2015 Toronto Blue Jays: Team on the rise?

The sun has been shining over the Toronto Blue Jays' spring training facility for the better part of four weeks, their pre-season performance has been encouraging and the manager believes it's a more talented group than recent years.

So, that must mean the longest current playoff drought in baseball at 21 years will end in September, right? Well, they must still play the games.

With Toronto's April 6 season opener at Yankee Stadium in New York approaching, we offer a look at a Blue Jays outfit that will try to improve upon last season's 83-79 record and third-place finish in the American League East.

Young starters

Barring the unforeseen, pitchers Daniel Norris and Aaron Sanchez will open the season in the starting rotation after fellow youngster Marcus Stroman was lost for the season in early March after tearing a ligament in his left knee.

Norris, who turns 22 on April 25, has had an outstanding spring coming off arthroscopic surgery last October on his left (throwing) elbow, posting a 2.41 earned-run average in his first five starts with four walks against 21 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings. Norris has only 6 2/3 innings on his major league regular-season resume but he fanned Boston slugger David Ortiz for his first strikeout (see below) and appears ready to make an impact in 2015.

Early in spring training, the 22-year-old Sanchez appeared destined for the-then vacant closer's job, but the Stroman injury thrust him in the mix for a starting role. The right-handed fireballer has looked sharp in exhibition play, limiting the opposition to a .217 batting average and issuing only four walks over 18 1/3 innings covering five starts through March 29. In a late-season audition with the Jays last September, Sanchez flashed a 1.09 ERA, albeit in 33 innings, allowing just 14 hits.

Cecil the stopper

Brett Cecil seems to have put an inflamed shoulder from earlier this spring in the past, appearing in minor league games and blanking the opposition in his first two spring training innings as he will take over the closer's role to start the season after Casey Janssen signed with Washington as a free agent in the off-season. Cecil possesses a borderline unhittable curve that allowed him to post a 2.70 ERA in 53 1/3 innings in mostly a set-up role last season.

Managers tend to have a righty bias with stoppers – only six lefties have notched 20 saves the last five years – but the 28-year-old Cecil is fit for the role. In each of the past two seasons, he is one of only four lefties to work 50-plus innings and boast a least a 50 per cent groundball rate and 25 per cent strikeout rate. Cecil converted five of seven save chances in 2014.

Bullpen overhaul

Toronto ranked 25th among 30 teams in bullpen ERA last season at 4.09, so it wouldn't be surprising to see a different look in 2015. Closer Cecil is a lock, as is Aaron Loup as the left-handed setup guy, and likely Todd Redmond as the long man. Former Milwaukee hurler Marco Estrada, who could spot start, pitch in long relief or the seventh inning, is expected to break camp with the Jays. Others in the mix include Canadian lefty Jeff Francis and 20-year-olds Miguel Castro and Roberto Osuna.

Castro and Osuna, at camp as non-roster invitees, have emerged. It wouldn't be far-fetched to see Castro, who has reached 100 miles per hour on the radar gun this spring, get save chances this season. Osuna, who had Tommy John surgery a little more than a year ago, could be the first Mexican pitcher on the Toronto roster since Esteban Loaiza in 2002.

Canadian content

The Blue Jays will open the season with three Canadians on the roster after third baseman Brett Lawrie (Langley, B.C.) was dealt to Oakland over the winter in the Josh Donaldson trade: catcher Russell Martin (Montreal) and outfielders Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) and Michael Saunders (Victoria). Martin will become the 21st Canadian to play for the Blue Jays after Pompey appeared in 17 games last September. At 386 games, pitcher Paul Quantrill of Port Hope, Ont., holds the record for most games played as a Blue Jay by a Canadian.

Other new faces

Pompey and second base hopeful Devon Travis could make it six rookies on the roster with Norris, Sanchez, Castro and Osuna. Then there's waiver claim Justin Smoak, formerly of the Seattle Mariners, and Donaldson. Smoak started slowly this spring but has swung the bat better since March 20 and could be used in a part-time role as a first baseman/designated hitter. Donaldson takes over from Lawrie at third and is coming off a second consecutive 158-game season in which he hit 29 home runs and 98 RBIs after 24/93 totals the previous campaign.

Toronto let Colby Rasmus walk as a free agent (he laters signed with Houston) and traded Anthony Gose to Detroit because it envisioned Pompey playing in centre-field each game. The 22-year-old hit .317 across three minor league levels last season and was promoted to the big leagues in September. He has shone at the plate in 18 games this spring with a .327 average and .364 on-base percentage through March 29. The switch-hitting Pompey can be a big asset in steals after recording 43 steals in 50 attempts in the minors last season and is considered an above average fielder who covers a lot of ground (see below).

Rookie 2nd sacker?

A groin injury to Maicer Izturis seems to have opened the door for Devon Travis to start the season at second base. Acquired from Detroit in November for outfielder Anthony Gose, the 24-year-old Travis hit .352 in his first 54 at-bats this spring and appears to have beat out defensive stalwart Ryan Goins for the job. Travis hit .298 with 10 homers for double-A Erie last season and was named the Tigers' minor league player of the year in 2013.

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Drew Hutchison to start Blue Jays' opener vs. Yankees

A strong spring training has vaulted Drew Hutchison to the top of the Toronto Blue Jays' rotation as he'll start the season opener April 6 at Yankee Stadium against New York.

The 24-year-old has won three of four games (three starts) in the pre-season and sports a 1.80 earned-run average while striking out 11 in 15 innings.

Starting Hutchison in the opener would put him on track to face Baltimore in his second start, a team he dominated last season to the tune of a 2.54 ERA. The right-hander was also the lone American League starter to beat the Orioles three times (3-1).

Hutchison won 11 games in 2014, his first full season after elbow ligament replacement (Tommy John) surgery. In 32 starts, he logged 184 2/3 innings with a 4.48 ERA.

Hutchison wasn't as effective against the Yankees last season as he was versus Baltimore. New York lit him up for five home runs in 31 1/3 innings as Hutchison went 2-4 in six starts with an ugly 5.17 ERA. He fanned 37 but also walked 17.

As a team, Toronto was 3-7 at Yankee Stadium, a slight improvement from the Jays' 0-10 showing in 2013.

Toronto unveiled its 25-man roster Tuesday, with rookie second baseman Devon Travis and former Seattle first baseman Justin Smoak cracking the lineup. Smoak, who hit just .202 in 80 games last season for the Mariners with seven home runs and 30 runs batted in, was claimed on waivers on Oct. 28 and later signed for one year and $1 million US after Toronto declined his $3.65 million option on Nov. 1.

Travis, 24, hit .352 in his first 54 at-bats this spring after being acquired in November for centre-fielder Anthony Gose. Travis has the inside track on a starting job over Ryan Goins and the injured Maicer Izturis.

Projected starting centre-fielder Dalton Pompey, who hails from Mississauga, Ont., will head north with the Blue Jays, as will utility man Steve Tolleson.

The 22-year-old Pompey hit .317 across three minor league levels last season and was promoted to the big leagues in September. He has shone at the plate in 18 games this spring with a .327 average and .364 on-base percentage through March 29. The switch-hitting Pompey can be a big asset in steals after recording 43 steals in 50 attempts in the minors last season.

The versatile Tolleson, 31, returns for a second season with Toronto after appearing at 55 games at second base, twice at shortstop, 43 at third and seven in the outfield.

He hit .253 in 108 contests last year with three homers and 16 RBIs. Tolleson has matched the home run total in 31 spring at-bats while driving in six in 16 games with a .258 average.

One player who won't travel with the Blue Jays to New York is outfielder Dayan Viciedo.

Coming off a 21-homer season with the Chicago White Sox, he was signed to a minor league deal March 1 when projected starting left-fielder Michael Saunders went down with a knee injury that required surgery on his meniscus.

Viciedo, a five-foot-11, 240-pound Cuban, batted .231 with 58 RBIs for the White Sox in 2014. He had 122 strikeouts and 32 walks in 523 at-bats.

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White Sox claim Kyle Drabek off waivers from Blue Jays

Once viewed as top prospect in Halladay trade

CBC Sports Posted: Mar 27, 2015 4:37 PM ET Last Updated: Mar 27, 2015 5:10 PM ET

Kyle Drabek is no longer part of the Toronto Blue Jays' future plans. 

The right-handed pitcher was claimed off waivers on Friday by the Chicago White Sox.

Once seen as a top prospect who joined the Toronto Blue Jays in the Roy Halladay trade, Kyle Drabek never hit his groove. Drabek, has spent most of the past five seasons on the disabled list or in the minors.

Drabek, 27, appeared in 39 games — including 30 starts — over five seasons with Toronto.

Drabek posted an 8-15 record with a 5.27 earned-run average. The native of Victoria, Texas, had a save and 2.57 ERA in six games this spring.

With files from the Canadian Press

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David Ortiz says he 'never knowingly' took steroids

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is certain on this point: "I never knowingly took any steroids." And this, too: "I deserve to be in the Hall of Fame."

The remarks by the 39-year-old designated hitter came in a column Thursday for The Players' Tribune, a website founded by Derek Jeter that gives professional athletes a platform.

Ortiz also voiced his displeasure that he will "always be considered a cheater" to his detractors. He contends that nobody in baseball has been tested more often for performance-enhancing drugs — more than 80 times since 2004.

"I have never failed a single one of those tests and I never will," Ortiz wrote.

In 2009, the New York Times reported Ortiz was on a list of 104 players who allegedly tested positive during Major League Baseball's 2003 survey of steroid use — results that were supposed to be anonymous. Ortiz later said he wound up on the list because he used nutritional supplements and was careless about their contents.

"Most guys were taking over-the-counter supplements then. Most guys are still taking over-the-counter supplements. If it's legal, ballplayers take it," Ortiz wrote. "Why? Because if you make it to the World Series, you play 180 games. Really think about that for a second. 180 games. Your kids could be sick, your wife could be yelling at you, your dad could be dying — nobody cares.

