Baseball Capsules: Twins get SS Hardy, Brewers get OF Gomez
MINNEAPOLIS — The Milwaukee Brewers finally gave J.J. Hardy the change of scenery he had been expecting and reunited the unhappy shortstop with an old friend in the process.
The Brewers traded Hardy to the Minnesota Twins on Friday for speedy outfielder Carlos Gomez.
Hardy winds up with the Twins’ All-Star catcher, Joe Mauer, a teammate on the U.S. national teams in 2000 and 2003. The two still chat regularly when they see each other, and Hardy said the move could help him move on from a forgettable season.
The 27-year-old Hardy batted a career-low .229 with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs in 115 games for the Brewers in 2009. He was demoted to Triple-A in August.
"I definitely knew I was going to get traded once I got sent down," Hardy said. "Once I got the call this morning, I was pretty excited about it."
The Twins think a fresh start can help Hardy regain the form that made him one of the league’s most promising young shortstops. A 2007 All-Star, he is just the third shortstop in Brewers’ history to hit more than 20 home runs in a season twice, along with Robin Yount and Jose Hernandez.
"It’s one of those seasons for me that I completely don’t want to think about it anymore. I was happy when it ended," Hardy said. "It was just kind of a nightmare year for me."
He has a career batting average of .262 with 75 home runs and 265 RBI in 571 games.
"He’s got a strong arm. He’s got good range and he’s got power," Twins general manager Bill Smith said. "He had a bad year this year. We’ve talked to a lot of people and we have a lot of opinions in our organization. We’re all on board that this was a good acquisition for us."
Hardy will replace free agent-to-be Orlando Cabrera, a midseason acquisition who helped the Twins edge Detroit for the AL Central title. But Cabrera just turned 35 and is not a long-term solution.
Hardy spent 20 days in the minors, costing him a year of service time and therefore delaying his eligibility for free agency until after the 2011-12 season.
"To give up Carlos Gomez, and four years of control with the player, it’s important to get somebody that we’re going to have for more than a year," Smith said.
Gomez, who turns 24 in December, batted .229 with three home runs and 28 RBIs in 137 games with the Twins last season. But he was stuck in a role as a defensive replacement in a crowded Twins outfield that included Michael Cuddyer, Denard Span, Delmon Young and Jason Kubel.
The move gives Twins manager Ron Gardenhire a more defined outfield rotation and will allow Gomez to play every day in Milwaukee, replacing center fielder Mike Cameron, who will become a free agent after two productive seasons.
"This was a good fit," Smith said. "We had one too many outfielders and they had one too many shortstops, so it worked out for both teams."
Brewers GM Doug Melvin said Gomez’s speed would add a new dimension to the Brewers’ offense, and his defensive skills would provide a boost to a pitching staff that struggled last season.
"Carlos brings to our club great speed, athleticism and energy at a position that we needed to fill," Melvin said.
The Brewers’ biggest need was pitching going into the offseason, and Hardy was one of the most logical pieces Melvin could have used to try to pry a pitcher away from another team.
"In the end, there wasn’t anybody that matched the ability of Carlos Gomez," Melvin said.
The development of highly regarded shortstop prospect Alcides Escobar made Hardy expendable, though Melvin said the decision to cut ties with the popular Hardy wasn’t easy.
"If he’d had a big year, we might have been looking at a trade of Escobar," Melvin said.
Despite Gomez’s speed, Melvin said Ricky Weeks would likely be the team’s leadoff hitter next season.
The Brewers likely will have to turn to the free agent market to help their struggling staff.
Melvin said he considers right-hander John Lackey "head and shoulders" above other available free agent pitchers, but wouldn’t say whether the Brewers would be serious bidders for the Los Angeles Angels ace.
Melvin said the Brewers might have to gamble on a pitcher with a history of injury problems, such as left-handed free agent Mark Mulder.
"We’ll still focus on pitching, and see if we can improve," Melvin said.
