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MLB Capsules: Crane mulling name, uniform changes
HOUSTON (AP) — New Houston Astros owner Jim Crane is considering changing the name of the franchise as well as its uniforms. Crane said Monday the team will conduct a study to decide whether or not to switch the name.
"We're going to study the information both from the fans and from all sorts of marketing people," Crane said. "I'm not saying we're going to change. We haven't made the decision yet whether we're going to change."
The team was established in 1962 as the Colt .45s and has been called the Astros since 1965 when it was changed to coincide with the move to the Astrodome.
Crane said switching uniforms is something they are "highly considering." Any changes wouldn't happen until 2013 when Houston makes the move from the National League to the American League.
"We had the Colt .45s and everybody liked that one," Crane said. "So you can imagine how upset they were when we switched that. What you get when you look at the fan base is the older we get and I'm old, you don't like to change. But the younger fans are very receptive to change and the older ones aren't, so that's what we saw with the American League."
Crane's comments came at an event to announce several fan initiatives. The biggest move is a 5 percent rebate on full-season and 27-game season ticket accounts that are renewed by Jan. 31. The cheapest at the park will be cut from $7 to $5. Children's tickets in the lowest priced sections will remain $1.
They also have a new $35 ticket located on the club level that includes a $15 credit for food, beverages and retail items. These tickets cost $46 last season and did not include any food or retail credit.
The Astros will also allow fans to bring water and a small amount of food inside the stadium.
Crane and his staff met with many fans before deciding on these initiatives. He has been looking into ways to improve the team, which finished a franchise-worst 56-106 last season, and the fan experience since the sale from Drayton McLane was completed in late November.
"We felt that with the new ownership and the way the team performed in the last couple of years that we needed to step forward and try to get the interest back with the fans," he said.
"We're making some very positive moves to put a better product on the field, and we wanted to get people in the ballpark to experience that."
The Astros name is a nod to Houston's role in the space program as the site of NASA's Mission Control. Aerospace is a major industry in the metropolitan area, but now that the space shuttle program has ended, the city may be less likely to base its identity on the space program.
Still, Crane wanted to make clear that no decisions have been made yet.
"We haven't said we're going to do that, so don't jump to any conclusions," he said of a possible name change. "Sometimes change is good."
He said they haven't hired a marketing firm yet, but they are considering doing that soon. There isn't a lot of to make a decision. Crane said they must inform the league by the beginning of the season if they are going to make a change. They wouldn't be allowed to announce the new name or release the logos until the season is over.
"Baseball has to approve all of those logos and all of those changes and there is a lot of expense to it. We've got signs here and if we do change it, it's going to be expensive," Crane said.
The Astros have had several uniform styles in their history, including the shooting star jerseys and the now infamous rainbow ones. They've had their current uniforms, which include road grays and primarily home reds since 2000. They also have alternate home white and white with black pinstriped jerseys.
Crane said some past uniforms could be incorporated into a new design.
''We've been studying the uniforms and we think there are some good ideas with the past," he said. "We have had baseball's people in to talk to them about what needs to be done. We're trying to follow the proper protocol. They have very tight rules. We're going to get some fan input together and put a study group together."
Hamilton feels good in offseason workouts
FORT WORTH (AP) — Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton says his offseason workouts are going well and he is right on schedule for the start of spring training following sports hernia surgery.
"Everything feels good," Hamilton said Monday night. "I've been running, squatting weight, agility, swinging the bat, throwing. All of it feels good."
Hamilton had surgery in November. He played hurt throughout the postseason for the AL champion Rangers, with a torn abdominal muscle and torn adductor muscles in his left leg.
The 2010 AL MVP and four-time All-Star is going into the last year of his contract with Texas. He is set to make $13.75 million this season as part of the $24 million, two-year deal he got before last season to avoid salary arbitration.
Now that the Rangers have completed their contract with Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish, they can turn to talks with Hamilton's agent about a possible long-term extension. Hamilton, who could become a free agent after this season, has repeatedly said he doesn't want contract talks going on once spring training starts.
"It puts a little urgency on getting something done, and if it doesn't get done, then I can focus on what I need to do, and not worry about it," Hamilton said. "It is very important to have a clear mind and focus on what you need to do to help your team win."
During a stop with the Rangers' winter caravan, Hamilton said he hasn't heard anything from his agent, Mike Moye. But the outfielder said he isn't stressing about it, and is spending a lot of time outside with his daughters playing with a new remote control monster car.
