YANKEES

Jeter: It’s time to go

TAMPA, Fla. - Derek Jeter decided to retire after the coming season when he concluded “this is the right time.”

The New York Yankees captain held a news conference Wednesday, a week after making an announcement many of his teammates said shocked and saddened them.

“You can’t do this forever. I’d like to,” he said. “There’s some things I look forward to doing.”

On the day the team’s position players reported for spring training, Jeter spoke in the pavilion behind the third-base stands, where closer Mariano Rivera said last March that 2013 would be his final season.

The Steinbrenner family that owns the team sat in the front row, Manager Joe Girardi and General Manager Brian Cashman in the second and what appeared to be the entire team in rows after that.

Jeter, wearing a blue Yankees pullover and speaking with his arm crossed on a table, wasn’t emotional and admitted he tried to mask his reactions throughout his career.

“We still have a season to play,” he said. “I have feelings. I’m not emotionally stunted.”

Jeter, who turns 40 in June, was limited to 17 games last season, hitting 190 with 1 home run and 7 RBI after breaking an ankle in the 2012 American League Championship Series opener.

“My ankle was back to 100 percent,” he said, thinking back to his aborted return last summer. “It’s just everything around my ankle wasn’t strong enough.”

He is a 13-time All-Star and five time Gold Glove shortstop who led the Yankees to World Series titles in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009. Jeter enters his 20th major-league season with a .312 average, 256 home runs and 1,261 RBI.

BRAVES Signing spree

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Atlanta Braves have been on a signing spree.

So far they’ve locked up first baseman Freddie Freeman, right fielder Jason Heyward, starter Julio Teheran and closer Craig Kimbrel.

On Wednesday, the Braves extended the contracts of General Manager Frank Wren and Manager Fredi Gonzalez.

Wren and Gonzalez were entering the final years of their contracts and Braves President John Schuerholz simply said he wanted the deals to be done as soon as possible. Terms and the amount of the contracts were not disclosed.

Schuerholz made the announcement before the first full-squad workout of the spring.

“They’ve done wonderful jobs for us,” Schuerholz said. “We’re not going to talk about the lengths, but they have been extended.”

ORIOLES Jimenez gets deal

SARASOTA, Fla. - Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez and the Baltimore Orioles have finalized a $50 million, four-year contract.

The 30-year-old gets salaries of $11.25 million this year, $12.25 million in 2015, $13 million in 2016 and $13.5 million in 2017 under Wednesday’s agreement. Each season’s salary includes $2.25 million deferred without interest, payable in four equal installments on each July 1 starting in 2018.

He can earn a pair of $400,000 performance bonuses each year, for 32 starts and 200 innings. If he wins a Cy Young Award or is MVP, his salary in each remaining year of the contract would escalate by $500,000. The salaries would go up by $250,000 if he finishes second in either vote and by $150,000 if he is third.

Jimenez, who is to be introduced today at a news conference, is 82-75 with a 3.92 ERA in 8 seasons with Colorado and Cleveland, including 13-9 with a 3.30 ERA for the Indians. He was the National League All-Star game starter in 2010, when he was 19-8 with a 2.88 ERA for Colorado.

Baltimore forfeits its first-round selection in June’s amateur draft, the 17th pick overall.

Jimenez joins a rotation expected to include Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez and Bud Norris. To clear a roster spot, Baltimore designated right-hander Liam Hendriks for assignment.

CUBS

Ricketts renovating

MESA, Ariz. - Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts remains committed to renovating Wrigley Field rather than finding a new home despite ongoing legal issues with the neighboring rooftop owners.

He reiterated both sides have an incentive to reach an agreement. The $500 million overhaul to the famed 100-year-old ballpark and neighborhood remains on hold, but he’s not threatening to move, at least for now.

“To pretend that it’s just any other park, I don’t think that’s credible, either,” Ricketts said Wednesday. “The truth is we still have to get this done, and we’re not quite there yet. If we can’t grind it out - these last few steps - I don’t know what’s going to happen. But the key is we’re committed to renovating and improving the park and saving it for the next generation of fans.”

The project would include a hotel across the street as well as upgrades through the ballpark along with a Jumbotron in left field and a large Budweiser sign in right.

The Cubs have approval from the city for the Jumbotron and sign but no assurances from the rooftop owners - who hand a percentage of their revenue to the team - that they won’t slow construction by suing over blocked views.

“We can’t live for the next 100 years with this kind of situation,” Ricketts said. “And we have to know it’s going to be over if we’re going to invest in the park. That’s the full story.”

At what point would the Cubs threaten to move if an agreement isn’t finalized?

“I’m not going to answer that,” he said. “I think we’re just trying to work toward the finish line here.”

ASTROS

Clemens and pitchers

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Roger Clemens addressed pitchers and catchers of the Houston Astros on Wednesday morning, the day before the team is scheduled to work out for the first time.

Clemens is now a special assistant to General Manager Jeff Luhnow who will work with the young Astros pitchers during spring training and the regular season.

A seven-time Cy Young Award winner, Clemens won 354 games over a 24-year career with the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees and Astros. He last pitched in the major leagues in 2007 with the Yankees.

The Astros also announced that pitcher Jesse Crain has been set back by a strained right calf, and first baseman Japhet Amador will not report to the start of spring training because of a family emergency.

BREWERS Ramirez out

PHOENIX - Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez may miss the first few games of spring training after having a non-cancerous polyp removed from his colon.

The polyp was discovered during a routine colonoscopy in December, assistant general manager Gord Ash said Wednesday. The veteran is expected to be in camp by Friday’s reporting deadline, with a physical over the weekend.

“There were no issues to be concerned about or alarmed with”Ramirez’s health, Ash said.

Otherwise, the procedure disrupted his typical winter routine with hitting. Ramirez is hitting again, though Manager Ron Roenicke said he can’t pinpoint when he’ll be ready to play in games.

Milwaukee plays its first spring training game Feb. 27.

“It’s not issues, [Ramirez is] just behind … and what’s the rush if he’s a week, 10 days behind,” Ash said.

Ramirez, 35, is coming off a left knee injury that limited him to 92 games last season. The career .285 hitter had 12 homers and 49 RBI in 2013.

RANGERS

Fielder meets team

SURPRISE, Ariz. - So much is new this spring for Prince Fielder.

The All-Star slugger took the field for the first time with the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, the day before the first official full-squad workout.

Fielder said he had a nice, easy day meeting his new teammates after reporting to camp. They were on the field for more than an hour, taking grounders and then some batting practice.

The Rangers acquired Fielder from Detroit in November in exchange for All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler.

After cutting off his dreadlocks during the off season and going through MMA workouts, Fielder appears trim. Asked he if had lost any weight, Fielder chuckled and said he didn’t know for sure since he doesn’t allow any scales in his house. But he said he feels great.

Sports, Pages 24 on 02/20/2014