Baseball Capsules: Astros invite 4 to major-league spring training
HOUSTON - The Houston Astros invited four minor leaguers to major-league spring training on Tuesday - infielder Chris Johnson, right-handed pitcher Bud Norris and catchers Jason Castro and Lou Santangelo.
Johnson, 24, hit .324 for Double-A Corpus Christi last season, including 12 home runs and 58 RBIs before he was promoted to Triple-A Round Rock. He was named the Hooks' Offensive Player of the Month in consecutive months after hitting .326 with three home runs and 16 RBIs in May and .371 with six home runs and 23 RBIs in June. He hit .296 with two homers and 19 RBIs in 25 games with the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League.
Norris, 23, went 3-8 with a 4.05 ERA in 80 innings of work with Corpus Christi in 2008. He struck out 84 and gave up 31 walks in 19 starts. He also played in the Arizona Fall League, posting a 1.89 ERA in 12 games for the Scottsdale Scorpions.
Castro, 21, the Astros' first-round draft pick in the 2008 First-Year player draft, hit .275 in his rookie season with two homers and 12 RBIs in 39 games for the Short-Season A Tri-City ValleyCats. He played in the Hawaiian Winter league and batted .333 with two home runs and 13 RBIs in 23 games.
Santangelo, 25, hit .241 with eight home runs and 39 RBIs in 96 games for Corpus Christi in 2008. Santangelo also participated in Astros' major-league spring training in 2007.
Mark Teixeira joins the Bronx millionaires
NEW YORK - Mark Teixeira sat down with his wife on Dec. 12 to have dinner, his regular Friday "date night" with Leigh at the Vaquero Club in Westlake.
"I'd been asking her for weeks and weeks, Where do you want to go? Where do you want me to play?" he related. "And she said, ‘I want you to be happy. I just want you to be happy.' And finally, she said, ‘I want you to be a Yankee.' So that's when it was done. And once we got the contract figured out, it was a no-brainer."
"The Yankees hadn't made their decision yet, but that's when we made our decision," he said with a laugh.
"He was pushing me for an answer. I gave it," Leigh said, giggling. "I always loved New York, and I thought it would be really special for him to be a Yankee."
The free-agent first baseman officially joined the Yankees on Tuesday, finalizing a $180 million, eight-year deal initially agreed to Dec. 23, pending contract language and a physical. Teixeira's news conference might have been the last big event at old Yankee Stadium - the team is set to move on Jan. 23 across 161st Street to its new $1.3 billion ballpark. Workers were wheeling whirlpools out of the visiting clubhouse Tuesday in anticipation of the move.
Teixeira had first been to Yankee Stadium when he was 8 or 9 years old. Don Mattingly was his favorite player, and Teixeira admitted, "I was in awe."
"I was sad to see this place go," he said wistfully. "I think everyone is going to miss Yankee Stadium."
Now 28, he already is thinking ahead to April 16, when New York hosts Cleveland in the first opening day at the new ballpark.
"You know what the coolest part is going to be?" he said. "I'm going to get a chance to be the first first baseman that the Yankees have in the new stadium. And, you know, the Bleacher Bums in right are going to do the roll call. That's going to be pretty sweet. Hopefully, we're going to be four games up in the division at the time, and are already rolling, and the fans here in New York will be pumped."
Teixeira is a notoriously slow starter, batting .254 through April and averaging three homers and 11 RBIs in the first month of the season. But on his first day in pinstripes, he said all the right things. He sounded at home, referring to Derek Jeter as "DJ" and saying the captain was "one of the greatest Yankees of all-time."
"I have yet to tap my potential," Teixeira said. "I haven't accomplished anything yet. I don't have a World Series ring on my finger."
The timing of his decision might be news to the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals, who also sought to sign Teixeira. He and agent Scott Boras met with Red Sox officials in the Dallas area on Dec. 18.
"There was no mention of the Yankees, but we felt all along that they were going to get the last call. That's what you deal with in working with Scott," Red Sox owner John Henry wrote Tuesday night in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman met with Teixeira on Dec. 4 at a Washington hotel where the Los Angeles Lakers happened to be staying, noticing coach Phil Jackson in the lobby. Cashman made an initial offer at some point, then withdrew it.
"Without a doubt, this was a deviation from our plan," Cashman said. "We felt he was a rare, exceptional opportunity."
On Dec. 22, Cashman called Boras and the following day made a $160 million, eight-year proposal. Cashman thought until 11 a.m. on Dec. 23 that Boston was the favorite, then told co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner after hearing Boras' questions that the Yankees were the "lead dog." By 1:30 p.m., he had a deal.
Boras said the Red Sox had no cause to complain.
"I think Boston knows that they got good-faith proposals and they were given proposals, which means if accepted, the player would have signed the proposal," he said. "If teams reject them, they cannot in any way suggest that they were strung along."
New York has committed $423.5 million to three free-agent additions this offseason after its streak of 13 consecutive postseason appearances ended. On Dec. 18, the Yankees completed a $161 million, seven-year contract with left-hander CC Sabathia and an $82.5 million, five-year deal with right-hander A.J. Burnett.
At that time, the Yankees thought that would be the final news conference at the old ballpark, which opened in 1923.
"The old Yankee Stadium doesn't want to die," manager Joe Girardi said.
Some other teams have been angry that the Yankees added three top free agents. The Yankees' payroll currently projects to start about $10 million to $20 million below last year's opening-day figure of $209 million.
"We all feel like we do a lot for this industry, between the revenue-sharing dollars we contribute, the merchandise we sell, the tickets we sell," Yankees co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner said. "So if you've got some owners that are upset, I'm just not going to let it worry me. I'm not going to lose sleep over it. It's a shame that they feel that way."
With all the new additions, there will be increased pressure on Girardi to win in his second season.
"They give you the resources to win, and you're expected to win," he said.
Notes: Because Andy Pettitte hasn't accepted the Yankees' proposal of about $10 million for one year, the Yankees aren't sure the offer will still be available to the left-hander. "I think things are more complicated now," Cashman said, adding that he couldn't say he was optimistic. ... Like Sabathia and Burnett, Teixeira won't play in the World Baseball Classic. ... Girardi let slip that the Yankees have agreed to a minor league contract with RHP Jason Johnson. To make room for Teixeira, New York designated 1B-OF Shelley Duncan for assignment. ... Girardi isn't sure whether the switch-hitting Teixeira will bat third ahead of Alex Rodriguez or cleanup behind A-Rod. ... Teixeira will wear No. 25, Jason Giambi's old number. Teixeira had worn 23 with his previous teams whenever it was available to honor Mattingly, whose number has been retired by the Yankees. "Donnie Baseball was my guy," Teixeira said.
-- Ronald Blum
Indians, Carl Pavano agree to $1.5M, 1-year deal
CLEVELAND - The Cleveland Indians and free-agent pitcher Carl Pavano, a four-year bust with the New York Yankees because of injuries, agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract on Tuesday.
Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said that Pavano, who turns 33 on Thursday, is guaranteed a spot in Cleveland's rotation as long as he's healthy following spring training. Pavano can make another $5.3 million in performance bonuses, based on starts from 18-35 and innings from 130-235.
Ever mindful of their budget, the Indians have been looking to add starting pitching depth this winter and had Pavano in a group of four or five pitchers with "upside" who also made financial sense. They are hoping Pavano has put his injury problems behind him and can step into a starting spot behind Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona.
Pavano spent most of the past four years on the disabled list with shoulder and elbow issues. He made only 26 starts and went 9-8 with a 5.00 ERA for the free-spending Yankees, who signed him to a deal worth $39.95 million before the 2005 season.
Cleveland is the opponent when New York opens the new Yankee Stadium on April 16. Could Pavano wind up starting against former-Indian CC Sabathia?
"I feel like we're getting him at the right time," Shapiro said. "He's very strong, in good shape now and extremely motivated. We thought he would benefit from a fresh start. It was a tough situation in New York and he was trying to justify the contract that he had."
