KISSIMMEE, Fla.
Chidobe Awuzie Jersey . -- The Atlanta Braves
agreed Wednesday on a $14.1 million, one-year contract with Ervin Santana,
bolstering their injury plagued starting rotation. The 33-year-old right-hander
went 9-10 with a 3.24 ERA in 32 starts for the Kansas City Royals last season
and should make a huge impact with the battered Braves, who are facing the
prospect of losing Kris Medlen for the season and opening with Brandon Beachy
and Mike Minor on the disabled list. Medlen, who had been announced as Atlantas
opening-day starter, left a spring training outing Sunday after grabbing his
right elbow. Initial tests showed ligament damage, and he will undergo further
examination to determine if he needs surgery for the second time in less than
four years. Medlen said hes already preparing himself to miss the entire season.
Beachy left a start Monday because of continuing problems with his right elbow,
and Minor has yet to pitch this spring because of a sore shoulder. "In light of
what has happened over the past few days with our pitching staff, we felt it was
incumbent on us to do everything we could to strengthen our starting pitching,"
Braves general manager Frank Wren told reporters before a game against
Washington. Santana will be pitching in the NL for the first time in his 10-year
career. He spent eight seasons with the Los Angeles Angels before being traded
to the Royals in 2013, helping Kansas City post an 86-76 record, their best
since 1989. But Santana, who made $13 million in the final year of his contract,
turned down a $14.1 million qualifying offer from the Royals and became a free
agent. Given his hefty contract demands, he remained unsigned as spring training
began, despite putting up some impressive career numbers. "This guy makes our
rotation a lot better than where we are at now," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez
said, praising Wren. "We lost Medlen and Beachy in a matter of 2 1/2 days and he
went out there and got the best pitcher available for us." Santana threw a
bullpen at the Braves spring training complex on Wednesday, which Gonzalez said
went well. Despite his late entrance to camp, Santana could be ready for the
start of the season. "It will be close," Gonzalez said. "We are kind of keeping
our fingers crossed that we can get him enough innings where he can start for
us." Santana was an AL All-Star in 2008, tossed a no-hitter in 2011, and has
reached double-figure wins five times, going a career-best 17-10 in 2010 and
twice winning 16 games. Overall, he is 105-90 with a 4.19 ERA. Santanas agent,
Jay Alou, said he initially received a text from Wren on Sunday, then got
another call Tuesday night while negotiating with other clubs. It didnt take
long to reach an agreement with Atlanta, a deal that includes award bonuses. Its
easy to see why the Braves felt a sense of desperation. Medlen went a
team-leading 15-12 with a 3.11 ERA last season, while Minor was 13-9 with a 3.21
ERA. The team also was counting on a full recovery for Beachy, who was one of
the NLs most effective pitchers in 2012 before he underwent season-ending elbow
surgery. Beachy has been limited to a total of 18 starts over the past two
seasons, enduring several setbacks in his attempt to come back. After his latest
problem, he will miss his next scheduled spring start and faces another trip to
the DL. Minor, who underwent urinary tract surgery on Dec. 31, hopes to pitch
within the next week but also seems likely to start the season on the DL while
he builds his arm strength. Given all the health issues, the Braves got to the
go-ahead from corporate owner Liberty Media to bump the payroll well above the
projected $100 million limit. Wren called it "an incredible decision by the
organization." With opening day less than three weeks away, the only healthy
members of the Braves possible rotation are second-year pitchers Julio Teheran
(14-8 last season) and Alex Wood, rookie David Hale and non-roster invitee
Freddy Garcia. Hale and Garcia have both struggled this spring. Atlanta also
signed veteran Gavin Floyd, but he is coming off Tommy John surgery and wont be
ready to pitch until at least May. Now, add Santana to the list, though it will
likely be mid-April before he is prepared to join the rotation. He has been
throwing on the side and could make his spring training debut next week. "We
want to take the right amount of caution to get him ready right, and be ready
for the long haul," Wren said. By signing Santana, the Braves forfeited their
first-round pick in Junes amateur draft, No. 26 overall, and the Royals will
receive a compensation-round selection, the 28th overall. Atlantas first pick is
now 32nd overall, as compensation for losing free agent catcher Brian McCann,
who signed with the New York Yankees. Santanas signing leaves only two free
agents -- Stephen Drew and Kendrys Morales -- available from the 13 players who
turned down qualifying offers. If they agree to one-year contracts after opening
day, they wouldnt be subject to qualifying offers this November. If they wait
until after the draft to reach agreements, clubs that sign them wont lose
selections. Among the 22 qualifying offers in the two years of the new labour
contract, none have been accepted. "Frankly, the players havent adjusted to the
change," New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said. "To blame the system
versus the marketplace and blame the system versus a misunderstanding of the
marketplace I think is a little one-sided. From a management standpoint, Id say,
Hey, Im surprised if you guys havent taken a qualifying offer. Maybe they should
have."
