Phils give OF Pierre minor league deal
January 27, 2012
PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Outfielder Juan Pierre has agreed to a minor leaguecontract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The 34-year-old hit .279 with two homers, 50 RBIs and 27 steals for theChicago White Sox final season, beginning 152 games in left field. The left-handedbatter hit .329 against lefties
Pierre leads active players with 554 steals. He has a .296 career battingaverage with 234 doubles, 86 triples, 16 homers and 484 RBIs in 12 seasons forColorado, Florida, the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and White Sox.
His agreement was announced Friday.
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Twins to retire Tom Kelly’s number
January 27, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—The Minnesota Twins will retire former manager TomKelly’s uniform quantity.
President Dave St. Peter revealed the decision late Thursday at an annualawards banquet at Target Field, exactly where the 61-year-old Kelly became emotionalafter the announcement. Kelly’s No. ten will be formally retired during aceremony prior to a game against Cleveland on Sept. 8.
Kelly was in charge for each of the team’s World Series titles, in 1987 and1991. He is the team’s all-time leader in manager wins, with 1,140 over 15-plusseasons. He at the moment serves as a special assistant to general manager TerryRyan.
Kelly will be the sixth individual to have his number preserved by the Twins.Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek, Kirby Puckett and BertBlyleven are the others.
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Young players to again lead Mariners
January 27, 2012
SEATTLE (AP)—Seattle basic manager Jack Zduriencik remains extremelyoptimistic about the bounty of young talent the Mariners possess.
He also knows the abundance of youth signifies a different difficult season liesahead in the Pacific Northwest.
“I believe we have some very talented young youngsters. I consider this is going to bea challenging year at the huge league level for us. Let’s not kid ourselves,”Zduriencik mentioned for the duration of the Mariners’ pre-spring education luncheon on Thursday.“We’ve got a young club no matter how you shake it. We’ve got young players.The positive is we’ve got a lot of young kids coming correct behind them.”
Far more than at any other point due to the fact Zduriencik took over as general managerbefore the 2009 season, the Mariners will rely nearly entirely on their youthduring the 2012 season. His very first two seasons had been filled with moves aimed atmaking Seattle competitive while at the very same time Zduriencik was busy rebuildinga barren farm method.
Last year brought the arrival of manager Eric Wedge and a remaking of theMariners clubhouse that featured 18 rookies finding their very first major leagueexperience at some point of the year although the veterans Seattle planned to relyon underperformed.
This year it’s most likely to be all about the young guys.
Seattle’s present 40-man roster capabilities 33 players with much less than fiveyears of key league encounter󈟯 of those have less than 3 years. Ifthat number isn’t stark enough, 40 of the Mariners’ 65 current spring traininginvitees have much less than 1 year of significant league service.
It’s why there is optimism for what the Mariners could be when these playersmature. But they’ll need time. Throw in what the remainder of the AL West did inthe offseason—namely the additions in Texas and with the Angels—and itreinforces Zduriencik’s belief that it could be a bumpy year.
“It’s going to be a challenge simply because of the young youngsters. If you consider aboutit, Dustin Ackley has half a year in the major leagues, Kyle Seager has half ayear in the big leagues, Casper Wells …,” Zduriencik said. “You startlooking around, hunting around and start off searching at these pieces … and thenyou look at what takes place in this division. No matter how you shake it, you can’tignore what (the Angels) did and you can’t ignore what Texas did and those clubswere ahead of us prior to these moves. It’s an uphill battle.”
Many Mariners fans pegged the achievement of this offseason to the probabilities ofbringing cost-free-agent slugger Prince Fielder to the Pacific Northwest, largelymaking that connection due to Zduriencik’s history with Fielder in Milwaukee.Fielder signed a $214 million, nine-year deal with Detroit on Thursday.
Zduriencik didn’t go into particulars Thursday about his discussions withFielder’s agent, Scott Boras, other than noting Boras was upfront about what hethought it would take to sign Fielder.
“He had a vision of what the quantity was going to be. He openly shared thatwith me, and he got the number he absolutely thought was going to begin with a`two,’ and it occurred that way,” Zduriencik mentioned. “That’s a large number anda large quantity of years. The finest to him.”
Though Zduriencik was tempering any expectations for his ballclub, whichopens spring education on Feb. 12 and begins the season in Japan, Wedge made itclear Thursday that the offensive ineptitude of latest seasons won’t betolerated. Seattle’s most significant offseason move was solely to address its offensiveproblems when young All-Star pitcher Michael Pineda was traded to the New YorkYankees in exchange for young slugging prospect Jesus Montero.
