MLB Capsules - AL: So close to title, Texas Rangers looking forward
The Texas Rangers used to go to spring training trying to fill out a starting rotation and hoping to get out of last place in the AL West.
When the Rangers report to camp this week, they will have Japan's top pitcher and four returners who won at least 13 games last year. There are at least seven potential starters, even after losing their ace in free agency.
The Rangers will be taking the first step in their quest to get to their third consecutive World Series, and insist there will be no hangover after being so agonizingly close to winning it all last season.
"We're every bit of a championship team, we just didn't get that last out," said Michael Young, the longest-tenured Ranger going into his 12th season. "We'll definitely use it for motivation, but at the same time, if anything, we just want to go out there and prove how good a team we are all over again."
Yu Darvish, the 25-year-old Japanese right-hander the Rangers committed more than $107 million to sign this winter, arrived at the spring training complex in Surprise, Ariz., on Tuesday, a day before the reporting date for Texas pitchers and catchers and two days before the team's first official workout.
The first full-squad workout is Sunday. That will be the first time the entire team is on the field together since those last two World Series games in St. Louis last October, when they were twice within one pitch of winning a clinching Game 6 before losing in 11 innings. They then led 2-0 only four batters into Game 7 before losing 6-2.
As for what manager Ron Washington planned to tell his players to start spring training, he said he's had many thoughts and written down several things. He said whatever he tells them will be private, unlike that secretly recorded audio of his clubhouse speech before Game 7 that was released on the Internet.
"You can't get bogged down in the fact that we didn't win it," team president Nolan Ryan said. "You have to consider the year and all the good things that happened, and the opportunity to go back-to-back years and hope that not winning it can be a motivation for having another good year. We feel like we're a good ball club, we feel like that we have some options this year going into spring training."
The top-hitting lineup in the majors will be basically unchanged. The Rangers avoided salary arbitration with new deals earlier this month for slugging outfielder and ALCS MVP Nelson Cruz, catcher Mike Napoli and shortstop Elvis Andrus.
With those settled, the Rangers can look at possible extensions for second baseman and leadoff hitter Ian Kinsler and some of their young pitchers.
Josh Hamilton, the 2010 AL MVP, can become a free agent after this season. Talks about an extension were put on hold after the recovering drug addict's admitted one-night relapse with alcohol during the offseason.
Hamilton hit .298 with 25 home runs in 121 games last season, when he missed six weeks with a broken bone in his arm, then had sports hernia surgery in November after playing injured throughout the postseason.
The Rangers and Hamilton were talking about a new deal and the slugger had said he wouldn't have contract talks once spring training started. But that all changed after his night out in Dallas on Jan. 30. He is undergoing counseling and expected to be a full participant in spring training.
"Given what transpired last month, everyone involved agrees it's just not time to look at that," general manager Jon Daniels said. "The priority needs to be his recovery and his family, and then secondarily getting ready for the season. We're not going to get in the way of those things with contract talk."
Daniels said he expected to talk again "at some point" with Mike Moye, Hamilton's agent, but said he didn't know if that would be during the spring.
Darvish, who had a 93-38 record with a 1.99 ERA in 167 games the past seven years in Japan's Pacific League, signed a six-year contract that guarantees him $56 million. The Rangers also had to pay a record $51,703,411 posting bid to his former team, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
C.J. Wilson, who won 31 games for Texas the last two seasons after making the transition from the bullpen, left in free agency and is now pitching for the AL West rival Los Angeles Angels.
All five of the Rangers' opening day starters remained in the rotation all last season. That group included Wilson, Colby Lewis (14-10), Derek Holland (16-5), Matt Harrison (14-9) and Alexi Ogando (13-8), an All-Star starter after joining the rotation at the end of last spring.
Scott Feldman was a 17-game winner for Texas in 2009 before right knee surgery. And the Rangers have already decided to switch hard-throwing closer Neftali Feliz to the rotation, a move possible because of the offseason addition of veteran closer Joe Nathan.
The 32-year-old Lewis, who was originally drafted by Texas in 1999 and returned two years ago after his two seasons in Japan, is the only Rangers starter not in his 20s.