"Nobody cares if you have a bone bruise in your wrist or if you have a pulled groin. You're an entertainer. The people want to see you hit a 95-mile-an-hour fastball over a damn 37-foot wall."

Ortiz said he had two drug testers arrive early at his house in the Dominican Republic one day over the off-season. His kids are so used to them showing up, he said, they were laughing and taking pictures as the testers drew Ortiz's blood in the kitchen. Ortiz said to them: "Let me tell you something. The only thing you're going to find in my blood is rice and beans."

Added Ortiz: "In some people's minds, I will always be considered a cheater," emphasizing his point with an expletive.

Ortiz is a .285 hitter with 466 career homers and 1,533 RBIs. He believes his numbers are Hall of Fame worthy.

"I've won three World Series since MLB introduced comprehensive drug testing. I've performed year after year after year. But if a bunch of writers who have never swung a bat want to tell me it's all for nothing, OK. Why do they write my legacy?" Ortiz wrote. "In 75 years, when I'm dead and gone, I won't care if I'm in the Hall of Fame. I won't care if a bunch of baseball writers know the truth about who I am in my soul and what I have done in this game. I care that my children know the truth."

Big Papi said his mental preparation was one of his biggest attributes.

"They're only going to remember my power," Ortiz wrote. "They're not going to remember the hours and hours and hours of work in the film room. They're not going to remember the BP. They're not going to remember me for my intelligence.

"Despite all I've done in this game, I'm just the big DH from the Dominican. They turn you into a character, man."

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David Ortiz says he 'never knowingly' took steroids

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is certain on this point: "I never knowingly took any steroids." And this, too: "I deserve to be in the Hall of Fame."

The remarks by the 39-year-old designated hitter came in a column Thursday for The Players' Tribune, a website founded by Derek Jeter that gives professional athletes a platform.

Ortiz also voiced his displeasure that he will "always be considered a cheater" to his detractors. He contends that nobody in baseball has been tested more often for performance-enhancing drugs — more than 80 times since 2004.

"I have never failed a single one of those tests and I never will," Ortiz wrote.

In 2009, the New York Times reported Ortiz was on a list of 104 players who allegedly tested positive during Major League Baseball's 2003 survey of steroid use — results that were supposed to be anonymous. Ortiz later said he wound up on the list because he used nutritional supplements and was careless about their contents.

"Most guys were taking over-the-counter supplements then. Most guys are still taking over-the-counter supplements. If it's legal, ballplayers take it," Ortiz wrote. "Why? Because if you make it to the World Series, you play 180 games. Really think about that for a second. 180 games. Your kids could be sick, your wife could be yelling at you, your dad could be dying — nobody cares.

"Nobody cares if you have a bone bruise in your wrist or if you have a pulled groin. You're an entertainer. The people want to see you hit a 95-mile-an-hour fastball over a damn 37-foot wall."

Ortiz said he had two drug testers arrive early at his house in the Dominican Republic one day over the off-season. His kids are so used to them showing up, he said, they were laughing and taking pictures as the testers drew Ortiz's blood in the kitchen. Ortiz said to them: "Let me tell you something. The only thing you're going to find in my blood is rice and beans."

Added Ortiz: "In some people's minds, I will always be considered a cheater," emphasizing his point with an expletive.

Ortiz is a .285 hitter with 466 career homers and 1,533 RBIs. He believes his numbers are Hall of Fame worthy.

"I've won three World Series since MLB introduced comprehensive drug testing. I've performed year after year after year. But if a bunch of writers who have never swung a bat want to tell me it's all for nothing, OK. Why do they write my legacy?" Ortiz wrote. "In 75 years, when I'm dead and gone, I won't care if I'm in the Hall of Fame. I won't care if a bunch of baseball writers know the truth about who I am in my soul and what I have done in this game. I care that my children know the truth."

Big Papi said his mental preparation was one of his biggest attributes.

"They're only going to remember my power," Ortiz wrote. "They're not going to remember the hours and hours and hours of work in the film room. They're not going to remember the BP. They're not going to remember me for my intelligence.

"Despite all I've done in this game, I'm just the big DH from the Dominican. They turn you into a character, man."

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David Ortiz, Red Sox DH, says he 'never knowingly' took steroids

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is certain on this point: "I never knowingly took any steroids." And this, too: "I deserve to be in the Hall of Fame."

The remarks by the 39-year-old designated hitter came in a column Thursday for The Players' Tribune, a website founded by Derek Jeter that gives professional athletes a platform.

Ortiz also voiced his displeasure that he will "always be considered a cheater" to his detractors. He contends that nobody in baseball has been tested more often for performance-enhancing drugs — more than 80 times since 2004.

"I have never failed a single one of those tests and I never will," Ortiz wrote.

In 2009, the New York Times reported Ortiz was on a list of 104 players who allegedly tested positive during Major League Baseball's 2003 survey of steroid use — results that were supposed to be anonymous. Ortiz later said he wound up on the list because he used nutritional supplements and was careless about their contents.

"Most guys were taking over-the-counter supplements then. Most guys are still taking over-the-counter supplements. If it's legal, ballplayers take it," Ortiz wrote. "Why? Because if you make it to the World Series, you play 180 games. Really think about that for a second. 180 games. Your kids could be sick, your wife could be yelling at you, your dad could be dying — nobody cares.

"Nobody cares if you have a bone bruise in your wrist or if you have a pulled groin. You're an entertainer. The people want to see you hit a 95-mile-an-hour fastball over a damn 37-foot wall."

Ortiz said he had two drug testers arrive early at his house in the Dominican Republic one day over the off-season. His kids are so used to them showing up, he said, they were laughing and taking pictures as the testers drew Ortiz's blood in the kitchen. Ortiz said to them: "Let me tell you something. The only thing you're going to find in my blood is rice and beans."

Added Ortiz: "In some people's minds, I will always be considered a cheater," emphasizing his point with an expletive.

Ortiz is a .285 hitter with 466 career homers and 1,533 RBIs. He believes his numbers are Hall of Fame worthy.

"I've won three World Series since MLB introduced comprehensive drug testing. I've performed year after year after year. But if a bunch of writers who have never swung a bat want to tell me it's all for nothing, OK. Why do they write my legacy?" Ortiz wrote. "In 75 years, when I'm dead and gone, I won't care if I'm in the Hall of Fame. I won't care if a bunch of baseball writers know the truth about who I am in my soul and what I have done in this game. I care that my children know the truth."

Big Papi said his mental preparation was one of his biggest attributes.

"They're only going to remember my power," Ortiz wrote. "They're not going to remember the hours and hours and hours of work in the film room. They're not going to remember the BP. They're not going to remember me for my intelligence.

"Despite all I've done in this game, I'm just the big DH from the Dominican. They turn you into a character, man."

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

David Ortiz says he 'never knowingly' took steroids

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is certain on this point: "I never knowingly took any steroids." And this, too: "I deserve to be in the Hall of Fame."

The remarks by the 39-year-old designated hitter came in a column Thursday for The Players' Tribune, a website founded by Derek Jeter that gives professional athletes a platform.

Ortiz also voiced his displeasure that he will "always be considered a cheater" to his detractors. He contends that nobody in baseball has been tested more often for performance-enhancing drugs — more than 80 times since 2004.

"I have never failed a single one of those tests and I never will," Ortiz wrote.

In 2009, the New York Times reported Ortiz was on a list of 104 players who allegedly tested positive during Major League Baseball's 2003 survey of steroid use — results that were supposed to be anonymous. Ortiz later said he wound up on the list because he used nutritional supplements and was careless about their contents.

"Most guys were taking over-the-counter supplements then. Most guys are still taking over-the-counter supplements. If it's legal, ballplayers take it," Ortiz wrote. "Why? Because if you make it to the World Series, you play 180 games. Really think about that for a second. 180 games. Your kids could be sick, your wife could be yelling at you, your dad could be dying — nobody cares.

"Nobody cares if you have a bone bruise in your wrist or if you have a pulled groin. You're an entertainer. The people want to see you hit a 95-mile-an-hour fastball over a damn 37-foot wall."

Ortiz said he had two drug testers arrive early at his house in the Dominican Republic one day over the off-season. His kids are so used to them showing up, he said, they were laughing and taking pictures as the testers drew Ortiz's blood in the kitchen. Ortiz said to them: "Let me tell you something. The only thing you're going to find in my blood is rice and beans."

Added Ortiz: "In some people's minds, I will always be considered a cheater," emphasizing his point with an expletive.

Ortiz is a .285 hitter with 466 career homers and 1,533 RBIs. He believes his numbers are Hall of Fame worthy.

"I've won three World Series since MLB introduced comprehensive drug testing. I've performed year after year after year. But if a bunch of writers who have never swung a bat want to tell me it's all for nothing, OK. Why do they write my legacy?" Ortiz wrote. "In 75 years, when I'm dead and gone, I won't care if I'm in the Hall of Fame. I won't care if a bunch of baseball writers know the truth about who I am in my soul and what I have done in this game. I care that my children know the truth."

Big Papi said his mental preparation was one of his biggest attributes.

"They're only going to remember my power," Ortiz wrote. "They're not going to remember the hours and hours and hours of work in the film room. They're not going to remember the BP. They're not going to remember me for my intelligence.

"Despite all I've done in this game, I'm just the big DH from the Dominican. They turn you into a character, man."

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David Ortiz, Red Sox DH, says he 'never knowingly' took steroids

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is certain on this point: "I never knowingly took any steroids." And this, too: "I deserve to be in the Hall of Fame."

The remarks by the 39-year-old designated hitter came in a column Thursday for The Players' Tribune, a website founded by Derek Jeter that gives professional athletes a platform.

