Average MLB salary dropped this year

The average major league salary dropped this year for the first time since 2004 and for only the fourth time since record-keeping started 50 years ago, according to the players’ association. The union said its final average was $4,095,686, down $1,436 from $4,097,122 last year.

Since the union started keeping track in 1967, the only previous declines had been by $66 in 1987, when owners were found to have conspired to hold down salaries among free agents; a 4% decline in 1995 following a 71⁄2 month strike that wiped out the World Series for the first time since 1904; and by 2.5% in 2004.

New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia had a stent inserted after a blockage was found in an artery from his heart. General manager Brian Cashman said the 38-year-old pitcher is expected to report to spring training on time in mid-February.

The Boston Red Sox have agreed to a one-year contract with reliever Heath Hembree, avoiding salary arbitration . ... Texas traded infielder Jurickson Profar to the Oakland Athletics in a three-team deal that included Tampa Bay and netted the Rangers four prospects. Oakland also reached an agreement on a $15-million, twoyear contract with free agent righthander Joakim Soria, giving the Athletics a reliable and versatile reliever. ... The Seattle Mariners acquired outfielder Domingo Santana from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for outfielder Ben Gamel and minorleague pitcher Noah Zavalos . ... Reliever Andrew Miller agreed to terms on a two-year deal with St. Louis, with a vesting option for 2021. The lefthander has been dominant for much of this decade, but he went just 2-4 with a 4.24 ERA in 37 games with Cleveland last season while dealing with hamstring, knee and shoulder issues . ... Switch-pitcher Pat Venditte agreed to a one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants.