MLB notebook: Yankees' Bird has ankle surgery

[March 28, 2018]    New York Yankees first baseman Greg Bird underwent successful right ankle surgery on Tuesday that will sideline him from six to eight weeks, the team announced.

Bird, 25, had a small broken bone spur removed.

He injured the same ankle by fouling a ball off of it during the final spring training game before the 2017 season. He later underwent surgery in July and played in just 48 games.

--Brad Boxberger will be the closer for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Manager Torey Lovullo announced his decision, opting to keep standout right-hander Archie Bradley in a multi-inning role out of the bullpen. Japanese right-hander Yoshihisa Hirano was also a candidate for the closer role but will instead be used in a setup role, Lovullo said.

Boxberger, 29, was traded to the Diamondbacks by the Tampa Bay Rays in November. The right-hander was an All-Star in 2015, when he led the American League with 41 saves out of the Rays' bullpen.

--The Seattle Mariners signed veteran outfielder Jayson Werth to a minor-league contract.

Werth will report to Peoria, Ariz., for extended spring training and later report to Triple-A Tacoma. Werth, who turns 39 in May, became a free agent last November after completing a seven-year, $126 million deal with the Washington Nationals.

Werth batted just .226 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs in 70 games in 2017.

--Adidas added one of the biggest names in baseball to its roster, agreeing with New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge on an endorsement deal.

Judge joins Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant and Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa among the young stars affiliated with the athletic company. He will sport the Adidas logo on his batting gloves and wristbands.

--Jerry Moses, a nine-year major league veteran mostly known for his time with the Boston Red Sox, died Tuesday at the age of 71.

Moses, a catcher, hit .251 with 25 homers and 109 RBIs over 386 career games from 1965-75. He was an All-Star in 1970, his final season with the Red Sox.

--Field Level Media

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