Even if a new deal isn't done before spring training, Hamilton said that wouldn't change his mind about wanting to stay with the two-time defending American League champions.
"Absolutely not," he said. "We've already told the Rangers if it doesn't happen before the season, they're the first ones we come to after the season's over."
The Rangers met earlier this month with free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder and his agent, Scott Boras.
After Darvish was introduced at Rangers Ballpark on Friday night, Rangers co-owner Bob Simpson said his personal preference would be to re-sign Hamilton over Fielder. Simpson also described Fielder as "too pricey" considering what he was seeking.
Both Hamilton and Fielder are left-handed power hitters. Hamilton is 30, three years older than Fielder, the 5-foot-11, 275-pounder who missed only one game the last three seasons with Milwaukee and has played at least 157 games each of the last six years.
"When I see guys comparing us, I'm like, stick him in the outfield, see how long he lasts. ... Stick me at first base and see how long I would last," Hamilton said. "Obviously our body types are different, too. He's played 160 games a lot, I haven't. So there's pros and cons on both sides. It's pretty funny to watch people compare us."
The Rangers announced this month that Hamilton's father-in-law had been hired as a staff special assistant to fill a support role as an accountability partner for the slugger, who had problems with drugs and alcohol in the past. But Michael Dean Chadwick has since decided against accepting that position due to "family considerations."
Hamilton said he has "a guy in mind" to fill that role but the person hasn't yet met with the Rangers.
Johnny Narron filled that role before he left in November to become Milwaukee's hitting coach. Narron joined the Rangers when Hamilton was acquired four years ago in a trade from Cincinnati. His primary role was to support the former No. 1 overall draft pick, who rebounded from his substance-abuse problems.
Hamilton said he plans to leave for spring training on Feb. 17, a full week before the full-squad reporting date in Arizona.
"It's time to go, baby," he said, excitedly.
-- Stephen Hawkins
Texas signs two pitchers to minor deals with invites
ARLINGTON (AP) — Left-hander Mitch Stetter and right-hander Sean Green agreed Monday to minor league contracts with the Texas Rangers that include invitations to major league spring training.
Stetter and Green were on Milwaukee's opening-day roster last season, but didn't pitch for the NL Central champion Brewers after mid-May.
Stetter spent most of last season on the disabled list with left hip irritation, allowing four runs over seven innings in 16 appearances before going on the DL. In 132 career games, all with the Brewers from 2007-11, he is 8-2 with one save and a 4.08 ERA in 86 innings.
Green was 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 14 appearances before being designated for assignment. He spent the rest of the season with Triple-A Nashville, where he had a 3.91 ERA in 33 relief appearances, then had four saves and a 1.37 ERA in 15 appearances for Mayaguez in the Puerto Rican Winter League.
Green has made 264 major league appearances for Seattle (2006-08), the New York Mets (2009-10) and the Brewers (2011), going 10-12 with a 4.41 ERA.
The two-time defending American League champion Rangers also provided hearing dates for their remaining salary arbitration-eligible players; shortstop Elvis Andrus (Feb. 9), catcher Mike Napoli (Feb. 15) and outfielder Nelson Cruz (Feb. 17). All the hearings will be in Tampa, Fla., unless deals are reached before then.
Cruz, whose eight postseason homers last year included six in the AL championship series with a game-ending grand slam in Game 2, asked for $7.5 million while the Rangers offered $5.5 million. He made $3.65 million last year, when he hit .263 with 29 homers and 87 RBIs in 124 games.
Napoli set career highs by hitting .320 with 30 homers and 75 RBIs in 113 games in his first season with Texas, when he made $5.8 million after spending his first five years with the Los Angeles Angels. He asked for $11.5 million, and Texas offered $8.3 million.
Andrus, who made $452,180 last season, asked for $3.6 million and was offered $2.65 million. He hit .279 with 37 stolen bases last year.
Other AL Capsules
Seattle, New York finalize Pineda, Montero deal
SEATTLE (AP) — Considering the heady talent that Brian Cashman has controlled in his tenure as general manager of the New York Yankees, his belief in the talent of Jesus Montero has to bring hope for the offensively starved Seattle Mariners.
"He may very well be the best player I've traded," Cashman said.
The Mariners and Yankees completed their four-player trade on Monday that sent Montero and 24-year-old pitcher Hector Noesi to the Mariners in exchange for All-Star pitcher Michael Pineda and 19-year-old pitching prospect Jose Campos.
