Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner realizes there is a chance the price may be going up to sign Aaron Judge to a long-term contract after the star slugger's outstanding first half.

Judge turned down an eight-year contract worth $230.5 million to $234.5 million, cutting off talks ahead of the April 8 opener and saying he wouldn't negotiate again until after the season. Judge's representatives wanted a nine-year deal in excess of the average annual value of Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout's contract, which comes to $319.6 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said then, speaking on condition of anonymity because Judge's stance was not made public.

"Is it a possibility? Of course it's a possibility," Steinbrenner said Wednesday during his midseason media availability. "But cross that bridge when I come to it."

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The worst-case scenario for Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez in the field happened last week when he collided with shortstop Jeremy Pena while both tracked a popup in the eighth inning against the New York Mets.

The Astros were without Alvarez and his MVP-caliber bat for two games while he completed concussion protocols. But on Tuesday, in the second game of a four-game series against the visiting Kansas City Royals, the Astros witnessed the best of Alvarez in the outfield and at the plate.

The host Miami Marlins saw what it was like facing Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani as a designated hitter in their interleague game on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, they face Ohtani the pitcher.

The clubs conclude their two-game series on Wednesday with Ohtani (7-4, 2.68 ERA) getting the start against Marlins left-hander Trevor Rogers (4-6, 5.56).

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Bo Bichette hit a tiebreaking solo home run in the eighth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied past the Oakland Athletics 2-1 on Wednesday to snap a five-game losing streak.

"We needed it," Bichette said. "I think when you're trying to stop a skid, sometimes that's how it goes, so I thought we fought well today and definitely excited to get the win."

CHICAGO (AP) Andrew Vaughn tied the game with a two-run homer in the eighth inning, and Leury Garcia hit a game-ending single in the 10th to give the Chicago White Sox a 9-8 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.

The White Sox trailed five times in the game and tied it each time before taking their first and only lead in extra innings to avoid a three-game sweep. Chicago snapped a seven-game losing streak to the AL Central-leading Twins.

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) Chris Sale struck out five Triple-A batters before leaving when he walked in a run with two outs in the fourth inning on Wednesday night in what could be his final rehab start before he returns to the Boston rotation.

Pitching for the Worcester Red Sox against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders, a Yankees farm team, Sale allowed one run on three hits and five walks. He loaded the bases in the fourth on three hits - two of them infield singles - and then struck out designated hitter Armando Alvarez for the second out with a 96 mph fastball that was his 65th pitch of the game.

DETROIT (AP) Miguel Cabrera took another step toward earning a 12th All-Star bid, and his first since 2016, on the merits of his play in 2022.

Cabrera hit a two-out, two-run single in the fifth inning and had a third RBI on a sacrifice fly to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Guardians 8-2 on Wednesday, completing a four-game sweep against their AL Central rivals for the first time since 2013.

MILWAUKEE (AP) Chicago Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks has been placed on the injured list after leaving his Tuesday night start early due to soreness in his throwing shoulder.

Hendricks had his shortest start of the season, lasting just three innings in the Cubs' 8-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. He threw 69 pitches and his velocity was lower than usual.

NEW YORK (AP) It appears Bruce Meyer will stick around to lead baseball players in the next round of collective bargaining in 2026.

Meyer was promoted to deputy executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association on Wednesday after leading the union's negotiations during a 99-day lockout that ended in March.