MLB Capsules: Hamilton visits MLB docs after alcohol relapse
FORT WORTH (AP) — Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton visited doctors for Major League Baseball and the players' association this week in New York following his admitted relapse with alcohol.
General manager Jon Daniels said Tuesday night that Hamilton was accompanied by Shayne Kelley, the team's newly hired major league staff assistant whose job includes being in a support role for Hamilton.
The meetings with doctors were Monday, a week after Hamilton said he had "three or four" drinks during dinner in Dallas and then had more drinks later that evening. The recovering drug addict publicly apologized Friday without taking questions about what happened, saying he had a "weak moment" that stemmed from "personal reasons" involving a family member.
Daniels said it was "unlikely" that the Rangers would discipline Hamilton, and that the team would defer to MLB's handling of the situation. He said had had no indication of what would happen.
"Given what's happened in the past, at this point it's at their discretion," Daniels said before his appearance at a stop on the team's winter caravan. "I think it's kind of based on what the doctors find, and what they recommend, whether they feel like this was something bigger."
Daniels said he had not gotten a report from the doctors that Hamilton had also counseled with in the past.
Hamilton said he took no drugs, and never thought of doing so last week. He has had several drug tests since then as part of his regular mandated routine.
When asked what was next for Hamilton, Daniels said the outfielder worked out at Rangers Ballpark earlier Tuesday.
"He's getting ready for the season," Daniels said.
But the Rangers last week put on hold talks about a contract extension for Hamilton, who can be a free agent after the upcoming season.
After being the No. 1 overall draft pick by Tampa Bay in 1999, Hamilton got involved in drugs and alcohol. He missed the entire 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons and served several suspensions. He didn't make his major league debut until 2007 with Cincinnati, and was traded after that season to Texas, where he has become one of the best players in baseball for the team that won the last two American League pennants. He was the AL MVP in 2010.
Kelley takes over in a support role for Hamilton that had been held by Johnny Narron, who left after last season to become hitting coach in Milwaukee. The Rangers announced last month that Hamilton's father-in-law had been hired as a staff special assistant, but Michael Dean Chadwick later decided against accepting that position because of "family considerations."
Kelley was a minor league strength and conditioning coach for the Kansas City Royals from 1999-2001. He has been an assistant coach at the University of Alabama, Samford and Jacksonville State. He was also a team chaplain while at Alabama, his alma mater.
Though Hamilton had no previous affiliation with Kelley, he was recommended by both the player's agent, Mike Moye, and Chuck Morgan, the team's senior vice president for ballpark entertainment. Morgan's son went to Alabama.
"He will be able to support the staff in a number of different ways," Daniels said. "The role is there primarily because of Josh but there will be additional day-to-day duties," including helping the coaches, throwing batting practice and whatever else is needed.
AP Source: Rangers and Andrus agree to three-year deal
FORT WORTH (AP) — Shortstop Elvis Andrus and the Texas Rangers have agreed to a three-year contract and avoided salary arbitration.
A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday night that the contract runs through the 2014 season. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical and hadn't been finalized.
The agreement came two days before a scheduled arbitration hearing.
The 23-year-old Andrus is a .271 career hitter with 102 stolen bases and has played at least 145 games in each of his three seasons for the Rangers. The new deal will take Andrus through his final three arbitration-eligible seasons.
Andrus hit a career-best .279 with 37 stolen bases last year when the Rangers won their second consecutive American League pennant. He had asked for $3.6 million in arbitration and was offered $2.65 million for next season before agreeing to a multiyear deal with Texas.
The Rangers still are in talks with catcher Mike Napoli and outfielder Nelson Cruz, who have salary arbitration hearings scheduled next week.
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 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. He asked for $11.5 million, and Texas offered $8.3 million.
Andrus was among several key players the Rangers got from Atlanta in a July 2007 trade for Mark Teixeira after the switch-hitting first baseman turned down a contract extension.
Hard-throwing closer Neftali Feliz, who is making the transition into the rotation this spring, and left-hander Matt Harrison (14-9, 3.39 ERA last season) were also part of that deal.
Andrus made his major league debut in the 2009 season opener after the Rangers moved five-time All-Star shortstop Michael Young to third base for the shortstop who was then only 20 years old and had never played above the Double-A level.
-- Stephen Hawkins
Other AL Capsules
A's agree to extend GM Beane through 2019
Billy Beane is planning to stay in the Bay Area for the long haul.
Oakland Athletics owner Lew Wolff said Tuesday that the team has agreed to extend the contracts of the general manager as well as team President Michael Crowley through the 2019 season. Wolff, confirming comments first made on Bloomberg Television, wrote in an email to The Associated Press that the deals are in the process of being finalized.
Wolff is counting on Beane's leadership and innovation to lead the club in a new stadium in the San Jose area.
The franchise needs approval from Major League Baseball to move to the south bay, where the San Francisco Giants hold territorial rights to the technology-rich region filled with fans and corporate dollars. The A's are hoping for a resolution to the long-standing dispute soon.