While Noesi and Campos both have potential to help their new clubs, this trade is all about the exchange of the slugging Montero for the powerful Pineda. And while there will eventually be winners and losers in the trade, for now it's simply need-for-need: power arm in exchange for power bat.
"I look at it like we had a need and we were trying to address that need, and to get really good players you have to give up really good players," Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "If this goes down and helps the Yankees and helps us both long term and short term it's a win-win for everybody."
The conversations first began about a month ago after the Mariners had identified Montero as the young bat they wanted to try to acquire. Zduriencik simply posed the question to Cashman about what it would take to get the 22-year-old Venezuelan, who hit .328 with four homers and 12 RBIs in a September call-up with the Yankees last year that earned Montero a spot on the playoff roster.
The answer came back — Pineda.
"It wasn't like we were making someone available," Zduriencik said. "What we were doing is acquiring someone we really needed."
Pineda immediately brings youth to the Yankees rotation. He just turned 23 and was an All-Star in his rookie season last year. Pineda got off to a blistering start to his first season before going through anticipated rookie struggles. Pineda went 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA and led all of baseball in holding right-handed batters to just a .184 average. He struck out 173 in 171 innings.
And he solved New York's problem of finding acceptable starters on the free-agent market.
"I'm feeling great and I'm beyond excited. I never thought I would become a New York Yankee so early into my career. This is the best thing in the world," Pineda said. "Pitching alongside CC Sabathia, I'm speechless. And playing alongside players such as Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter is unbelievable."
Seattle could part with Pineda because of its depth in the minors. Three of Seattle's top prospects all project as starting pitchers: right-hander Taijuan Walker, lefty Danny Hultzen — the No. 2 pick in last year's amateur draft — and lefty James Paxton.
Seattle also signed Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma to go with ace Felix Hernandez, lefty Jason Vargas and prospects Charlie Furbush and Blake Beavan. Noesi may very well fall into that mix, too, after appearing in 30 games with New York, including two starts, and going 2-2 with a 4.47 ERA and 45 strikeouts.
Ultimately, no matter what arms Seattle has, the Mariners couldn't make up for an awful offense the past few seasons. Before even playing his first game in Seattle, Montero is already being touted as the middle-of-the-order answer to the Mariners' offensive woes.
Seattle hit just .233 as a team, scored 556 runs — worst in all of baseball — and hit only 109 homers in 2011. Seattle has failed to average four runs per game each of the past three seasons.
Montero could eventually provide the boost Seattle needs. During his brief call-up last September, Montero showed patience at the plate and an ability to hit with power to the opposite field.
Montero hit .288 with 18 homers and 67 RBIs at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last year. He finally lands in Seattle after nearly becoming a Mariner in 2010 as part of a deal for Cliff Lee that fell apart at the last minute.
His long-term future at catcher remains uncertain, but Zduriencik said Montero will get every opportunity to catch and that the situation behind the plate will get sorted out during spring training. Montero's bat is simply too valuable to keep out of the lineup.
"We felt we really needed a boost in our offense, and we identified some young players in baseball, but at the end we settled for Jesus," Zduriencik said. "We thought this would be a guy that could come in here and be the type of hitter we're looking for for years to come."
OF Ross agrees to sign with Red Sox
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Cody Ross agreed to sign with the Boston Red Sox, giving them an experienced hitter with postseason success on his resume to help replace J.D. Drew in right field.
Foxsports.com and ESPN.com reported the contract is for one year and $3 million. Ross told The Associated Press in a text message late Monday that the deal won't be finalized until he takes a physical.
The 31-year-old Ross batted .240 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs for the San Francisco Giants last season while playing at least 22 games at every outfield position.
Ross was the 2010 NL championship series MVP for the Giants and helped them win the World Series that year after they picked him up off waivers in August. He expressed his thanks on Twitter to San Francisco fans and wrote: "Looking fwd to meeting the (hash)redsoxnation fans!!"
The right-handed hitting Ross and newly acquired Ryan Sweeney provide the Red Sox with a righty-lefty tandem to fill right field. Drew is a free agent after completing a $70 million five-year contract. He played only 81 games last year, batting .222 with four homers and 22 RBIs in an injury-plagued season.
Ross and Sweeney also give Boston insurance in left field as Carl Crawford recovers from surgery on his left wrist. Crawford might not be ready for opening day.
With the Red Sox, Ross would join a team in transition after manager Terry Francona was let go and replaced by Bobby Valentine. Boston went 7-20 in September last year, missing the playoffs with a record collapse.