Wedge joked that his wife was proud of him final year for biting his tongueat occasions when he could have unleashed a verbal lashing on a far more veteran team.Wedge made a point recently to bring in nine position players to Seattle to holdthem accountable and make positive they had been following by means of with their offseasonprograms. He let them know there would be much less slack this season for notperforming.
“It’s unacceptable the amount of runs we’ve scored the final couple ofyears. Last year I sat back. I get it, believe me. I bit my tongue off a lot more thanonce,” Wedge said. “It was the proper factor to do. My wife was proud of me.This year is going to be a tiny bit different. You don’t go from zero to 60.We’ve got to let it out a tiny far more this year, raise the bar a tiny bit.”
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Follow Tim Booth on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ByTimBooth
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Fielder on Tigers deal: Dreams come true
January 27, 2012
DETROIT (AP)—Prince Fielder was born in 1984, the final time Detroit wonthe World Series.
Following luring Fielder to Michigan with the fourth-biggest contract inbaseball history, the Tigers are hoping he will support usher in a new championshipera for the Motor City.
“This is amazing,” Fielder stated Thursday following finalizing a $214 million,nine-year deal with Detroit. “It’s kind of a dream come correct. I’m excited.”
Detroit began seriously pursuing Fielder right after designated hitter VictorMartinez tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during offseasonconditioning. Now the Tigers have three of baseball’s largest stars—Fielder,Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander—all in their primes. Detroit won the ALCentral by 15 games final year but lost to Texas in the AL championship series.
When the Tigers introduced Fielder on Thursday, the message was clear:
“We’re attempting to win right now,” general manager Dave Dombrowski mentioned.“We tried to win last year. We were close. I believe we’ve reached a point now,on a yearly basis, we really feel that way. When you look at the core of our group ofplayers, there’s a lot of guys that are on that field right now that are qualityplayers.”
Fielder’s father Cecil became a massive league star when he returned to themajors from Japan and hit 51 house runs with Detroit in 1990. Cecil played withthe Tigers into the 1996 season, and young Prince produced a name for himself withhis prodigious power displays during batting practice at Tiger Stadium.
Detroit plays at Comerica Park now, and instances have changed. The Fielders’strained relationship has been nicely documented, and Prince didn’t elaborate onit Thursday.
“I’m just ecstatic about becoming with the Tigers,” Prince Fielder mentioned.“I’m just right here to enjoy the day.”
It will be up to manager Jim Leyland to figure out exactly where to play all of hispowerful hitters. He mentioned Thursday the Tigers will move Miguel Cabrera fromfirst base to third to make room for Fielder. He also listed a doable battingorder, with Cabrera hitting third and Fielder fourth.
It’s a lineup based on power, not speed.
“If they hit it where they’re supposed to hit `em, they can trot,” Leylandsaid. “We’re going back to the old-fashioned baseball. We’ve got large-time poweron the corners.”
Fielder’s contract consists of a limited no-trade provision. He can be tradedto ten clubs without having his consent ahead of 2017, when he gains rights to block alltrades under baseball’s labor contract as a 10-year veteran who has been with ateam for at least 5 years.
He will earn $23 million in each and every of his 1st two years with Detroit, thenwill make $24 million annually in the final seven seasons of his contract,according to terms obtained by The Associated Press.
The move carries a lot of threat for the Tigers. Fielder is 27 and has beenextremely durable during his career, but Detroit is committing to him for almosta decade.
“I go by my instinct, like everybody else does,” said owner Mike Ilitch,the Small Caesars pizza mogul who signed off on this huge deal following whathad been a quiet offseason for the Tigers. “My instincts told me that this isgoing to work out fine.”
Leyland sounded as taken aback as anybody with his club’s sudden adjust.
“This boggles my thoughts, to be honest with you,” he mentioned. “I was kiddingsomebody. I said—I’m being funny—`About three weeks ago we were talkingabout maybe acquiring an extra pitcher or bullpen guy or something. Nicely, wedidn’t know if we had the finances to get a guy.’ I said, `I don’t know whathappened in 3 weeks. Little Caesars did good, evidently.”’
The hardest adjustment may be for Cabrera. He’s returning to a position heplayed although with the Florida Marlins, but he’s played only 14 games at thirdbase with the Tigers—all in 2008 proper following he joined the team.
Fielder produced 15 errors final year, the most in baseball by a initial baseman.
“Mr. Ilitch and Dave have given me a lot of good pieces to this puzzle.It’s my job, along with coaches, to figure out how to put that puzzle alltogether,” Leyland stated. “(Cabrera) is not going to have the agility, mostlikely, defensively that Brandon Inge had. You give up a little some thing, butyou get a complete lot in return.”
