MLB Capsules: Cubs trade Cashner to Padres for prospects
CHICAGO (AP) — Andrew Cashner won a spot in the Chicago Cubs' rotation last spring and made his only start on April 5 before a strained rotator cuff sent him to the disabled list.
He didn't return to the majors until September, as a reliever, and now the former first-round pick is headed to a new team, the San Diego Padres, as part of a four-player trade announced Friday.
Cashner, a 6-foot-6 right-hander, and minor league outfielder Kyung-Min Na were sent to the Padres for first baseman Anthony Rizzo and minor league right-hander Zach Cates.
The swap creates another reunion for Rizzo and Cubs GM Jed Hoyer.
Rizzo, who overcame Hodgkins Lymphoma, was drafted in 2007 by the Boston Red Sox when Hoyer and Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein helped run that front office.
As GM of the Padres, Hoyer acquired Rizzo as part of the trade that sent Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox. And now both are in Chicago with the Cubs.
"We believe Anthony has the potential to be a middle-of-the order run producer for the Cubs for a long time," Hoyer said. "He still has some development left, but we feel like what he's done at age 20 at Double-A and 21 at Triple-A was remarkable. He did struggle in the big leagues a little bit last year when he came up we feel that is just an adjustment period and he has a very bright future."
That having been said, Hoyer — who joined the Cubs late last year — said Rizzo will likely start the season in Triple-A with Brian LaHair being the starting Cubs' first baseman. LaHair hit 38 homers and batted .331 at Triple-A Iowa last year.
Cashner, the Cubs' first-round pick in 2008 out of TCU, will probably head to the Padres' bullpen. The 25-year-old is 2-6 with a 4.29 ERA in 60 major league outings — just the one start — over the last two years with the Cubs.
"We're not going to anoint him a role. We're going to use him as a reliever and see where that takes us," said Padres GM Josh Byrnes, who's had a busy offseason since replacing Hoyer.
"He has ability to potentially one day be a starter. He has the potential to pitch at the back end of a game so we'll see where that goes."
Byrnes said the Padres were confident that Cashner's arm is sound.
"We did a lot of work. I think four different scouts saw him pitcher after he returned (in fall league). We're pretty confident. There's always risk. He's 25 and he throws 100 mph on his good days," Byrnes said.
"We think this injury is non-predictive and hopefully he can be a healthy and productive pitcher for us."
Rizzo batted .331 with 26 home runs and 101 RBI in 93 games for San Diego's Tucson affiliate last season, his first-career stop at Triple-A. He also had two stints with the Padres and batted .141 with a homer and nine RBI in 49 big league games last year.
He was available because the Byrnes had made an earlier trade with the Reds, sending right-hander Mat Latos to Cincinnati Reds for four players, including starter Edinson Volquez and Yonder Alonso, the leading contender to start at first base.
"If we had a good deal it probably made sense to do it rather than spend a lot of time having sort of a quarterback controversy between Alonso and Rizzo," Byrnes said.
"Alonso is a little more accomplished. He spent more time at Triple-A and had big league success and we feel like he might fit our ballpark a little better."
Rizzo was originally selected by the Red Sox in the sixth round in 2007 out of high school. He was limited to 21 minor league games in 2008 after being diagnosed with Limited Stage Classical Hodgkins Lymphoma in late April. He excelled in the minors over the ensuing two seasons and was acquired by the Padres as part of the five-player deal that sent Gonzalez to the Red Sox on December 6, 2010.
Cashner is the second member of the Cubs' initial 2011 rotation to be traded this week. Earlier, the Cubs shipped off temperamental right-hander Carlos Zambrano to the Marlins for Chris Volstad.
"I would say we're not finished acquiring starting pitchers. We want to have as much depth as possible," Hoyer said, adding that the early-season injuries to Cashner and Randy Wells last season sent the Cubs on a shaky path at the outset.
Cates made his professional debut last season, going 4-10 with a 4.73 ERA in 25 starts for Single-A Fort Wayne.
The 20-year-old Na combined to bat .268 in 83 games between four different teams in the club's minor league system last year.
Lilliquist replaces Duncan as Cards pitching coach
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Derek Lilliquist will be making the calls from the St. Louis Cardinals dugout instead of receiving them next season.