Now, Valentine's roster is taking shape. Late last month, the Red Sox landed a new man for the back of the bullpen when they acquired All-Star closer Andrew Bailey and Sweeney from the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Josh Reddick, infield prospect Miles Head and minor league pitcher Raul Alcantara.
Reddick spent much of last season filling in for Drew and occasionally Crawford.
Bailey gives the Red Sox a reliable ninth-inning reliever to replace Jonathan Papelbon, who signed a $50 million, four-year contract as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies in November.
Last January, Ross avoided salary arbitration and signed a $6.3 million, one-year contract with San Francisco. It was a hefty raise for the former kid rodeo clown, who earned $4.45 million in 2010 and joined the Giants on a waiver claim from Florida on Aug. 22 that year.
Ross then became one of the Giants' most reliable players — and a fan favorite — down the stretch and during an improbable title run. The franchise won its first championship since 1954 and first since moving West in 1958.
He hit three of his five postseason home runs during the NLCS against Philadelphia, and the Giants won in six games against the favored Phillies as Ross received MVP honors. He drove in 10 runs during the 2010 postseason, two in San Francisco's five-game World Series win over the Texas Rangers.
But Ross — son of a team roper and steer wrestler — never found a steady groove in 2011 and the Giants failed to return to the playoffs.
It became clear the team was going in a different direction this winter. In November, general manager Brian Sabean acquired Melky Cabrera in a trade with the Royals.
-- Janie McCauley
Reinsdorf says Guillen had his blessing to leave
CHICAGO (AP) — Ozzie Guillen left the White Sox four months ago, and they're still talking about him in Chicago.
White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf defended his former manager Monday, saying Guillen had his blessing to leave the team before the season was over. Guillen was released from his contract with two games left last year and became the Marlins manager two days later.
"Ozzie told me he wanted to finish out the year, the Marlins really wanted him in Miami for the conclusion of the season, and I told him that he had no choice but to go given the excitement surrounding the opening of their new stadium and the unveiling of their new uniforms," Reinsdorf said in a statement. "Ozzie needed to be in Miami at the end of the season for the Marlins."
Reinsdorf's statement came after White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy questioned whether Guillen quit on the team during an interview on WSCR-AM 670 on Jan. 14. Guillen then took to his Twitter account Friday and promised to tell the truth about his departure from Chicago.
"At the end of the day, Ozzie didn't finish the season with us the last few games," Peavy said. "So I don't know who quit on who. But it is what it is and we're all looking forward to 2012."
Peavy also said during the interview that he had no hard feelings toward Guillen, and posted on his Twitter account Friday that he loved his former manager and had "all the respect in the world for him and his family."
"We will always be grateful for the 21 seasons Ozzie spent in a White Sox uniform as a player and coach, especially his role in helping us win the 2005 World Series championship," Reinsdorf said. "We wish him nothing but the best."
Vizquel, Blue Jays agree to minor league deal
Omar Vizquel and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a minor league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.
The team announced the move in a news release. ESPN first reported the sides had agreed to a deal. Vizquel tweeted: "I'll be with the Toronto Blue Jays in spring training this year to earn a spot."
The veteran infielder, who turns 45 on April 24, would be headed into his 24th major league season if he makes the club. Vizquel has 11 Gold Gloves at shortstop and provided a positive clubhouse influence for the Chicago White Sox the past two seasons and a reliable option off the bench.
Vizquel appeared in 58 games last year, batting .251 with eight RBIs and seven doubles. He is a career .272 hitter in 2,908 games.
-- Janie McCauley
Millwood, Mariners agree to minor league deal
SEATTLE (AP) — Kevin Millwood and the Seattle Mariners have agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said during a conference call Monday that Millwood will have a chance to compete for a spot in the rotation.
The 37-year-old Millwood gets a $1 million salary if he makes Seattle's 40-man roster and he can earn an additional $750,000 in performance bonuses. An All-Star in 1999, the right-hander has a 163-140 career record with a 4.10 ERA. Millwood's major league time last year was limited to a late-season stint with Colorado. He went 4-3 with a 3.98 ERA in nine starts.
In Seattle, Millwood will be reunited with manager Eric Wedge and pitching coach Carl Willis. They were with Cleveland when Millwood pitched for the Indians in 2005.
Posada to announce retirement Tuesday
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees say Jorge Posada is going to announce his retirement Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.