Manny Ramirez decides to stay with L.A. Dodgers
NEW YORK — Manny Ramirez decided to stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, and baseball’s trade market sprang to life with a pair of swaps two days after the World Series.
Rather than become a free agent, Ramirez exercised his $20 million option, part of a deal the outfielder agreed to with the Dodgers last March that included a $25 million salary for 2009.
Among 16 Dodgers potentially eligible for free agency, Ramirez hit .290 with 19 homers and 63 RBIs this year, his season stained by a 50-game suspension for violating baseball’s drug policy.
The Chicago White Sox acquired Mark Teahen from the Kansas City Royals for infielders Josh Fields and Chris Getz and cash, and Minnesota obtained shortstop J.J. Hardy from Milwaukee for outfielder Carlos Gomez, one of the players the Mets sent to the Twins in the Johan Santana deal.
Two pitchers were blocked from becoming eligible for free agency when teams exercised their 2010 options. Cliff Lee, who beat the Yankees twice in the World Series, gets a $9 million salary from Philadelphia next year. Brandon Webb, the 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner, receives $8.5 million from Arizona rather than a $2 million buyout.
Reliever J.J. Putz’s $9.1 million option was declined by the Mets, who will pay a $1 million buyout. Washington declined a $10 million option and chose to pay a $1 million buyout to outfielder Austin Kearns, who was bothered by a thumb injury and hit just .195.
Colorado turned down options on catcher Yorvit Torrealba ($4 million) and left-hander Alan Embree ($3 million). Torrealba gets a $500,000 buyout, and Embree $250,000.
The Chicago White Sox declined a $12 million mutual option on right fielder Jermaine Dye. The 2005 World Series MVP gets a $950,000 buyout and immediately filed for free agency.
"Money is tight all over the world and certainly on the South Side," Chicago general manager Ken Williams said. "We’re going to spend whatever we have available, but it’s not much."
Milwaukee declined a $3.7 million option on right-hander David Weathers, who gets a $400,000 buyout.
The Angels’ Vladimir Guerrero, Chone Figgins and Kelvim Escobar were among 39 players who filed Friday, raising the total of free agents to 118. Also filing were three members of the NL champion Philadelphia Phillies: Pedro Martinez, Brett Myers and Miguel Cairo.
About 65 additional players are potentially eligible to file by the Nov. 19 deadline. Free agents can start negotiating money with all teams the following day.
Teahen batted .271 with 12 homers and 50 RBIs this year, making 99 starts at third base, 31 in right field and three at second base. Chicago plans to switch Gordon Beckham to second and use Teahen at third base.
"That’s really my comfort position," Teahen said. "It’s huge. The past three years I haven’t known where I’m going to play, and the past 24 hours I haven’t know what city I’m going to play in."
Teahen could make as much as $5 million in salary arbitration.
Obviously, we’re in a time in baseball where the economics are very, very important. I would not discount that as a part of the equation," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said.
Kansas City also declined options for outfielder Coco Crisp ($8 million), catcher Miguel Olivo ($3.3 million) and right-hander Yasuhiko Yabuta ($4 million). Crisp and Olivo became eligible for free agency.
Crisp and Yabuta each get $500,000 buyouts, and Olivo receives $100,000.
Hardy, a 2007 All-Star, joins catcher Joe Mauer, a teammate on the U.S. national teams in 2000 and 2003. The 27-year-old Hardy batted a career-low .229 with 11 homers and 47 RBIs in 115 games last season and was demoted to Triple-A in August. He replaces Orlando Cabrera, who is eligible for free agency.
"I definitely knew I was going to get traded once I got sent down," Hardy said. "Once I got the call this morning, I was pretty excited about it."
Gomez, who turns 24 next month, hit .229 with three homers and 28 RBIs in 137 games with the Twins last season.
"Last year, I can’t do nothing about it, because I didn’t play every day," Gomez said. "You don’t play every day, it’s tough."
Atlanta agreed to a minor league contract with reliever Scott Proctor, who missed last season following elbow surgery.