''That's certainly our hope that we've got not just a group that's ready to perform now but can perform over a period of time at a high level," Daniels said. "Outside of Colby you can make a pretty strong case that everyone else in the rotation, or candidate for the rotation, has yet to reach their potential. That's what's exciting about it for me."
Darvish arrives at Rangers camp
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Yu Darvish arrived at the Texas Rangers' spring training complex Tuesday and had his first bullpen session with his new team.
Darvish got to camp in Surprise, Ariz., a day before the reporting date for Texas pitchers and catchers. Rangers manager Ron Washington said Darvish threw about 35 pitches.
"He kept the ball down and hit his spots," Washington said. "He can sink it, he can run it. He's definitely got a good feel for the baseball, he's a power pitcher with finesse stuff."
The AL champion Rangers committed more than $107 million to acquire Japan's top pitcher. The 25-year-old Darvish got a six-year contract guaranteeing him $56 million, and Texas had to pay a record $51,703,411 posting bid to his former team, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
The first official workout is Thursday, and the Rangers said Darvish isn't expected to talk to reporters until then. He didn't talk to the media when walking from the parking lot to the clubhouse Tuesday, or when coming off the field.
The team's clubhouse and practice fields are closed to the media until Thursday.
A two-time Pacific League MVP, the 6-foot-5 Darvish had a 93-38 record with a 1.99 ERA in 167 games the past seven years.
"He's a Japanese pitcher with a power arm," Washington said. "He doesn't rely on deception like most of the Japanese pitchers."
Indians send LHP De La Cruz to Rangers
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — The Cleveland Indians have traded minor league left-hander Kelvin De La Cruz to the Texas Rangers for cash considerations.
The Indians had designated the 23-year-old for assignment on Feb. 14 to make room for free agent first baseman Casey Kotchman, who signed with Cleveland earlier this month. De La Cruz spent last season at Double-A Akron, where he went 5-6 with a 4.19 ERA in 23 games. He had been with the organization since 2004.
De La Cruz will report to the Rangers' training camp in Surprise, Ariz.
Other AL Capsules
Inspired Indians poised to contend in 2012
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — On a cinder-block wall adjacent to the front entrance of the Indians' training complex, a large script "I'' has been replaced this year by a block "C," which, of course, stands for Cleveland.
The Indians would like to believe it also symbolizes that they're contenders.
However, just being in the hunt or near the top won't be enough for closer Chris Perez, sporting a full beard and longer hair this spring. He's done with rebuilding, second-place and any talk about waiting until next year.
Perez wants more for the Indians in 2012.
"We were contending last year," he said Tuesday. "Winning is the word this year. I don't want to compete. I want to win."
Leave it to Perez to bring the early heat during the first week of training camp under the getting-warmer-by-the-day Arizona sun. The right-hander had 36 saves last season, but he couldn't do anything to stop the Indians' late-season slide in the standings. Cleveland's surprising 30-15 start was followed by an equally abrupt collapse as an avalanche of injuries overwhelmed the Indians in September.
A summer of fun at Progressive Field became a bummer.
The Indians finished 15 games behind AL Central-champion Detroit Tigers, the odds-on favorites to win the division again this year after adding slugger Prince Fielder to an already potent lineup.
Looking back on 2011, Perez doesn't remember the start as much as the finish.
"It was fun last year while it lasted, but at the end of the year I had a bitter taste in my month," Perez said before going outside to play catch. "After the deadline, the Tigers kind of took off and played at another level and we went the other way, but they weren't a better team than us in the first half. This year, we don't have any excuses."
The Indians will hold their first official workout for pitchers and catchers Wednesday, with the full squad set to take the field for the first time Saturday.
On Tuesday, players, coaches and manager underwent physicals.
"Lots of blood," manager Manny Acta said with a smile after having some drained for tests. "Maybe as the manager you have to lead by example giving away that much. I thought it was a lot."
The Indians certainly needed a lot of medical attention last season.
