Archives › D.J. Short
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After finishing sixth in the AL with a 2.92 ERA in 2011, Ricky Romero endured a nightmare campaign last year in which he struggled to the tune of a 5.77 ERA and 124/105 K/BB ratio over 181 innings. While the drop-off was alarming, it was somewhat explained when the southpaw had an elbow cleanup in…
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Joakim Soria throws off mound for first time since Tommy John surgery
Feb 11, 2013, 9:35 PM EDT
Joakim Soria may not be ready to join the Rangers’ bullpen until late May or early June, but he took a major step today in his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery. Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas reports that Soria threw off a mound today for the first time since going under the knife last April.…
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Howie Kendrick is 100 percent following offseason elbow surgery
Feb 11, 2013, 8:49 PM EDT
Angels manager Mike Scioscia passed along an interesting tidbit to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register this afternoon, as it was revealed that second baseman Howie Kendrick required offseason surgery on his elbow. While it would be better news if Kendrick didn’t need the surgery at all, the procedure was considered minor and he’s…
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Indians and Michael Bourn agree to a four-year, $48 million contract
Feb 11, 2013, 8:30 PM EDT
After seeing the market for his services dwindle for nearly the entire offseason, Michael Bourn has finally found a home. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, Bourn has agreed to a contract with the Indians. The deal is worth $48 million over four years and includes a vesting option for a fifth year which…
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Report: Cubs “on the fringes” for free agent outfielder Michael Bourn
Feb 11, 2013, 8:09 PM EDT
UPDATE: So much for that. Carrie Muskat, who covers the Cubs for MLB.com, writes that Bourn to the Cubs is “not happening.” Could this be a case of Bourn’s agent, Scott Boras, making a last-ditch effort to create a market for his client? 8:06 PM: There’s been plenty of chatter over the past couple of…
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Rockies and Dexter Fowler avoid arbitration with two-year, $11.6 million deal
Feb 11, 2013, 7:37 PM EDT
The Rockies and center fielder Dexter Fowler have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a two-year contract, according to an announcement from the team. CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman hears that the deal is worth $11.6 million. Fowler was arbitration-eligible for the second time this winter after earning $2.35 million last season. Because he originally qualified for…
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The Reds announced late this afternoon that they have signed reliever Clay Hensley to a minor league contract. The deal includes an invite to spring training. Hensley posted a 4.62 ERA and 42/30 K/BB ratio over 50 2/3 innings last season out of the Giants’ bullpen. The 33-year-old right-hander actually had a 2.95 ERA as…
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Gio Gonzalez accepts invitation to pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic
Feb 9, 2013, 5:31 PM EDT
Much of the news about the upcoming World Baseball Classic has been about those who have backed out of participating, but here’s one player who has opted in. Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez has accepted an invitation to pitch for Team USA, according to announcement on the team’s Twitter account. He’ll be a welcome addition to…
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UPDATE: CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reports that O’Day is guaranteed a total of $5.8 million. He’ll make $2.2 million this season and $3.2 million in 2014 while the option for 2015 is worth $4.25 million and carries a $400,000 buyout. 4:15 PM: O’Day’s agency, Beverly Hills Sports Council, just announced on their Twitter account that…
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Paul Goldschmidt was impressive during his first full season in the big leagues last year, hitting .286/.359/.490 with 20 home runs, 82 RBI, 18 stolen bases and an .850 OPS. He isn’t arbitration-eligible until after the 2014 season and is under team control though 2017, but the Diamondbacks are interested in locking him up for…
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Francisco Liriano originally agreed to a two-year, $12.75 million contract with the Pirates in December, but the two sides went back to the negotiating table after he broke his right (non-throwing) arm in a bathroom fall. The deal was finalized yesterday as a one-year, $1 million contract with a vesting option for 2014, but now…
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We already knew that Mike Piazza was going to deny steroid use in his new book, “Long Shot,” which is set to be released next week, but now we have some actual excerpts to chew on. Here’s a preview, courtesy of David Waldstein of the New York Times. “It shouldn’t be assumed that every big…
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Red Sox prospect outfielder Bryce Brentz accidentally shot himself in the leg while cleaning his gun
Feb 9, 2013, 11:44 AM EDT
UPDATE: According to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said this morning that Brentz shot himself in the leg. There’s a chance he could play in games by the end of spring training, but Abraham notes that Cherington was “clearly displeased” about the incident. 11:33 AM: According to Alex…