Beane and Crowley hold small ownership stakes in the team. Crowley took over as team president at the end of the 1998 season.
Beane has been Oakland's general manager since 1997. He is the subject of Michael Lewis' 2003 book on baseball statistics and economics titled "Moneyball," which was made into a film starring Brad Pitt as Beane last year.
Beane bucked the baseball trend of relying on the common trio of statistics — batting average, home runs and RBIs for hitters; wins, losses and ERA for pitchers — and instead turned to hard numbers over subjective scouting to fuel his team's successful runs in the early 2000s. His staff helped usher in what became known as the stats revolution, a complete overhaul from the early days of the basic boxscore, the premise behind the best-selling book that immortalized Beane beyond the Bay Area.
The movie focuses on the 2002 edition of the self-described blue-collar Athletics and a thrilling 20-game winning streak. Ultimately, Oakland lost in the first round of the playoffs.
That 2002 run was the third of four straight playoff appearances for the A's, but little has stayed the same since. Oakland finished 74-88 last year, the fifth losing season in a row.
Without a deal to move out of the outdated Oakland Coliseum, the A's have said they can't compete with large-market clubs. Oakland shed several of its best players this winter — including top starters Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez and closer Andrew Bailey — in the latest payroll purge.
The 49-year-old Beane is still considered among baseball's best general managers — but far from the genius he once was considered to be — and there was even chatter last summer that he might head to the Cubs to replace Jim Hendry. Instead, former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein took over on Chicago's north side.
-- Janie McCauley
Dombrowski confident in Fielder's longevity
DETROIT (AP) — Dave Dombrowski is showing no sign of buyer's remorse.
The Tigers' general manager spoke Tuesday as part of a Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association luncheon, expressing confidence new first baseman Prince Fielder can stay productive through most if not all of his expensive nine-year contract.
Detroit signed the hefty slugger to a $214 million deal last month. Dombrowski acknowledges the risk but points out that the hefty slugger is only 27.
"The prime of your career is what, through 32, 33?" Dombrowski said. "That's seven of the nine years already, and my gut reaction is that this guy will continue to swing the bat. How his body will look in nine years or seven years, I really don't know. He is a heavy-set guy but he's also become more aware of trying to keep himself in the best shape he possibly can."
The Tigers acquired Fielder to help them try to defend their AL Central title after designated hitter Victor Martinez went down with a severe left knee injury. Fielder and Miguel Cabrera should form a potent middle of the batting order, but the move did create some complications. Detroit is set to shift Cabrera from first base to third to make room for Fielder.
"There's very few guys that are Gold Glovers and are batting champions and All-Stars from an offensive perspective. They're called Hall of Famers — and even some Hall of Famers have had some shortcomings of one area or another," Dombrowski said. "We think Miguel will be adequate at third base from a defensive perspective. I don't mean to say he's going to be a Gold Glover. ... He's got good hands, he's got a strong arm, he wants to play there and he'll work very hard at it."
With the two power hitters both slated to play the field, the Tigers don't have anyone lined up to be an everyday DH. For now, they're not inclined to put Cabrera or Fielder there with too much regularity.
Martinez made the transition to DH last season, but not everyone is comfortable in such a specialized role.
"Usually when players are younger, they want to play. They want to be out there," Dombrowski said. "They want their juices flowing."
With spring training a couple weeks away, perhaps the biggest unanswered question for Detroit is who will be the No. 5 starter. Dombrowski mentioned a half-dozen in-house candidates to replace Brad Penny — including Jacob Turner, Drew Smyly, Andy Oliver, Casey Crosby, Duane Below and Adam Wilk.
Dombrowski acknowledged that the 20-year-old Turner appears to have impressive potential, but none of the pitchers he listed have proven they can perform consistently well at the big league level.
"I'm not really sure if he's ready or not, and I don't know that we'll know that until we get down there and see him perform and see some of those other guys perform," Dombrowski said.
Turner allowed 12 earned runs in 12 2-3 innings with the Tigers last year, although his performance wasn't much different from what another Detroit pitching prospect went through back in 2005.
Justin Verlander allowed nine earned runs in 11 1-3 innings that year. In 2006, he won AL Rookie of the Year honors in his first full season.
"When they get a cup of coffee here and they're not quite ready at that time, it's going so fast," Dombrowski said. "All of a sudden in the wintertime, they digest that, they come back, and they pitch very well."
-- Noah Trister
Hall agrees to deal with Yankees
NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees have agreed to a minor league contract with utilityman Bill Hall and invited him to big league spring training. Hall announced the deal on his Twitter account Tuesday, and New York confirmed the agreement.
If Hall is added to the Yankees' 40-man roster, he would get a $600,000, one-year contract and have the chance to earn an additional $600,000 in performance bonuses.
The 32-year-old played with Houston and San Francisco last season before he was designated for assignment on July 28, batting a combined .211 with 14 RBIs and two homers. He finished the season at Triple-A Fresno.
In 10 big league seasons with five teams, Hall is hitting .248 with 124 homers and 439 RBIs. He hit 35 homers for Milwaukee in 2006.