Ortiz also voiced his displeasure that he will "always be considered a cheater" to his detractors. He contends that nobody in baseball has been tested more often for performance-enhancing drugs — more than 80 times since 2004.

"I have never failed a single one of those tests and I never will," Ortiz wrote.

In 2009, the New York Times reported Ortiz was on a list of 104 players who allegedly tested positive during Major League Baseball's 2003 survey of steroid use — results that were supposed to be anonymous. Ortiz later said he wound up on the list because he used nutritional supplements and was careless about their contents.

"Most guys were taking over-the-counter supplements then. Most guys are still taking over-the-counter supplements. If it's legal, ballplayers take it," Ortiz wrote. "Why? Because if you make it to the World Series, you play 180 games. Really think about that for a second. 180 games. Your kids could be sick, your wife could be yelling at you, your dad could be dying — nobody cares.

"Nobody cares if you have a bone bruise in your wrist or if you have a pulled groin. You're an entertainer. The people want to see you hit a 95-mile-an-hour fastball over a damn 37-foot wall."

Ortiz said he had two drug testers arrive early at his house in the Dominican Republic one day over the off-season. His kids are so used to them showing up, he said, they were laughing and taking pictures as the testers drew Ortiz's blood in the kitchen. Ortiz said to them: "Let me tell you something. The only thing you're going to find in my blood is rice and beans."

Added Ortiz: "In some people's minds, I will always be considered a cheater," emphasizing his point with an expletive.

Ortiz is a .285 hitter with 466 career homers and 1,533 RBIs. He believes his numbers are Hall of Fame worthy.

"I've won three World Series since MLB introduced comprehensive drug testing. I've performed year after year after year. But if a bunch of writers who have never swung a bat want to tell me it's all for nothing, OK. Why do they write my legacy?" Ortiz wrote. "In 75 years, when I'm dead and gone, I won't care if I'm in the Hall of Fame. I won't care if a bunch of baseball writers know the truth about who I am in my soul and what I have done in this game. I care that my children know the truth."

Big Papi said his mental preparation was one of his biggest attributes.

"They're only going to remember my power," Ortiz wrote. "They're not going to remember the hours and hours and hours of work in the film room. They're not going to remember the BP. They're not going to remember me for my intelligence.

"Despite all I've done in this game, I'm just the big DH from the Dominican. They turn you into a character, man."

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Dodgers sign Cuba's Hector Olivera to 6-year contract

The Los Angeles Dodgers have added another player from Cuba, agreeing to a $62.5 million US, six-year contract with infielder Hector Olivera, agent Greg Genske said Tuesday.

The agreement includes a $28 million US signing bonus, Genske said.

Olivera, said to be 29, was on the Cuban team that won the silver medal at the 2008 Olympics. He also played for his country at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, where he hit .313 and played second base.

He will have some company as he joins an organization that already has a strong Cuban presence with All-Star outfielder Yasiel Puig, infielder Alex Guerrero and shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena, who was recently optioned to the Dodgers' minor league camp.

Olivera's deal will cause a $4,173,333 US increase in this year's luxury tax for the Dodgers, who pay at a 40 per cent rate at the payroll amount over $189 million US.

There's not a lot of information about Olivera. He possesses a quick swing and a good hitting approach, according to Baseball America's website. The website said Olivera missed the entire 2012-13 season in Cuba because of a blood disorder.

The Dodgers have Jimmy Rollins pencilled in to start at shortstop and Howie Kendrick at second base. Guerrero is attempting to make the team as a utility infielder.

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A-Rod making case as Yankees' full-time designated hitter

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says Alex Rodriguez is making a case to be the team's full-time designated hitter and Adam Warren has taken a big lead to become the fifth starter.

Rodriguez, who turns 40 in July, is returning from a one-year drug suspension. A-Rod entered Wednesday hitting .286 (8 for 28) with two homers.

"We'll talk about all these things, but the way he's looked so far, I'd definitely say he's pushed himself into full-time DH consideration," Cashman said before Wednesday's game against the New York Mets. "He's done well. A lot of life in his bat."

Following the re-signing of third baseman Chase Headley, Rodriguez is competing for at-bats at DH with left-handed-hitting Garrett Jones. He might get limited playing time at third and first base.

Rodriguez ranks fifth on the career home run list with 654. He has not played a full season since 2007 because the suspension, operations on both hips and other injuries.

Warren is competing with a group that includes Esmil Rogers.

"There's a Secretariat right now in this race that's a number of lengths ahead of the field," Cashman said. "Right now if we had to make a decision, we all know what that decision would be. Warren certainly has a big lead in this, but we don't have to make that decision today."

Warren made 69 appearances out of the bullpen last season, going 3-6 with 2.97 ERA.

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Dodgers sign Cuba's Hector Olivera to 6-year contract

The Los Angeles Dodgers have added another player from Cuba, agreeing to a $62.5 million US, six-year contract with infielder Hector Olivera, agent Greg Genske said Tuesday.

The agreement includes a $28 million US signing bonus, Genske said.

Olivera, said to be 29, was on the Cuban team that won the silver medal at the 2008 Olympics. He also played for his country at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, where he hit .313 and played second base.

He will have some company as he joins an organization that already has a strong Cuban presence with All-Star outfielder Yasiel Puig, infielder Alex Guerrero and shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena, who was recently optioned to the Dodgers' minor league camp.

Olivera's deal will cause a $4,173,333 US increase in this year's luxury tax for the Dodgers, who pay at a 40 per cent rate at the payroll amount over $189 million US.

There's not a lot of information about Olivera. He possesses a quick swing and a good hitting approach, according to Baseball America's website. The website said Olivera missed the entire 2012-13 season in Cuba because of a blood disorder.

The Dodgers have Jimmy Rollins pencilled in to start at shortstop and Howie Kendrick at second base. Guerrero is attempting to make the team as a utility infielder.

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A-Rod making case as Yankees' full-time designated hitter

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says Alex Rodriguez is making a case to be the team's full-time designated hitter and Adam Warren has taken a big lead to become the fifth starter.

Rodriguez, who turns 40 in July, is returning from a one-year drug suspension. A-Rod entered Wednesday hitting .286 (8 for 28) with two homers.

"We'll talk about all these things, but the way he's looked so far, I'd definitely say he's pushed himself into full-time DH consideration," Cashman said before Wednesday's game against the New York Mets. "He's done well. A lot of life in his bat."

Following the re-signing of third baseman Chase Headley, Rodriguez is competing for at-bats at DH with left-handed-hitting Garrett Jones. He might get limited playing time at third and first base.

Rodriguez ranks fifth on the career home run list with 654. He has not played a full season since 2007 because the suspension, operations on both hips and other injuries.

Warren is competing with a group that includes Esmil Rogers.

"There's a Secretariat right now in this race that's a number of lengths ahead of the field," Cashman said. "Right now if we had to make a decision, we all know what that decision would be. Warren certainly has a big lead in this, but we don't have to make that decision today."

Warren made 69 appearances out of the bullpen last season, going 3-6 with 2.97 ERA.

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Unusual sports plays come in pairs

Make mine a double!
Two of sports' most uncommon plays occurred on the weekend and they happened in pairs with two golf albatrosses and a couple of inside-the park home runs. Canadian speed skater Denny Morrison pitched in as well with two World Cup wins.

They are sports rarities, the very uncommon score of two on a par-5 in golf and the not-quite-so-unusual inside-the park home run in baseball, but it's extremely rare that two of those occurrences would happen in the same tournament or on the same day. Must be spring in the air.

It began Saturday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla. Daniel Berger got it started on the par-5 sixth hole when he stepped up for his second shot 237 yards away from the hole.

Florida often gets sudden weather changes, especially in the spring, but on Sunday lightning struck for a second time when Zach Johnson used his 5-iron from 205 yards out, this time on the par-5 16th hole.

Matt Every went on to win the tournament.

Grapefruit League excitement

Baseball's spring training is into its final couple of weeks before teams begin the 2015 season. In Florida, the Grapefruit League is home to 15 Major League teams and the sport had its own type of double play on Sunday.

Boston's Mookie Betts, a highly touted player in his second season has been red-hot this spring. He kept up his torrid hitting with this well-struck drive that went for an inside-the park homer in Fort Myers.

The Mets and the Yankees had an inside-the-park homer as well on Sunday in Port St. Lucie, but with more serious implications. Yankee rookie Jose Pirela crashed face-first into the centre-field wall attempting to catch a ball hit by the Mets' Juan Lagares. Take a look.

Lagares got his inside-the-parker but Pirela was transported to a local hospital with a concussion. He underwent an MRI for head and neck injuries, but was released from the hospital Sunday night.

Denny does a double too

Not as unusual but certainly a commendable feat was the back-to-back gold medal performances by Fort St. John, B.C.'s Denny Morrison at the final World Cup speed skating event of the season in Erfurt, Germany.

Morrison raced to gold Saturday in the 1,000, something he's accomplished eight times in his career.

Then he came right back Sunday to win the 1,500 in a bit of an upset. Morrison was fifth in the standings going into the race but his victory vaulted him to the top of the rankings so he earned the World Cup 1,500 title.

Double the pleasure.

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Dodgers sign Cuba's Hector Olivera to 6-year contract

The Los Angeles Dodgers have added another player from Cuba, agreeing to a $62.5 million US, six-year contract with infielder Hector Olivera, agent Greg Genske said Tuesday.

The agreement includes a $28 million US signing bonus, Genske said.

Olivera, said to be 29, was on the Cuban team that won the silver medal at the 2008 Olympics. He also played for his country at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, where he hit .313 and played second base.

He will have some company as he joins an organization that already has a strong Cuban presence with All-Star outfielder Yasiel Puig, infielder Alex Guerrero and shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena, who was recently optioned to the Dodgers' minor league camp.

Olivera's deal will cause a $4,173,333 US increase in this year's luxury tax for the Dodgers, who pay at a 40 per cent rate at the payroll amount over $189 million US.