It seemed hardly a day went by without one of Cleveland's players being hurt. The Indians lost their entire starting outfield to injuries, had two starting pitchers go down, used the disabled list 22 times (second most in the AL) and had their four most established hitters — Shin-Soo Choo, Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore and Asdrubal Cabrera — in the same lineup just 17 times all season.
"You try to do as much as you can to prevent them," Perez said, "but we had so many that were just freak injuries. There's nothing you can do."
The Indians are hoping both Sizemore, who re-signed with the club as a free agent, and Choo can bounce back and have productive years. Choo seemed to have rebounded from a slow start in 2011 when he was hit on the thumb with a pitch, needed surgery and missed six weeks.
The club's best player in 2010, Choo played in just 85 games.
With so many key players sidelined, the Indians were forced to dip into their minor leagues and bring up players who weren't ready for pennant-race pressure. The club's lack of quality depth was exposed. So, to guard against the problem recurring, Indians general manager Chris Antonetti brought in 22 non-roster invitees into camp, including 13 on minor league contracts.
With 62 players on the spring roster, the team ran out of lockers in the clubhouse, forcing a few players to double up.
While there may be an abundance of players, there are only a few open jobs.
Four spots in the rotation are taken by Ubaldo Jimenez, Justin Masterson, Derek Lowe and Josh Tomlin, with the fifth open because of legal problems involving the pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona, arrested in the Dominican Republic on false identity charges.
Carmona, whose real name is Roberto Hernandez, is on baseball's restricted list. The Indians don't know when — or if — he will be with them this season.
Acta has to fill two bullpen openings, pick between Jack Hannahan and Lonnie Chisenhall as his starting third baseman and decide on some bench roles. It's a strong sign of progress, and a credit to Cleveland's front office, that the Indians don't have a long list of issues to address this spring — Acta's third.
Acta believes the Indians have championship pieces. It's now up to him to see that they're put together properly.
"We have some talent here," he said. "Our focus is to win. When you are in a rebuilding process, you can see it from year to year. We're talented. It's not a fluke when you spend as long as we did in first place."
Perez is counting on the Indians getting back to the top this year.
And this time, he thinks they can stay there. After all, the Tigers haven't won anything yet.
"Last year, we were right in it until the end, until September," he said. "Who knows? If we keep our horses out there all season, and our offense together all season, and our bullpen is going to be as strong like it was last year, and Derek Lowe has a bounce-back year, and Justin Masterson takes another step and Ubaldo has a full year with us? We're looking all right.
"And if it doesn't, we weren't supposed to win anyway, right?"
Notes: INF Cristian Guzman took a physical and said he may sign a minor league deal with the Indians on Wednesday. The 33-year-old sat out last season with a sore right shoulder. He played in Washington for Acta, who invited the two-time All-Star to camp. "We have a good relationship," said Guzman, who played for Minnesota from 1999-2004. "He called me. I told him I wanted to keep playing and he said to come here and try to help the team. So I said, 'OK, I'll go.'" ... The Indians traded LHP Kelvin De La Cruz to Texas for cash. De La Cruz was designated on Feb. 13 to make room for 1B Casey Kotchman. De La Cruz went 5-6 with a 4.19 ERA for Double-A Akron in 2011.
-- Tom Withers
Molina eyes expanded role with Tampa Bay
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A career backup with two World Series rings, Jose Molina is excited about having an opportunity to become an everyday catcher with the Tampa Bay Rays. At least as regular as you reasonably can expect at age 36.
The brother of a couple of other two-time World Series winners, Bengie and Yadier Molina, signed with the Rays this offseason. Manager Joe Maddon envisions a healthy "J-Mo" starting somewhere between 80 and 90 games as the Ray chase their fourth playoff berth in five years.
Molina says he preparing as if he's going to play 162, even though he's never appeared in more than 100 during parts of 12 seasons with the Cubs, Angels, Yankees and Blue Jays.
"I'm ready to catch 162 every year, not just this year. Every year. Because you never know. If the starting catcher gets hurt, you have to come in and be ready to do your job," Molina said Tuesday, the first day of spring training for Tampa Bay's pitchers and catchers.
