Baseball Capsules: Texas catcher's shoulder discomfort ‘normal'
ARLINGTON — The Dallas surgeon who repaired Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s right shoulder says the catcher’s recent shoulder discomfort is normal.
In a statement issued Friday, Texas Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels says Dr. Greg Pearl examined Saltalamacchia’s throwing shoulder that he surgically repaired in September.
According to Daniels, Pearl concluded that the symptoms "Salty" was experiencing "are not unusual following a surgery of this kind."
Nevertheless, Daniels says Saltalamacchia will be pulled from winter ball in the Dominican Republican and won’t resume baseball activities for a month.
Saltalamacchia had surgery in September for thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition where a rib bone pushes on a nerve and causes numbness in the arm and hand. Saltalamacchia went on the disabled list Aug. 15 after being bothered by recurring numbness. Two specialists diagnosed his condition and recommended surgery.
Rangers acquire Inglett off waivers
ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers have acquired infielder Joe Inglett on a waiver claim from Toronto, bringing in a utility player after Omar Vizquel’s departure.
Inglett has a .293 career average in 211 games for Cleveland (2006) and Toronto (2007-09). He has made major league starts at second base, third base and shortstop and at every outfield position. He has made 111 of his 122 career starts at second base.
The Rangers are looking for a utility infielder after Vizquel signed a one-year deal with the Chicago White Sox.
Inglett was initially selected by Cleveland in the eighth round of the June 2000 draft, and acquired by the Blue Jays on a waiver claim in September 2007.
With the move Friday, the Rangers have 38 players on their 40-man roster.
National League
Giants’ Sandoval on slimdown, healthy plan
SAN FRANCISCO — Pablo Sandoval walks through the Giants’ lunch room in search of wheat bread. He has just finished an intense cardio workout of biking, a power walk on the treadmill at a steep incline and a session on the elliptical machine.
Whew, he’s ready to eat. Strength coach Ben Potenziano is at Sandoval’s side as he surveys the buffet — chicken breast on wheat bread is a good choice, mayonnaise is not. Sandoval prepares himself a sandwich and a fruit plate piled high with watermelon slices, a banana and orange.
The "Operation Panda" shape-up program is full steam ahead for San Francisco’s free-swinging slugger, who used to fuel up on pizza and his McDonald’s favorites of Big Macs, fries and milkshakes. Back home in his native Venezuela, it’s always been big helpings of rice and beans.
He is changing his ways. And his big brother, Michael, is supporting him through it all.
"It’s tough. I’m thinking about my job. That’s the future for my family," said Sandoval, who has replaced soda with water and green tea. "I’m a Latin American dude. I eat rice and beans, and I eat a lot."
Yet Sandoval’s expanding waistline became an issue in 2009, both on the basepaths and in his ability to move and cover ground in the infield.
Potenziano and athletic trainer Dave Groeschner decided to take charge to help Sandoval, who has endeared himself to the fans and his teammates with an ever-present grin and a genuine passion for playing baseball. Pitcher Barry Zito gave him the nickname "Kung Fu Panda" for his larger-than-life personality, not to mention his size.
It’s not every day a major league club takes such a hands-on approach to a player’s offseason regimen, though there are examples when someone is coming back from injury. This seems more along the lines of an NFL team helping an out-of-shape player at the start of training camp.
The 23-year-old Sandoval is someone the Giants consider part of their long-term future. In his first full major league campaign, he batted .330 with 25 home runs and 90 RBIs and had a .556 slugging percentage. He also struck out 83 times to 52 walks and earned a reputation for swinging at anything that came his way — high, low, inside, outside, it didn’t matter.
Yet Sandoval wasn’t taking care of his body, ordering room service on the road, eating out late, avoiding the healthy foods and going for the fattening ones.
In early November, he lifted a weight for the first time in his life.
He was sore for a week after his first workout with Potenziano, and still had some aches three weeks after starting the program.
Why had he never strength trained?
"I didn’t like it," Sandoval said. "Now I know how important it is."
He can envision the player he might become once he’s in better shape, moving faster because he’s lighter and playing with more energy that comes from a healthier diet and regular exercise.
"I’ve been thinking about that," he said. "I know I’m working hard. We’ll see how my next season goes. That’s going to be important for me."
