MLB Capsules: Livan Hernandez, Astros agree to minor league deal
HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros have agreed to a minor league contract with former World Series MVP Livan Hernandez.
The 36-year-old pitcher was invited to major league spring training. Hernandez was the opening day starter for Washington last season and started 29 games for the Nationals, going 8-13 with a 4.47 ERA.
Hernandez has pitched at least 200 innings in 10 of his 15 major league seasons. He last reached the mark in 2010 when he went 10-12 with a 3.66 ERA for the Nationals.
The two-time All-Star, who led the Marlins to the 1997 championship, is 174-176 with a 4.39 ERA in a career that also includes time with the Giants, Expos, Diamondbacks, Twins, Rockies and Mets. He has appeared in 12 playoff games with a 7-3 record and 3.97 ERA.
Other AL Capsules
Indians acquire INF/OF Canzler from Rays
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Indians have added an MVP to their roster, and a possible replacement at first base.
Cleveland acquired versatile Russ Canzler, the top player in the International League last season, on Tuesday from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash.
The 25-year-old Canzler played four positions — right and left field, third and first base — last season for Triple-A Durham, where he batted .314 with 18 homers and 83 RBIs in 131 games for the Bulls. Canzler made his major league debut for the Rays on Sept. 11 and had one hit in three games.
He was expected to be on Tampa Bay's roster this season, however, the club re-signed first baseman Carlos Pena and free agent infielder Jeff Keppinger, making Canzler the odd man out. The Rays designated him for assignment last week after signing Keppinger.
Canzler led the International League in doubles (40) and slugging percentage (.530), finished second in runs (78) and third in hits (149). He appeared in 41 games in right field, 33 in left, 40 at third base and 17 at first.
He could be an answer at first for the Indians, who have been deeply disappointed in Matt LaPorta. The two may compete for the starting job at first this spring, and Canzler's versatility could help him win a utility spot with Cleveland.
The Indians have struck out so far in trying to add a powerful bat to their lineup this winter. Prince Fielder was out of their price range, Carlos Beltran signed with St. Louis after the Cardinals lost Albert Pujols and Pena reportedly turned down a one-year offer from the Indians. Cleveland may still have interest in free agent Casey Kotchman, who batted a career-best .306 in 146 games for the Rays in 2011.
Canzler was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2004 and signed as a minor league free agent by Tampa Bay before last season.
-- Tom Withers
Former Cubs GM Hendry hired by Yankees
NEW YORK (AP) — Former Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry was hired Tuesday to be a special assignment scout for the New York Yankees.
Hendry spent 17 seasons with the Cubs and was GM from July 2002 until he was fired on Aug. 18, unable to help the team win the World Series for the first time since 1908.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he believes Hendry will be an invaluable resource.
"He can scout amateur players; he scouts pro players for us," he said. "He's as connected in the game as you can possibly be. Everybody loves this man."
New York also promoted Steve Donahue to head athletic trainer on Tuesday. He succeeds Gene Monahan, who retired after 39 seasons as head trainer and 49 with the Yankees overall. Mark Littlefield, who had been the Yankees' head minor league athletic trainer, becomes assistant athletic trainer with the big league team.
Assistant general manager Jean Afterman was given the additional title of senior vice president
Billy Eppler was promoted from senior director of professional personnel to an assistant GM and Will Kuntz becomes manager of pro scouting, promoted from pro scouting assistant.
Keppinger to earn $1,525,000 in contract with Rays
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Infielder Jeff Keppinger is guaranteed $1,525,000 as part of his one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Keppinger can earn an additional $375,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances under the deal announced last week: $50,000 for 250, $75,000 apiece for 300, 350 and 400, and $100,000 for 450.
The 31-year-old Keppinger hit .277 with six homers and 35 RBIs in 399 plate appearances last season with the Houston Astros and San Francisco Giants. He earned $2.3 million.
Other NL Capsules
Chipper Jones upbeat about 18th season with Braves
ATLANTA (AP) — One year has made a big difference in Chipper Jones' outlook.
Jones is feeling optimistic about his health as he moves closer to his 18th season with the Braves. Despite two knee surgeries in the last two years, the last link to the Braves' 1995 World Series championship is not ready to talk about ending his career.
In fact, the third baseman, who turns 40 in April, talked about the possibility of playing two more years. He has an option in his contract for 2013.
"Sitting here three weeks to go before spring training, and I'm not ready to say this is it," said Jones, who came to the Braves' clubhouse for a workout Tuesday. "I still feel I can go out and play a solid third base, which I did last year. I still feel like I can be productive in the middle of the lineup."