-- Ronald Blum
American League
Royals trade Teahen to White Sox for Getz, Fields
CHICAGO — Mark Teahen has a new team and a new city. Happily for him, he’s got his old position back.
The Kansas City Royals sent Teahen to the White Sox on Friday and Chicago will find a home for him at third base.
"That’s really my comfort position," Teahen said. "It’s huge. The past three years I haven’t known where I’m going to play and the past 24 hours I haven’t know what city I’m going to play in."
The Royals got Chris Getz and Josh Fields from the White Sox in exchange.
Teahen was established at third base in Kansas City, but three years ago the Royals called up Alex Gordon, who’d been the No. 2 overall draft pick two years earlier.
Thus began a trip around the diamond for Teahen and he never really settled in at any position.
Teahen batted .271 with a 12 home runs and 50 RBIs in 144 games with the Royals in 2009, battling a sore back in the final month of the season. He made 99 starts at third base, 31 in right field and three at second base.
Chicago general manager Ken Williams said Teahen would be the White Sox’s starting third baseman and last year’s rookie star, Gordon Beckham, would be switched from third to second. Williams said Beckham, who was a star shortstop at the University of Georgia before being a first-round pick in 2008, was OK with the change.
Teahen said he can handle the outfield but prefers to play the position where he broke in with the Royals in 2005.
"It is tough when you are coming to the ball park every day just kind of checking the lineup card and seeing where you’re playing and figuring out where you are hitting in the lineup," Teahen said.
"I’ve always produced better when I’ve just been left alone," he said. "And playing third base I’ve been most productive there. My hope is settling back in there I can put up some bigger offensive numbers and not have to worry about as much stuff."
Teahen is a career .269 hitter with 59 home runs and 293 RBIs in 676 career games, all with Kansas City. The White Sox also got cash considerations in the deal.
"He’s a delight to be around day in and day out. We’re going to miss him," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. "But at the end of the day we believe this was a good baseball trade for both organizations. We’re happy to be able to make the deal."
Teahen could make as much as $5 million through arbitration. Was that a consideration?
"Obviously, we’re in a time in baseball where the economics are very, very important. I would not discount that as a part of the equation," Moore said.
Kansas City also declined options for outfielder Coco Crisp ($8 million), catcher Miguel Olivo ($3.3 million) and right-hander Yasuhiko Yabuta ($4 million). Crisp and Olivo became eligible for free agency.
Crisp and Yabuta each get $500,000 buyouts and Olivo receives $100,000.
Getz became Chicago’s starting second basemen last season, batting .261 with two homers, 31 RBIs and 25 stolen bases in 107 games. He impressed manager Ozzie Guillen with his gritty play.
Fields, a former college quarterback at Oklahoma State, appeared in 29 games and batted .222 with seven homers and 30 RBIs last season. Fields show immense promise as a rookie in 2007 when he filled in for injured Joe Crede and hit 23 homers in 100 games.
But his career with the White Sox never took off after that. And after Beckham was called up, it was clear he had no future with the team.
The trade was announced shortly after the White Sox said they had declined a 2010 option on right fielder Jermaine Dye.
Williams said he talked with Dye on Friday and there was no way at this time to fit him in. The White Sox gave the veteran a $950,000 buyout instead of $12 million in salary next season.
But Williams did not rule out the possibility of Dye returning, saying it would be a long offseason. He said the White Sox were still in the market for another outfielder and that it likely will not be Scott Podsednik, who rejoined the White Sox last season and gave them a lift from the leadoff spot.
"Money is tight all over the world and certainly on the South Side," Williams said. "We’re going to spend whatever we have available, but it’s not much."
The left-handed hitting Teahen is a player the White Sox have watched for a while and even inquired about his availability last season, Williams said.
Teahen had a career-high 34 doubles last season and the White Sox figure that in homer-friendly U.S. Cellular Field some of those will clear the fence.
-- Rick Gano
Indians hire Belcher as pitching coach
CLEVELAND — During his search for Cleveland’s pitching coach, new Indians manager Manny Acta was meeting with general manager Mark Shapiro when Tim Belcher’s name came up for discussion.