So important that Sandoval’s brother is with him every step of the way this winter. They started their training in Arizona — including heart-pumping hikes up Camelback Mountain and meetings with a nutritionist — then made a stop in San Francisco to take part in a fitness camp for newly drafted players, then it was home to Venezuela.
Sandoval is playing winter ball this month, with a local coach there monitoring his progress for the Giants. Then he will return to Arizona in January to gear up for the start of spring training in mid-February.
Through Thursday, Sandoval was batting .368 with a home run, two doubles and five RBIs in five games for Navegantes del Magallanes.
Latin music blares through the clubhouse from Sandoval’s iPod as he and his brother push through another workout, Potenziano never far away. The goal is that they work hard enough to get into a fat-burning zone.
"We’re just trying to get him to burn as many calories as we can and still take in around 2,200 calories a day with a lot of water, a lot of water," Potenziano said.
"Pablo is unique because of his unique situation. As an organization, we decided we were going to do something to help him. It was all positive. It wasn’t negative. He wants to be MVP. It’s a behavior modification for him and he’s been receptive."
Now, he has more energy — and he no longer misses the fried food, sweets and soda. It’s becoming routine.
"It’s one of those things you say, ‘I want to keep doing it, keep getting ready for next season,"’ he said. "I want to keep my mind on what I want to do. That’s what I think about every day now."
Manager Bruce Bochy was in town recently and came by after one of Sandoval’s workouts. Sandoval, sporting a black "Operation Panda" T-shirt with a panda caricature on the front sporting the name Pablo, hugged the skipper.
"He’s a great kid," Bochy said. "He knows he has some work to do. He’s taken responsibility to work at it and get to where he needs to be."
Others are taking notice of his newfound work ethic, too.
Alex Burg, a catcher drafted in the 24th round this year, stopped Sandoval for an autograph. First-round draft pick Zach Wheeler followed suit.
"It’s unbelievable," Burg said. "It’s really nice to see a professional and how he goes about his business. To see him out here, we’re all working, and he’s always got a smile on his face and he’s always keeping everything light. It kind of gives us something to work toward."
Michael — like Sandoval a third baseman — wanted to help in this challenging process. He’s made himself better, too, losing about 15 pounds. They weigh their food portions together and keep each other on track.
"I was thinking one day, ‘He needs a little support,"’ Michael said. "I said, ‘I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do.’ We’re brothers. We’re glad we’re doing it and we’re still learning. We feel fantastic and want to keep doing it."
Sandoval is still self-conscious about his weight.
"I just want to keep that a secret," he said of the number.
He did acknowledge he was heavier than he’d ever been by "a lot." It scared him.
He then decided to share a little more: He lost 13 pounds in the first three weeks of the plan and was down to 259. He knows he very well could have hit 300 if he kept eating the way he had been.
He believes he’s establishing lifelong habits now.
"This is one of those things you wake up, you want to work out, you want to do your thing and get ready for next season," Sandoval said. "You want to learn things for your life, for your career.
"I do this for the fans, for the team but especially for my career. I don’t want to have only a five-year career. I want to have a longer career. That’s what I’m thinking about right now. Now I feel great. I’m going to do it, do it, do it."
-- Janie McCauley
Penny, Uribe turn down offers from Giants
SAN FRANCISCO — Right-hander Brad Penny and infielder Juan Uribe have turned down one-year contract offers to return to the San Francisco Giants.
General manager Brian Sabean said Friday the club made a one-year offer with incentives to Penny and a one-year offer with an option and buyout to Uribe, but both free agents declined. The Giants aren’t in further talks with either player right now.
"In both cases you always want to put yourself on the other side," Sabean said in a conference call. "I don’t know that they have enough information as to what they were hearing in the market to be able to react to our timing needs."
One of Sabean’s top priorities heading into next week’s winter meetings in Indianapolis is the catcher spot, but he acknowledged it could take a while for that position to get settled. Bengie Molina is a free agent and has said he wants a multiyear deal — and San Francisco doesn’t plan to offer anything beyond a year. The Giants have Buster Posey as their catcher of the future.
The team’s brass discussed Posey this week and decided their 2008 first-round draft pick isn’t ready to be a full-time catcher in the majors. It sounds as if he will begin 2010 with Triple-A Fresno to gain more experience.
Posey hit .325 with 18 homers and 80 RBIs in the minors this year and spent seven games with San Francisco in September.
"We really had a lot of good input. The relative conclusion was that after his first full season and time in the big leagues and the Fall League, he was pretty whipped," Sabean said. "By nature, he hasn’t played enough. It might be a tall order to ask him to do this. We’d like to get somebody, if we make the decision not to have him start the season, who’s more full-time and (Posey would) be in the position to earn it."
Sabean said the Giants have "a short list of what we think are viable options."
Brad Ausmus has come up as a name the Giants might pursue, but they could have competition for him from NL West rivals Los Angeles and San Diego. Rod Barajas and Miguel Olivo also could be options, and even Molina’s brother, Jose, is available.
Penny joined the Giants on Aug. 31 hoping to help the Giants get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2003. He went 4-1 with a 2.59 ERA in six starts for San Francisco, which was in the chase until mid-September and finished 88-74 and with 16 more wins than in 2008.
The 31-year-old right-hander found a spot in the Giants’ talented rotation after being cut by the Red Sox after going 7-8 with a 5.61 ERA this season — including 1-6 in his last 11 starts for Boston.
Boston signed the two-time All-Star to a $5 million, one-year contract last winter after he spent four-plus seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Penny won 16 games for the Dodgers in 2006 and 2007, his career high. He was hampered by shoulder problems last year.
Uribe, 30, batted .289 with 16 home runs and 55 RBIs in 122 games for the Giants in 2009, proving his versatility by playing at least 38 games each at second base, third and shortstop.
-- Janie McCauley
Krivsky rejoins Mets front office
NEW YORK — Former Cincinnati Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky is returning to the New York Mets’ front office.
The Mets announced Friday that Krivsky has been hired as a special assistant to general manager Omar Minaya. Krivsky, 55, held the same position with New York in 2008 and served as a special assistant to Orioles president Andy MacPhail last season.
Krivsky, who was born in Niagara Falls, was the Reds’ GM from 2006-08.
The move came one day after New York agreed to one-year contracts with backup catchers Henry Blanco and Chris Coste. Blanco’s deal is worth $750,000 and Coste got $650,000.
American League
Red Sox agree to $12.5M deal with SS Scutaro
BOSTON — Marco Scutaro slipped on his new Red Sox jersey to pose for the cameras, then asked whether he should leave it on for the rest of the news conference.
"Sure. Go for it," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein confirmed.
You’ll excuse Scutaro if he’s tentative about slipping into a position that’s seen little stability since 2004. Boston has churned through seven regular shortstops since trading away Nomar Garciaparra, but Epstein thinks he has one that can solidify the position for at leas the next two years.
"We identified Marco as the best free agent and the guy that would be the best fit for the ballclub," Epstein said. "We’re getting a really good player who’s finally getting his chance."
Scutaro and the Red Sox agrees to a contract that guarantees him $12.5 million over two seasons over $14 million over three.
He will get a $1 million signing bonus and $5 million salaries in 2010 and 2011. The club holds a $6 million option for 2012, and if it declines Scutaro could exercise a $3 million option or take a $1.5 million buyout.
If Scutaro is traded before the option is excercised, the option base would increase to $3.5 million.
Scutaro said he took a little less to join the Red Sox, a big-market club with a chance to contend. He said another team offered more; he did not identify it.
"Since Day 1, this was my first choice," Scutaro said. "We have a chance to win a championship. ... You get to a point where you want to live the experience. You want to be in the World Series. I think this is the perfect team."
The 34-year-old was a utility player with the New York Mets and Oakland Athletics before earning the starting job in Toronto in 2008 and then posting a career year in ‘09 with a .282 average, 12 homers and 60 RBIs. He missed the last two weeks of last season with a torn plantar fascia in his right heel.
Epstein sent assistant Allard Baird to Miami to work Scutaro out and make sure he wasn’t suffering any lingering effects of the injury. Scutaro said he’s been doing a lot of baseball activity and "it’s feeling great."
The Red Sox also have Jed Lowrie at shortstop, and he will have a chance to prove he is healthy and productive enough to serve as a backup or force his way into a trade. He was unable to do that last year, when he injured his wrist and went on the disabled list after just five games.
