MLB notebook: Ex-Yankees pitcher Stottlemyre dies at 77

[January 15, 2019]  Longtime New York Yankees pitcher and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre died Sunday in Seattle after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 77.

Multiple media outlets reported the news of his death Monday, when he received various tributes on social media. Stottlemyre's wife, Jean, told The New York Times that he died as a result of complications of multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.

Born in a small town in Washington, Stottlemyre was bound for the big city when Yankees scout Eddie Taylor discovered him at Yakima Valley Community College in Washington and signed him to a $400-per-month contract. He reached the big leagues in 1964, after a 13-3 season in Triple-A, when the Yankees were in a pennant race with a pitching staff plagued by injuries.

He turned into the ace of the staff, and by the time he retired in 1974, he'd compiled 164-139 lifetime record in 360 games, starting all but four of them. Stottlemyre had a career ERA of 2.97 and threw more than 250 innings in nine of his 11 seasons with the Yankees. He was a three-time 20-game winner and a five-time All-Star selection.

--The San Francisco Giants re-signed left-hander Derek Holland to a one-year contract with a club option for 2020, the team announced.

The deal includes a $6.5 million salary for 2019 and a $7 million option for 2020, with a $500,000 buyout.

Holland, 32, pitched a team-high 171 1/3 innings in his first season with the Giants in 2018. He was 7-9 with a 3.57 ERA and a team-leading 169 strikeouts in 36 games (30 starts).

--The Minnesota Twins announced the signing of former Los Angeles Angels closer Blake Parker to a one-year contract. ESPN reported the value of the contract at $3.2 million.

The 33-year-old right-hander appeared in 67 games for the Angels in 2018, posting a 3.26 ERA with 70 strikeouts, 19 walks and a team-high 14 saves in 17 opportunities.

Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 16th round in 2006, Parker owns a career 3.29 ERA in 229 relief appearances with the Cubs (2012-14), Seattle Mariners (2016), New York Yankees (2016) and Angels (2017-18).

--Field Level Media

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