After a few minutes, Acta had heard enough.
"He said, ‘Why are we going any farther? This is the guy,"’ Shapiro said.
Belcher, who has done just about everything but pitch for the Indians, is the first member of Acta’s new staff. The 48-year-old Belcher had spent the past eight seasons as a special assistant, instructing, evaluating and scouting players throughout Cleveland’s system.
Now, he’ll coach their best ones.
"I view it as a good opportunity and challenge," Belcher said Friday.
Belcher replaces Carl Willis, who was let go after seven seasons when the Indians fired manager Eric Wedge and his entire coaching staff last month. Cleveland had its worst season since 1991, a slide that was tied in many ways to the Indians’ pitching problems.
It’s up to Belcher to get them worked out.
The former major leaguer, who won 146 games over a 14-year career with seven teams, is very familiar with Cleveland’s arms. Belcher served as an interim pitching coach in each of Cleveland’s minor-league levels and was an in-uniform instructor during spring training. His knowledge of the Indians pitchers made him attractive to Acta.
"He has all the intangibles that we were looking for," said Acta, who is still interviewing candidates to fill the other coaching vacancies. "We wanted to bring in a guy who could right this ship."
Belcher has turned down other coaching opportunities in the past, but couldn’t resist the chance to accept one about a 90-minute drive from his home in Sparta, Ohio.
He’s got his work cut with Cleveland’s pitching staff. The Indians’ 5.06 ERA was the second-highest in the AL, while opponents batted .294 against the club’s starters. The Indians are counting on Fausto Carmona to bounce back after a disastrous season and hope Jake Westbrook makes it back from elbow surgery.
Acta said he and Belcher have discussed pitching philosophies and they already share a common belief.
"Pound the strike zone," Acta said. "Whether your name is Fausto or Zausto, if you’re not missing bats, you better not be walking people."
Acta said he strongly considered three candidates for the job, but came away convinced Belcher was the best qualified because of his background, preparedness and intellect.
"One of his ex-teammates told me that he’s too smart to be a pitching coach," Acta said.
Belcher has not spent much time with Acta, but he has been impressed with Cleveland’s new manager. Belcher said before accepting the job, he did his research to learn about his new boss.
"I got nothing but rave reviews from anyone I talked to," he said.
Belcher made 373 starts in the majors before retiring in 2000. He won at least 10 games in nine seasons and in seven of them pitched more than 200 innings. He’s been a workhorse before and isn’t afraid to take on the Indians’ pitching staff, another heavy load.
"I’m challenged by it, but I wouldn’t view it as a daunting task," he said. "I’ve got a lot of work to do in building trust with some of the new guys and building relationships with them."
-- Tom Withers
White Sox buy out Jermaine Dye
CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox have declined the mutual option on veteran right fielder and former World Series MVP Jermaine Dye, clearing the way for him to become a free agent.
Dye will get a buyout of $950,000 instead of $12 million he could have gotten in salary next season.
Dye, the World Series MVP in 2005 for the White Sox, signed a two-year, $22 million extension late in the 2007 season. This year, the 35-year-old Dye batted .250 with 27 home runs and 81 RBI in 141 games.
Dye has also played with the Braves, Royals and Athletics. In 14 major league seasons, he has batted .274 with 325 homers and 1,072 RBIs. In five seasons with the White Sox, he batted .278 with 164 homers and 461 RBI.
Tigers: OF Thames, C Treanor to become free agents
DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers have removed outfielder Marcus Thames and catcher Matt Treanor from the roster, clearing the way for both players to become free agents.
Thames, a Tiger since 2004, hit .252 last season with 13 homers and 36 RBIs in 87 games. Treanor played in four games before undergoing surgery on his right hip April 30.
The Tigers also said Friday that infielder Michael Hollimon’s contract has been outrighted to Triple-A Toledo. The club purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Jay Sborz from the Mud Hens and reinstated right-hander Joel Zumaya and infielder Jeff Larish from the 60-day disabled list.