Known more for his defensive skills than his offense, Molina started 44 games as a backup to Toronto rookie J.P. Arencibia while batting a career-best .281 with three homers and 15 RBIs.
He has been the toughest catcher to steal against in the majors over the past four seasons, throwing out 62 of 170 runners (36.5 percent). He was sixth-best a year ago when he threw out 12 of 36 for a 33.3 percent success rate that enticed the Rays, already one of baseball's top defensive teams.
Maddon has known Molina since the manager's days as the Angels' bench coach. The Rays declined a $3.2 million option on incumbent starter Kelly Shoppach after losing in the divisional round of the playoffs in October and traded John Jaso to the Seattle Mariners the following month.
Molina signed a $1.8 million, one-year contract with the Rays on Nov. 28. Jose Lobaton and Robinson Chirinos, who've played a combined 42 games in the majors, are competing for the backup job.
Molina won World Series rings with the Angels in 2002 and 2009 with the Yankees. Bengie also part of the Angels championship team in 2002 and won again with the San Francisco Giants in 2010. Yadier helped the St. Louis Cardinals win titles in 2006 and 2011, meaning one of the Molina brothers has won each of the past three World Series.
Overall, at least one of the brothers has played in seven of the past 10 postseasons.
The Rays pitching staff is eager to work with Molina, who's continuing a tour of the AL East following stints with the Yankees from 2007 to 2009 and the Blue Jays the past two seasons.
"He's got a lot of knowledge back there, a lot of innings back there. ... He might be the best receiver in the game. I can't wait to throw to him," right-hander James Shields, a 16-game winner in 2011 said.
"From what I've heard from other players on other teams, his game-calling is superb. And from what I've seen (from the opposing dugout), his receiving is unreal," Shields added. "He gets strikes that might not be strikes on a normal basis with other catchers. ... He knows how to catch. Any time you put a Molina back there, you should be in good business."
Tampa Bay's recent success, winning two division titles and making the playoffs three of the past four seasons, was a factor in Molina's decision to sign. So was a talented starting rotation and solid bullpen that are part of the reason the Rays believe they have an excellent chance of getting back to the postseason.
"Everybody in the league knows it's a great pitching staff, and they're not afraid to pitch. You start learning that more when you play 18 games against the same team," Molina said, alluding to the time he's spent in the AL East.
He's just as eager to begin to get to know the starters and relievers are to work with him.
"I need to learn all of them. ... That's what spring training is for, to work with them, talk to them regarding what they like to do, what they expect, where they want me behind the plate," Molina said. "Some guys want the catcher to be in the middle, other guys want you on the corners. I think just talking to them will be a good beginning."
The catcher said he doesn't have any preconceived notion of how many games he can — or will — play. He stressed that whatever Maddon decides is fine with him.
"The manager will do whatever he wants, and I will respect it," said Molina, who hasn't started consecutive games behind the plate since August 2010. "He got his way of thinking. I won't change that. I can' change that. I'll be ready every day. If he puts me in the lineup every day, I'll be there."
Molina started 81 games for the Yankees in 2008, when he appeared in a career-high 100. Most of his playing time came while Jorge Posada was sidelined with a shoulder injury.
"I don't think you want to push him much further than that because you don't want to break the guy. I would say that's a legitimate number, right around 80 to 90 games," Maddon said, adding that he's confident Molina will flourish in the role he figures to play in Tampa Bay.
"He's played on some pretty good teams, caught some pretty good pitchers. I know how he operates. I know how much pride he takes in what he does back there. ... One thing about him, even back in the day, he always wanted to be considered more of a regular, everyday player as opposed to a backup."
-- Fred Goodall
La Russa visiting with Tigers at spring training
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Tony La Russa and Jim Leyland sat together in the manager's office at the Detroit Tigers' spring training complex, a couple old friends trading barbs and reminiscing.
"I've got one goal," La Russa said. "It's to have him stop smoking — and eat tofu."
A few minutes later, Leyland had a retort ready.
"I didn't start smoking until I started coaching for him," the Detroit skipper said.