There's not a lot of information about Olivera. He possesses a quick swing and a good hitting approach, according to Baseball America's website. The website said Olivera missed the entire 2012-13 season in Cuba because of a blood disorder.

The Dodgers have Jimmy Rollins pencilled in to start at shortstop and Howie Kendrick at second base. Guerrero is attempting to make the team as a utility infielder.

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Unusual sports plays come in pairs

Make mine a double!
Two of sports' most uncommon plays occurred on the weekend and they happened in pairs with two golf albatrosses and a couple of inside-the park home runs. Canadian speed skater Denny Morrison pitched in as well with two World Cup wins.

They are sports rarities, the very uncommon score of two on a par-5 in golf and the not-quite-so-unusual inside-the park home run in baseball, but it's extremely rare that two of those occurrences would happen in the same tournament or on the same day. Must be spring in the air.

It began Saturday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla. Daniel Berger got it started on the par-5 sixth hole when he stepped up for his second shot 237 yards away from the hole.

Florida often gets sudden weather changes, especially in the spring, but on Sunday lightning struck for a second time when Zach Johnson used his 5-iron from 205 yards out, this time on the par-5 16th hole.

Matt Every went on to win the tournament.

Grapefruit League excitement

Baseball's spring training is into its final couple of weeks before teams begin the 2015 season. In Florida, the Grapefruit League is home to 15 Major League teams and the sport had its own type of double play on Sunday.

Boston's Mookie Betts, a highly touted player in his second season has been red-hot this spring. He kept up his torrid hitting with this well-struck drive that went for an inside-the park homer in Fort Myers.

The Mets and the Yankees had an inside-the-park homer as well on Sunday in Port St. Lucie, but with more serious implications. Yankee rookie Jose Pirela crashed face-first into the centre-field wall attempting to catch a ball hit by the Mets' Juan Lagares. Take a look.

Lagares got his inside-the-parker but Pirela was transported to a local hospital with a concussion. He underwent an MRI for head and neck injuries, but was released from the hospital Sunday night.

Denny does a double too

Not as unusual but certainly a commendable feat was the back-to-back gold medal performances by Fort St. John, B.C.'s Denny Morrison at the final World Cup speed skating event of the season in Erfurt, Germany.

Morrison raced to gold Saturday in the 1,000, something he's accomplished eight times in his career.

Then he came right back Sunday to win the 1,500 in a bit of an upset. Morrison was fifth in the standings going into the race but his victory vaulted him to the top of the rankings so he earned the World Cup 1,500 title.

Double the pleasure.

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Wilson takes the bat and it's a Louisville Slugger

The company that made bats for a who's who of baseball greats, including Babe Ruth and Ted Williams, announced a deal Monday to sell its Louisville Slugger brand to rival Wilson Sporting Goods Co. for $70 million.

Hillerich & Bradsby Co. has made the iconic bats for more than 130 years, supplying the bats with the recognizable oval logo for generations of baseball players — from the sandlots to the big leagues.

Wilson's deal to acquire the global brand, sales and innovation rights of Louisville Slugger still requires approval by H&B shareholders, according to the joint announcement Monday.

Under terms of the agreement, H&B will become Wilson's exclusive manufacturing partner for wood bats. H&B will continue to manufacture wood bats at its factory in Louisville, Kentucky.

Finnish parent company

Wilson Sporting Goods is a division of Finnish sports equipment maker Amer Sports Corp. The Helsinki-based company said the deal is expected to be completed in the second half of this year.

H&B also will maintain ownership and continue to operate the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory and Gift Shop, a popular tourist destination.

H&B said its Bionic Gloves division and Powerbilt golf brand are not part of the deal.

H&B has made Louisville Slugger bats since 1884. H&B CEO John A. Hillerich IV said the decision to sell the brand was difficult, but says the company believes it needs to pursue a new business model.

"We recognized from our first conversation with Wilson that they would be a great partner and steward of the brand our family created and so many have nurtured for 131 years," he said in a statement.

Mike Dowse, president of Wilson Sporting Goods Co., said expanding the company's baseball and softball business globally is a key part of its business strategy.

Slugger brand to continue

"We believe Louisville Slugger will enrich our company significantly, enhance our baseball and softball product offering at all levels of the game, and ensure we are delivering only the best performance products to athletes of every age," he said.

Wilson said it will market and sell Louisville Slugger-branded products through its baseball and softball business unit. The company currently manufactures and sells gloves, bats, uniforms, apparel, protective gear, accessories and player development equipment and training tools through its Wilson, DeMarini and ATEC brands. Like its DeMarini brand, Wilson will market and sell Louisville Slugger as a stand-alone brand.

Last year, Amer's net sales totalled (euro)2.3 billion ($2.5 billion). It employs 7,600 people worldwide.

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Yankees' Pirela injured on inside-the-park homer

Video

Hit centre field wall trying to catch drive by Mets' Lagares

CBC Sports Posted: Mar 22, 2015 3:46 PM ET Last Updated: Mar 22, 2015 4:49 PM ET

The final few weeks of spring training can be dangerous. While many veterans aim to peak for the first week of April, younger players battling to make teams risk injury in their bids to make the big clubs. Case in point occurred Sunday in the Yankees-Mets game in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Yankees' centre fielder Jose Pirela was carted off after he crashed into the centre-field wall during the first inning of Sunday's game against the Mets at Tradition Field.

He appeared to have hit his head on the ground, and remained down on the warning track for several minutes before getting to his feet slowly. Pirela was replaced in centre by Slade Heathcott.

Pirela collided with the wall while chasing a ball hit by Juan Lagares from Yankees starter CC Sabathia that resulted in an inside-the-park home run.

With manager Joe Girardi looking on, a Yankees trainer examined Pirela for several minutes. Pirela was able to walk and was helped into a golf cart.

He was taken by ambulance from the Mets' complex for CT scan.

Pirela, the Yankees' No. 25 prospect according to MLB.com, has been having a good spring, batting 10-for-27 with two doubles and three triples entering Sunday.

With files from MLB.com, The Associated Press

Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.

Submission Policy

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.

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Unsual sports plays come in pairs

Make mine a double!
Two of sports' most uncommon plays occurred on the weekend and they happened in pairs with two golf albatrosses and a couple of inside-the park home runs. Canadian speed skater Denny Morrison pitched in as well with two World Cup wins.

They are sports rarities, the very uncommon score of two on a par-5 in golf and the not-quite-so-unusual inside-the park home run in baseball, but it's extremely rare that two of those occurrences would happen in the same tournament or on the same day. Must be spring in the air.

It began Saturday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla. Daniel Berger got it started on the par-5 sixth hole when he stepped up for his second shot 237 yards away from the hole.

Florida often gets sudden weather changes, especially in the spring, but on Sunday lightning struck for a second time when Zach Johnson used his 5-iron from 205 yards out, this time on the par-5 16th hole.

Matt Every went on to win the tournament.

Grapefruit League excitement

Baseball's spring training is into its final couple of weeks before teams begin the 2015 season. In Florida, the Grapefruit League is home to 15 Major League teams and the sport had its own type of double play on Sunday.

Boston's Mookie Betts, a highly touted player in his second season has been red-hot this spring. He kept up his torrid hitting with this well-struck drive that went for an inside-the park homer in Fort Myers.

The Mets and the Yankees had an inside-the-park homer as well on Sunday in Port St. Lucie, but with more serious implications. Yankee rookie Jose Pirela crashed face-first into the centre-field wall attempting to catch a ball hit by the Mets' Juan Lagares. Take a look.

Lagares got his inside-the-parker but Pirela was transported to a local hospital with a concussion. He underwent an MRI for head and neck injuries, but was released from the hospital Sunday night.

Denny does a double too

Not as unusual but certainly a commendable feat was the back-to-back gold medal performances by Fort St. John, B.C.'s Denny Morrison at the final World Cup speed skating event of the season in Erfurt, Germany.

Morrison raced to gold Saturday in the 1,000, something he's accomplished eight times in his career.

Then he came right back Sunday to win the 1,500 in a bit of an upset. Morrison was fifth in the standings going into the race but his victory vaulted him to the top of the rankings so he earned the World Cup 1,500 title.

Double the pleasure.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pete Rose submits new request for reinstatement

Pete Rose has submitted a new request to be reinstated to baseball.

Rose agreed to the lifetime ban in August 1989 following an investigation for Major League Baseball by outside lawyer John Dowd that concluded the career hits leader bet on the Reds to win while managing the team. Rose applied for reinstatement in September 1997 and met in November 2002 with Commissioner Bud Selig, who never ruled on the application.

Rob Manfred succeeded Selig in January.

Manfred said after meeting with the Los Angeles Dodgers in spring training on Monday that he has a formal request from Rose.

"What I intend to do is be in communication with his representatives, and we'll talk about how we'll handle it from a process perspective," he said.

At the time of the Rose investigation, Manfred was an associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, a law firm that worked on labour law matters for MLB. He was not involved in the investigation.

"I want to make sure I understand all of the details in the Dowd Report and Commissioner Bart Giamatti's decision," Manfred said. "I want to hear what Pete has to say, and I'll make a decision."

Rose, who turns 74 next month, denied for 15 years that he bet on baseball. In his 2004 autobiography, "Pete Rose: My Prison Without Bars," he reversed his stand and acknowledged he bet on the Reds while managing the team.

These days, Rose spends time is Las Vegas signing baseballs for money. That may not fit the lifestyle then Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti suggested when the ban agreement was announced.

"The burden is entirely on Mr. Rose to reconfigure his life in a way he deems appropriate," Giamatti said at the time the suspension was announced.

The Hall of Fame's board of directors voted in 1991 to bar anyone on the permanently ineligible list from the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot. Since his last year of BBWAA ballot eligibility would have been 2006, the impact of reinstatement on his Hall chances is not clear.

