RED SOX Ortiz agrees to new deal
SARASOTA, Fla. - David Ortiz wants to finish his career with the Boston Red Sox.
“I love playing the game. I love being part of this organization, and knowing that you’re going to finish your career here,” Ortiz said Monday. ‘It’s something that’s a huge accomplishment.”
Due $15 million in 2014 in the final season of a two-year deal, Ortiz, 38, agreed Sunday to a new contract that calls for a $16 million salary in 2015 and could be worth up to $48 million over three years.
Ortiz’s contract includes a $10 million club option for 2016 that could escalate to $16 million and become guaranteed, and a club option for 2017, also at $10 million to $16 million.
“This is the place I want to be,” the designated hitter said. “This is the place that I know.”
Ortiz said the agreement will make him “stress less.”
A nine-time All-Star during 11 seasons with Boston, Ortiz has 431 major league home runs. Ortiz and the Red Sox have spent a lot time discussing his future - one year at a time.
“I guess you guys get tired of me talking about contracts all the time,” he said. “At least I’m going to have some time off from answering questions dealing with the contract situation.”
Ortiz’s 2016 option would become guaranteed at $11 million if he has 425 plate appearances the previous year and passes a team physical. If he passes the physical, it would become guaranteed at $12 million for 475 plate appearances, $13 million for 525, $14 million for 500 and $15 million for 575. If he has 600 plate appearances, it would become guaranteed at the higher of $16 million or the qualifying offer price for free agents - the average of the top 125 major league contracts by average annual value.
If Ortiz doesn’t pass the physical, the 2016 club option price would be the midpoint of $10 million and the figure for whatever threshold he reached.
The 2017 club option would escalate at the same prices and thresholds as the 2016 vesting option.
Ortiz was MVP of last year’s World Series, when Boston won its third title in 10 years. He batted .309 with 30 home runs and 103 RBI last season after returning from a strained right Achilles tendon that limited him to 90 games in 2012.
“This virtually guarantees that David will finish his career with the Red Sox,” General Manager Ben Cherington said. “It means that David will be in the middle ofthe lineup for longer.”
If Ortiz plays through 2017, he would be nearing his 42nd birthday.RAYS Colome suspended
NEW YORK - Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Alex Colome has been suspended for the first 50 games of the season for a positive steroids test.
The right-hander tested positive for Boldenone, the commissioner’s office said Monday. Boldenone is used primarily for the treatment of horses.
Colome, 25, was 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in three midseason starts as a rookie last year.
Colome was optioned March 8 to Class AAA Durham of the International League.
“We were disappointed to learn of Alex Colome’s violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” the Rays said in a statement.
“We fully support Major League Baseball’s policy and its efforts toeliminate performance-enhancing substances from our game.”
Colome, a native of the Dominican Republic, reached the majors for the first time last season, defeating the Miami Marlins in his debut on May 30. He was recalled again in June, making two starts against the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers before hurting his pitching elbow.
Colome was viewed as valuable rotation depth in light of an offseason elbow surgery that will keep right-hander Jeremy Hellickson out until May.
He is the second player suspended this year under the big league drug program following New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who was banned for the entire season for violations of the drug agreement and labor contract.
RANGERS
Soto out 10-12 weeks
SURPRISE, Ariz. - Texas catcher Geovany Soto has a tear in his right knee that will sideline him for 10 to 12 weeks, the latest injury setback for the Rangers.
A day after Soto’s knee locked up and forced him to leave a game against San Diego in the second inning, the Rangers said Monday he would be out for a while. He will have surgery on Wednesday to repair torn cartilage.
On Sunday, the team announced that second baseman Jurickson Profar would miss at least 10 weeks with a torn muscle in his right shoulder.
“We’ve lost two every day players and there is no way to sugarcoat that,” Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels said Monday. “It is what it is. We’ll look towards our depth and see where we go from here.”
This will be Soto’s second surgery this spring training. He had a procedure on his left foot on Feb. 22 and had played in only six exhibition games, going 4 for 12.
Soto hit .245 in 54 games in 2013 with Texas.
“It’s really unfortunate,” Soto said. “I feel devastated, but it’s something I can’t control.”
With Soto out, J.P. Arencibia and Robinson Chirinos are the top candidates to start at catcher.
Arencibia hit .194 in 138 games last season with Toronto. Chirinos spent most of last season with Class AAA Round Rock, and also hit .179 in 13 games with Texas.
“I haven’t decided yet,” ManagerRon Washington said. “Right now I’ve got him and Chirinos.”
When asked about Arencibia’s defense, Washington replied, “I haven’t seen a whole lot of Arencibia at his best.”
Chirinos has hit .435 in spring training, but has only 23 at-bats.
INDIANS Bourn to DL
GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Cleveland Indians center fielder Michael Bourn will start the season on the disabled list because of a tight left hamstring, though he could return within the first week.
The Indians will put Bourn on the DL before their opener March 31 at Oakland. The move can be made retroactive and sideline him for just four games.
Bourn had surgery on the hamstring in October. He felt discomfort on March 16 while running from first to third against San Francisco, and has been undergoing treatment and started strength exercises.
“He is getting close to being game ready,” General Manager Chris Antonetti said Monday. “We want to be able to build up his innings, and his progressions so when he’s back he will be able to impact the team.”