La Russa retired after last season, leaving on top after managing the St. Louis Cardinals to an improbable World Series title, but by no means is he about to turn his back on baseball. He plans to visit with the Tigers for a bit, but he'll also tour some other spring training locales. He and Leyland have been friends for a while, and La Russa hopes to learn a few things about how a front office operates from Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski, who he's known for over three decades.
"I may go to the front office sometime," La Russa said. "I thought he'd be a good guy to talk to and figure out what goes on upstairs, besides second-guessing the manager."
Dressed casually in jeans, La Russa took the field with Leyland when the team started its workout. Reliever Octavio Dotel, who played for the Cardinals last year before joining the Tigers, shared a hug with his former manager, but for the most part La Russa seemed content to stay off to the side and observe.
La Russa said he's talked to Commissioner Bud Selig about working for Major League Baseball in some capacity.
"I don't know how official the commissioner wants to make it," he said.
La Russa remained vague about what he might do, but he said he would not be taking Joe Torre's old job as executive vice president of baseball operations.
"I think keeping Tony in the game of baseball is a very good thing, whatever he chooses to do," Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said.
La Russa wasn't the only big name to leave the Cardinals. Slugger Albert Pujols went to the Los Angeles Angels as a free agent, but La Russa expressed optimism that St. Louis would be tough to beat even without the star first baseman.
"It's hard to say without Albert, but they've got a really good club," La Russa said. "They made a really good signing with (outfielder Carlos) Beltran. Their lineup in the middle is deep. ... They get (pitcher Adam) Wainwright back and the young relievers that are a year older. I think they're going to be really good. Really good."
La Russa and Leyland have both served on Selig's special committee for on-field matters, and La Russa expressed support for baseball's decision to expand the postseason — a move that would force each league's two wild cards to play a single-elimination game against each other before meeting a division champion in a series.
It's still not clear if the change will start this year or in 2013.
The Cardinals barely made the playoffs as a wild card last year, then immediately knocked out a Philadelphia team that had been dominant during the regular season.
"The whole point is improving the value of finishing first in the division," La Russa said. "You should have more of an advantage, and right now wild-card teams are not penalized enough, and it's just a way to have them go through another challenge, use up one more pitcher, whatever it is. I think too many clubs like us, the wild cards, they've gone and gone and gone and won it all — or eliminated the team that for six months has finished first."
When La Russa was managing the Chicago White Sox, he hired Leyland as a coach in 1982. Leyland eventually became a manager himself and won a World Series with Florida in 1997.
Leyland managed another season with the Marlins and one with Colorado before walking away. La Russa then encouraged the Cardinals to hire Leyland as a Pittsburgh-based scout, and he would spend spring training with them.
Leyland took over the Tigers in 2006.
La Russa and Leyland talked about the phone calls they'd exchange after games, helping each other get over tough losses or celebrate big victories. Even the most experienced managers can use a sounding board now and then.
"It's not an easy job," Leyland said. "Over the years, we've made a lot of phone calls at 2, 3 in the morning about how we messed the game up or how we had a great win. ... There's some nights where, who do you call? You call your friend who does the same thing you do."
Ramirez expected to arrive to A's on Friday
PHOENIX (AP) — Manny Ramirez is expected to join Oakland at its spring training facility on Friday, yet another part of the Athletics' offseason overhaul.
"I watched some video of him and saw the swing. It didn't look any different, and it looked like he was in good shape," A's manager Bob Melvin said Tuesday. "He'll be ready to go with the position players and we'll see what he has to offer."
After trading All-Star pitchers Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez for prospects, the A's signed veteran pitcher Bartolo Colon, re-signed outfielder Coco Crisp, agreed to terms with Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and added Ramirez.
"I'm feeling really good, mostly on a spiritual level. I'm very confident with the shape I'm in heading to spring training," Ramirez said during an interview on Dominican radio station 104.5 FM. "There were three teams interested, but I left God to decide, and that's why I signed with the Oakland A's. I'm only coming back because I always loved baseball, ever since I was little kid. I have a passion for the sport, and I know I can still play".