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Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw looses part of tooth off line drive

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw lost part of a tooth when he was hit by a line drive in the third Friday, but the NL MVP and Cy Young Award winner finished a five-inning outing in Mesa, Arz.

Kershaw turned awkwardly on the mound and raised his glove up to try and field Oakland's Andy Parrino's broken-bat liner. Instead, the ball struck the left-hander in the jaw. He slumped to his knees for a few seconds while teammates and trainers rushed to help.

"It felt like getting hit by a pitch," said Kershaw, who went down to the bullpen for some extra work after he left the game. "It's just sore. I feel fine."

After being examined by Dodgers head trainer Stan Conte for several minutes and taking a warmup pitch, Kershaw got the next batter, Coco Crisp, on a lineout to second base then gave up an RBI single to Craig Gentry.

"At this point, with only a couple of starts left to build up the pitch count, it's pretty important to stay out there," Kershaw said. "Stan checked me out and I was OK. I just lost some tooth."

The tooth, from the back of his mouth, was recovered on the field.

Kershaw gave up three hits and a run in five innings. He struck out four.

"It was scary at first," A's starter Sonny Gray said. "Thankfully he was fine. It shows you what a competitor he is going back out in a spring training game."

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis was able to make light of it afterward. "His Gold Glove is a sham," Ellis joked. "It was a broken-bat changeup hit right to him. It should have been a double play."

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pete Rose submits new request for reinstatement

Pete Rose has submitted a new request to be reinstated to baseball.

Rose agreed to the lifetime ban in August 1989 following an investigation for Major League Baseball by outside lawyer John Dowd that concluded the career hits leader bet on the Reds to win while managing the team. Rose applied for reinstatement in September 1997 and met in November 2002 with Commissioner Bud Selig, who never ruled on the application.

Rob Manfred succeeded Selig in January.

Manfred said after meeting with the Los Angeles Dodgers in spring training on Monday that he has a formal request from Rose.

"What I intend to do is be in communication with his representatives, and we'll talk about how we'll handle it from a process perspective," he said.

At the time of the Rose investigation, Manfred was an associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, a law firm that worked on labour law matters for MLB. He was not involved in the investigation.

"I want to make sure I understand all of the details in the Dowd Report and Commissioner Bart Giamatti's decision," Manfred said. "I want to hear what Pete has to say, and I'll make a decision."

Rose, who turns 74 next month, denied for 15 years that he bet on baseball. In his 2004 autobiography, "Pete Rose: My Prison Without Bars," he reversed his stand and acknowledged he bet on the Reds while managing the team.

These days, Rose spends time is Las Vegas signing baseballs for money. That may not fit the lifestyle then Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti suggested when the ban agreement was announced.

"The burden is entirely on Mr. Rose to reconfigure his life in a way he deems appropriate," Giamatti said at the time the suspension was announced.

The Hall of Fame's board of directors voted in 1991 to bar anyone on the permanently ineligible list from the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot. Since his last year of BBWAA ballot eligibility would have been 2006, the impact of reinstatement on his Hall chances is not clear.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw looses part of tooth off line drive

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw lost part of a tooth when he was hit by a line drive in the third Friday, but the NL MVP and Cy Young Award winner finished a five-inning outing in Mesa, Arz.

Kershaw turned awkwardly on the mound and raised his glove up to try and field Oakland's Andy Parrino's broken-bat liner. Instead, the ball struck the left-hander in the jaw. He slumped to his knees for a few seconds while teammates and trainers rushed to help.

"It felt like getting hit by a pitch," said Kershaw, who went down to the bullpen for some extra work after he left the game. "It's just sore. I feel fine."

After being examined by Dodgers head trainer Stan Conte for several minutes and taking a warmup pitch, Kershaw got the next batter, Coco Crisp, on a lineout to second base then gave up an RBI single to Craig Gentry.

"At this point, with only a couple of starts left to build up the pitch count, it's pretty important to stay out there," Kershaw said. "Stan checked me out and I was OK. I just lost some tooth."

The tooth, from the back of his mouth, was recovered on the field.

Kershaw gave up three hits and a run in five innings. He struck out four.

"It was scary at first," A's starter Sonny Gray said. "Thankfully he was fine. It shows you what a competitor he is going back out in a spring training game."

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis was able to make light of it afterward. "His Gold Glove is a sham," Ellis joked. "It was a broken-bat changeup hit right to him. It should have been a double play."

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Mets pitcher Wheeler has torn elbow ligament

Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler has a torn elbow ligament, a blow to a team hoping to compete for the playoffs following Matt Harvey's return from Tommy John surgery.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Wheeler has a complete tear, all but guaranteeing that the 24-year-old right-hander will need elbow ligament replacement surgery and miss the 2015 season.

"It's a blow, but at the same time we knew there would be a lot of uncertainty surrounding Zack and his elbow over the course of the season," Alderson said during a telephone conference call. "We're obviously not happy he won't be with us."

Wheeler had MRIs of his elbow in late September, January and Saturday, and Alderson said the first two did not show any ligament damage. The team did not restrict Wheeler's throwing program during the first three weeks of spring training, even though there was concern about his elbow.

"We had been forewarned by the doctors that his elbow was a concern and was going to have to be managed over the course of this season," Alderson said. "It wasn't clear that the ligament was involved at that time, but we understood that we were going to have to manage his medical condition over the course of this season. When he complained of the elbow pain, it wasn't a surprise to us. What prompted the MRI on Saturday was, Zack had complained about the elbow in the past, but the area of pain had increased in size."

Wheeler had his latest MRI on Saturday in Port St. Lucie. The scan was reviewed Monday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and he was with a torn ulnar collateral ligament. The Mets said Wheeler planned to travel Monday or Tuesday to New York to confirm the diagnosis and discuss with team medical director Dr. David Altchek on how to proceed.

The announcement came one day after the Mets said Josh Edgin, the team's most-established left-handed reliever, will have elbow-ligament replacement surgery this week. The only other left-handed relievers in camp are Sean Gilmartin and three pitchers with minor league contracts — Scott Rice, Dario Alvarez and Jack Leathersich.

Wheeler's injury could end New York's thoughts of trading Dillon Gee for a shortstop or offensive help. Harvey now heads a rotation that includes NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom, Jonathon Niese, Bartolo Colon and Gee.

Alderson said it was too early to say whether Gee would reclaim a starting spot. Gee was the Mets' opening-day starter last year but primarily had been working out of the bullpen this spring training. Gee is scheduled to start Thursday against Houston.

"We're still digesting the injury to Zack and really have not started to address that issue," Alderson said. "That's something we will look at over the next two, three days."

Wheeler was selected by San Francisco with the sixth overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft and was traded to New York two years later in the deal that brought outfielder Carlos Beltran to the Giants. He has gone 18-16 since his big league debut in June 2013, exciting the Mets with a fastball that averaged 96 mph last season.

Wheeler made his only spring training appearance March 9, allowing six runs, two hits, two walks and two hit batters in 1 2-3 innings against Miami. He pitched a perfect first, then got in trouble in the second.

Wheeler is among the prized young pitchers the Mets have been trying to rebuild around as they try to end a streak of six straight losing seasons, one shy of the team record.

Harvey, 25, established himself as a big league All-Star before being diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament in August 2013, an injury that caused him to miss last season. Noah Syndergaard, a 22-year-old right-hander, could make his big league debut this year. He was drafted by Toronto with the 38th overall pick and acquired after the 2012 season in the trade that sent NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pete Rose submits new request for reinstatement

Pete Rose has submitted a new request to be reinstated to baseball.

Rose agreed to the lifetime ban in August 1989 following an investigation for Major League Baseball by outside lawyer John Dowd that concluded the career hits leader bet on the Reds to win while managing the team. Rose applied for reinstatement in September 1997 and met in November 2002 with Commissioner Bud Selig, who never ruled on the application.

Rob Manfred succeeded Selig in January.

Manfred said after meeting with the Los Angeles Dodgers in spring training on Monday that he has a formal request from Rose.

"What I intend to do is be in communication with his representatives, and we'll talk about how we'll handle it from a process perspective," he said.

At the time of the Rose investigation, Manfred was an associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, a law firm that worked on labour law matters for MLB. He was not involved in the investigation.

"I want to make sure I understand all of the details in the Dowd Report and Commissioner Bart Giamatti's decision," Manfred said. "I want to hear what Pete has to say, and I'll make a decision."

Rose, who turns 74 next month, denied for 15 years that he bet on baseball. In his 2004 autobiography, "Pete Rose: My Prison Without Bars," he reversed his stand and acknowledged he bet on the Reds while managing the team.

These days, Rose spends time is Las Vegas signing baseballs for money. That may not fit the lifestyle then Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti suggested when the ban agreement was announced.

"The burden is entirely on Mr. Rose to reconfigure his life in a way he deems appropriate," Giamatti said at the time the suspension was announced.

The Hall of Fame's board of directors voted in 1991 to bar anyone on the permanently ineligible list from the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot. Since his last year of BBWAA ballot eligibility would have been 2006, the impact of reinstatement on his Hall chances is not clear.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mets pitcher Wheeler has torn elbow ligament

Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler has a torn elbow ligament, a blow to a team hoping to compete for the playoffs following Matt Harvey's return from Tommy John surgery.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Wheeler has a complete tear, all but guaranteeing that the 24-year-old right-hander will need elbow ligament replacement surgery and miss the 2015 season.

"It's a blow, but at the same time we knew there would be a lot of uncertainty surrounding Zack and his elbow over the course of the season," Alderson said during a telephone conference call. "We're obviously not happy he won't be with us."

Wheeler had MRIs of his elbow in late September, January and Saturday, and Alderson said the first two did not show any ligament damage. The team did not restrict Wheeler's throwing program during the first three weeks of spring training, even though there was concern about his elbow.