Twins take bids on Kim-and-Kris-autographed ball
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins are cutting ties with the Kardashians, too.
Well, sort of. The team announced Tuesday it will auction off a baseball autographed by reality starlet Kim Kardashian and her ex-husband Kris Humphries. They signed the ball before a Twins game last July, when the Minnesota native and NBA player Humphries threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
After a highly publicized wedding last August, the celebrity couple's marriage ended 72 days later when Kardashian filed for divorce. Humphries played basketball at Hopkins High School and the University of Minnesota before turning pro. He's currently with the New Jersey Nets.
The auction proceeds will go to the team's charity arm, the Minnesota Twins Community Fund. Online bidding ends on Valentine's Day.
Other NL Capsules
Kershaw and Dodgers agree to $19M, two-year deal
LOS ANGELES (AP) — NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers avoided a salary arbitration hearing next week, agreeing to a $19 million, two-year contract.
Tuesday's deal for the 23-year-old left-hander calls for a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $7.5 million this year and $11 million in 2013. It covers all but his final year of arbitration eligibility.
The agreement mirrors that of San Francisco's Tim Lincecum, who in his first time eligible for arbitration two years ago agreed to a $23 million, two-year deal.
Kershaw was 21-5 with a 2.28 ERA and 248 strikeouts last year, winning the NL pitching triple crown. After making $500,000, he had asked for $10 million in arbitration and had been offered $6.5 million.
Bonifacio, Marlins complete arbitration hearing
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Shortstop Emilio Bonifacio has completed his salary arbitration hearing against the Miami Marlins, trying to become the second player to defeat the club within a week.
Bonifacio's side argued during Tuesday's hearing that he should be given a raise from $425,000 to $2.2 million, and the Marlins asked that he be paid $1.95 million.
A decision by arbitrators Steven Wolf, Mark Burstein and Sylvia Skratek is expected Wednesday. Bonifacio hit a team-high .296 last year with five homers, seven triples, 36 RBIs and 40 steals in 51 tries.
Pitcher Anibal Sanchez beat the Marlins in a case decision Monday. Teams won the other two decisions, also against pitchers, with Washington defeating John Lannan and Tampa Bay beating Jeff Niemann.
Elsewhere
Lawsuit: Brett falsely advertises necklaces
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Lawyers are seeking class-action status for a lawsuit that claims Hall of Fame slugger George Brett has been falsely advertising necklaces and bracelets as being able to help improve health and sports performance.
A lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Des Moines claims Spokane Valley, Wash.-based Brett Bros. Sports International Inc. has falsely claimed its Ionic Necklaces help customers relieve pain in the neck, shoulders and upper back, recover from sports fatigue and improve focus. The company has also falsely claimed its bracelets, which include two roller magnets, would relieve wrist, hand and elbow pain, the lawsuit said.
Brett, who was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1999 after a 21-year career with the Kansas City Royals, has been president of the company since 2001 and appears in its advertisements.
The claims appeared on the company's website from 2008 to 2010, and still appear on the packaging of the products and on the websites of its distributors, according to the lawsuit.
"Most consumers, when reading these claims, and seeing the products endorsed by a high-profile baseball player, assume that these products have the health benefits that are marketed and advertised and that scientifically significant research supports statements made by Brett Bros., when in fact that is not the case," reads the lawsuit, which alleges the company has violated the state Consumer Frauds Act and been unjustly enriched.
The lawsuit says an Iowa man, Seth Thompson of Adel, bought one of the necklaces for $30 at the College World Series in Omaha last year after reading Brett's endorsement of them. He hoped the product would reduce stress and fatigue and boost his energy and concentration, but none of those benefits were realized, rendering the product "useless to him," the lawsuit says.
His lawyers, who include Bart Goplerud of West Des Moines and two from firms in Los Angeles, are asking a federal judge to approve a class-action lawsuit on behalf of thousands of customers who have bought the products in the last four years. Total damages "are likely in the millions of dollars," the lawsuit says.
A representative of Brett Bros., which also sells baseball accessories such as bats and baseballs, did not return an inquiry seeking comment.
Brett, 58, retired from baseball in 1993 after accumulating 3,154 hits and 317 home runs, winning three batting titles and making 13 All-Star teams.
-- Ryan J. Foley
Police: Ex-MLB player Clyburn shot, killed in S.C.
ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) — Police say former major league outfielder Danny Clyburn Jr. has been shot and killed in his South Carolina hometown. Lancaster police say officers found the 37-year-old Clyburn in the front yard of his home around 2 a.m. Tuesday.
Police say witnesses told them they saw Clyburn arguing with 36-year-old Derrick Lamont McIlwain shortly before Clyburn was shot. Police say McIlwain turned himself in to authorities later Tuesday and was charged with murder. It wasn't known if McIlwain had an attorney.
Clyburn was a second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992 and played parts of three seasons in the majors with the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the late 1990s. In 41 games and 109 at-bats, he hit .211 with four homers and eight RBIs.