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Picture of the Day: Marlins fans are really excited for the new season
Feb 9, 2013, 10:31 AM EDT
Marlins’ single-game tickets for the 2013 season went on sale this morning. Fresh off a winter in which the team alienated their fanbase by trading away some big names and angered their best player in the process, it’s safe to say that enthusiasm is lacking. The line for single-game tickets outside #Marlins Park, less than…
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Carlos Marmol’s abuse case sent to higher court in Dominican Republic
Feb 9, 2013, 8:58 AM EDT
Via Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, Dominican newspaper El Nacional reports that Carlos Marmol appeared at a hearing Friday regarding a domestic abuse case in the Dominican Republic. The judge sent the case to a higher court, which will render a ruling at an unknown date. Marmol had a criminal complaint filed against him last week…
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Coming off elbow surgery, Scott Diamond might not be ready for Opening Day
Feb 8, 2013, 9:58 PM EDT
When left-hander Scott Diamond had surgery in December to remove a bone chip from his throwing elbow, it was expected that he would be ready for spring training. However, it appears that he is running behind schedule. LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune writes that while Diamond has begun his throwing program, it’s…
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Mariners sign right-hander Jon Garland to a minor league contract
Feb 8, 2013, 9:38 PM EDT
Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times reports that the Mariners have signed right-hander Jon Garland to a minor league contract with a spring training invite. This confirms a report by ESPN’s Jason Churchill. Garland is set to take a physical next week at the team’s complex in Peoria, Arizona. That’s a formality most of the…
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Jason Hammel and Orioles agree on one-year deal to avoid arbitration
Feb 8, 2013, 9:15 PM EDT
The Orioles and right-hander Jason Hammel have agreed on a one-year, $6.75 million deal to avoid arbitration, reports Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. The deal includes $300,000 in possible incentives. Hammel requested $8.25 million and was offered $5.7 million by the Orioles when arbitration figures were exchanged last month, so the two sides settled…
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Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports that the Orioles and closer Jim Johnson have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.5 million contract. He could earn an additional $50,000 based on games finished. Johnson requested $7.1 million and was offered $5.7 million from the Orioles when arbitration figures were exchanged last month, so…
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Felix Hernandez will not pitch for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic
Feb 8, 2013, 7:02 PM EDT
Felix Hernandez was listed on Venezuela’s provisional roster when it was announced last month, but recent events have caused him to change his mind about participating in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. You can probably guess what impacted his decision. Per @arreazaortega, Felix now skipping WBC, because of new contract and "pressure" from M's.— …
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The Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw have “mutual interest” in a contract extension
Feb 7, 2013, 10:03 PM EDT
As soon as word surfaced this afternoon that the Mariners and Felix Hernandez were on the verge of a record $175 million extension, many speculated that Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw could eventually push the $200 million mark. We’ll have to wait to find out, but Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti told Dylan Hernandez of the…
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Former murder suspect Angel Villalona gets travel visa, will be in Giants’ camp
Feb 7, 2013, 9:07 PM EDT
Once upon a time, Angel Villalona was a highly regarded first base prospect with the Giants. However, he hasn’t played in the United States since 2009 because of a murder charge in his native Dominican Republic. Nearly four years later, he’s going to get the opportunity to resume his career stateside. According to Ben Badler…
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Report: Mariners agree to one-year deal with left-hander Joe Saunders
Feb 7, 2013, 7:46 PM EDT
UPDATE: The deal is worth between $5-7 million and includes an option for 2014, according to Scott Boeck of USA Today. 7:46 PM: This isn’t quite on the level of the big Felix Hernandez news, but FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports that the Mariners have signed left-hander Joe Saunders to a one-year contract, pending a…
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After throwing off a half-mound last week for the first time since shoulder surgery, Michael Pineda is close to taking the next step in his rehab process. According to Andy McCullough of the Newark Star-Ledger, Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said today that he expects Pineda to progress to his first session off a full…
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According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, left-hander Brian Burres has agreed to a contract with the Lamigo Monkeys of Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League. Yes, I’m pretty sure this is the first mention of the Lamigo Monkeys on HBT. Burres owns a 5.75 ERA over 56 starts and 50 relief appearances in the…