"We had been forewarned by the doctors that his elbow was a concern and was going to have to be managed over the course of this season," Alderson said. "It wasn't clear that the ligament was involved at that time, but we understood that we were going to have to manage his medical condition over the course of this season. When he complained of the elbow pain, it wasn't a surprise to us. What prompted the MRI on Saturday was, Zack had complained about the elbow in the past, but the area of pain had increased in size."

Wheeler had his latest MRI on Saturday in Port St. Lucie. The scan was reviewed Monday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and he was with a torn ulnar collateral ligament. The Mets said Wheeler planned to travel Monday or Tuesday to New York to confirm the diagnosis and discuss with team medical director Dr. David Altchek on how to proceed.

The announcement came one day after the Mets said Josh Edgin, the team's most-established left-handed reliever, will have elbow-ligament replacement surgery this week. The only other left-handed relievers in camp are Sean Gilmartin and three pitchers with minor league contracts — Scott Rice, Dario Alvarez and Jack Leathersich.

Wheeler's injury could end New York's thoughts of trading Dillon Gee for a shortstop or offensive help. Harvey now heads a rotation that includes NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom, Jonathon Niese, Bartolo Colon and Gee.

Alderson said it was too early to say whether Gee would reclaim a starting spot. Gee was the Mets' opening-day starter last year but primarily had been working out of the bullpen this spring training. Gee is scheduled to start Thursday against Houston.

"We're still digesting the injury to Zack and really have not started to address that issue," Alderson said. "That's something we will look at over the next two, three days."

Wheeler was selected by San Francisco with the sixth overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft and was traded to New York two years later in the deal that brought outfielder Carlos Beltran to the Giants. He has gone 18-16 since his big league debut in June 2013, exciting the Mets with a fastball that averaged 96 mph last season.

Wheeler made his only spring training appearance March 9, allowing six runs, two hits, two walks and two hit batters in 1 2-3 innings against Miami. He pitched a perfect first, then got in trouble in the second.

Wheeler is among the prized young pitchers the Mets have been trying to rebuild around as they try to end a streak of six straight losing seasons, one shy of the team record.

Harvey, 25, established himself as a big league All-Star before being diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament in August 2013, an injury that caused him to miss last season. Noah Syndergaard, a 22-year-old right-hander, could make his big league debut this year. He was drafted by Toronto with the 38th overall pick and acquired after the 2012 season in the trade that sent NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pete Rose submits new request for reinstatement

Pete Rose has submitted a new request to be reinstated to baseball.

Rose agreed to the lifetime ban in August 1989 following an investigation for Major League Baseball by outside lawyer John Dowd that concluded the career hits leader bet on the Reds to win while managing the team. Rose applied for reinstatement in September 1997 and met in November 2002 with Commissioner Bud Selig, who never ruled on the application.

Rob Manfred succeeded Selig in January.

Manfred said after meeting with the Los Angeles Dodgers in spring training on Monday that he has a formal request from Rose.

"What I intend to do is be in communication with his representatives, and we'll talk about how we'll handle it from a process perspective," he said.

At the time of the Rose investigation, Manfred was an associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, a law firm that worked on labour law matters for MLB. He was not involved in the investigation.

"I want to make sure I understand all of the details in the Dowd Report and Commissioner Bart Giamatti's decision," Manfred said. "I want to hear what Pete has to say, and I'll make a decision."

Rose, who turns 74 next month, denied for 15 years that he bet on baseball. In his 2004 autobiography, "Pete Rose: My Prison Without Bars," he reversed his stand and acknowledged he bet on the Reds while managing the team.

These days, Rose spends time is Las Vegas signing baseballs for money. That may not fit the lifestyle then Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti suggested when the ban agreement was announced.

"The burden is entirely on Mr. Rose to reconfigure his life in a way he deems appropriate," Giamatti said at the time the suspension was announced.

The Hall of Fame's board of directors voted in 1991 to bar anyone on the permanently ineligible list from the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot. Since his last year of BBWAA ballot eligibility would have been 2006, the impact of reinstatement on his Hall chances is not clear.

22.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mets pitcher Wheeler has torn elbow ligament

Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler has a torn elbow ligament, a blow to a team hoping to compete for the playoffs following Matt Harvey's return from Tommy John surgery.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Wheeler has a complete tear, all but guaranteeing that the 24-year-old right-hander will need elbow ligament replacement surgery and miss the 2015 season.

"It's a blow, but at the same time we knew there would be a lot of uncertainty surrounding Zack and his elbow over the course of the season," Alderson said during a telephone conference call. "We're obviously not happy he won't be with us."

Wheeler had MRIs of his elbow in late September, January and Saturday, and Alderson said the first two did not show any ligament damage. The team did not restrict Wheeler's throwing program during the first three weeks of spring training, even though there was concern about his elbow.

"We had been forewarned by the doctors that his elbow was a concern and was going to have to be managed over the course of this season," Alderson said. "It wasn't clear that the ligament was involved at that time, but we understood that we were going to have to manage his medical condition over the course of this season. When he complained of the elbow pain, it wasn't a surprise to us. What prompted the MRI on Saturday was, Zack had complained about the elbow in the past, but the area of pain had increased in size."

Wheeler had his latest MRI on Saturday in Port St. Lucie. The scan was reviewed Monday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and he was with a torn ulnar collateral ligament. The Mets said Wheeler planned to travel Monday or Tuesday to New York to confirm the diagnosis and discuss with team medical director Dr. David Altchek on how to proceed.

The announcement came one day after the Mets said Josh Edgin, the team's most-established left-handed reliever, will have elbow-ligament replacement surgery this week. The only other left-handed relievers in camp are Sean Gilmartin and three pitchers with minor league contracts — Scott Rice, Dario Alvarez and Jack Leathersich.

Wheeler's injury could end New York's thoughts of trading Dillon Gee for a shortstop or offensive help. Harvey now heads a rotation that includes NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom, Jonathon Niese, Bartolo Colon and Gee.

Alderson said it was too early to say whether Gee would reclaim a starting spot. Gee was the Mets' opening-day starter last year but primarily had been working out of the bullpen this spring training. Gee is scheduled to start Thursday against Houston.

"We're still digesting the injury to Zack and really have not started to address that issue," Alderson said. "That's something we will look at over the next two, three days."

Wheeler was selected by San Francisco with the sixth overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft and was traded to New York two years later in the deal that brought outfielder Carlos Beltran to the Giants. He has gone 18-16 since his big league debut in June 2013, exciting the Mets with a fastball that averaged 96 mph last season.

Wheeler made his only spring training appearance March 9, allowing six runs, two hits, two walks and two hit batters in 1 2-3 innings against Miami. He pitched a perfect first, then got in trouble in the second.

Wheeler is among the prized young pitchers the Mets have been trying to rebuild around as they try to end a streak of six straight losing seasons, one shy of the team record.

Harvey, 25, established himself as a big league All-Star before being diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament in August 2013, an injury that caused him to miss last season. Noah Syndergaard, a 22-year-old right-hander, could make his big league debut this year. He was drafted by Toronto with the 38th overall pick and acquired after the 2012 season in the trade that sent NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays.

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Pete Rose submits new request for reinstatement

Pete Rose has submitted a new request to be reinstated to baseball.

Rose agreed to the lifetime ban in August 1989 following an investigation for Major League Baseball by outside lawyer John Dowd that concluded the career hits leader bet on the Reds to win while managing the team. Rose applied for reinstatement in September 1997 and met in November 2002 with Commissioner Bud Selig, who never ruled on the application.

Rob Manfred succeeded Selig in January.

Manfred said after meeting with the Los Angeles Dodgers in spring training on Monday that he has a formal request from Rose.

"What I intend to do is be in communication with his representatives, and we'll talk about how we'll handle it from a process perspective," he said.

At the time of the Rose investigation, Manfred was an associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, a law firm that worked on labour law matters for MLB. He was not involved in the investigation.

"I want to make sure I understand all of the details in the Dowd Report and Commissioner Bart Giamatti's decision," Manfred said. "I want to hear what Pete has to say, and I'll make a decision."

Rose, who turns 74 next month, denied for 15 years that he bet on baseball. In his 2004 autobiography, "Pete Rose: My Prison Without Bars," he reversed his stand and acknowledged he bet on the Reds while managing the team.

These days, Rose spends time is Las Vegas signing baseballs for money. That may not fit the lifestyle then Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti suggested when the ban agreement was announced.

"The burden is entirely on Mr. Rose to reconfigure his life in a way he deems appropriate," Giamatti said at the time the suspension was announced.

The Hall of Fame's board of directors voted in 1991 to bar anyone on the permanently ineligible list from the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot. Since his last year of BBWAA ballot eligibility would have been 2006, the impact of reinstatement on his Hall chances is not clear.

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Mets pitcher Wheeler has torn elbow ligament

Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler has a torn elbow ligament, a blow to a team hoping to compete for the playoffs following Matt Harvey's return from Tommy John surgery.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Wheeler has a complete tear, all but guaranteeing that the 24-year-old right-hander will need elbow ligament replacement surgery and miss the 2015 season.

"It's a blow, but at the same time we knew there would be a lot of uncertainty surrounding Zack and his elbow over the course of the season," Alderson said during a telephone conference call. "We're obviously not happy he won't be with us."

Wheeler had MRIs of his elbow in late September, January and Saturday, and Alderson said the first two did not show any ligament damage. The team did not restrict Wheeler's throwing program during the first three weeks of spring training, even though there was concern about his elbow.

"We had been forewarned by the doctors that his elbow was a concern and was going to have to be managed over the course of this season," Alderson said. "It wasn't clear that the ligament was involved at that time, but we understood that we were going to have to manage his medical condition over the course of this season. When he complained of the elbow pain, it wasn't a surprise to us. What prompted the MRI on Saturday was, Zack had complained about the elbow in the past, but the area of pain had increased in size."