The A's also dealt A's two-time All-Star closer Andrew Bailey and outfielder Ryan Sweeney to the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Josh Reddick and two minor leaguers.
"What we did was acquire a lot of young players," A's GM Billy Beane said. "In areas where we could use immediate help, we acquired someone who could step in."
Melvin also defended the moves Tuesday, saying he avoids using the term "rebuilding."
"I prefer to use retooling or reshuffling," Melvin said. "The first wave of trades was to enhance our system. We like Cahill and we like Gio, but we brought back more. Now you see what you have left financially to go out and try to make the team better."
Ramirez becomes the latest in a series of signings made by Beane to improve power production over the years. He's also brought in John Jaha, Mike Piazza, Frank Thomas and Hideki Matsui and traded for Jack Cust.
"He is one of the best right-handed hitters I've ever seen," Beane said of Ramirez. "This is a guy who combines power with on-base percentage along with a high batting average. He's a unique player."
The 12-time All-Star is due to serve a 50-game suspension for his second positive drug test before he can play for the A's. The A's don't have to pay him during his suspension and will give him per diem money during the club's spring training stint in Phoenix, which is shorter than usual because of two season-opening games in Japan next month.
"From the first conversation with his agent (Barry Praver), it was made clear that money was not an issue," Beane said. "He wanted to play. He wanted to make sure he went out the right way. He loves to hit."
Ramirez ranks 14th on the career list with 555 home runs. He went 1 for 17 (.059) in five games last season for Tampa Bay, which had signed him to a one-year deal worth $2.02 million. He's a career .312 hitter with 1,831 RBIs.
"He certainly could give us a presence in the middle of the lineup that we don't have now," Melvin said. "He's been a dominant hitter for years. There are a lot of appealing reasons to do it."
Melvin said Ramirez will remain in extended spring training while he serves his suspension, though he foresees having him work out with the team in Oakland on occasion.
"To get him ready for a 50-game layoff doesn't make sense," Melvin said. "He's a guy who, over the course of his career, jumps out of bed in December and hits. He's one more guy to add to the mix."
In signing Ramirez, Beane said he relied on people who had firsthand experience with him.
"They came back with some great positives," he said. "This wasn't a PR move. It was needing a fourth hitter in the lineup who could hit."
Angels' Trumbo ready for new challenge in second year
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Mark Trumbo did everything the Los Angeles Angels asked in 2011 — he led the team in home runs and RBIs, played a solid first base and did his best to keep them in playoff contention.
Now, the Angels want something else from Trumbo after he finished second in the rookie of the year voting. They'd like him to shift across the diamond to third base.
The Angels signed star free agent Albert Pujols to play first base. They're also anticipating the return of first baseman Kendrys Morales, who didn't play in the majors last year after breaking his left ankle during a home-plate celebration in 2010.
Trumbo has spent some time in the outfield for the Angels, but has not played third base as a pro. He's only been there a few times in the team's instructional league.
"As far as the fundamentals of fielding a ground ball, there are a lot of the same fundamentals," he said Tuesday. "Using one hand is going to come into play a lot. I learned to do that at first to create better hops for myself. But I also need to be in position to throw across the diamond."
"I'm not so worried about the throw. My arm is in pretty good shape and I'll be fine there. I think it's about taking my time and fielding it cleanly and not rushing anything," he said. "I feel better about myself now after years and years of infield work."
Trumbo is currently awaiting the go-ahead to return to a full exercise regimen after sustaining a stress fracture in his right foot during the final week of the 2011 season. He's set for a CAT scan on Feb. 28 in Los Angeles.
Trumbo was among a handful of position players who joined pitchers and catchers for workouts. Manager Mike Scioscia said the initial plan for Trumbo will be to take fielding practice with pitchers at first base and then break into third base.
After that, Scioscia said, Trumbo will go full tilt at third base with coach and longtime infielder Alfredo Griffin doing the instructing.
The 26-year-old Trumbo was pleased with his first full season. He hit 29 homers with 87 RBIs, and came in second to Tampa Bay rookie Jeremy Hellickson in the rookie voting.
"I didn't even know how much I was going to get to play," he said.