Leyland said he talked to Inge, who lost his job as Detroit’s everyday thirdbaseman final season.
“He’s not the happiest camper,” Leyland stated. “He certainlyunderstands.”
Dombrowski indicated he’s satisfied with his roster heading into springtraining, though it’s tough to rule out any more moves after the Tigersshockingly emerged with Fielder.
The pitching rotation is anchored by Verlander, who won the Cy Young Awardand MVP last year, but Detroit’s fifth starter spot is nonetheless uncertain.Dombrowski said the Tigers could bring in some non-roster invites to compete forthat job.
“I consider positional player-smart, we’re pretty well set,” he said.
———
AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report.
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Dodgers LHP Kershaw accepts Spahn award
January 27, 2012
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)—Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw acceptedthe Warren Spahn Award on Thursday night as the greatest left-handed pitcher inbaseball.
“It’s the greatest trophy I’ve ever gotten,” Kershaw stated, laughing. “Idon’t know if I’ll be able to carry it on the plane.”
Kershaw, the National League Cy Young winner, led the NL with a 21-five record,248 strikeouts and a two.28 ERA. He also was selected to his initial All-Star gameand won his initially Gold Glove.
“It’s been a progression. I consider a lot of it has to do with getting morecomfortable and getting additional expertise,” Kershaw said. “It’s just a lot ofthings coming together. Once you have some success you gain some confidence andyou anticipate to do that each time out.”
The Spahn award is based on a pitcher’s wins, strikeouts and ERA. Spahn won363 career games in his Hall of Fame career. He died in 2003.
Kershaw is eligible for salary arbitration. Soon after earning $500,000 lastseason, Kershaw and agent Alan Hendricks have asked the Dodgers for $ten millionnext season. The Dodgers have countered at $6.5 million.
“I’m not worried about it at all,” Kershaw said. “My court date was set.We’ll see what takes place. Hopefully, it will be settled just before then but you neverknow.”
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Giants agree with free agent RHP Hensley
January 27, 2012
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—Free-agent suitable-hander Clay Hensley and the SanFrancisco Giants have reached agreement on a $750,000, one-year contract.
The Giants stated Thursday it is a non-guaranteed massive league deal for Hensley,who nevertheless need to pass a physical before the club makes a formal announcement.
Hensley was with San Diego when he gave up Barry Bonds’ 755th career homerun on Aug. four, 2007, that tied the eventual household run king with Hank Aaron.
The Miami Marlins declined to tender Hensley a contract in December, makinghim a free agent.
The 32-year-old Hensley went 6-7 with a five.19 ERA in 37 appearances and ninestarts last season for the Marlins.
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Red Sox confirm signing of OF Ross
January 27, 2012
BOSTON (AP)—The Boston Red Sox on Thursday confirmed the signing ofoutfielder Cody Ross to a one-year contract and stated appropriate-hander Scott Atchisonwas designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.
The $3 million deal for Ross was first reported on Monday, when he told TheAssociated Press in a text message he nonetheless needed to take a physical.
The 31-year-old Ross batted .240 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs for the SanFrancisco Giants last season even though playing at least 22 games at each outfieldposition.
Ross was the 2010 NL championship series MVP for the Giants and helped themwin the World Series that year right after they picked him up off waivers in August.
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Ichiro to be dropped from leadoff spot?
January 26, 2012
SEATTLE (AP)—Ichiro Suzuki may begin his final guaranteed season withthe Seattle Mariners somewhere other than the leadoff spot that he’s locked downfor the past decade.
Seattle manager Eric Wedge stated Thursday for the duration of the Mariners’ pre-springtraining luncheon that he’s leaning toward moving Suzuki out of the leadoff spotas a way to attempt to bolster the Mariners’ anemic offense.
Wedge doesn’t think that’s a slight on Suzuki’s potential to continue beinga leadoff hitter, even with the 10-time All-Star coming off the worst season ofhis profession.
“It’s as a lot to do with his teammates as it has to do with him with regardto the collective nine that we’re putting down on paper,” Wedge mentioned. “Ihaven’t created any firm choices. I created it very clear over the winter I wasthinking about it. I’m even further down the road to exactly where I’m leaning in thatdirection to have (Suzuki) hit somewhere else.”
Moving Suzuki out of the leadoff spot was component of an on-once more, off-againdebate in the course of the 2011 season as Suzuki struggled. He hit just .272, failed toreach 200 hits for the 1st time in his career—finishing with 184—and hadan on-base percentage 40 points below his prior profession worst.
