Reliever returns to Royals

Reliever Wade Davis is returning to the Kansas City Royals, the team he helped pitch to the 2015 World Series title. Davis and

the Royals agreed Wednesday to a minor-league contract, and the 35-year-old right-hander will go to spring training trying to earn a spot on the major-league roster. Davis is a three-time All-Star who had 47 saves for the Royals from 2013-16. Davis has 139 saves in 12 major-league seasons, going 63-52 with a 3.81 ERA. He is 4-0 with 8 saves over 30 games in postseason play.

Twins add Happ for $8M

The Minnesota Twins and veteran starting pitcher J.A. Happ agreed Wednesday to an $8 million, one-year contract, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The 38-year-old Happ spent the past 21/3 seasons with the New York Yan kees. Acquired from Toronto at the 2018 trade deadline, the lefthander went 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts down the stretch to finish

17-6. The Yankees then rewarded him with a $34 million, two-year contract.

Brantley, Astros reach deal

Outfielder Michael Brantley has agreed to a $32 million, twoyear contract with the Houston Astros, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. Brantley spent the last two seasons in Houston after playing for Cleveland for his first 10 MLB seasons. Brantley hit .300 with 5 home runs and 22 RBI in 46 games in last year’s pandemic-shortened season. He had 3 home runs and 11 RBI in 13 playoff games last year as the Astros came a win shy of reaching the World Series for the second consecutive season. Brantley is a four-time AllStar and a 2014 Silver Slugger award winner. He has a .297 average with 114 home runs and 640 RBI in his career.