The 40-year-old five-time All-Star catcher will end his 17-year big league career with the team that drafted him rather than pursue another team. Posada became a free agent after a trying season in New York, the final year of a four-year, $52 million contract.
The Yankees announced Posada's decision in a statement Monday. Sports radio station WFAN first reported his plans two weeks ago.
The clubhouse leader helped the Yankees win five World Series titles. For his career, Posada hit .273 with 275 home runs and 1,065 RBIs. But he lost his catching job this year and his playing time diminished.
Other NL Capsules
Dodgers bidders starting to talk with each other
NEW YORK (AP) — Some bidders for the Los Angeles Dodgers have started talking with each other about combining their groups, even before initial offers for the bankrupt team were submitted Monday.
Two bidders said talks about possible group mergers were ongoing. They both spoke on condition of anonymity because Blackstone Group, which is managing the sale for owner Frank McCourt, made them sign nondisclosure agreements.
"It would be a shock if they don't start talking merger," said Marc Ganis, president of the Chicago-based consulting firm Sportscorp, which is not involved. "I think we'll get a half-dozen parties that are actually in the bid, plus or minus one."
Blackstone will analyze all of the initial bids and then select up to 10 — perhaps this week but maybe next — to forward to Major League Baseball, which already has started due diligence on some. Those picked must pay MLB $25,000 to cover the costs of baseball's investigation.
The actual cash paid in a sale figures to be depressed by the team's debt, which stands at $573 million, according to a filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court last Friday. Because of the debt, the price may not top the record price for a baseball franchise, the $845 million paid by the Ricketts family for the Chicago Cubs in 2009.
Even then the amount of cash needed is huge, and baseball likely will be wary of the leverage allowed to the incoming owners.
Among the groups thought to have the most money:
— Steve Cohen of the hedge fund SAC Capital Advisors and baseball and basketball agent Arn Tellem
— former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson, former Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals president Stan Kasten and Guggenheim Partners chief executive officer Mark Walter
— former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre and real estate developer Rick Caruso
— former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley
— the family of the late Roy E. Disney and Stanley Gold of Shamrock Holdings.
O'Malley has discussed combining with the Disney-Gold group, as first reported last week by the Los Angeles Times, and O'Malley may be talking with others.
Additional groups who have said they were bidding include:
— former agent and current Chicago White Sox special assistant Dennis Gilbert, talk show host Larry King and Jason Reese of Imperial Capital
— former Dodgers general manager Fred Claire, former Oakland Athletics president Andy Dolich and former Dodgers batboy Ben Hwang, who brought in the financial backers
— former Dodgers stars Orel Hershiser and Steve Garvey, and Joey Herrick of Natural Balance Pet Foods.
And then there are those who may be interested:
— Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban
— Pittsburgh Penguins owner Ron Burkle
— Real estate developer Alan Casden, who investigated bidding for the Dodgers in 2003.
"I can't comment on that at all," Cuban said Monday before the Mavs' game against Phoenix.
More than anything, Monday was the starting focal point for the bidding process rather than a deadline.
"At this point, what you're trying to do is cull the herd," Ganis said. "All the interest had been a good thing for McCourt, but it's also been an easy cheap way for anyone in LA who wants some publicity and has a couple of shekels to get their name in the media."
Joshua Macciello, a 36-year-old former Brooklynite and current Californian, said he was bidding. He is CEO of ArmItal Inc., which he says makes real estate and mineral mining investments.
"I have a ZZ Top kind of goatee," he said. "I don't look like the traditional three-piece suit kind of hedge fund guy."
In addition, several people involved in the bidding said they doubted that anyone with the finances to purchase the team would be prevented from bidding even if they didn't make themselves known to Blackstone before the deadline.
According to a disclosure statement filed Friday with the team's reorganization plan in the bankruptcy court, the Dodgers are $573 million in debt: $368 million with Dodgers Tickets LLC, $150 million with Los Angeles Dodgers LLC and $55 million with Dodgers Club Trust. All three are subsidiaries of the team's parent holding company.
McCourt is to select the winning bid by April 6, with the sale to close by April 30.
Much of the purchase price figures to be used to pay down the debt. Of the money left over, McCourt must pay a $131 million divorce settlement to Jamie McCourt by April 30 and will have substantial capital gains taxes. He bought the Dodgers, the ballpark and 250 acres of land that include the parking lots from the Fox division of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. in 2004 for $430 million.
While the parking lots and land surrounding Dodger Stadium are not included in what initially is being offered for sale, bidders are likely to want those as part of any deal because they wouldn't want to acquire the team and then have McCourt as landlord of the surrounding property. Whether the land is included will impact the purchase price.
