Cubs to keep spring home in Arizona
January 27, 2010
PHOENIX (AP)—The Chicago Cubs will keep their spring training home in Arizona.
Gov. Jan Brewer, senior lawmakers and officials from the Phoenix suburb ofMesa announced the Cubs’ decision at a news conference at the state capitol onWednesday.
The Cubs have agreed to negotiate exclusively with Mesa on the constructionof a new spring training facility. But the deal requires the Arizona Legislatureto approve a funding mechanism. It also needs the approval of Mesa voters.
Plans call for Mesa to build an $84 million stadium and training facilityfor the Cubs. The team would stay in Arizona for at least another 25 years.
The Cubs first trained in Mesa in 1952. Officials in Naples, Fla., had hopedto lure them from Arizona.
Yankees, Winn agree to $2M, 1-year deal
January 27, 2010
NEW YORK (AP)—The New York Yankees and free agent outfielder Randy Winn(notes) agreedWednesday to a $2 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with thenegotiations told The Associated Press.
The agreement, which all but eliminates any chance Johnny Damon(notes) has ofreturning to the World Series champions, is subject to a physical that isscheduled for Thursday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because afinal agreement was not in place.
Winn hit .262 with two homers and 51 RBIs for the San Francisco Giants lastyear, but his on-base percentage was just .318. The 35-year-old was an All-Starin 2002, when he batted .298 with 14 homers and 75 RBIs for Tampa Bay.
New York figures to start Curtis Granderson(notes) in center field and Nick Swisher(notes)in right most of the time, with Winn and Brett Gardner(notes) sharing time in left.
Damon helped the Yankees win the World Series for the first time since 2000,hitting .282 with 23 homers and 82 RBIs, but he was coming off a $52 million,four-year contract and New York valued the 36-year-old at far less.
“The Yankees along all have said they had $2 million and that obviouslyremoved them out of the marketplace of a lot of talented players. We really didnot have a lot to talk about,” said Damon’s agent, Scott Boras. “Johnny knewwhat their budget was, so there was never any expectancy. The Yankees couldnever make an offer because they knew Johnny’s performance value far exceededwhat their budget was.”
Despite repeatedly referring to budget constraints, the Yankees’ projectedpayroll for 18 players with agreements likely to make the opening-day roster isat $205 million following the deal with Winn.
Street, Rockies finalize $22.5M contract
January 27, 2010
DENVER (AP)—Closer Huston Street(notes) and the Colorado Rockies finalized a $22.5million, three-year contract on Wednesday, a deal that could be worth $31million over four season.
Street gets $7.2 million this year, $7.3 million in 2011 and $7.5 million2012. The agreement, which avoided arbitration, includes a a $9 million mutualoption for 2013 with a $500,000 buyout if the club declines to exercise.
“For me, it was going to be hard for me not to sign,” Street said. “Iwon’t have to worry about my security and my family’s security, at least for thenext three years.”
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Colorado also agreed Wednesday to a minor league contract with pitcher TimRedding(notes). The right-hander, who turns 32 on Feb. 12, went 3-6 with a 5.10 ERA in17 starts and 13 relief appearances for the New York Mets last season.
Street is the cornerstone of a spate of players the Rockies have re-signedthis month, including outfielder Ryan Spilborghs(notes), second baseman Clint Barmes(notes)and pitchers Rafael Betancourt(notes), Jason Hammel(notes), Jorge De La Rosa(notes) and TaylorBuchholz(notes).
“We want to stay together,” Street said. “Everybody believes in whatwe’ve got going here. We’ve got a good thing going here.”
Street solidified the Rockies’ bullpen last season by saving 35 games in 37chances. He stumbled against Philadelphia in the playoffs, though, taking a pairof losses.
The right-hander missed the final month of the regular season with sorenessin his biceps tendon, but said that played no role in his postseason failures.
“I didn’t get it done. I had two bad days,” Street said. “I was 100percent. I was 100 percent mentally focused. In the end, it cost us the seasonand the series. The emotional part of it went away the next day, but the seasonsticks with you.”
Street said he feels great and is eager to anchor a bullpen on a playoffteam he figures will only get better, especially with manager Jim Tracy, who was74-42 after taking over form Clint Hurdle, having signed on for the long term,too.