The Cardinals retooled their coaching staff Friday while Dave Duncan takes an open-ended leave of absence, elevating Lilliquist from bullpen coach to pitching coach and replacing him in the pen with Dyar Miller.
General manager John Mozeliak said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press that he didn't know whether Duncan planned on returning for a 17th season. Mozeliak said reports that Duncan will retire were speculation at this point.
"Honestly, I don't know that answer," Mozeliak said. "The one thing I wanted to make clear, I did want Lilly and Dyar to know they'd be with the team. I want clarity going into 2012."
If Duncan does not return, the Cardinals will be defending their World Series title without three of their biggest figures. Tony La Russa retired as the third-winningest manager in major history the day after the World Series parade. Three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols, who anchored the No. 3 spot in the lineup for 11 seasons, agreed to a $240 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
The 45-year-old Lilliquist filled in as pitching coach when the 66-year-old Duncan took a leave of absence last August to be with his wife, Jeanine, following surgery to remove a brain tumor. Duncan returned to the team in time for its run to a World Series championship but the Cardinals announced Thursday he was taking another leave related to his wife's recovery.
During Lilliquist's time as the fill-in pitching coach, the Cardinals charged from 10½ games back in the NL wild card standings. They clinched a playoff spot on the final day of the season, then upset the Phillies, Brewers and Rangers to take the title.
"I think he has the confidence of our pitchers and obviously has had the time to learn under Dave," Mozeliak said of Lilliquist. "He was always somebody that I believed had a bright future."
Duncan returned in time for the regular season finale at the request of La Russa, who had decided a month earlier that he would be retiring, and wanted Duncan at his side when his managing career concluded.
Duncan coached alongside La Russa for 33 seasons with the Chicago White Sox (1979-86), Oakland Athletics (1986-95) and Cardinals. He's coached several Cy Young winners, including LaMarr Hoyt, Dennis Eckersley and Chris Carpenter, and has been credited with resurrecting the careers of countless pitchers including Woody Williams and Jeff Suppan, who played major roles on Cardinals postseason runs.
Lilliquist was bullpen coach last year and had been retained in that spot under new manager Mike Matheny. The 65-year-old Miller, who pitched for seven major league seasons, has been with the organization since 1985.
-- R.B. Fallstrom
Cubs' Castro accused of sexual assault
Chicago police are investigating an allegation that Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro sexually assaulted a woman last fall. The 21-year-old Castro has not been charged with a crime, and police otherwise declined comment.
"It's an ongoing investigation," Officer John Mirabelli said Friday.
Castro was unavailable for comment, but his attorneys said the allegation is false.
"We are aware of certain allegations that have been made against our client, Starlin Castro. We have thoroughly investigated this matter, and we are confident that these allegations are baseless," attorneys Jay Reisinger and Michael Gillespie said in an emailed statement. "Given the sensitive nature of this matter, we cannot comment any further."
Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer declined to discuss the allegation in any detail.
"While an allegation like this is something we take very seriously, don't have enough information to make any further comment or answer any questions at this time," he said.
"It is a very much in a fact-finding mode on this whole thing and really to comment on any part of this matter involving Starlin would be really inappropriate because the investigation is incomplete," Hoyer added.
Castro was chosen to the All-Star team last year in his first full major league season when he batted .307 and led the National League with 207 hits. The Cubs are expected to build their team around the young star who made his major league debut in May 2010. Chicago signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2006.
Castro is scheduled to attend the annual Cubs convention fan event next weekend at a downtown hotel, and Hoyer said he still expects Castro to be there.
Castro is scheduled to participate in a segment with fans where he and a couple other players are to discuss their experiences in the Dominican Republic and Mesa, Ariz., where the Cubs hold spring training.
Hoyer wouldn't say whether the Cubs expect Castro to be at spring training.
"There is a time and place to comment on this and it's not right now," he said.
-- David Mercer
Mets hire firm that worked with bankrupt Rangers
NEW YORK (AP) — The financially troubled New York Mets have hired the consulting company that worked with the Texas Rangers during that team's bankruptcy in 2010.
"Mets Limited Partnership engaged CRG Partners to provide services in connection with financial reporting and budgeting processes," the team said in a statement late Thursday, responding to a report by SBNation.
On Friday, the Mets added on their Twitter account: "To be clear: CRG's services aren't bankruptcy-related. There are no bankruptcy services being provided by anyone."