That left Nick Green as the starter until the Red Sox went out and got Alex Gonzalez from the Reds for a second stint in Boston. Gonzalez, who also played for the Red Sox in 2006, became a free agent last month and signed with the Blue Jays after Boston declined his $6 million option.
The signing of a shortstop closes one of two holes in the Red Sox lineup. They are still looking for someone to replace free agent Jason Bay in left field, or to sign Bay himself.
Epstein said he also is hoping that the winter meetings will lay the groundwork for the addition of depth throughout the roster, especially in starting pitching and the bullpen.
In all, seven shortstops have started at least 50 games for the Red Sox since they traded disgruntled two-time batting champion Nomar Garciaparra at the 2004 deadline. Boston got Orlando Cabrera in the deal — and won the World Series as a result.
But the Red Sox let Cabrera go after the season and signed Edgar Renteria to a $40 million, four-year deal. He was followed by Gonzalez, Julio Lugo and Gonzalez again; Lowrie, Green and Alex Cora were also part of the solution at times, and part of the problem at others.
Epstein hopes Scutaro can stop the revolving door and hold the spot until prospect Jose Iglesias is ready. The 20-year-old Cuban defector is believed to be a year or two away from the major leagues.
-- Jimmy Golen
AP source: M’s, 3B Figgins have $36M, 4-yr deal
SEATTLE — Chone Figgins is moving up the coast in the AL West. And Seattle has a dynamic replacement for Adrian Beltre at third base — even before Beltre is officially gone.
The Mariners and Figgins have reached a preliminary agreement on a $36 million, four-year contract pending a physical, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Friday night.
The contract for the former Los Angeles Angels sparkplug includes a vesting option for 2014 that could make the deal worth $45 million over five years.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Mariners had yet to announce the deal, which was first reported to be close by Foxsports.com.
"Nothing to comment on," Mariners spokesman Tim Hevly wrote in an e-mail to the AP on Friday night.
The 31-year-old Figgins is coming off one of his best seasons, leading the American League with 101 walks and posting a career-high on-base percentage of .395. The All-Star speedster batted .298 with five homers and 54 RBIs as Los Angeles won its third consecutive division title.
He is a career .291 hitter who has averaged 48 stolen bases during his eight seasons in the major leagues, all with the Angels.
Figgins gives Seattle a formidable pair at the top of its batting order with nine-time All-Star Ichiro Suzuki and a vastly different offense compared to Beltre at third. Figgins had a career-best nine homers and 62 RBIs in 2006; Beltre had hit at least 25 homers in three consecutive seasons before this year.
Beltre has until Monday to accept Seattle’s offer of salary arbitration, but it’s unlikely he’ll do it. He wants to test the free-agent market.
If Beltre declines the offer and signs with another team, Seattle will receive a compensatory pick in next June’s draft. It will be around 15 picks after the No. 18 overall choice the Mariners will surrender to sign Figgins, a Type-A free agent.
Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik didn’t sound worried Thursday about possibly losing a first-round pick in order to gain a prime free agent.
"If the right Type-A free agent came up and you knew it would help your club for the next several years ... we all know lot of draft picks fall flat on their face," Zduriencik said.
-- Gregg Bell
White Sox GM: Dealing Jenks not in works
CHICAGO — White Sox general manager Ken Williams said Friday that he is not shopping Bobby Jenks and too much has been made of a perceived rift between the team and its closer.
Williams insisted he hasn’t had any trade talks involving Jenks and added "we value him here" during a conference call with Chicago reporters. The winter meetings are next week and he’s in no hurry to make a move.
Jenks’ status has been an issue since the end of last season, when a calf injury sidelined him for the final two weeks. The team called out his conditioning, suggesting it was to blame for a statistical slide that saw him finish with his lowest save total (29) in four full seasons as a closer and his second-highest ERA (3.71). He made it clear in an interview with MLB.com in October that he wasn’t happy about that.
Williams said Jenks "understands how we feel" and the organization has always "been on the same page with Bobby — get out there in the best shape you can, give yourself the best opportunity to succeed and have the best chance for success."