-- Ronald Blum
Morse gets $10.5M for two years from Nationals
WASHINGTON (AP) — Outfielder Michael Morse's two-year contract with the Washington Nationals is worth $10.5 million, including salaries of $3.25 million in 2012, and $6.75 million in 2013. Morse also gets a signing bonus of $500,000.
The Nationals announced last week they had reached a deal with Morse before arbitration figures were exchanged, but it was contingent on a physical. He passed the exam last week, and the sides avoided arbitration.
The 29-year-old Morse, who also plays first base, hit for a .303 average with 31 homers and 95 RBIs in 2011 — leading the Nationals in each category.
Morse has played seven seasons in the majors with the Nationals and Seattle Mariners, but really emerged over the last two years in Washington.
Aoki will make $2.5 million with Brewers
MILWAUKEE (AP) — New Brewers outfielder Norichika Aoki will make at least $2.25 million over two years under his contract and would earn up to $8,187,500 if his 2014 option is exercised and he has at least 140 starts and 150 games played per season.
Aoki gets salaries of $1 million this year and $1.25 million in 2013. Milwaukee holds a $1.5 million option for 2014 with a $250,000 buyout.
He can make $1,675,000 in performance bonuses this year, $837,500 in 2013 and $1,087,500 in 2014 if the option is exercised, all based on games from 70-150 and starts from 100-140. Half of the performance bonuses earned this year would be added to his 2013 base salary.
Milwaukee is paying a $2.5 million fee for Aoki to Yakult of Japan's Central League. The 30-year-old hit over .300 in six of his seven full seasons and was a three-time Central League batting champion.
Padres come to terms on one-year deal with Richard
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres have agreed to terms on a $2,705,000, one-year contract with left-handed pitcher Clayton Richard.
General manager Josh Byrnes made the announcement Monday.
The 28-year-old Richard was 5-9 with a 3.88 ERA and 53 strikeouts over 18 starts in 2011 before undergoing season-ending surgery on his left shoulder on July 29. Richard is 24-20 with a 3.84 ERA since joining the Padres from the Chicago White Sox in July 2009.
The Padres now have only one arbitration-eligible player remaining in right-handed pitcher Dustin Moseley.
League Capsules
Selig extension through 2014 as MLB boss finalized
NEW YORK (AP) — Given some time to reconsider, the San Diego Padres have voted in favor of baseball Commissioner Bud Selig's two-year extension. Selig's latest agreement was finalized in a 30-0 vote, the commissioner's office said Monday.
Because it was not on the agenda when owners met Jan. 12 in Arizona, unanimous consent was needed then for approval. San Diego owner John Moores, upset that the Padres' sale to Jeff Moorad's group was not approved, voted no. Owners then decided to have a vote conducted by return ballot over 10 days, which fulfilled the notice requirement.
Selig has been in charge of baseball since September 1992. He turns 80 in July 2014 and would pass Kenesaw Mountain Landis in September 2016 as the longest-serving commissioner. His latest terms runs through Dec. 31, 2014.
Elsewhere
Longtime Phillies broadcaster Musser dies
WYNNEWOOD, Pa. (AP) — Andy Musser, a sports announcer for 45 years and a Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster for a quarter-century, has died. He was 74.
Musser's son, Allan, of Roswell, Ga., said his father died Sunday evening at his home in Wynnewood in suburban Philadelphia.
"Andy was a dear friend to many, an absolute gentleman, and a true professional," Phillies President David Montgomery said in a statement. "I had the pleasure of working with him for 26 years during which time he made a significant contribution to our club. Additionally, along with thousands of Philadelphia sports fans, I admired his versatility in announcing not only Phillies games but also his work with the Eagles, Sixers and Villanova Basketball. Since leaving the Phillies broadcast booth in 2001, Andy remained close to the club. We will all miss our dear friend."
Musser retired in 2001 after 25 years with the Phillies, working throughout his tenure beside Harry Kalas. Musser missed only two games for health reasons when laryngitis kept him out of the broadcast booth. He also covered the World Series, Eagles and 76ers games, and Big Five basketball.
"Andy was my first TV partner and he taught me the TV business," 76ers coach Doug Collins said. "There was no better pro than him and we're all going to miss him."
Musser is also survived by his wife of 50 years, Eun Joo, and his daughter, Luanne Zimmerman of Lower Gwynedd, Pa.
