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 Retired player: Oswalt, Roy RHP Roy Oswalt announced his retirement Feb. 11 after 13 major
league seasons. The three-time All-Star ended his career with the
Rockies, pitching in nine games (including six starts) and posting a
0-6 record with an 8.63 ERA in 2013. Oswalt, 36, compiled a 163-102
career record with a 3.36 ERA in 2,245 1/3 innings spanning 365
games with the Astros, Phillies, Rangers and Rockies. His 150 wins
from 2001 to 2010 led the majors.
Seattle Mariners: Wolf, Randy
LHP Randy Wolf agreed to a minor league contract with the Seattle
Mariners that includes an invitation to spring training. The
37-year-old missed the 2013 season after undergoing Tommy John elbow
surgery in September 2012. Wolf, a starter throughout his career, is
willing to shift to the bullpen as tries to make a comeback, The
Seattle Times reported. He pitched in 30 games and started 26 for
the Brewers and Orioles in 2012, posting a combined 5-10 record with
a 5.65 ERA in 157 2/3 innings.
Detroit Tigers: Verlander, Justin
RHP Justin Verlander threw about 20 pitches off a mound Feb. 10 for
the first time since having core muscle surgery last month.
"Felt really good," he said Feb. 11 in Lakeland, Fla. "Didn't feel
anything in my groin, hip, nothing. My goal now is the start of the
season. Whether that's Game 1, I don't know. But I intend on being
ready."
Verlander injured his core doing squats in December. He originally
felt pain on his left side, but an MRI also showed weakening on the
right side, and he ended up having surgery in Philadelphia.
New York Yankees: Tanaka, Masahiro
RHP Masahiro Tanaka formally joined the Yankees on Feb. 11, with GM
Brian Cashman saying "this is Yankee big, this is Steinbrenner big"
during the televised portion of the press conference.
Manager Joe Girardi handed Tanaka his No. 19 jersey and cap. The
25-year-old Tanaka, who speaks limited English, stepped to the
podium. He arrived in New York with a seven-year, $155 million
contract.
"When I take the mound, I feel that I would like to win every single
game," Tanaka said through an interpreter. "Being an ace is
something that not myself but the other people label. So basically
what I want to do is go out there and compete and do my best."
Tanaka comes to the Yankees after going 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA in Japan
last year.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Arroyo, Bronson
RHP Bronson Arroyo, who is 138-127 in 14 major league seasons,
averaged 13 victories and 207 innings since joining the Boston
rotation early in the 2004 season. He has eight double-digit victory
seasons since and won nine games in the other two. He has done all
of that in hitters' parks, too, so Chase Field should not present an
unusual challenge. He was with the Red Sox from 2003-05 before being
traded to Cincinnati for OF Wily Mo Pena in March 2006.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Gregorius, Didi
SS Didi Gregorius and SS Chris Owings are involved in the only
position-player battle in spring training, and GM Kevin Towers said
the one who does not win the job will open the season at Triple-A
Reno. "I would say Didi is the favorite," said Towers, who mentioned
the possibility of a platoon at the end of the 2013 season but does
not see that as an option now. "I just don't think it is good for
their development," Towers said. "I think both are very, very good
players, and they need at-bats. I would say one would win the job
and the other would be at Triple-A, and if something happens, one
will be back up."
Arizona Diamondbacks: Owings, Chris
SS Chris Owings and SS Didi Gregorius are involved in the only
position-player battle in spring training, and GM Kevin Towers said
the one who does not win the job will open the season at Triple-A
Reno. "I would say Didi is the favorite," said Towers, who mentioned
the possibility of a platoon at the end of the 2013 season but does
not see that as an option now. "I just don't think it is good for
their development," Towers said. "I think both are very, very good
players, and they need at-bats. I would say one would win the job
and the other would be at Triple-A, and if something happens, one
will be back up."
Arizona Diamondbacks: Delgado, Randall
RHP Randall Delgado likely will win a bullpen job if he is squeezed
out of the rotation, GM Kevin Towers said. Delgado, who was 5-7 with
a 4.26 ERA in 19 starts with Arizona last season, is out of options,
and the D-backs do not want to expose him to waivers for fear of
losing him. "There is not as much flexibility with him," Towers
said. Delgado, who is working to develop a breaking ball to add to
his fastball/changeup mix, could be used as a second long reliever
to pair with RHP Josh Collmenter.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Ross, Cody
OF Cody Ross will be the fourth outfielder if he continues his
ahead-of-schedule progress from August hip surgery. "Cody, if he is
healthy and ready to go, you are not going to want to overdo it with
him right off the bat," Towers said. "Don't know if you'll be
pinch-running him much."
Arizona Diamondbacks: Pennington, Cliff
2B/SS Cliff Pennington and 1B/3B Eric Chavez are expected to be the
only infield backups when camp breaks, barring unforeseen
circumstances. The starters are 1B Paul Goldschmidt, 2B Aaron Hill,
3B Martin Prado and the winner of the shortstop competition between
Didi Gregorius and Chris Owings. Goldschmidt played in 160 games
last season and Prado played in 155, and each could play that many
again. Prado also can play left field and second base, and he could
give Hill an off day when manager Kirk Gibson likes the matchup with
Chavez at third.
