two-year deal, according to a person familiar with the move.

Japanese infielder Munetaka Murakami is entering Major League Baseball's posting system.

Carlos Mendoza will return as manager of the New York Mets next season, after his high-priced team faded badly in the second half this year and missed the playoffs.

Major League Baseball's trade deadline has sparked a whirlwind of activity as teams rush to strengthen their rosters for the postseason.

Slugger Eugenio Suarez is headed to the Seattle Mariners and flame-throwing reliever Jhoan Duran has been traded to the Philadelphia Phillies during a busy Wednesday ahead of Major League Baseball’s trade deadline on Thursday.

The Kansas City Royals acquired veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.

The market is heating up in the last week before the July 31 trade deadline.

The Seattle Mariners have acquired first baseman Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

A season of sky-high expectations is off to a slow start for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Clayton Kershaw made his season debut over the weekend.

Aaron Judge became the third-fastest New York Yankees player to reach 500 extra-base hits with a three-run homer in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks, trailing only Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig.

A person familiar with the decisions tells The Associated Press.

Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman led off Saturday’s game with consecutive home runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Left-hander Jordan Montgomery and the Arizona Diamondbacks have finalized their $25 million, one-year deal.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and pitcher Jordan Montgomery have agreed on a $25 million, one-year contract with a vesting option for 2025, according to a person familiar with the deal.

Merrill Kelly struck out nine in seven innings of three-hit ball, Ketel Marte extended his postseason hitting streak to a record 18 games and the Arizona Diamondbacks routed the Texas Rangers 9-1 to even the World Series at one game apiece.

Tommy Pham and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit back-to-back homers and Merrill Kelly struck out eight to help the Arizona Diamondbacks force Game 7 of the NL Championship Series with a 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Philadelphia Phillies try to clinch their second straight trip to the World Series when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series on Monday.

Kyle Schwarber hit two of Philadelphia’s three solo homers off Merrill Kelly, and the sweet-swinging Phillies pounded the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-0 for a 2-0 lead in the NL Championship Series.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are back in the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2007.

Gabriel Moreno’s three-run homer highlighted a six-run first inning for Arizona, and the Diamondbacks battered Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw on the way to an 11-2 victory in Game 1 of their NL Division Series.

Clayton Kershaw starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their NL Division Series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte and Gabriel Moreno homered against Corbin Burnes, helping Arizona erase an early three-run deficit and sending the Diamondbacks to a 6-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of their NL Wild Card Series.

Kevin Ginkel blew the last of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ three leads in a 6-4 loss to the New York Yankees on Monday, dropping them into a tie with the Chicago Cubs for the National League’s second wild card.

Corbin Carroll singled with the bases loaded in the 10th inning and the NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2.

Luis Matos hit his first career home run, a go-ahead two-run drive in the sixth inning, and the San Francisco Giants beat the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks 7-6 for their 12th win in 13 games.

Arizona rookie Corbin Carroll hit his first grand slam in a seven-run seventh inning for his second homer of the night and the Arizona Diamondbacks handed the Detroit Tigers their seventh straight loss, 11-6 on Friday.

Merrill Kelly threw seven strong innings, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. ripped a two-run double and the Arizona Diamondbacks won their season-high sixth game in a row by beating the Atlanta Braves 3-2.

Fernando Tatis Jr. connected for his first homer since 2021, Ha-Seong Kim had a crucial two RBI single and the San Diego Padres rallied for a 5-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night.

One of MLB’s most visible rule changes for 2023 is a sizable curtailing of infield shifts.

Clayton Kershaw pitched seven dominant innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers won the NL West for the ninth time in 10 seasons, blanking the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-0.

Mookie Betts hit a three-run homer, Tyler Anderson threw seven sharp innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-0, becoming the first major league team to clinch a playoff spot this season.

Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols blasted two more homers, pushing his career total to 692 and helping St. Louis beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 16-7.

Brandon Crawford hit a game-ending two-run homer off Ian Kennedy moments after Thairo Estrada’s two-out triple, and the San Francisco Giants rallied past the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1.

Christian Walker had three hits and three RBIs, Jake McCarthy homered and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Phillies 13-1 to end Philadelphia’s nine-game winning streak and give interim manager Rob Thomson his first loss.

Merrill Kelly threw seven shutout innings and Ketel Marte and Nick Ahmed each homered in the eighth inning, lifting the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-0 over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Walker Buehler tossed a three-hitter for his first career shutout, Will Smith launched a solo homer and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-0.

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.

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

It wasn’t that long ago that New York Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres was one of the game’s young stars.

Ian Anderson pitched two-hit ball over six-plus innings and Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman homered as the Braves beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-2.

Clayton Kershaw struck out five in his first start since July 3 and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-1 for their seventh straight home win.

Blake Snell threw seven hitless innings before being pulled for a reliever, and San Diego lost its bid for a combined no-hitter in the eighth inning when Arizona’s David Peralta dropped a bloop single into shallow left field in the Padres' 3-0 win.

Fernando Tatis Jr. homered twice and drove in four runs in his return from the injured list, and the San Diego Padres beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-2.

Jeff McNeil laced his second go-ahead hit in two days Monday night, when his RBI double in the fifth inning sent the New York Mets to a 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves and a doubleheader split.

Justin Turner and Mookie Betts hit grand slams, Albert Pujols and AJ Pollock each homered twice and the Los Angeles Dodgers matched a franchise record by connecting eight times in all, routing the Arizona Diamondbacks 22-1.

Anthony DeSclafani threw 8 2/3 effective innings, Austin Slater and Darin Ruf both homered and the San Francisco Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-2 for their third straight victory.