Angels GM Reagins gets contract extension
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Los Angeles Angels general manager Tony Reagins has agreed to a long-term contract extension.
The Angels have won the AL West in both of his years as GM. Reagins received the extension Friday.
The 42-year-old Reagins succeeded Bill Stoneman in October 2007 after six seasons as the Angels’ director of player development. Reagins has spent 18 years in the organization since joining the club as an intern.
The Angels went to the AL championship series this season. In his tenure, Reagins has signed outfielders Torii Hunter and Bobby Abreu and traded for pitcher Scott Kazmir.
A-Rod, champion Yankees honored at Knicks game
NEW YORK — Thanks to Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees, Madison Square Garden finally had some champions on the court again.
Seven of the World Series winners continued their day of celebrating Friday by coming onto the floor after the first quarter of the Knicks’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With Yankees fan LeBron James standing and clapping from the sideline, Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera and Joba Chamberlain received a standing ovation while Frank Sinatra’s "New York, New York" blared over the arena’s speakers.
Former Yankee Bernie Williams, who has been nominated for a Latin Grammy, played the national anthem on his guitar before the game.
Earlier Friday, the Yankees had a parade through Lower Manhattan.
National League
Webb’s $8.5 million option exercised by D-backs
PHOENIX — Brandon Webb’s $8.5 million option was exercised Friday by the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team counting on the former Cy Young winner coming back successfully from shoulder surgery.
The 30-year-old right-hander was the team’s opening day pitcher last season, giving up six runs in four innings, then did not take the mound again the rest of the year, eventually undergoing surgery on his pitching shoulder on Aug. 4.
Arizona would have had to pay a $2 million buyout if it had declined the option.
"He’s worked very hard since the surgery," general manager Josh Byrnes said, "and we’re confident that he’ll return to be a very healthy, effective pitcher."
A three-time All-Star, Webb won the 2006 NL Cy Young Award and was second in voting the next two years. He is 87-62 with a 3.27 ERA in seven seasons. He ranks second in franchise history to Randy Johnson in wins, starts (198), innings pitched (1,319 2-3) and strikeouts (1,065).
Webb’s 15 complete games rank behind Johnson and Curt Schilling for the Diamondbacks.
Byrnes and Webb spoke on a conference call shortly after the announcement was made.
Webb said he knew that the Diamondbacks picking up the option "was up in the air I think for awhile and rightfully so."
The successful surgery and subsequent good reports on rehabilitation had made it probable that the team would pick up the option.
"We did want to use the time we had but once we got out of the surgery all signs had been positive," Byrnes said.
Asked about the risk of the move, Byrnes said, "There’s a risk in everything."
"I think there’s a lot of reward," he added. "You’re talking about one of the best pitchers in baseball."
Webb plans to throw for the first time since the surgery next Wednesday, some soft tosses before shutting down and beginning his normal buildup to spring training.
He’s confident that he will still have the nasty sinker that made him one of the league’s best pitchers.
"Even when I was throwing and I was still having some pain, the life on the ball was still there," Webb said. "I can’t be too sure, but I’ll probably always have that sinking action."
Webb had pitched more than 200 innings each season from 2004 through 2008 and won 56 games from 2006 through 2008. He went 22-7 in 2008, tying Cleveland’s Cliff Lee for the most victories in the majors.
Before last season, Webb had only been on the disabled list once as a major leaguer, missing 15 days with right elbow tendinitis in 2003.
"It’s been tough," he said. "I’m usually used to being out there as much as anybody. It’s tough to sit on the sideline and see the team struggle."
Webb tried to work his way back from the injury without surgery but after getting opinions from three doctors outside the Diamondbacks organization, he decided to go ahead with the operation.
Texas Rangers physician Dr. Keith Meister performed the surgery.
Webb thought he had a three-year contract extension with Arizona in 2008 but the club withdrew the offer, citing insurance company concerns regarding the shoulder. Webb disputed the findings, then came the shoulder problems this year and any new deal became out of the question.