“The guys are the reason I signed. The chemistry is good and chemistryisn’t all about camaraderie. We have a strong bond among our pitchers wherethere is trust in each other,” Street said. “We lost Jason Marquis(notes), but wehave Jeff Francis(notes) back, Jason Hammel has more experience and (ace Aaron) Cook isCook.”
Francis is coming back from arm surgery that cost him the entire 2009season.
Redding, who turns 32 on Feb. 12, went 3-6 with a 5.10 ERA in 30 games,including 17 starts, for the New York Mets last season.
After starting last season on the DL with a strained right rotator cuff, hewas 3-5 with a 4.97 ERA as a starter and 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in 13 reliefappearances.
In 2008, Redding led the Nationals in wins (10), starts (33) and strikeouts(120) as a member of the starting rotation. He set career-high marks in each ofthose categories as well as innings pitched (182)
If added to the 40-man roster, Redding would get a $1 million, one-yearcontract and the chance to earn about $500,000 in performance bonuses based onstarts and approximately $200,000 based on games.
AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this report.
Yankees, Winn agree to $2 million deal
January 27, 2010
NEW YORK (AP)—The New York Yankees and free agent outfielder Randy Winn(notes) agreedWednesday to a $2 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with thenegotiations told The Associated Press.
The agreement, which all but eliminates any chance Johnny Damon(notes) has ofreturning to the World Series champions, is subject to a physical that isscheduled for Thursday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because afinal agreement was not in place.
Winn hit .262 with two homers and 51 RBIs for the San Francisco Giants lastyear. The 35-year-old was an All-Star in 2002, when he batted .298 with 14homers and 75 RBIs for Tampa Bay.
Case against Uecker, Brewers dismissed
January 27, 2010
MADISON, Wis. (AP)—A Wisconsin appeals court has dismissed a lawsuit filedby a woman who claims she has been unfairly portrayed as a stalker by theMilwaukee Brewers and radio announcer Bob Uecker (YOO’-kur).
The District 2 Court of Appeals did not rule on the merits of Ann Ladd’sclaims.
Instead, the three-judge panel said Wednesday that her allegations ofdefamation and invasion of privacy were either filed after the two-year statuteof limitations had run out or lacked a legal basis.
In 2006, Uecker alleged a pattern of stalking and harassment by Ladd. Shewas charged with felony stalking, but a prosecutor dismissed the criminal chargeafter a court commissioner issued an injunction barring her from contacting him.
Yankees, OF Winn trying to reach deal
January 27, 2010
NEW YORK (AP)—People familiar with the negotiations tell The Associated Pressthat the New York Yankees and free agent outfielder Randy Winn(notes) are trying toreach a deal, which would all-but-eliminate any chance Johnny Damon(notes) has ofreturning to the World Series champions.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday because a finalagreement was not in place. The agreement would be for about $2 million, one ofthe people said.
Winn hit .262 with two homers and 51 RBIs for the San Francisco Giants lastyear. The 35-year-old was an All-Star in 2002, when he batted .298 with 14homers and 75 RBIs for Tampa Bay.
PNC Park to get Mazeroski statue
January 27, 2010
PITTSBURGH (AP)—The Pittsburgh Pirates plan to put a statue of Bill Mazeroskioutside PNC Park to commemorate the Hall of Famer’s home run that won the WorldSeries 50 years ago.
Statues of Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell are already inplace outside the stadium, which opened in 2001.
Mazeroski’s ninth-inning homer ended Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, givingthe Pirates a 10-9 win over the New York Yankees.
The Pirates have not said when they will unveil the statue honoring thesecond baseman. They plan to commemorate the World Series win during a weekendseries against the Cleveland Indians June 18-20.
LHP Marshall, Cubs agree to 1-year deal
January 27, 2010
CHICAGO (AP)—Left-hander Sean Marshall(notes) and the Chicago Cubs have agreed to a$950,000, one-year contract and avoided arbitration.
Marshall was 3-7 with a 4.32 ERA in 55 appearances, including nine starts,for Chicago last season. In four major league seasons with the Cubs, Marshall is19-29 with a 4.55 ERA. He has made 134 appearances, including 59 starts.
After making $450,000 last season, Marshall had asked for $1,175,000 inarbitration and had been offered $800,000.
Chicago also agreed to a minor league contract with infielder Chad Tracy(notes), a.280 hitter with 78 homers and 318 RBIs in 704 games over six seasons with theArizona Diamondbacks.