It's a big change from a year ago. After a serious left knee injury ended his 2010 season, Jones talked about the possibility of retiring. He began spring training last year uncertain if he would be able to play.
He hit .275 with 18 homers and 70 RBIs last season despite missing most of July following surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.
"I'm coming in relaxed," Jones said when asked to compare his outlook with his expectations before last season. "I'm coming in healthy. I think I ended the season on a good note, at least offensively.
"I'm confident. I want to go out and hit in the middle of this lineup and help this offense kind of turn the corner, but it's not going to be just me. I'm looking forward to it. As long as I stay healthy and I'm having fun, I'll keep going."
He had more scares with his right knee in the offseason. He revealed Tuesday he had problems in November when he tried to play in teammate Brian McCann's charity softball game.
"I came out of that thinking I can't play," he said.
Then he had to fly back to Atlanta for a MRI after stepping in a hole and hurting the knee while hunting.
"I was scared I had messed it up again," Jones said, adding he heard something in his knee pop and was told by doctors it was scar tissue.
Finally, Jones gave his knees more rest. His reward came when he could hit with no discomfort at the start of January.
"It's been good to be able to walk back into a cage and work on all my stuff and get myself in shape without having to worry about how my knee was going to do," he said.
Jones returns to a Braves lineup that is expected to have only one change. Shortstop Alex Gonzalez signed with Milwaukee. Rookie Tyler Pastornicky will have the chance to win the starting job.
Pitchers are continuing offseason workouts with pitching coach Roger McDowell this week. Some players, including Jones and right fielder Jason Heyward, are working with new hitting coach Greg Walker.
The Braves blew an 8½-game wild-card lead in September and missed the playoffs. There have been few offseason moves. Right-hander Derek Lowe was dealt to Cleveland for a minor league pitcher in the team's most notable move.
"I think it's a good team," manager Fredi Gonzalez said Tuesday from his Turner Field office. "We've got good personnel. Why blow it up?"
Jones agreed that a makeover was not needed.
"The bottom line, for four and a half to five months last year, we were pretty dang good," Jones said. "We were the third- or fourth-best record in baseball. We were right there. We just couldn't finish it out. I think that's the sour taste everybody still has in their mouth."
Jones played in 126 games last season and hasn't played in more than 143 games since 2003. He knows there will be days this season he won't be able to play.
"I will be 40 years old in April and there's no doubt there will be times when the body is going to wake up in the morning and say 'Don't you even think about walking out on that field today,'" said Jones, sporting some gray hair on his chin. "And I know that. I've got to listen to it so I can play the next day. That's how I look at it.
"I'm not going to look a week or two months into the future. I'm just going to go one day at a time, and if I can go out there, I'm going to go out there."
-- Charles Odum
Diamondbacks settle with Montero and Roberts
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a pair of one-year contracts that settled arbitration cases, giving catcher Miguel Montero $5.9 million and infielder Ryan Roberts $2,012,500.
Montero's agreement Tuesday came just ahead of the scheduled start of what would have been the first salary arbitration hearing of the year. The deal was $200,000 below the midpoint of the $6.8 million he had asked for and the $5.4 million Arizona had offered.
Montero hit .282 with 18 homers and 86 RBIs last year, when he made $3.2 million. Roberts batted .249 with 19 homers, 65 RBIs and 18 steals, earning $423,500. His agreement was $50,000 above the midpoint between the $2,275,000 he had asked for abd the $1.65 million he had been offered.
Twenty-five players remain in arbitration, with hearings scheduled through Feb. 17.
Moseley and Padres agree to one-year deal
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Right-hander Dustin Moseley has agreed to a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration.
Moseley will make $2,012,500 this year, $12,500 below the midpoint of what he requested and the Padres offered. Moseley had asked for $2.55 million, San Diego offered $1.5 million.
The 30-year-old Moseley went 3-10 with a 3.30 ERA over 20 starts with San Diego last year while earning $900,000. He had surgery on his left shoulder in August and missed the remainder of the season.
In six major league seasons with the Angels, Yankees and Padres, he is 15-21 with a 4.61 ERA. Twenty-five players remain in arbitration, with hearings scheduled through Feb. 17.
Phillies sign RHP Qualls
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Right-hander Chad Qualls has signed a one-year, $1.15 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The deal, announced on Tuesday, includes performance and awards bonuses. The 33-year-old Qualls went 6-8 with a 3.51 ERA in 77 games for San Diego last season. Since 2005, Qualls has made more appearances (512) than any other pitcher and ranks second in relief wins (34), trailing only Jesse Crain (38).
