SPRING TRAINING ROUNDUP

RANGERS

Young: No distraction

SURPRISE, Ariz. - Michael Young had a message for his teammates before the AL champion Texas Rangers held their first full-squad workout Sunday and he took grounders at second base for the first time in several years.

“He said he wasn’t going to be a distraction. That was it,” Manager Ron Washington said, relaying what Young said during a scheduled team meeting before the workout.

“I think that was what was talked about more than getting ready for the season and I thought it was unnecessary,” Young said. “The guys know me well so I wanted to say a couple of things about it and move on.”

Young had requested a trade last month, but with no deal done reported to camp on time Saturday and said he was focused on getting ready for the season. He said the offseason drama wouldn’t affect his preparations for the season and a new rolewith the team.

“First and foremost I’m a baseball player. There’s nothing to block out,” he said. “For it to become public is regretful but I’ve got no regrets. Baseball is my life sport. It’s my entire life.”

The longest-tenured Ranger going into his 11th season, Young has a different role for the third time in eight springs. He is expected to be the team’s primary designated hitter and utility infielder after the offseason acquisition of Adrian Beltre supplanted Young at third base, the position he played the last two seasons.

Rain altered some of the planned schedule on the first full day, but pitchers were able to throw and fielders got in some drills before taking batting practice. Young worked at second base, the position he played when he became a starter for the Rangers in 2001.

“It feels like home for me on defense,” Young said. “I hadn’t played there in years, played there in the World Baseball Classic and it was likeI never left.” CARDINALS

Freese limited

JUPITER, Fla. - The St. Louis Cardinals are limiting third baseman David Freese during early workouts this spring after injuries shortened what the team had hoped would be the third baseman’s breakout season last year.

As had been the plan entering spring training, Freese didn’t field as many grounders as other position players in defensive drills Sunday. He did endone of the corner infield drills by making a diving stop on a one-hopper to his left.

“I’m pointed ahead, which is where I wanted to be at this point,” Freese said. “Everything is going real well.”

Ankle injuries limited Freese to 70 games last season, during which he hit .296 with 4 home runs and 36 RBI. The injuries caused him to miss the final two months of the season.

“I think one of our tough breaks last year was that he didn’t have a second half of the year, because he’s a difference maker when he plays,” Manager Tony La Russa said. “If he is healthy, he can’t help but be productive.”

A car crash in 2009 started Freese’sankle problems. During last season’s second ankle-related minor league rehab stint, Freese turned his right ankle badly enough to require reconstructive surgery in August. A month later, in September, Freese had surgery to remove a bone spur from his left ankle.

Freese arrived at the Cardinals’ spring training workouts Monday, five days earlier than required. He doesn’t show any signs of lingering effects from the procedures and says he isn’t experiencing anything other than the normal soreness he’d regularly feel this time of year.

Andrew N. “Drew” Baur, a member of the St. Louis Cardinals’ ownership group, has died. He was 66. The team said he died suddenly Sunday morning. A cause of death was not given. The local bank executive helped organize the original ownership group that bought the Cardinals from Anheuser-Busch in 1996. A lifelong Cardinals fan and native of St. Louis, Baur most recently served as chairman of Southwest Bank of St. Louis. Cardinals Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. says “Drew loved the Cardinals and was a great partner.” ROYALS

Aviles, Escobar agree

SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Kansas City Royals have agreed to one-year deals with Mike Aviles and Alcides Escobar, the team’s projected starters at third base and shortstop.

The team announced the deals Sunday without providing financial terms.

Aviles hit .304 last season, while Escobar, who was acquired in December from Milwaukee in the Zack Greinke trade, hit .235 last season as a rookie with the Brewers.

Right-handed pitchers Kanekoa Texeira, Kevin Pucetas and Henry Barrera, left-handed pitcher Everett Teaford and catcher Lucas May signed one-year contracts.

Sports, Pages 19 on 02/21/2011

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