His future with Arizona beyond next season is uncertain.
"Obviously it’s going to depend on how the season goes for me as well as for the team," Webb said. "Hopefully it goes well for both of us and we can maybe start some talks toward the end of the season next year."
-- Bob Baum
Phillies pick up Lee’s $9 million option
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies have picked up Cliff Lee’s $9 million option for 2010.
The team announced the expected move on Friday, two days after losing the World Series to the New York Yankees. Lee’s contract expires after next season, though general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the team is open to signing the star left-hander to a long-term deal.
Lee, 31, was acquired from the Cleveland Indians on July 29 for four minor leaguers, and quickly became Philadelphia’s ace. Lee posted a 3.39 ERA in 12 starts for the Phillies, then went 4-0 with a 1.56 mark in five postseason outings, including 2-0 in the World Series.
Lee might command a deal similar to the seven-year, $161 million contract the Yankees gave C.C. Sabathia.
Lee told MLB.com on Thursday that he’s interested in staying with the Phillies but had not given much thought to his contract.
The Phillies have until Monday to decide whether to pick up a $5 million option on third baseman Pedro Feliz, who batted .266 with 12 homers in 2009, hitting mostly seventh in the lineup.
"He had a solid year for us," Amaro said. "I like the man personally. He’s a great person, a great teammate, but I also believe in trying to improve and change can be for the better. It doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to, but it’s something that we’ll look into."
Not picking up Feliz’s option doesn’t prevent the Phillies from re-signing him.
With Lee in the fold next season, the Phillies have $104.5 million committed to 12 players, and are expected to give raises to four salary-arbitration eligible players: Shane Victorino, Joe Blanton, Carlos Ruiz and Chad Durbin. Amaro suggested that the team’s 2010 payroll will be similar to last season’s, somewhere between $130 million and $140 million.
If the Phillies decline the option on Feliz, they will have eight potential free agents, including Pedro Martinez, Brett Myers, Scott Eyre, Chan Ho Park and Matt Stairs.
Amaro wouldn’t rule out bringing any of them back. Martinez will be an interesting decision for the Phillies, who have five starters under contract — Lee, Cole Hamels, Blanton, J.A. Happ and Jamie Moyer — plus young pitchers such as Kyle Drabek and Kyle Kendrick waiting for their shot.
Martinez helped his prospects by going 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA in nine regular-season starts.
"We’re still assessing what to do on our free agents," Amaro said.
NOTES: The Phillies announced that Eyre, 37, had surgery to remove "floating bodies" in his left elbow. The left-hander pitched through it in the final month of the regular season and the postseason. Eyre has said he will either pitch for the Phillies or retire. ... Closer Brad Lidge had his right elbow examined by team doctors, who also examined Raul Ibanez’s troublesome groin and abdomen. Ibanez spent nearly a month on the disabled list earlier this season, and batted .232 in the second half of the season. He may need surgery.
Brewers decline option on RHP David Weathers
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers have declined a $3.7 million club option on right-handed reliever David Weathers for next season.
Weathers arrived in Milwaukee in a trade with Cincinnati in August and went 1-3 with a 4.88 ERA the rest of the year. He gets a $400,000 buyout and becomes eligible for free agency.
The Brewers also are weighing a decision on exercising a 2010 option on starter Braden Looper, who went 14-7 with a 5.22 ERA last season.
Looper’s 2010 option is for $6.5 million with a $1 million buyout because he pitched more than 180 innings last season. If Milwaukee exercises the option, Looper has the right to decline it but he would forfeit the buyout.
Mets decline 2010 option on reliever J.J. Putz
NEW YORK — The New York Mets have declined an option on reliever J.J. Putz, making him eligible for free agency.
Putz was due to make $9.1 million in 2010. Instead, the Mets decided Friday to pay him a $1 million buyout.
Putz was 1-4 with two saves and a 5.22 ERA in his first season with New York. The Mets got him a trade with Seattle last offseason to be the setup man for Francisco Rodriguez.
