MLB notebook: Yankees acquire QB Wilson

[February 08, 2018]  The New York Yankees swung a deal to add an All-Star -- just one from a different sport.

The Yankees acquired the rights to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson from the Texas Rangers on Wednesday in exchange for future considerations, the two baseball teams announced. The Yankees assigned Wilson to Double-A Trenton's roster.

"Always said we'd be a Yankee Pops!" Wilson said in a tweet following the announcement.

Texas general manager Jon Daniels and New York GM Brian Cashman worked for weeks to accommodate Wilson's desire to be a Yankee, according to ESPN.

--Former Yankees manager Joe Girardi has a new job, joining MLB Network as a studio analyst.

Girardi, 53, won three titles as a player with the Yankees and one as the team's manager. The former catcher played in the major leagues for 15 seasons.

Girardi began his managerial career in 2006 with the Marlins and was named the manager of the Yankees in 2008. After Girardi failed to get the team to the 2017 World Series, the Yankees decided not to bring him back for the 2018 season. Girardi also has worked with ESPN Radio, the YES Network and Fox Sports in various roles.

--When the Houston Astros visit President Donald Trump to celebrate their World Series championship, they will do so without recently retired outfielder Carlos Beltran.

Beltran told reporters Tuesday that he would be staying home with his family when the Astros visit the White House. He insisted his decision wasn't political, though he expressed his disappointment toward the United States' relief efforts in his native Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria last September.

Beltran, 40, ended his 20-year major league career last fall after winning his first World Series title. He interviewed for the Yankees' managerial opening, which went to Aaron Boone, and said he turned down a position in the Yankees' front office.

--Two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum is planning to throw for scouts at a showcase Feb. 15, according to a tweet from the founder and president of Driveline Baseball, where Lincecum trained in the offseason.

 

Lincecum didn't pitch professionally in 2017 after a disastrous run with the Los Angeles Angels in 2016. The 33-year-old was cut after going 2-6 with a 9.16 ERA in nine starts, walking 23, serving up 11 home runs and striking out 32 in 38 1/3 innings.

Lincecum signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Angels in May 2016 following a showcase.

--Chicago White Sox infielder Yolmer Sanchez won his arbitration case and will receive $2.35 million this season, a three-judge panel decided.

Sanchez made $546,000 last season when he batted .267 with 12 homers and 59 RBIs. The White Sox offered $2.1 million.

Sanchez, 25, has a .242 career average with 21 homers and 116 RBIs in four seasons with the White Sox.

--The New York Mets officially signed two-time All-Star third baseman Todd Frazier to a two-year contract on Wednesday.

Frazier, a former New York Yankees slugger, agreed to the $17 million deal with the Mets on Monday. The contract calls for Frazier to be paid $8 million this year and $9 million in 2019, multiple media outlets reported.

Frazier, 31, hit 27 home runs with 76 RBIs while posting a career-best 83 walks and a career-best .344 on-base percentage in 147 combined games between the White Sox and the Yankees last season. He began the season with Chicago before being traded to New York on July 18.

--Field Level Media

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