Pavano became a popular target for frustrated New York fans who were disgusted that the money-is-no-object Yankees missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 1993 despite a $223 million payroll. The Yankees in November declined their $13 million option for 2009 on Pavano, who got a $1.95 million buyout.
Shapiro said the Indians put Pavano through a thorough medical exam, similar to the one they gave free-agent closer Kerry Wood before signing him. The Indians were impressed with Pavano's strength and were encouraged by his final seven starts for the Yankees last season, when he went 4-2.
Pavano is 66-66 with a 4.23 ERA in 175 career starts for Montreal, Florida and New York. He had his best season in 2004, when he went 18-8 for the Marlins.
In his first season with New York, Pavano pitched only 100 innings after injuring his right shoulder. He missed the entire 2006 season and his work ethic and willingness to get back were questioned by some teammates. During his rehab, Pavano broke two ribs in a car accident but initially neglected to inform the Yankees.
He started just two games in 2007 before hurting his elbow and having elbow ligament replacement surgery.
Shapiro said Pavano will not be under any restrictions during spring training.
"He's in good shape and he's strong," the GM said.
To make room for Pavano, the Indians designated infielder Michael Aubrey for assignment.
In other news, Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner was cleared by Dr. James Andrews to start pre-hitting activities this week. Hafner is expected to begin hitting in mid-January.
Andrews performed arthroscopic surgery to clean out Hafner's right shoulder joint on Oct. 14 in Alabama.
-- Tom Withers
Rockies bolster rotation, get Marquis from Cubs
DENVER - The Colorado Rockies added depth to their rotation, acquiring durable right-hander Jason Marquis from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday for reliever Luis Vizcaino.
The 30-year-old Marquis was 11-9 with a 4.53 ERA last season for the NL Central champion Cubs. The Rockies also receive cash as part of the deal.
Colorado has a solid core of starters in Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis and Ubaldo Jimenez. Marquis will likely compete for a spot at the back of the rotation with Jorge De La Rosa, Jason Hirsh, Franklin Morales, Greg Smith and Greg Reynolds.
Marquis has had double-digit wins in each of the last five seasons, surpassing 190 innings four times. He's also a capable hitter for a pitcher, with five home runs and 40 RBIs in his nine-year career.
"The addition of Jason to our ballclub brings us the veteran leadership and depth to our rotation that we have been seeking to add this offseason," Colorado general manager Dan O'Dowd said in a statement.
Chicago was looking to trim salary after reaching a preliminary agreement with free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley on a $30 million, three-year contract Monday.
It is thought the Cubs will pick up about $1 million of Marquis' $9,875,000 salary in 2009. Vizcaino will earn $3.5 million next season and his contract contains a $4 million club option for 2010 with a $500,000 buyout.
Chicago general manager Jim Hendry wouldn't call the trade a salary dump, just a way to keep the payroll in line.
"We're no different than anybody else, except maybe my buddy Brian Cashman," Hendry said, playfully taking a jab at the New York Yankees GM who has spent $423.5 million to lure three top free agents this offseason. "We have a fair payroll. We have one of the better payrolls in this game, and we still do."
Vizcaino struggled in his first year with Colorado, going 1-2 with a 5.28 ERA in 43 relief appearances.
"I haven't seen much of him in person in the last year, but our scouts still felt like he had enough juice, enough savvy to pitch in the seventh, eighth inning," Hendry said.
It's the second trade the Rockies have made this offseason. They dealt All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday to Oakland in November for reliever Huston Street, promising outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and Smith.
The Rockies never found their footing in 2008, falling back to 74-88 a year after winning the NL pennant.
Colorado fired several members of its coaching staff, leading to former manager Don Baylor's return as hitting coach. The team also brought in former major league manager Jim Tracy as bench coach and Rich Dauer as third base coach.
Relief pitcher Alan Embree agreed to a one-year deal with Colorado in December.
It's been a busy few days for the Cubs, who also dealt Mark DeRosa to Cleveland and reached an agreement to sign switch-hitter Aaron Miles.
"We're just trying to make the club better, which I think we are," Hendry said.
-- Pat Graham
A's closing in on deal with Jason Giambi
OAKLAND, Calif. - Jason Giambi might just finish his career where it began more than a decade ago.