Putz had surgery on his right elbow in June. He was shut down in August for the rest of the season because of a problem in his right forearm.
The Mets also said pitcher Mike Pelfrey was under contract for 2010 at $500,000 as part of a pre-existing deal.
Top pick Strasburg (neck) scratched from start
WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals say No. 1 overall draft pick Stephen Strasburg has a strained neck muscle and is being scratched from his scheduled start in the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars game.
The team says the right-hander is being held out of Saturday’s game for precautionary reasons.
The Nationals are listing Strasburg’s status as day to day and are not sure when his next Arizona Fall League start will be.
Strasburg signed a record $15.1 million dollar contract in August after being the top pick in June’s amateur draft out of San Diego State.
Torrealba, Embree file for free agency
DENVER — The Colorado Rockies have declined their part of mutual options on catcher Yorvit Torrealba and left-hander Alan Embree, and they both filed for free agency.
Torrealba receives a $500,000 buyout instead of a $4 million salary, and Embree gets a $250,000 buyout instead of a $3 million salary.
The 31-year-old Torrealba came up big for the Rockies down the stretch, helping them win the NL wild card for the second time in three years. He hit .291 ands drove in 17 of his 31 RBIs from Sept. 1 on.
Embree was 2-2 with a 5.84 ERA in 36 games. His season ended when he broke his right leg on a liner off the bat of Atlanta’s Martin Prado on July 10.
Nationals buy out Kearns for $1 million
WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals have declined their $10 million option on outfielder Austin Kearns and are paying a $1 million buyout, presumably ending his disappointing tenure with the team.
The 29-year-old Kearns hit only .195 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 174 at-bats this season, when he was hampered by a thumb problem. Elbow and foot injuries limited Kearns to 86 games in 2008, when he batted .217 with seven homers and 32 RBIs.
In 2007, his only full season in Washington, Kearns hit .266 with 16 homers and 74 RBIs.
He joined the Nationals in a midseason trade with the Reds in 2006. On Feb. 1, 2007, the Nationals announced a three-year deal that paid Kearns $17.5 million, including the buyout.
Minor Leagues
Reds minor leaguer suspended for banned substance
NEW YORK — A minor league pitcher in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization has been suspended for 50 games for using and possessing a performance-enhancing substance.
Jose Marmolejo played for the Reds’ team in the Dominican Summer League. He was penalized Friday.
The Reds suspended Marmolejo for 10 games late last season while his case was being reviewed. He will sit out 40 games at the start of the 2010 season.
Braves sign RHP Proctor to minor league deal
ATLANTA — Right-handed pitcher Scott Proctor has signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves after missing all of last season recovering from elbow surgery.
The 32-year-old Proctor has pitched five years in the majors with the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. He began experiencing elbow pain in 2008, causing him to miss 63 games, and underwent Tommy John ligament replacement surgery this past May 12.
Proctor’s best season was 2006, when he led the American League with 83 appearances and big league relievers with 102 1-3 innings. He went 6-4 with one save and a 3.52 ERA for the Yankees that year.
Proctor will attend the Braves’ spring camp as a non-roster invitee.
Elsewhere
Three more plead guilty in Ripken monument theft
BALTIMORE — Three more men have pleaded guilty in the theft of Cal Ripken Jr.’s monument from Camden Yards.
Twenty-year-olds Gary Parker and Matthew Rayner and 18-year-old Patrick Reynolds each pleaded guilty Friday to one count of conspiracy to commit theft over $500. Earlier this week, Jason Stoneburner, 19, pleaded guilty to theft.
Parker, Rayner and Reynolds were sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation and community service. If they complete the terms, their criminal records will be wiped clean.
Police say the men ripped the 3 1/2-foot aluminum monument — depicting the No. 8 worn by Ripken in his Baltimore Orioles career — from its base outside the Camden Yards ballpark Sept. 9, then threw it in the bed of a pickup truck. They were arrested hours afterward.
