LDN - Sports

Major League Baseball roundup

[February 17, 2017] Feb 16 (The Sports Xchange) - Atlanta Braves infielder Sean Rodriguez underwent surgery for a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder this week and likely will miss the upcoming season.

Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery Tuesday on Rodriguez, who signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract in November after a career season with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Rodriguez is expected to miss as many as eight months as he recovers, putting his potential return date toward the final month of a season on a team that isn't expected to contend.

Atlanta acquired veteran second baseman Brandon Phillips last weekend and is expected to be the team's starter.

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Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Tony Watson was unsuccessful in his salary arbitration bid and will make $5.6 million this season as opposed to $6 million.

The ruling was learned on Thursday, one day after a three-person arbitration panel heard both sides of the argument.

Watson posted a 2-5 mark with a 3.06 ERA in 70 relief appearances for Pittsburgh last season, during which he earned $3.45 million.

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Cleveland Indians outfielder Michael Brantley isn't close to being ready to play in spring training games and his availability for the start of the regular season is also in jeopardy, according to manager Terry Francona.

Brantley is recovering from surgery to repair a torn right biceps. He played in just 11 games last season due to a shoulder injury and underwent the biceps surgery in August.

Francona doesn't have a timetable for when the 29-year-old Brantley will start playing in spring-training games.

The Indians advanced to the 2016 World Series without Brantley, who finished third in the American League MVP balloting in 2014. Brantley has a .292 career average with 61 homers and 400 RBIs in eight seasons with the Indians. (Editing by Larry Fine) ))

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