Taco Charlton Jersey . The Kings paraded the
Stanley Cup through downtown Los Angeles on Monday to celebrate their second NHL
title in three seasons.
Chidobe Awuzie Womens Jersey . - Considering
where Jeff Gordon was after Richmond, left out of the Chase for the Sprint Cup
championship in part due to some late-race shenanigans, he couldnt have been
happier on Sunday.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Derek Norris figures the only difference
between starting and coming off the bench is the need to bear down a little
quicker when hes asked to pinch-hit. Norris delivered a pinch-hit homer and
drove in five runs, Stephen Vogt went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and the Oakland
Athletics roughed up Yu Darvish again in beating the Texas Rangers 10-6 Tuesday
night. "He has a knack," As manager Bob Melvin said about Norris. "Hes ready for
the situation." Norris, a career .500 hitter against the Rangers, is 4 for 11
with five RBIs as a pinch-hitter. "I dont know what that means," he said. "I
mean, I like starting, too." Six of the catchers eight home runs this year have
come with at least two runners on base. "Five RBIs off the bench; thats
something special," Norris said. "Ultimately, the credit goes to the team for
getting on base. I dont get any more or less aggressive whether someone is on or
no one is on. I just try to put the barrel of the bat on the ball." Tommy Milone
(5-3) won his fifth consecutive decision, matching his career best, as the As
won their third in four games. Milone gave up three runs and five hits over 5
2-3 innings, improving to 5-0 in his last eight starts. He walked one and struck
out three. "Every game I just try to stay within myself and not do too much,"
Milone said. "Im trying to get those guys out and so far its been working. When
were scoring runs, pitchers in general just attack the zone and throw strikes."
Darvish (7-3) dropped his eighth straight to the As, and the Rangers lost for
the second time in six games. "For some reason, they have really good numbers
against me," Darvish said through a translator. "I just have to prepare myself
for the next start." Darvish allowed seven runs -- four earned -- and eight hits
over five-plus innings. He walked five and struck out eight, including
Brandon Moss in the first for career strikeout No. 600. "He was out there
searching, which he always does," Rangers manager Ron Washington saiid.
Ryan Switzer Womens Jersey. "Usually he finds
something, but tonight he just didnt find it. He just couldnt find anything to
get them out with." Roughned Odor homered, tripled and drove in three runs for
the Rangers. Aaron Poreda, recalled from Triple-A Round Rock earlier in the day,
took over for Darvish with two runners on in the sixth and got two outs before
giving way to Shawn Tolleson, who gave up Norris home run. Adrian Beltre gave
the Rangers a 1-0 lead in the first with his two-out RBI single. The As scored
twice in the second. Jed Lowrie, Vogt and Alberto Callaspo hit consecutive
singles to open the inning. Lowrie scored on Callaspos hit, and Vogt came around
to score on right fielder Alex Rios throwing error. Vogt added RBI singles in
the third and fifth. Coco Crisp hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth, and Norris
hit a three-run shot, his fourth career pinch-hit homer, in the sixth. "It seems
like all the catchers are producing, even when they are all in the lineup,"
Milone said. "Its a lot of fun right now." Odour hit a solo homer in the fifth
and added a two-run triple in the seventh. Rios hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth
and Daniel Robertson drove in a run in the seventh. Norris added a two-run
double in the eighth. NOTES: Robbie Ross was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock to
make room for Poreda. ... The Rangers signed veteran 1B Carlos Pena to a minor
league deal. ... Darvish owns a 7.59 ERA in four career starts at the Coliseum
in Oakland. ... RHP Nick Tepesch (2-2, 3.94 ERA) starts for the Rangers in
Wednesdays series finale. Hes won three straight over AL West opponents. RHP
Sonny Gray (6-3, 2.93) goes for the As. He has lost his last two. ... As LHP
Drew Pomeranz was placed on the 15-day DL with a broken right hand. He was
injured when he punched the back of a chair in frustration Monday night after
losing to Texas in his shortest outing of the season. ... As RHP Evan Scribner
was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento. Oakland also obtained LHP Brad Mills for
cash in a trade with Milwaukee.
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