Suzuki, who turned 38 in October, is entering the final year of a contractthat will pay him $17 million in 2012 and will be in a lineup that will beextremely young by the time Seattle opens the normal season on March 28 againstOakland in Suzuki’s native Japan.
“I know it’s a big deal to everybody. I can’t get caught up in that. My jobis to make positive I communicate that to Ichiro, make positive everyone understandsexactly what the possibilities are and what they’re fighting for and what I’m thinkingabout and that’s what I’m going to continue to do,” Wedge mentioned. “Right now I’mgoing to be incredibly open minded to what we’re going to do but I’m going to headinto spring coaching leaning a particular path and we’ll make the decisionsfrom there.”
If Wedge makes the alter, he said he was taking into consideration young prospect DustinAckley, Franklin Gutierrez and even Chone Figgins as feasible replacements inthe leadoff role. Ackley would seem the most most likely immediately after his debut last year.He played in 90 games, hit .273 with an on-base percentage of .348 and walked 40times. Wedge considers Suzuki a feasible selection to bat second or third.
“Ultimately it’s not just about Ichiro, it’s about our club and his 24other teammates,” Wedge mentioned. “And Ichiro understands that and I damn sureunderstand that. So what we’re going to do is make sure we put out the bestlineup doable to score additional runs. It’s unacceptable the quantity of runs we’vescored the final couple of years.”
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Carmona placed on MLB’s restricted list
January 26, 2012
CLEVELAND (AP)—The Indians made a move with the pitcher they’ve only knownfor the last 11-plus years as Fausto Carmona.
Arrested last week in the Dominican Republic on false identity charges,Carmona was placed on baseball’s restricted list Thursday by the club. TheIndians had to apply to the commissioner’s workplace in order to have Carmonaplaced on the list due to his unusual legal entanglement. Players on therestricted list do not count against a team’s 25- or 40-man roster and will notbe paid till they report.
Players can stay on the list for two years.
Carmona was arrested outside the U.S. consulate in Santo Domingo last weekand charged with falsifying his name and birthdate so he could play for theIndians, who signed him as a cost-free agent in 2000. Authorities in his homelandrevealed Carmona’s real name is Roberto Hernandez Heredia and that he’s 31—three years older than the Indians believed.
Carmona’s date of birth is listed as Dec. 7, 1983, in Cleveland’s mediaguide, meaning he was 17 when he signed.
He was released from jail on bail about $13,000 Friday and was ordered tostay in the Dominican to complete his judicial procedure. The Indians report totraining camp next month, but it appears unlikely Carmona will have his caseresolved by then. In the meantime, the club will continue to refer to him asCarmona.
Carmona, who is scheduled to make $7 million this season, was slotted be inthe middle of the Indians’ beginning rotation with Ubaldo Jimenez, JustinMasterson, Josh Tomlin and Derek Lowe. In case Carmona’s legal trouble keeps himaway for an extended period. the Indians acquired starter Kevin Slowey in atrade with Colorado.
Earlier this week, Indians manager Manny Acta stated the team is doing all itcan to aid Carmona, who has had an erratic profession due to the fact going 19-8 in 2007. Theclub has been gathering info as it tries to perform through the complexitiesof Carmona’s situation, which came to light 4 months soon after Miami Marlinspitcher Leo Nunez, whose real name is Juan Carlos Oviedo, admitted employing falsedocuments when he was young to sign a professional contract.
Oviedo, too, is on the restricted list. He is cooperating with officials ona bigger investigation of fake documents.
Carmona began the Indians’ opener last season and finished 7-15 with a5.25 ERA in 32 starts. But the Indians only scored 3.8 runs per game for him,third worst assistance amongst AL starters. The correct-hander completed fourth in CyYoung voting in 2007, when he became the youngest Indians pitcher to win morethan 17 games because Hall of Famer Bob Feller in 1938.
The Indians have possibilities on Carmona for 2013 and 2014.
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Lidge, Nationals agree to 1-year deal
January 26, 2012
WASHINGTON (AP)—Free-agent reliever Brad Lidge has agreed to a a single-yearcontract with the Washington Nationals.
Final season, the appropriate-hander only threw 19 1-3 innings for the PhiladelphiaPhillies, going -two with a 1.40 ERA and one particular save. He didn’t pitch till lateJuly mainly because of elbow and shoulder complications in his right arm.
Lidge is a two-time All-Star who closed for the Phillies and Houston Astrosduring his 10-year major league profession, going 26-31 with 233 saves and a three.44ERA in 592 appearances general.
In Washington, Lidge joins a bullpen led by setup man Tyler Clippard, whowas an All-Star in 2011, and closer Drew Storen.
The Nationals announced their deal with Lidge on Thursday.
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