Pedroia back on IL after Sox claim pitcher Valdez
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The Boston Red Sox placed second baseman Dustin Pedroia on the 60-day injured list Sunday, further putting in doubt whether the former AL MVP will play again.
The Red Sox made the move while claiming right-hander Phillips Valdez off
waivers from the Seattle Mariners.
The 36-year-old Pedroia has played just nine games over the last two seasons. The four-time All-Star has spent the time trying to recover from an injury he sustained when Baltimore's Manny Machado slid spikes-high into his left knee in May 2017.
Pedroia has two years and $25 million remaining on his contract.
Earlier this month, new Boston manager Ron Roenicke said Pedroia wouldn't report to spring training with the rest of the position players.
"When a guy just ages and then he's not as good, that part's easy to see. But not a guy who has an injury and because of it has not been able to perform," Roenicke said at the time. "That part is really difficult."
This was the third straight spring the Red Sox were hoping Pedroia could return to the lineup. They signed infielder José Peraza to a one-year contract in December, and Michael Chavis also plays second base.
Pedroia is the longest-tenured player on the Red Sox roster. He was AL Rookie of the Year when Boston won the 2007 World Series, was AL MVP and the next season and helped the Red Sox win another title in 2013.
Pedroia had surgery after the 2017 season and admitted to rushing back the next year. He played in only three games in late May before going back on the injured list as the Red Sox posted a franchise-record 108 wins and another crown.
Last season, Pedroia played just six games. Over the winter, the Red Sox said Pedroia had incurred a “significant setback" in his comeback bid.
Pedroia is a four-time Gold Glover with a career .299 batting average, 140 home runs and 725 RBIs.
The 28-year-old Valdez made his major league debut last season. He was 0-0 with a 3.94 ERA in 11 relief appearances for Texas. The Mariners claimed off waivers from Texas in November.
Former Red Sox Holt guaranteed $3.25M by Brewers
PHOENIX (AP) — Utilityman Brock Holt is guaranteed $3.25 million under his one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, which includes a club option for 2021 and performance bonuses that could make the deal worth $8.25 million over two seasons.
Holt has a $2.5 million salary this year as part as the agreement announced Wednesday, and the Brewers have a $5 million option for 2021 with a $750,000 buyout. He can earn $750,000 in performance bonuses this year based on plate appearances: $250,000 each for 400, 425 and 450.
He would earn $100,000 if he is voted MVP, $75,000 for finishing second and $50,000 for third. He also would get $50,000 each for All-Star selection, Comeback Player of the Year, Silver Slugger, Hank Aaron Award and World Series MVP. He would receive $25,000 apiece for Gold Glove and League Championship Series MVP.
A 31-year-old left-handed batter, Holt spent his first eight major league seasons with the Boston Red Sox and was an All-Star in 2015.
Holt hit a career-high .297 last year with three homers and 31 RBIs in 295 plate appearances while playing every position except pitcher, catcher and center field.
He has a .271 career batting average and .714 OPS.
Betts draws big cheer, drives in run during Dodgers debut
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Mookie Betts still has some work to do, settling in with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
On the field, though, he’s fine.
“The hardest thing is finding a house and learning everybody’s name,” Betts said Sunday after making his Cactus League debut. “The baseball’s the same. We all have the same focus.”
Betts led off and played right field for the Dodgers against the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch. He received an enthusiastic welcome from the sellout crowd of 13,282 when he was introduced before the game with the rest of the Dodger starters and again when he batted in the first inning.
He flied out to left in his first at-bat, flied deep to right in the third inning and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to center in the fifth inning before coming out of the game.
“Just seeing him at the top of the order, in our lineup, makes everybody around him better,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the Dodgers beat the Cubs 4-2. “You felt the energy from the fans too.”
Betts, 27, was dealt to the Dodgers from Boston after the two parties were unable to come to an agreement on a long-term contract. He is a free agent after this season.
But after playing in Boston, winning an MVP and a World Series there, he doesn’t feel any extra pressure on a new team with high expectations, or entering his free-agent season.
“I try to channel it into working hard,” he said. “I don’t worry about it.”
Roberts has been impressed with Betts’ work ethic, as well as his mental approach and overall attitude.
“I knew he’d be professional in every sense of the word,” Roberts said. “I didn’t realize he’d be as open to talking about how he’s feeling at the plate or what he does defensively. A lot of guys just do things, but to kind of share of information, he’s always willing to have a conversation about baseball.”