Outfielder Nyjer Morgan was told by Antonetti and Manager Terry Francona that he will be on the Indians’ opening-day roster.
The Indians did not want to rush Bourn back in light of the surgery.
Morgan was signed to a minor league contract by the Indians on Jan. 16. He spent last season in Japan.
The Indians made no promises to Morgan when they signed him.
Cleveland told third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall he will join the team for its opener.
The Indians optioned right-handers Chen-Chang Lee and Trevor Bauer to Class AAA Columbus and assigned infielders David Cooper and Bryan LaHair to their minor league camp.
TIGERS Gonzalez acquired
BRADENTON, Fla. - The Detroit Tigers think Alex Gonzalez is not too old to be a solution to their shortstop problem.
In need of a replacement for injured Jose Iglesias, Detroit acquired Gonzalez, 37, from the Baltimore Orioles on Monday for infielder Steve Lombardozzi.
Tigers General Manager Dave Dombrowski said Gonzalez could get the bulk of the playing time, sharing the position with Andrew Romine, who was acquired Friday from the Los Angeles Angels.
“I’m not looking at 150 games,” Dombrowski said. “He’s an older guy. But we do think he can be a key guy for us.”
Gonzalez has a .246 average with six major league teams and was the starting shortstop for the 2003 World Series champion Florida Marlins. Gonzalez agreed Jan. 31 to a minor league contract that calls for a $1.1 million salary in the major leagues. He had a .429 batting average during spring training with Baltimore and is to report to Tigers on Tuesday.
“He’s always had great hands, and I can’t imagine his hands have gotten any worse,” Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus said. “I’ve heard great things about him in spring training, as far as how he’s moving. And I think his experience is a huge advantage.”
Dombrowski said his office had been busy for the past week trying to find replacement shortstops. There even was joking speculation the team might try to talk first base coach Omar Vizquel, 46, into making a comeback.
Vizquel saw Gonzalez play winter ball in Venezuela and gave the Tigers a positive scouting report.
“He’s younger than Omar,” Ausmus said with a laugh. Two years ago Vizquel was the oldest shortstop in big league history.
Lombardozzi, 25, hit .259 with 2 home runs and 22 RBI for the Washington Nationals last season and was dealt to Detroit in December for pitcher Doug Fister.
To make room for Lombardozzi on the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated catcher Johnny Monell for assignment.
BRAVES Garcia released
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Atlanta has released pitcher Freddy Garcia, who was contending for a spot in the Braves’ battered rotation.
The team announced the decision Monday, the deadline for Garcia, 37, to be put on the major league roster - which would have triggered a $1.25 million guaranteed salary.
“They said they didn’t want to pick it up. I have to go,” said Garcia, who started Game 4 of last year’s NL division series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The right-hander was let go despite a strong outing Sunday, when he limited the New York Mets to an unearned run and two hits over 5 1/3 innings. He was 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA in five spring training starts.
With Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy out for the season, and Mike Minor on the disabled list through at least mid-April as he comes back from a sore shoulder, the Braves are pursuing a trade, waiver-wire deal or signing.
“It’s a fluid situation,” General Manager Frank Wren said. “There could be other things that happen. Be patient.’”
Clubhouse attendants already were preparing for the arrival of right-hander Aaron Harang, who was released from a minor league contract by Cleveland on Monday.
If a move isn’t made, the opening-day rotation would consist of Julio Teheran, Alex Wood, rookie David Hale and non-roster invitee Gus Schlosser.
Ervin Santana, signed late in spring training to a $14.1 million, one-year contract after Medlen and Beachy got hurt, is set to join the rotation the second week of the season after building his arm strength.
Gavin Floyd, coming back from elbow surgery, could be ready by the end of April along with Minor.
Minor is scheduled to make his first appearance of spring training Saturday in an exhibition at Rome, Ga., against a Braves minor league squad. Floyd is to pitch for the first time Friday in a minor league game.
“Out rotation depth will change drastically in a few weeks and that was part of our decision,” said Wren, who insisted that cutting Garcia wasn’t financially motivated.
Garcia, who has won 156 games, was visibly shaken.
“I want to pitch, but not going to the minor leagues,” he said. “I come here and try the best I can. I threw yesterday the way I want to pitch and they decided to go the other way. … They made a decision, and I got to go with it.”
The team trimmed its active roster to 29 players by optioning left-hander Ryan Buchter and outfielders Jose Constanza and Joey Terdoslavich to Class AAA Gwinnett, and reassigning infielders Tyler Greene and Tommy La Stella to the International League team.
The demotion of Buchter left another non-roster pitcher, Ian Thomas, as the second left-hander in the bullpen behind Luis Avilan.
Monday’s scores Washington 4, Miami 1 Tampa Bay vs. Minnesota at Fort Myers, Fla., ccd., Rain Detroit vs. Pittsburgh at Bradenton, Fla., ccd., Rain Boston vs. Baltimore at Sarasota, Fla., ccd., Rain Philadelphia 6, Toronto 3, 8 innings NY Mets 5, St. Louis 3 Texas 6, Oakland 2 LA Angels 11, San Francisco 4 Cleveland 8, Cincinnati 3 Chicago White Sox 7, Seattle 6 Colorado 8, Kansas City 2 Houston 7, Atlanta 5 San Diego vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa, Ariz., (n)
Sports, Pages 22 on 03/25/2014