For the time being, his big season got him a locker alongside several Angels regulars.
Trumbo has been mentioned in trade rumors, but the Anaheim-born Trumbo hopes to keep building solid seasons with the Angels organization.
"I'm pumped up," he said. "I'm excited for the prospects and what we have here as a collective unit. It's not really about me. It's about what we do as a unit and I think everybody here would say the same thing."
"We're so happy to have (Pujols). Me being a younger player, I can shadow him and ask him questions and try to learn whatever I can because he's as good as there is," he said.
Mariners move Suzuki out of leadoff spot
PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — The lineup change Seattle Mariners manager Eric Wedge hinted at during the offseason is going to become permanent.
It won't be Ichiro Suzuki at the top of the Mariners batting order to begin the 2012 season.
Wedge announced Tuesday that he will move Suzuki from his traditional leadoff spot down to No. 3 in the Mariners batting order. It's not a simple spring training experiment; Wedge is set to make Suzuki's move permanent and he will figure out who is Seattle's best option to take over in the leadoff role.
"I've done a lot of thinking about it this winter. ... Bottom line, it's for us to have the best lineup 1 through 9 out there," Wedge said. "I want our lineup to be extended. I think our best opportunity is for Ichiro to be hitting third for us."
It'll be the first time in his career that Suzuki will be somewhere permanently other than the leadoff spot. He's had only a handful of games at other spots in the lineup through his 11-year career in Seattle. He's coming off the worst year of his career in the U.S., hitting .272, the first time he's failed to hit at least .300. Suzuki's 184 hits were also a career low.
The first option to replace Suzuki will be Chone Figgins, although Wedge said he's not set on his Nos. 1 and 2. Figgins has struggled since coming over from the Los Angeles Angels and signing a $36 million, four-year deal. After thriving in the leadoff spot with the Angels, Figgins has hit just .236 in his two seasons in Seattle, including .188 in an injury-shortened 2011 season.
Figgins is likely to be the Mariners' third baseman when the season begins.
"I'm confident Figgins can get back to his old self as a leadoff hitter," Wedge said. "That's when he was the Figgins that produced, that got on base, that scored runs, that was a pain for opposing teams when he did lead off for Anaheim."
In his eight seasons with the Angels, Figgins hit .291 with a .363 on-base percentage, batting leadoff for most of that time. Wedge said his initial thought is that young second base prospect Dustin Ackley will hit second in the Mariners order. In just over half of the 2011 season, Ackley proved many of the scouts correct, hitting .273 with 16 doubles, seven triples and six home runs, and driving in 36 runs in 90 games.
Indians to sign INF Guzman
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Infielder Cristian Guzman has taken a physical for the Cleveland Indians and says he will sign a minor league contract with the club.
Guzman was spotted in the hallway of the Indians' training facility Tuesday as players took physicals before the team's first official workouts this week. Later, Guzman took an empty stall in Cleveland's clubhouse and said he will likely sign Wednesday.
Guzman has played for Minnesota, Washington and Texas. He sat out last season because of a shoulder injury. He had surgery in 2009 when he was with the Nationals and played for Indians manager Manny Acta. Guzman said Acta called and asked the 33-year-old if he wanted to keep playing.
The switch hitter has a career. 271 average in 11 seasons. He batted .316 for the National in 2008.
Ibanez and Yankees finalize $1.1M contract
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Raul Ibanez and the New York Yankees have finalized a $1.1 million, one-year contract. The deal was announced Tuesday, one day after the sides reached agreement. It includes $2.9 million in performance bonuses.
Ibanez is a 39-year-old outfielder who played with Philadelphia the previous three seasons and hit .245 last year with 20 homers and 84 RBIs. He is expected to become the Yankees' main designated hitter against right-handed starters.
In addition, the Yankees reached a preliminary agreement on a $900,000, one-year contract with backup infielder Eric Chavez, who hit .263 with two homers and 26 RBIs last year for New York. The six-time Gold Glove winner broke a bone in his left foot on May 5 after just 17 games and didn't return until July 26. His deal is subject to a physical.