The White Sox already have made several moves after going 79-83, adding depth to their bench by re-signing utility player Mark Kotsay and signing five-time All-Star Andruw Jones and 11-time Gold Glove winner Omar Vizquel.
The White Sox could still use a leadoff hitter, another left-handed reliever to go with Matt Thornton, a veteran backup to catcher A.J. Pierzynski and maybe another outfielder.
Williams said he’s "not afraid" to go without a prototypical leadoff hitter, as they did two years ago when they won a division title. He also says he has "asked around" about acquiring a veteran to back up Pierzynski, although the White Sox "have options" that include prospect Tyler Flowers.
-- Andrew Seligman
Yankees finish organizational meetings
TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is ready to start making offseason moves.
The 2009 World Series champions set their 2010 budget parameters during the third day of organizational meetings on Friday.
"Now we’ll go out trying to execute some game plans," Cashman said. "We have our priorities and we’ll starting working through the winter."
New York signed free agent pitchers CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, and first baseman Mark Teixeira during the 2008 offseason. Cashman said there are not as many glaring needs this year, but added the Yankees are "not the perfect beast, either."
"Thankfully we have a lot of answers already on our roster, but there’s still areas of need that we need to address," Cashman said.
Yankees left fielder Johnny Damon and 2009 World Series MVP, designated hitter Hideki Matsui, are both free agents. Left-hander Andy Pettitte hasn’t announced whether he will return for next season.
"I’ll talk with all the agents involved, as well as the other agents on the rest of the free agent market and at the end on the trade market," Cashman said.
Outside free agents like outfielder Matt Holliday and pitcher John Lackey could get some consideration during baseball’s winter meetings next week.
"We’ll meet with agents, meet with clubs," Cashman said. "You never know what will materialize."
The Yankees are also expected to monitor the trade status of Toronto ace Roy Halladay.
Senior vice president of baseball operations Mark Newman, who oversees player development, spent an hour during the final day of meetings Friday with Cashman and other high-level team officials at the Yankees spring training complex.
Gregg Zaun agrees to $2.15M deal with Brewers
MILWAUKEE — Catcher Gregg Zaun and the Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to a $2.15 million, one-year contract.
Zaun gets a $500,000 signing bonus and a $1.4 million salary next season. His deal includes a $2.25 million club option for 2011 with a $250,000 buyout.
The 38-year-old split last season with Baltimore and Tampa Bay, hitting a combined .260 with eight home runs and 27 RBIs in 90 games. He made a total of 74 starts behind the plate, including 49 games with the Orioles and 25 games with the Rays.
Zaun has a career batting average of .251 with 86 homers and 432 RBIs during 15 seasons with Baltimore, Florida, Texas, Kansas City, Houston, Colorado, Toronto and Tampa Bay.
Milwaukee agreed to a minor league contract with outfielder Trent Oeltjen, who was invited to major league camp.
Minor Leagues
Four players suspended for violating drug policy
NEW YORK — Three pitchers and a free-agent catcher were suspended Friday for 50 games apiece for violating baseball’s minor league drug program.
Right-handers Jefferson Segundo and Daniel Vasquez tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance. Segundo played for the St. Louis Cardinals’ team in the Dominican Summer League and Vasquez was at Double-A Mobile in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization last season.
Righty Joel Tamares tested positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance. He played for the Florida Marlins’ team in the DSL.
Catcher Matt Tupman was suspended for a second positive test for a drug of abuse. Tupman’s last minor league team was Mobile.
Major League Baseball said the bans for Segundo, Vasquez and Tamares would begin at the start of next season. Tupman’s suspension will be effective immediately when he signs with a major league organization.
International
Baseball governing body set to elect new leader
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — The International Baseball Federation will elect a new president to lead the sport after its latest Olympic rejection.
Italian federation president Riccardo Fraccari and IBAF secretary general John Ostermeyer of Australia are the candidates to succeed Harvey Schiller. The American steps down after the International Olympic Committee rejected baseball’s bid for the games.
Schiller, a former U.S. Olympic Committee executive, campaigned to get baseball back in the Olympics for 2016. IOC members voted four years ago to drop baseball and softball from the 2012 London program.
In October, the IOC picked golf and rugby sevens instead.
The election for president of the IBAF, which administers baseball outside the major pro leagues, will be Sunday.