Dawson unhappy he must join Hall as Expo
January 27, 2010
CHICAGO (AP)—Andre Dawson will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a MontrealExpo, despite his preference to go in as a Chicago Cub.
The hall announced its decision Wednesday. Dawson told WMVP-AM in Chicagothat he thought hall officials would discuss the issue with him in detail beforethe decision was made. He said he wanted a chance to tell them “what reallycatapulted me to Hall of Fame status and pretty much what my preference was butI think their decision had been made. It was a little gut-wrenching for me tohear that but it’s their decision.”
“I’m disappointed,” Dawson told the ESPN Radio affiliate. “I can proudlysay that because Chicago was my preference.”
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Dawson’s official statement issued by the hall was more circumspect.
“I respect the Hall of Fame’s decision to put an Expos logo on my cap, andI understand their responsibility to make sure the logo represents the greatestimpact in my career,” Dawson said in Wednesday’s statement. “Cubs fans willalways be incredibly important in my heart, and I owe them so much for making mytime in Chicago memorable, as did the fans in Montreal, Boston and SouthFlorida, my home. But knowing that I’m on the Hall of Fame team is what’s mostimportant, as it is the highest honor I could imagine.”
The induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y., is July 25.
Dawson played his first 11 seasons with Montreal, batting .285 with 225 homeruns and 838 RBIs. He was named an All-Star three times and won the NationalLeague Rookie of the Year Award in 1977. He played six seasons with the Cubs,where he won the 1987 NL MVP award after batting .287 with 49 home runs and 137RBIs. He also played two years each for Boston and Florida before retiring in1996.
Dawson told WMVP he thought he “would have a little bit more input or Iwould carry or merit some sort of weight” as to whether he would go into thehall as a Cub or Expo.
“It was to my understanding they would make the determination at theconsent of sitting down and discussing it with you prior to making thedetermination and I just thought it would carry a little bit more weight than itdid,” he said.
Earlier this month, Hall president Jeff Idelson said “you want the logo torepresent where this guy made his greatest impact. He was impactful in Montreal.He was impactful in Chicago, and to a much lesser extent Boston and Florida, butit’s more of a case sitting down and collectively make a decision.”
The hall noted that Dawson had 1,575 of his 2,774 hits as an Expo, won sixof his eight Gold Glove awards in Montreal and led the Expos to their onlypostseason series win with a five-game victory over the Phillies in 1981.Idelson also said it’s the museum’s responsibility to “properly interpret thegame’s history.”
“Every Hall of Fame plaque lists all of the teams where an electee playedor managed,” he said. “Fans of ‘The Hawk’ in every city in which he playedshould claim Andre as one of their own.”
The Expos franchise, which played its first season in 1969, became theWashington Nationals before the 2005 season. Asked if he believed the hallwanted to preserve Expos history, Dawson said: “The hall clearly stated theirmajor concern was the history of the game.”
In 1999, there was a stir caused by reports that Tampa Bay would compensatethe newly retired Wade Boggs if his Hall of Fame plaque bore a Devil Rays logo.
Boggs denied it, but the hall two years later revoked the right of a playerto choose the logo on the cap on his plaque. Boggs was inducted in 2005 and hisplaque sports a Boston Red Sox logo.
Dawson is the only player for 2010 to receive at least 75 percent of thevote to be inducted into the hall. He will be inducted along with manager WhiteyHerzog and umpire Doug Harvey. Herzog’s plaque will feature a St. LouisCardinals logo, and the Royals, Rangers and Angels will all be listed.
On the Net:
Hall of Fame: http://www.BaseballHall.org
Rangers, Francisco agree to $3.265M deal
January 27, 2010
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)—Texas Rangers closer Frank Francisco(notes) reached anagreement Tuesday on a $3.265 million contract to avoid an arbitration hearing.
Francisco was seeking $3.6 million and the Rangers had countered with $3million when they swapped figures last week.
Francisco was 2-3 with a career-best 25 saves and a 3.83 ERA in 51 reliefappearances last season, when he also had three stints on the disabled list.Opposing batters hit only .214 against Francisco, who had 57 strikeouts and 15walks in his 49 1-3 innings.
The only remaining arbitration-eligible player for Texas is right-handerScott Feldman(notes), a 17-game winner last season who is seeking $2.9 million. TheRangers have offered $2.05 million.
