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 02/27/2015 MLB Note - Colorado Rockies Hawkins, LaTroy
RHP LaTroy Hawkins, the Rockies' closer, is entering his final
season. At 42, he is the oldest player in spring training. While his
arm still feels fine, Hawkins says his body doesn't feel quite as
good between games. However, his main motivation for retiring is
because his daughter, Troi, recently turned 13, and Hawkins wants to
be there for her at this challenging time and not let his wife
shoulder the parenting duties. With 1,000 appearances, Hawkins is
the active leader in that category and ranks 16th all-time. He could
easily finish in the top 10, considering that Trevor Hoffman (1,035)
is 10th and just ahead of him are Kent Tekulve (1,050) and Mike
Timlin (1,058). Hawkins went 23-for-26 in save opportunities with a
3.31 ERA in 57 games last year on a 96-loss team.
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MLB Note - Colorado Rockies Kahnle, Tommy
RHP Tommy Kahnle, 25, averaged 94 mph with his fastball last season,
and he has an effective changeup. However, he needs to hold runners
better and have a quicker tempo on the mound. Kahnle will face stiff
competition this spring to win a bullpen spot. He has all three
minor league options remaining. Last year, the Rockies had to keep
him on the roster all season or offer him back to the Yankees.
 "I'm sure it gave me a little advantage," Kahnle said. "But this
year is the same thing. I'm going to treat it the same as last year.
Nothing is given. I have to go into this spring the same way I
prepared for the last one."
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MLB Note - Colorado Rockies Logan, Boone
LHP Boone Logan was a huge disappointment last season after signing
a three-year, $16.5 million contract, the largest deal the Rockies
ever gave to a reliever. Logan underwent cleanup surgery on his left
elbow in October 2013, shortly after he appeared in 61 games and had
a 3.23 ERA for the Yankees. The Rockies ignored that medical red
flag. Logan began the 2014 season on the disabled list and was on it
four times during the season -- three times with elbow issues and
once with a digestive ailment. In 35 games for the Rockies, Logan
went 2-3 with a 6.84 ERA, last pitched Aug. 24 and underwent surgery
Sept. 11 to have a bone spur shaved in his elbow.
Manager Walt Weiss summed up Logan's value rather simply when he
said, "If he's healthy and right, it changes the complexion of our
bullpen."
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MLB Note - Colorado Rockies Anderson, Tyler
LHP Tyler Anderson had not thrown in spring training through Feb. 25
as he recovers from his second stress fracture in his left elbow.
Anderson, 25, who was the 20th overall pick in the 2011 draft, was
placed on the 40-man roster for the first time in November. He is in
his second big league camp, but he did not initially long-toss or
lob a ball this spring.
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Santana, Johan
LHP Johan Santana signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays on
Feb. 26, and the oft-injured veteran received an invitation to
spring training with the major league club. Santana, who turns 36
next month, hasn't pitched in the majors since August 2012 with the
Mets. Since then, he underwent two left shoulder surgeries. Last
year, while pitching in the minor leagues for the Orioles'
organization, Santana tore his left Achilles tendon in June. He
returned to the mound in January during the Venezuelan winter league
and retired six batters in a row during one appearance. A four-time
All-Star, Santana won the American League Cy Young in 2004 and 2006
pitching for the Twins. He has a 139-78 career record with a 3.20
ERA and the only no-hitter in Mets history.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Smith, Chad
RHP Chad Smith, designated for assignment by the Tigers on Feb. 24,
was claimed off waivers by the A's on Feb. 26. Smith, 25, had no
decisions and a 5.40 ERA in 11 relief appearances for Detroit last
year. In a combined 34 relief outings in Double-A and Triple-A, he
went 5-3 with one save and a 3.45 ERA.
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MLB Note - Milwaukee Brewers Rodriguez, Francisco
RHP Francisco Rodriguez is back in Milwaukee. The free agent closer
and the Brewers agreed Feb. 26 to a two-year, $13 million deal with
a $6 million team option for a third season. Rodriguez must pass a
physical exam to finalize the contract. He should help solidify a
bullpen the Brewers tried to improve via trade until talks with the
Phillies for closer Jonathan Papelbon deteriorated. The Marlins were
also in the bidding for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, 33, closed 44 games for the Brewers in 2014, when he
earned his fifth All-Star selection.
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MLB Note - Toronto Blue Jays Saunders, Michael
LF Michael Saunders was on crutches Feb. 26, and he could be out
until July with a freak knee injury that requires surgery. Saunders
tore the meniscus in his left knee Feb. 25 when he stepped on a
sprinkler head in the outfield while shagging fly balls.
"I just tried to walk off the field and not draw any attention to
myself. Then, when I got into the training room, my knee felt like
it was getting tight on the inside," Saunders said. "I've never had
any issues with my knees, so that's when I knew that something was
wrong."
According to Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos, Saunders likely will
need surgery, but Saunders plans to get a second opinion.
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Tanaka, Masahiro
RHP Masahiro Tanaka intensified his workout at a Feb. 26 bullpen
session in Tampa, Fla., and the Yankees liked what they saw from
their right-handed ace. Tanaka did not limit pitch selection and
threw 40 pitches with pitching coach Larry Rothschild observing.
"I feel that I'm on the right track," Tanaka said through an
interpreter, adding that he was clear to throw split-finger
fastballs, his most effective pitch in his 2014 rookie season.
"Going through the workouts and going through the bullpen today
also, it does give me confidence that I'm moving in the right
direction."
Tanaka said the only discomfort he has felt is considered normal
after pitching workouts. He also threw a brief bullpen session Feb.
22.
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MLB Note - St. Louis Cardinals Wainwright, Adam
RHP Adam Wainwright has an abdominal strain that should not cause
him to miss significant time during spring training. Wainwright
returned to St. Louis from the Cardinals' camp for an examination by
Dr. Michael Brunt on Feb. 26 and received a diagnosis that caused a
sigh of relief for the team. The 35-year-old veteran is to avoid
running and lifting weights for a few days but is able to throw.
 "Based on all the different studies and what the doctor saw, he
feels this was the best news we could have gotten," Cardinals GM
John Mozeliak said.
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MLB Note - New York Yankees Rodriguez, Alex
3B/DH Alex Rodriguez, on his first official day back with the
Yankees after a yearlong suspension for using performance-enhancing
drugs, blasted a few balls out of the park during batting practice
at Legends Field in Tampa, Fla., and generally appeared at ease with
the attention surrounding his return. "It was fun," Rodriguez said.
"I'm happy to be here."
Rodriguez, 39, drew the loudest cheers, heard no boos from fans and
also bantered with the media who surrounded his locker. "It was like
going to Disney World," he said.
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MLB Note - Oakland Athletics Thompson, Taylor
RHP Taylor Thompson was placed on the 60-day disabled list Feb. 26
due to a strained right shoulder. The A's claimed Thompson, 27, off
waivers from the White Sox on Nov. 4. He posted a 10.13 ERA in five
appearances for Chicago last year, his first major league action.
Thompson went 3-0 with seven saves and a 2.14 ERA in 39 appearances
for Triple-A Charlotte in 2014.
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