The Arizona Diamondbacks snapped their record 24-game road losing streak by routing the San Diego Padres 10-1, getting six strong innings from Merrill Kelly and four hits and five RBIs from Eduardo Escobar.

Merrill Kelly pitched seven effective innings, Ketel Marte had two hits and the Arizona Diamondbacks finally snapped a 17-game losing streak by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 on Monday night.

Major League Baseball will begin its crackdown against pitchers using sticky substances, with umpires making regular, random mound checks starting on Monday.

Albert Pujols hit a three-run homer and passed Mel Ott for 14th on the career runs list, and the Los Angeles Dodgers extended the Arizona Diamondbacks’ losing streak to 17 games with a 9-8 victory.

The Arizona Diamondbacks dropped their 22nd straight road game, matching the 1963 Mets and ’43 Philadelphia Athletics for the major league record with a 13-7 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

The beleaguered Arizona Diamondbacks have dropped 21 straight on the road, one short of the major league record.

Shohei Ohtani struck out eight, hit two doubles at the plate and pushed through an injury scare to lead the Los Angeles Angels past the slumping Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5 in 10 innings.

Will Smith hit a tiebreaking, solo home run in the seventh inning, Albert Pujols slugged a two-run shot, his first for the Dodgers, and Los Angeles defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2.

Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer, his first for the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Merrill Kelly starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks when they host Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres following a dominant pitching performance in a doubleheader at Atlanta.

Limited to a total of one hit in an entire doubleheader, Freddie Freeman and the Braves try to do better with the bats when they begin a set against the Cubs.

Madison Bumgarner threw a seven-inning no-hitter, an achievement that won’t count in the Major League Baseball record book but completed a dominant day of Arizona Diamondbacks pitching for a 7-0 win over the Atlanta Braves and a doubleheader sweep.

The Nationals and Mets are waiting until at least Saturday to start their season as Washington deals with a COVID-19 outbreak.

The Nationals and Mets are waiting until at least Saturday to start their season as Washington deals with a COVID-19 outbreak.

He was 2-1 with a 6.35 ERA in three spring starts, including allowing six earned runs against Cincinnati on Friday. Alec Bohm had two hits, including his fourth double. AdFreddie Freeman had two hits, including a double and his first homer — a two-run shot in the sixth. Victor Robles had three hits, including his sixth double, with an RBI, and Kyle Schwarber doubled and walked three times. Adalberto Mondesi singled and homered and Jorge Soler had two hits, including a double.

Bieber bounced back with a pair of strikeouts, but Nick Heath hit a single to put the Royals up 3-0. DODGERS 10, ROCKIES 0 (6 INNINGS)Trevor Bauer, pitching for the first time since signing a $102 million, three-year contract, debuted in Dodger blue with two scoreless innings. Jameson Taillon followed with a scoreless inning. CUBS 1, PADRES 0 (7)Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks struck out two in two scoreless innings. BREWERS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 1 (8)Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta each threw a scoreless inning for Milwaukee before Jordan Zimmermann gave up a run.

Springer, New York Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu and Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto were among just six free agents who received $18.9 million qualifying offers on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, from their former teams. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)NEW YORK – Houston outfielder George Springer, New York Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu and Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto were among just six free agents who received $18.9 million qualifying offers on Sunday from their former teams. Arizona exercised a $4.25 million option on pitcher Merrill Kelly rather than pay a $500,000 buyout, and Baltiore exercised a $3.5 million option on shortstop José Iglesias rather than pay a $500,000 buyout.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)DENVER Starling Marte homered and drove in four runs as the Arizona Diamondbacks battered the Colorado Rockies 13-7 Wednesday in a Coors Field slugfest featuring 34 hits, but none by blistering Charlie Blackmon. Blackmon began the game batting an astonishing .500 for the Rockies. Blackmon was on deck when Trevor Story, who doubled twice and singled, grounded into a game-ending double play. Rockies: Following an off day Thursday, the Rockies begin a stretch of 20 games in 20 days starting Friday night in a series opener against the Texas Rangers. Colorado RHP Ryan Castellani (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is slated to start against the Rangers RHP Lance Lynn (2-0, 1.16 ERA).

Pollock and Edwin Ros added two-run shots and the Los Angeles Dodgers rolled to an 11-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night. The Dodgers broke the game open with a five-run fifth when the first six batters reached base on Weaver and reliever Yoan Lpez. Justin Turner hit a two-run triple and Pollock added a two-run homer as Los Angeles pushed its lead to 8-2. TRAINER'S ROOMDodgers: The Dodgers made a roster move for a third straight day, calling up RHP Mitch White. ... Roberts pulled shortstop Corey Seager and right fielder Mookie Betts in the final innings after the Dodgers built a big lead.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (29) delivers against the Texas Rangers in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 28, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)ARLINGTON, Texas Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly lost his no-hit bid with one out in the seventh inning when Rougned Odor hit a solo homer for the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night. The game comes on the anniversary of Kenny Rogers' perfect game for Texas at home in 1994, the year they opened their previous stadium. Texas is playing its first season in a new $1.2 billion stadium with a retractable roof. The 31-year-old Kelly is in his second season with the Diamondbacks, after going 13-14 last year.

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. hits a three-RBI triple fourth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, July 27, 2020, in San Diego. The Padres, who feel theyre built for success in this pandemic-shortened 60-game season, outscored the Diamondbacks 21-9 in the four games. San Diego hasnt been to the playoffs since winning consecutive NL West titles in 2005-06. The highlight was Tatis hitting a ball to left-center that rolled to the wall, bringing in three runs to give San Diego a 6-2 lead. After Tatis triple, Weaver struck out Grisham and made way for Taylor Clarke.