The free-agent first baseman was close to completing a deal Tuesday to return to the Oakland Athletics nearly 14 years after making his debut with the club, according to two people familiar with the negotiations. The sides had reached a preliminary agreement, pending a physical, on what is expected to be a one-year contract with an option.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the deal had not been finalized, though a formal announcement by the A's could come as soon as Wednesday.
"I can confirm that I have spoken with the A's regarding Giambi, however, I cannot comment on the status of the negotiations," Giambi's agent, Arn Tellem, said in an e-mail to the AP.
The addition of Giambi would be the second big offseason acquisition by A's general manager Billy Beane, who made a trade with Colorado for star outfielder Matt Holliday back in November.
Giambi, who turns 38 on Thursday, spent the past seven seasons with the Yankees. New York declined its $22 million option on him after last season, choosing instead to pay him a $5 million buyout.
Oakland announced in early November that Bob Alejo would become its new director of strength and conditioning - a sign Giambi might be next to come back and return to his roots. Alejo served as the A's strength and conditioning coach from 1993-2001 and followed Giambi to the Yankees, working for Giambi personally and for the team during some years.
Giambi won the AL MVP for Oakland in 2000, then left for New York following the 2001 campaign. The slugger enjoyed each return visit to the Bay Area, seeing old friends and making trips to the popular California chain of In-N-Out Burger. He said he tried to open an In-N-Out in New York to no avail.
Giambi, a second-round draft pick by the A's in 1992, is a .286 career hitter with 396 homers and 1,279 RBIs in 14 big league seasons. He made his major league debut for Oakland on May 8, 1995.
Giambi batted .247 with 32 home runs and 96 RBIs in 2008 for the Yankees, who missed the playoffs despite their $200 million payroll after a run of 13 consecutive postseason appearances. That's just one shy of the record set by the Atlanta Braves from 1991-2005.
-- Janie McCauley
Phillies finalize one-year deal with Park
PHILADELPHIA - Chan Ho Park and the Philadelphia Phillies finalized their $2.5 million, one-year contract on Tuesday.
"We've acquired a veteran guy who can pitch in either a starting role or as a reliever," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "He will come to spring training and be given every opportunity to compete for a spot in the starting rotation."
The 35-year-old right-hander went 4-4 with a 3.40 ERA in 54 appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. He was 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA as a starter and 3-4 with a 3.84 ERA in relief. Park could compete with Kyle Kendrick, J.A. Happ and prospect Carlos Carrasco for the fifth spot in the rotation. Adam Eaton, under contract for $8.5 million this season, isn't in the mix.
A former All-Star in 2001, Park can earn an additional $2.5 million in performance bonuses.
He averaged 15 wins per season over a five-year span from 1997-2001 with the Dodgers. He was a combined 75-49 in that time with a career-high 18 wins in 2000. In 98 career relief appearances, Park is 5-7 with a 4.44 ERA.
"I'm very happy to be a Phillie," Park said. "It's an honor to be on a championship team. I was trying to beat them in the playoffs last year and now I'm trying to help them win another championship."
The Phillies beat the Dodgers in the NLCS in five games and defeated Tampa Bay in five games to capture their second World Series title.
Originally signed by the Dodgers in 1994, Park is 117-92 with a 4.34 ERA in 378 career games (280 starts) for Los Angeles, Texas, San Diego and the New York Mets.
Orioles close to 2-year deal with Japanese pitcher
BALTIMORE - Japanese pitcher Koji Uehara and the Baltimore Orioles have reached a preliminary agreement on a two-year contract.
The right-hander must pass a physical for the deal to be completed, Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said Tuesday night. The 33-year-old Uehara would become the first native of Japan to play for Baltimore.
Uehara has spent his entire career with the Yomiuri Giants. The (Baltimore) Sun reports that the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Uehara was 6-5 with one save and a 3.81 ERA in 26 games for the Giants last year.
Romero, Mitre suspended 50 games each by MLB
NEW YORK - Phillies reliever J.C. Romero was suspended for the first 50 games of next season on Tuesday after testing positive for a banned substance contained in a supplement developed by convicted BALCO chemist Patrick Arnold.