Qualls has a career record of 38-34 with 51 saves and a 3.78 ERA in 537 games for Houston, Arizona, Tampa Bay Rays and the Padres. He joins a revamped bullpen led by new closer Jonathan Papelbon.
Arredondo gets $2 million in two-year deal with Reds
CINCINNATI (AP) — Reliever Jose Arredondo will receive $2 million under his two-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds. The deal, announced by the Reds last week, calls for the right-hander to receive salaries of $800,000 this year and $1.2 million in 2013.
Arredondo made $480,000 last season, when he went 4-4 with a 3.23 ERA in 53 appearances around two stints on the disabled list.
Cincinnati hopes Arredondo can get back to pitching the way he did before surgery. Arredondo went 10-2 with a 1.62 ERA in 52 relief appearances for the Angels in 2008.
Marlins' new ballpark to get its grass
MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins are ready to roll out the playing field for their new ballpark.
Workers will begin laying sod Thursday, installing 50-foot rolls four feet wide. The field will consist of 110,000 square feet of Bermuda grass, and installation will take about three days.
The Marlins chose a Bermuda grass that's shade-resistant for their ballpark, which has a retractable roof. The ballpark project remains on schedule and is 94 percent complete, the Marlins said Tuesday. Opening night is April 4 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Both Leagues
Cashman, Epstein happy they can now do business
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (AP) — Brian Cashman and Theo Epstein said that after years of being on opposite sides of baseball's most bitter rivalry, they are looking forward to being able to make deals with one another.
The Yankees general manager and the former general manager of the Red Sox appeared together at a forum Tuesday night at Sacred Heart University.
Now president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs, the 38-year-old Epstein says he spent a lot of sleepless nights thinking that Cashman was up making a deal that would put the Yankees in a better position than the Red Sox.
"I was never able to totally relax because I felt like he was always lurking," Epstein said. "He had a great sense of the marketplace."
Cashman said Epstein's pure objective decision making forced the Yankees to rethink how they did business.
"I found the Red Sox were constantly making the right choice, not the popular choice," Cashman said. "That helped us reset our button a little bit by watching how they went about their business."
Both said that because of the extreme nature of the rivalry, they never had any serious trade talks during the last decade. But they told reporters backstage they expect that to change now.
"We just had a few brief talks this winter, but it will be nice to take each other seriously again," Epstein said.
"Yeah, instead of fake talking, we can actually do something," Cashman added.
The two spent a lot of time Tuesday trading old stories.
There was the time in 2002 when Epstein had his Latin American scouting director buy up every room in the small hotel in Nicaragua where then free agent Jose Contreras was staying while negotiating with the Red Sox and Yankees as a free agent.
"We were smoking cigars with Contreras and drinking rum until about 4 o'clock in the morning," Epstein said. "He told us he always wanted to be a Red Sox, and then the next morning the Yankees offered him about $10 million more."
Cashman said the hotel move made George Steinbrenner angry.
"The Boss, that was something that was a one up on us when they did that, it was a shrewd move, and he (Steinbrenner) was not going to be denied," Cashman said.
Epstein also relayed how Jed Hoyer, his assistant in Boston and now the Cubs General manager, got food poisoning after the famous Thanksgiving dinner he and Epstein shared in 2003 at Curt Shilling's home, a meal that sealed the trade bringing Shilling to Boston.
"I remember walking around the (hotel) room, I felt so bad for the maid, I was throwing $20 bills everywhere that Jed got sick," he said.
But both Epstein and Cashman said it was the attention to smaller deals, the draft and building their organizations that helped them create consistent winners. And Epstein cautioned Cubs fans that he will not be able to do the same thing in Chicago in just one offseason.
"Any opportunity to win is sacred," he said. "But the bigger picture for us is the long-term climb."
Cashman did address one current trade rumor after being asked by a young fan if he was comfortable sticking with A.J. Burnett given all the Yankees new pitching options.
"We signed him to have more success than he is having," Cashman said. "But, it's a competitive industry. As long as he's not going to give up on himself, I'm going to have his back the entire way."
But Cashman added that while he was comfortable with Burnett, the Yankees have a lot of potential starting pitchers and "we'll see how it all shakes out, who plays in what role."
-- Pat Eaton-Robb
Minor Leagues
Angels minor league pitcher gets 50-game drug ban
NEW YORK (AP) — Los Angeles Angels minor league pitcher Daniel Reynolds has been suspended 50 games for a second drug violation. The right-hander was penalized Tuesday under baseball's minor league program for a drug of abuse.
Taken by the Angels with the 201st pick of the 2009 amateur draft, the 20-year-old was 3-2 with a 4.60 ERA in 20 relief appearances last year for the rookie level Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League. Nine players have been suspended this year under the minor league program.