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Arizona Diamondbacks: Chavez, Eric
1B/3B Eric Chavez and 2B/SS Cliff Pennington are expected to be the
only infield backups when camp breaks, barring unforeseen
circumstances. The starters are 1B Paul Goldschmidt, 2B Aaron Hill,
3B Martin Prado and the winner of the shortstop competition between
Didi Gregorius and Chris Owings. Goldschmidt played in 160 games
last season and Prado played in 155, and each could play that many
again. Prado also can play left field and second base, and he could
give Hill an off day when manager Kirk Gibson likes the matchup with
Chavez at third.
Cleveland Indians: Pestano, Vinnie
RHP Vinnie Pestano became the first Indians player in 23 years to go
to an arbitration hearing when he and the Indians argued their cases
before an arbitration panel on Feb. 7. Pestano filed at $1.45
million, while the Indians filed at $975,000. The arbitration panel
ruled in favor of the Indians, so Pestano, the first Indian to go to
a hearing since Greg Swindell and Jerry Browne in 1991, will make
$975,000 in 2014.
Cleveland Indians: Bauer, Trevor
RHP Trevor Bauer hopes to bounce back from a disappointing 2013
season by winning a spot in the Indians' season-opening rotation.
Bauer, the third player selected in the 2011 draft, was expected to
be a key member of the rotation last year, but he spent most of the
season at Triple-A Columbus. He went 1-2 with a 5.29 ERA in four
starts with the Indians. Bauer spent the winter retooling his
mechanics. "I'm ready to face some hitters and see if my work has
paid off," he said.
Cleveland Indians: Salazar, Danny
RHP Danny Salazar, who had innings and pitch-count limits in his
starts last year as a rookie, will be under no such restrictions in
2014, and manager Terry Francona is excited about that. "The sky is
the limit for him. I can't wait to see what he can do over 34
starts," Francona said. In 10 starts for the Indians last year,
Salazar was 2-3 with a 3.13 ERA and an average of 11.3 strikeouts
per nine innings.
Cleveland Indians: Santana, Carlos
C/1B Carlos Santana is going to play some games at third base during
spring training. Santana, who originally signed with the Dodgers as
a third baseman, volunteered for the position switch after last
season, when he lost the starting catcher job to Yan Gomes. The
Indians want to keep Santana's bat in the lineup, and third base,
perhaps as a platoon with 3B Lonnie Chisenhall, would be a way to do
it. Santana played several games during winter ball at third base.
"If he can handle (third base), it gives us another option for one
of our middle-of-the-order bats," manager Terry Francona said.
Cleveland Indians: Francoeur, Jeff
OF Jeff Francoeur signed a minor league contract with the Indians
and will be in the major league camp as a non-roster player.
Francoeur, who hit .204 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in a
combined 245 at-bats for the Royals and Giants last year, will
compete for a spot as a fourth or fifth outfielder.
Cleveland Indians: Lindor, Francisco
SS Francisco Lindor likely will start the season at Double-A Akron,
but he could make his major league debut at some point during the
season. The eighth overall pick in the 2011 draft, Lindor is clearly
the team's shortstop of the future, and could make the ascent in
2014 if free-agent-to-be Asdrubal Cabrera is traded. Lindor, 20, hit
a combined .303/.380/.407 with two homers, 34 RBIs and 25 steals in
104 games in Class A and Double-A last year.
Cleveland Indians: Lee, C.C.
RHP C.C. Lee had a combined 2.48 ERA and averaged 11.5 strikeouts
per nine innings in 29 minor league appearances last year. He is
expected to win a spot in the Opening Day bullpen.
Bonifacio, Emilio
INF/OF Emilio Bonifacio, designated for assignment by the Royals on
Feb. 1, was released on Feb. 11. Bonifacio recently avoided
arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.5 million deal, but the
contract was not guaranteed. Bonifacio had a batting line of
.243/.295/.331 in 461 plate appearances in 2013.
Miami Marlins: Marmol, Carlos
RHP Carlos Marmol and the Marlins finalized a one-year, $1.25
million agreement on Feb. 11. The 31-year-old reliever spent the
2013 season with the Cubs and Dodgers, pitching in a combined 49
innings and posting a 2-4 record with a 4.41 ERA and two saves. He
finished the season with the Dodgers and had a 2.53 ERA in 21
outings.
Marmol was with the Cubs for eight seasons, primarily as their
closer, and had 117 saves with a 23-32 record and a 3.50 ERA.
Control has always been an issue for Marmol. He has issued 385 walks
in 563 2/3 career innings.
RHP Steve Cishek is expected to be the Marlins' closer in 2014,
leaving Marmol to compete for a middle-relief or setup role and
provide backup to Cishek.
Miami Marlins: Hatcher, Chris
RHP Chris Hatcher was designated for assignment by the Marlins on
Feb. 11 to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for newly signed RHP
Carlos Marmol. Hatcher, 29, went 0-1 with a 12.46 ERA in seven
relief appearances for Miami last year. In 60 games for Triple-A New
Orleans, he went 4-3 with 33 saves and a 3.61 ERA.
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