Yankees minor league pitcher Sergio Mitre also was suspended for the first 50 games of next season after testing positive for a banned substance in an over-the-counter supplement.
The suspensions, upheld by arbitrator Stephen Goldberg, triggered an angry response from the Major League Baseball Players Association.
"We strongly disagree with the commissioner's discipline and with the arbitrator's decision," Michael Weiner, the union's general counsel, said in a statement. "Mitre and Romero both legally purchased nutritional supplements from national chain stores in the United States. Nothing on the labels of those supplements indicated that they contained a trace amount of a substance prohibited under Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program."
Rob Manfred, executive vice president of labor relations in the commissioner's office, said the players were at fault.
"Certainly Major League Baseball along with the players' association has consistently told players there's risk associated with nutritional substances purchased over the counter," Manfred said.
Manfred said the players failed to use supplements that had been approved under a certification program the sport began in 2006, and that Phillies strength and conditioning coordinator Dong Lien had warned Romero not to use the supplement. Posters in each major league clubhouse give players a hot line to call to check on substances, and Manfred said Romero did not use the hot line.
Weiner saw it differently.
"Their unknowing actions plainly are distinguishable from those of a person who intentionally used an illegal performance-enhancing substance," he said.
Romero, who earned two wins in Philadelphia's World Series victory over Tampa Bay last season, used 6-OXO, developed by Ergopharm, which is led by Arnold. The company's Web site touts it as "the new gold standard for testosterone elevation."
Arnold pleaded guilty in 2006 to one count of conspiracy to distribute steroids as part of the federal prosecution of the Bay Area Laboratory-Cooperative. Arnold, who created the previously undetectable steroid "the clear," was sentenced to three months in prison and three months' home confinement
Mitre tested positive for Halodrol.
Both supplements contain Androstenetrione as a listed ingredient and apparently were contaminated with Androstenedione, the substance Mark McGwire used in the 1990s. While Androstenedione was banned by baseball in 2004, Androstenetrione is not specifically listed as a prohibited substance.
"I still cannot see where I did something wrong," Romero was quoted as saying by ESPN.com. "There is nothing that should take away from the rings of my teammates. I didn't cheat. I tried to follow the rules."
Mitre said in a statement issued by his agent, Paul Cobbe, that he purchased the supplement at a GNC.
"I did take the supplement in question, and accept full responsibility for taking it," Mitre said. "It contained a ‘contaminant' amount of an illegal, performance-enhancing drug. This was not listed as an ingredient on the packaging, should not have been in the supplement and certainly should not have been available for legal purchase at a store. Despite this, I do accept my punishment because, as a professional, I have a responsibility for what I put into my body."
Mitre is with the New York Yankees' Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Triple-A team after spending 2008 on the Florida Marlins' disabled list. He had elbow ligament replacement surgery in July 15 and reached an agreement with the Yankees in November.
"It's kind of a bitter pill to swallow," Cobbe said. "He made a false assumption that stuff you buy at a GNC is legal. He purchased an illegal drug legally."
If the Phillies have no postponements during the first two months of the season, Romero would be eligible to return June 1 and the suspension would cost him $1,245,902 of his $4 million salary.
Mitre is not expected to pitch until the second half of the season and will serve his suspension while on the disabled list. His contract with the Yankees calls for a salary of $40,000 a month while in the minors and $1.5 million for the season while in the majors, so the suspension will cost Mitre about $70,000.
Romero was the winning pitcher in Game 3 of the World Series and the clinching Game 5 for the champion Phillies. A key member of Philadelphia's strong bullpen, he went 4-4 with a 2.75 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 59 innings. He appeared in 81 games and had one save.
In the postseason, Romero allowed only two hits in eight scoreless appearances spanning 7 1-3 innings.
Romero is expected to report to spring training with the Phillies next month and is allowed to pitch in exhibition games. He'll likely stay in Florida for extended spring training.
"We're very supportive of what Major League Baseball has done and the policies it has implemented," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said during a conference call.
-- Ronald Blum