The Mets have been trying to raise $200 million through the sale of $20 million non-controlling shares following the collapse of a deal last summer with hedge fund manager David Einhorn. They also owe $25 million to Major League Baseball, a loan whose repayment was extended from November until March; and $40 million to Bank of America.
General manager Sandy Alderson said last month the team lost $70 million, although he didn't put a timeframe on the losses.
The trustee recovering money for victims of the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme, Irving Picard, originally sought $1 billion from the Mets' owners, claiming they should have known millions they collected from Madoff represented phony profits. Owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz have denied the claims in lengthy litigation.
U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff dismissed nine of 11 counts on Sept. 27, limiting the exposure of the Mets' ownership to about $386 million. A trial is scheduled to start March 19.
AP source: Cedeno and Mets agree at $1.15 million
NEW YORK (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that shortstop Ronny Cedeno and the New York Mets have agreed to a $1.15 million, one-year contract.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because the deal, which also includes performance bonuses, is subject to a physical.
Cedeno, who turns 29 next month, hit .249 with two homers and 32 RBIs last year for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He figures to back up Ruben Tejada following the departure of All-Star Jose Reyes, who agreed to a $106 million, six-year deal with the Miami Marlins.
-- Ronald Blum
Cardinals' World Series trophy going on tour
ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals fans still basking in the glow of the World Series will get a chance to see the championship trophy up close.
U.S. Cellular is hosting a tour of the World Series trophy, with 53 stops starting Saturday and concluding April 7. The tour will take the trophy to U.S. Cellular stores throughout Missouri, in parts of Illinois, and to Tulsa, Okla.
The first stop on the tour is Saturday, when the trophy will be on display from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular store on Delmar Boulevard on the University City Loop. The Cardinals won their 11th World Series in 2011, beating the Texas Rangers in seven games.
AL News
Angels sign Cantu, Deeds to minor league deals
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Veteran infielder Jorge Cantu has agreed to a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
Cantu also got an invitation to spring training in the deal announced Friday with the Angels, who also signed outfielder Doug Deeds to a minor league deal.
Cantu batted .194 with three homers and 16 RBIs in 57 games last season while playing first base and third base for the San Diego Padres, who waived him June 21. He has driven in 95 runs three times during an eight-year career with five major league teams. He had 16 homers and 100 RBIs for the Florida Marlins in 2009.
Deeds has never appeared in the majors, spending last season with the Texas Rangers' Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock.
Elsewhere
Trooper fired after Braves trainer's wife killed
ATLANTA (AP) — The state trooper involved in the New Year's Eve collision that killed the wife of Atlanta Braves trainer Jeff Porter was fired on Friday, Georgia's public safety commissioner said.
Ex-Trooper Donald Crozier "failed to use due regard when traveling through the intersection" through a red light, according to a police report on the crash that killed 54-year-old Kathy Porter of Loganville and injured her husband, teenage son and his friend in downtown Atlanta. Crozier is no longer with the state patrol, Col. Mark W. McDonough said in a statement.
Crozier's vehicle had all its emergency equipment activated and ran the light while on his way to help another trooper in a chase, according to an accident report released Friday.
"I am still suffering emotionally and physically as a result of the accident, but it is nothing compared to what the Porter family is going through," Crozier said in a statement to the AP. "I am so sorry for their loss and I think of them and pray for them every day."
Crozier would have celebrated his 10-year anniversary as a state trooper this month and he regrets losing his job.
Porter did not immediately return a call seeking comment Friday. The Porters and their friend were on their way in an SUV to the Chick-fil-A-Bowl at the Georgia Dome when the collision happened around 4:40 p.m. at Memorial Drive and Capitol Avenue.
State Patrol officials said the trooper, heading west on Memorial Drive, was on his way to assist another trooper who was attempting to stop a motorcyclist on nearby Interstate 20, west of the Downtown Connector. The motorcyclist had failed to yield, authorities said at the time.
Witness Sandy Jones said Crozier was speeding toward the red light and didn't slow down before entering the intersection, the report states.
The trooper collided with the passenger side of the Ford Expedition driven by Jeff Porter.
Jeff Porter, 19-year-old David Porter and Courtney Ann Williams, 18, were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment and later released.
-- Jeff Martin