Wheeler had his latest MRI on Saturday in Port St. Lucie. The scan was reviewed Monday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and he was with a torn ulnar collateral ligament. The Mets said Wheeler planned to travel Monday or Tuesday to New York to confirm the diagnosis and discuss with team medical director Dr. David Altchek on how to proceed.

The announcement came one day after the Mets said Josh Edgin, the team's most-established left-handed reliever, will have elbow-ligament replacement surgery this week. The only other left-handed relievers in camp are Sean Gilmartin and three pitchers with minor league contracts — Scott Rice, Dario Alvarez and Jack Leathersich.

Wheeler's injury could end New York's thoughts of trading Dillon Gee for a shortstop or offensive help. Harvey now heads a rotation that includes NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom, Jonathon Niese, Bartolo Colon and Gee.

Alderson said it was too early to say whether Gee would reclaim a starting spot. Gee was the Mets' opening-day starter last year but primarily had been working out of the bullpen this spring training. Gee is scheduled to start Thursday against Houston.

"We're still digesting the injury to Zack and really have not started to address that issue," Alderson said. "That's something we will look at over the next two, three days."

Wheeler was selected by San Francisco with the sixth overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft and was traded to New York two years later in the deal that brought outfielder Carlos Beltran to the Giants. He has gone 18-16 since his big league debut in June 2013, exciting the Mets with a fastball that averaged 96 mph last season.

Wheeler made his only spring training appearance March 9, allowing six runs, two hits, two walks and two hit batters in 1 2-3 innings against Miami. He pitched a perfect first, then got in trouble in the second.

Wheeler is among the prized young pitchers the Mets have been trying to rebuild around as they try to end a streak of six straight losing seasons, one shy of the team record.

Harvey, 25, established himself as a big league All-Star before being diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament in August 2013, an injury that caused him to miss last season. Noah Syndergaard, a 22-year-old right-hander, could make his big league debut this year. He was drafted by Toronto with the 38th overall pick and acquired after the 2012 season in the trade that sent NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays.

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Pete Rose submits new request for reinstatement

Pete Rose has submitted a new request to be reinstated to baseball.

Rose agreed to the lifetime ban in August 1989 following an investigation for Major League Baseball by outside lawyer John Dowd that concluded the career hits leader bet on the Reds to win while managing the team. Rose applied for reinstatement in September 1997 and met in November 2002 with Commissioner Bud Selig, who never ruled on the application.

Rob Manfred succeeded Selig in January.

Manfred said after meeting with the Los Angeles Dodgers in spring training on Monday that he has a formal request from Rose.

"What I intend to do is be in communication with his representatives, and we'll talk about how we'll handle it from a process perspective," he said.

At the time of the Rose investigation, Manfred was an associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, a law firm that worked on labour law matters for MLB. He was not involved in the investigation.

"I want to make sure I understand all of the details in the Dowd Report and Commissioner Bart Giamatti's decision," Manfred said. "I want to hear what Pete has to say, and I'll make a decision."

Rose, who turns 74 next month, denied for 15 years that he bet on baseball. In his 2004 autobiography, "Pete Rose: My Prison Without Bars," he reversed his stand and acknowledged he bet on the Reds while managing the team.

These days, Rose spends time is Las Vegas signing baseballs for money. That may not fit the lifestyle then Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti suggested when the ban agreement was announced.

"The burden is entirely on Mr. Rose to reconfigure his life in a way he deems appropriate," Giamatti said at the time the suspension was announced.

The Hall of Fame's board of directors voted in 1991 to bar anyone on the permanently ineligible list from the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot. Since his last year of BBWAA ballot eligibility would have been 2006, the impact of reinstatement on his Hall chances is not clear.

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Sneeze injury puts Blue Jays outfielder's spring training on hold

A problematic sneeze has put Kevin Pillar's spring training on hold.

The Blue Jay outfielder sneezed on Saturday and felt a sharp pain in his right side.

He didn't want to tell the trainers about it, but it turns out he has a Grade-1 oblique strain and he's been advised to rest.

Early in the 2009 season, Jays pitcher Ricky Romero strained his right oblique muscle during a sneeze. (Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press)

"I don't think this is a big deal," Pillar said Sunday. "It's something I played with (Saturday) and something I was prepared with to play today. But they're being very respectful about it and willing to give me a little bit of time."

The Jays don't start the regular season until April 6, so Pillar should have plenty of time to recover by then.

Pillar is not the first Blue Jay to suffer an oblique injury from sneezing.

The same thing happened to Ricky Romero back in 2009.

After an MRI confirmed he had a strained oblique, Romero then told reporters that the episode had left him afraid to sneeze.

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Mets pitcher Wheeler has torn elbow ligament

Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler has a torn elbow ligament, a blow to a team hoping to compete for the playoffs following Matt Harvey's return from Tommy John surgery. If Wheeler needs replacement surgery, he likely would be out until early of the 2016 season.

The 24-year-old right-hander had an MRI exam Saturday in Port St. Lucie, Florida, the team said. The scan was reviewed Monday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and he was preliminarily diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

Wheeler was to travel Monday to New York to "confirm the diagnosis" and discuss with team medical director Dr. David Altchek on how to proceed.

The announcement came one day after the team said Josh Edgin, the team's most-established left-handed reliever, will have elbow-ligament replacement surgery this week. The only other left-handed relievers in camp are Sean Gilmartin and three pitchers with minor league contracts — Scott Rice, Dario Alvarez and Jack Leathersich.

Wheeler's injury could end New York's thoughts of trading Dillon Gee for a shortstop or offensive help. Harvey now heads a rotation that includes NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom, Jonathon Niese, Bartolo Colon and Gee.

Wheeler was selected by San Francisco with the sixth overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft and was traded to New York two years later in the deal that brought outfielder Carlos Beltran to the Giants. He has gone 18-16 since his big league debut in June 2013, exciting the Mets with a fastball that averaged 96 mph last season.

Wheeler made his only spring training appearance March 9, allowing six runs, two hits, two walks and two hit batters in 1 2/3 innings against Miami. He pitched a perfect first, then got in trouble in the second.

New York scratched him from Saturday's start, saying he was bothered by a sore elbow and a blister. He had been given two MRIs during the offseason.

Wheeler is among the prized young pitchers the Mets have been trying to rebuild around as they try to end a streak of six straight losing seasons, one shy of the team record.

Harvey, 25, established himself as a big league All-Star before being diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament in August 2013, an injury that caused him to miss last season. Noah Syndergaard, a 22-year-old right-hander, could make his big league debut this year. He was drafted by Toronto with the 38th overall pick and acquired after the 2012 season in the trade that sent NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays.

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Will Ferrell a hit playing 10 positions in 1-day baseball blitz

You could bet Major League Baseball's new pace of play initiatives would be abused Thursday at no fewer than five Cactus League parks in Arizona.

That's because Will Ferrell, who some consider the king of comedy or funniest athlete in the world, was busy suiting up for 10 teams and playing 10 different positions. He had a ball and then some. Here he is before getting started on the field.

The event was filmed for an upcoming HBO special in conjunction with the Funny or Die website co-founded by Ferrell, and the comedian is dedicating the special to fighting cancer.

Ferrell, who has played comic sports figures in Talladega Nights, Blades of Glory and Semi-Pro, was also honouring the historic feat of Bert Campaneris, who on Sept. 8, 1965 played all nine positions for the Kansas City Athletics. Campaneris was with Ferrell as the actor began his journey Wednesday.

Ferrell's goal is to help organizations like Cancer for College, a charity formed in 1993 to help individuals affected by cancer realize their dreams of a college education.

Ferrell travelled via helicopter in Arizona, visiting ballparks in Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale and Peoria.

His game action began with a contest between the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa. Ferrell played shortstop for the A's before being "traded" to the Mariners. He re-entered the game at second base for the Mariners.

Ferrell then moved on to the Chicago Cubs-Los Angeles Angels contest at Tempe Diablo Stadium. He replaced American League MVP Mike Trout in centre field for the Angels for the third inning. By the fourth, Ferrell was wearing a Cubs' uniform and coaching third base. He later struck out while batting for the Cubs after appearing at first base.

From there, Ferrell dressed for the Cincinnati Reds (see player card below) as they visited Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ferrell played third base for the Reds and left field for the D-Backs.

Next, he shared time playing for San Francisco and the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch in Glendale. Here's his entry.

The game was nearly over but Ferrell was the designated hitter for the White Sox and managed to get a piece of one pitch before striking out. The old twin K's for the Chicago entries, the Cubs, then the Pale Hose.

Naturally he was quickly traded to the Giants where he relieved Buster Posey of the "tools of ignorance" suiting up as the Giants' catcher.

 His last stop would be in Peoria, where the Los Angeles Dodgers battled the "Stay classy" San Diego Padres. And Farrell had a hand in the Dodgers 1-0 victory. He appeared in right field for the Padres but took the mound for the Dodgers and faced San Diego catcher Derek Norris. Ferrell threw one pitch, bunted back to him by Norris and retired the Padre with a throw to first baseman Kyle Jensen. What a day!

In May 2010, Ferrell took the mound for the Houston Astros' AAA affiliate in Round Rock, Tex., and was at his comedic best, digging into his bag of tricks before 10,149, team's biggest crowd of the season.

In the middle of the seventh inning, Ferrell sang Take Me Out To the Ball Game, the unofficial anthem of North American baseball, and sat with radio announcers for a half-inning before leaving the ballpark.

Game action was interrupted frequently Thursday as Ferrell entertained thousands, but all for a good cause.

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Rangers ace Yu Darvish going for Tommy John surgery

Rangers ace out for season

The Associated Press Posted: Mar 13, 2015 1:06 PM ET Last Updated: Mar 13, 2015 1:06 PM ET

Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish will have season-ending, elbow ligament replacement surgery next week.

Texas said Friday that Dr. James Andrews will operate on Tuesday in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

The 28-year-old right-hander made his decision after Andrews reviewed images of his right elbow. Two other doctors recommended Tommy John surgery, which likely will sideline Darvish until early next season.

An MRI last week revealed partially torn ligaments and inflammation after Darvish felt tightness in his triceps while warming up for his spring training debut. He threw 10 of 12 pitches for strikes in his only inning before telling anyone about the discomfort.

Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.

Submission Policy

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.

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Will Ferrell a hit playing 10 positions in 1-day baseball blitz

You could bet Major League Baseball's new pace of play initiatives would be abused Thursday at no fewer than five Cactus League parks in Arizona.

That's because Will Ferrell, who some consider the king of comedy or funniest athlete in the world, was busy suiting up for 10 teams and playing 10 different positions. He had a ball and then some. Here he is before getting started on the field.

The event was filmed for an upcoming HBO special in conjunction with the Funny or Die website co-founded by Ferrell, and the comedian is dedicating the special to fighting cancer.

Ferrell, who has played comic sports figures in Talladega Nights, Blades of Glory and Semi-Pro, was also honouring the historic feat of Bert Campaneris, who on Sept. 8, 1965 played all nine positions for the Kansas City Athletics. Campaneris was with Ferrell as the actor began his journey Wednesday.

Ferrell's goal is to help organizations like Cancer for College, a charity formed in 1993 to help individuals affected by cancer realize their dreams of a college education.

Ferrell travelled via helicopter in Arizona, visiting ballparks in Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale and Peoria.

His game action began with a contest between the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa. Ferrell played shortstop for the A's before being "traded" to the Mariners. He re-entered the game at second base for the Mariners.

Ferrell then moved on to the Chicago Cubs-Los Angeles Angels contest at Tempe Diablo Stadium. He replaced American League MVP Mike Trout in centre field for the Angels for the third inning. By the fourth, Ferrell was wearing a Cubs' uniform and coaching third base. He later struck out while batting for the Cubs after appearing at first base.

From there, Ferrell dressed for the Cincinnati Reds (see player card below) as they visited Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ferrell played third base for the Reds and left field for the D-Backs.

Next, he shared time playing for San Francisco and the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch in Glendale. Here's his entry.

The game was nearly over but Ferrell was the designated hitter for the White Sox and managed to get a piece of one pitch before striking out. The old twin K's for the Chicago entries, the Cubs, then the Pale Hose.

Naturally he was quickly traded to the Giants where he relieved Buster Posey of the "tools of ignorance" suiting up as the Giants' catcher.

 His last stop would be in Peoria, where the Los Angeles Dodgers battled the "Stay classy" San Diego Padres. And Farrell had a hand in the Dodgers 1-0 victory. He appeared in right field for the Padres but took the mound for the Dodgers and faced San Diego catcher Derek Norris. Ferrell threw one pitch, bunted back to him by Norris and retired the Padre with a throw to first baseman Kyle Jensen. What a day!

In May 2010, Ferrell took the mound for the Houston Astros' AAA affiliate in Round Rock, Tex., and was at his comedic best, digging into his bag of tricks before 10,149, team's biggest crowd of the season.

In the middle of the seventh inning, Ferrell sang Take Me Out To the Ball Game, the unofficial anthem of North American baseball, and sat with radio announcers for a half-inning before leaving the ballpark.

Game action was interrupted frequently Thursday as Ferrell entertained thousands, but all for a good cause.

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Rangers ace Yu Darvish going for Tommy John surgery

Rangers ace out for season

The Associated Press Posted: Mar 13, 2015 1:06 PM ET Last Updated: Mar 13, 2015 1:06 PM ET

Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish will have season-ending, elbow ligament replacement surgery next week.

Texas said Friday that Dr. James Andrews will operate on Tuesday in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

The 28-year-old right-hander made his decision after Andrews reviewed images of his right elbow. Two other doctors recommended Tommy John surgery, which likely will sideline Darvish until early next season.

An MRI last week revealed partially torn ligaments and inflammation after Darvish felt tightness in his triceps while warming up for his spring training debut. He threw 10 of 12 pitches for strikes in his only inning before telling anyone about the discomfort.

Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.

Submission Policy

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.

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Cuban teenager Moncada signs record deal with Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox have finalized a minor league contract with 19-year-old Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada that includes a $31.5 million US signing bonus, easily a record for an international amateur free agent under 23 years old.

The Red Sox announced the deal Thursday night and called a news conference for Friday to introduce Moncada. He will be assigned to the team's minor league camp at spring training.

Moncada receives $5 million of the signing bonus within 30 days of the contract's approval by Major League Baseball and $2.5 million by Dec. 31, according to contract information obtained by The Associated Press.

In 2016, he gets $2.5 million by Jan. 31, $3 million by April 1 and $2.5 million by Oct. 31, and then in both 2017 and 2018 he receives $5 million by Jan. 31 and $3 million by Oct. 31.

Because the Red Sox already were over their international signing bonus pool total of $1,881,700 for the period from last July 2 through this June 15, they must pay a 100 per cent tax to MLB on the $31.5 million. That money is due by July 30, and according to baseball's collective bargaining agreement the commissioner's office "may use the tax proceeds to further the international development of baseball."

In addition, for the signing periods starting on July 2 this summer and in 2016, the Red Sox will be ineligible to give a signing bonus of more than $300,000 to any international players subject to the pool.

The previous high signing bonus for an international amateur free agent under 23 was $8.26 million for pitcher Yoan Lopez, who finalized an agreement with Arizona on Jan. 16.

The switch-hitting Moncada played two seasons for the top league in Cuba and spent last year at second base.

Moncada's agent and the Red Sox reached agreement on the deal on Feb. 23. Moncada had to pass a physical before the contract was completed.

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Will Ferrell a hit playing 10 positions in 1-day baseball blitz

You could bet Major League Baseball's new pace of play initiatives would be abused Thursday at no fewer than five Cactus League parks in Arizona.

That's because Will Ferrell, who some consider the king of comedy or funniest athlete in the world, was busy suiting up for 10 teams and playing 10 different positions. He had a ball and then some. Here he is before getting started on the field.

The event was filmed for an upcoming HBO special in conjunction with the Funny or Die website co-founded by Ferrell, and the comedian is dedicating the special to fighting cancer.

Ferrell, who has played comic sports figures in Talladega Nights, Blades of Glory and Semi-Pro, was also honouring the historic feat of Bert Campaneris, who on Sept. 8, 1965 played all nine positions for the Kansas City Athletics. Campaneris was with Ferrell as the actor began his journey Wednesday.

Ferrell's goal is to help organizations like Cancer for College, a charity formed in 1993 to help individuals affected by cancer realize their dreams of a college education.

Ferrell travelled via helicopter in Arizona, visiting ballparks in Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale and Peoria.

His game action began with a contest between the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa. Ferrell played shortstop for the A's before being "traded" to the Mariners. He re-entered the game at second base for the Mariners.

Ferrell then moved on to the Chicago Cubs-Los Angeles Angels contest at Tempe Diablo Stadium. He replaced American League MVP Mike Trout in centre field for the Angels for the third inning. By the fourth, Ferrell was wearing a Cubs' uniform and coaching third base. He later struck out while batting for the Cubs after appearing at first base.

From there, Ferrell dressed for the Cincinnati Reds (see player card below) as they visited Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ferrell played third base for the Reds and left field for the D-Backs.

Next, he shared time playing for San Francisco and the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch in Glendale. Here's his entry.

The game was nearly over but Ferrell was the designated hitter for the White Sox and managed to get a piece of one pitch before striking out. The old twin K's for the Chicago entries, the Cubs, then the Pale Hose.

Naturally he was quickly traded to the Giants where he relieved Buster Posey of the "tools of ignorance" suiting up as the Giants' catcher.

 His last stop would be in Peoria, where the Los Angeles Dodgers battled the "Stay classy" San Diego Padres. And Farrell had a hand in the Dodgers 1-0 victory. He appeared in right field for the Padres but took the mound for the Dodgers and faced San Diego catcher Derek Norris. Ferrell threw one pitch, bunted back to him by Norris and retired the Padre with a throw to first baseman Kyle Jensen. What a day!

In May 2010, Ferrell took the mound for the Houston Astros' AAA affiliate in Round Rock, Tex., and was at his comedic best, digging into his bag of tricks before 10,149, team's biggest crowd of the season.

In the middle of the seventh inning, Ferrell sang Take Me Out To the Ball Game, the unofficial anthem of North American baseball, and sat with radio announcers for a half-inning before leaving the ballpark.

Game action was interrupted frequently Thursday as Ferrell entertained thousands, but all for a good cause.

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A-Rod goes deep for 1st spring home run

Video

Yankees 3B will enter season 5th on all-time homer list

The Associated Press Posted: Mar 11, 2015 3:56 PM ET Last Updated: Mar 11, 2015 4:54 PM ET

Alex Rodriguez has hit his first home run since returning to the New York Yankees following a one-season drug suspension.

Rodriguez hit a long drive to left-centre on a 3-1 pitch from Boston right-hander Brandon Workman leading off the fourth inning Wednesday in Tampa Bay. Rodriguez has five hits in 11 at-bats (.455) this spring training.

---

Prior to Wednesday, his most recent homer was off a 2-1 from ex-Yankee George Kontos of the San Francisco Giants on Sept. 20, 2013 when he displaced Lou Gehrig as Major League Baseball's career leader in grand slams with 24.

Rodriguez will enter this season fifth all-time with 654 career home runs, six behind Willie Mays.

The three-time American League MVP, who turns 40 in July, has not played a full season since 2007 because of the suspension, operations on both hips and other injuries.

With files from CBCSports.ca

Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.

Submission Policy

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.

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