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Ex-Met Duda signs with Royals
Lucas Duda and the Royals have agreed to a one-year contract, giving Kansas City a replacement for Eric Hosmer at first base.
The 32-year-old Duda hit .217 with 30 homers and 64 RBIs last year for the New York Mets and Tampa Bay, which acquired him on July 27.
Drafted by the Mets in 2007, he has a .242 with 138 homers and 405 RBIs in eight major league seasons.
Duda was 5 for 19 (.263) with two RBIs against the Royals in the 2015 World Series.
Hosmer left as a free agent and signed with San Diego.
To clear a roster spot, the Royals designated outfielder Billy Burns for assignment.
Twins finalize deal with Morrison
The Minnesota Twins and designated hitter Logan Morrison finalized a $6.5 million, one-year contract that includes a 2019 club option that can become guaranteed.
The deal was announced Wednesday, three days after the two sides agreed to terms. Morrison, who has spent the majority of his major league career as a first baseman and also played the corner outfield positions, hit 38 home runs in 2017 for Tampa Bay.
The 30-year-old drove in 85 runs for the Rays last season and posted a career-best .868 on-base-plus-slugging percentage that was higher than any Twins player.
Injury forces Nadal to miss Mexican Open
Rafael Nadal’s comeback from a hip injury is on hold after the second-ranked Spaniard pulled out of the Mexican Open, saying he needs more time to recover.
Nadal was forced to retire during the Australian Open quarterfinals and hasn’t played since. He was set to play Feliciano Lopez in his opening match on Wednesday but said he felt pain during his final training session on Tuesday.
Nadal said “I think this is less serious than what happened there (in Australia). But there is a risk to make this problem bigger.”
The former No. 1 still hopes to be fit to play in Indian Wells and Miami next month.
Nadal won the Acapulco tournament in 2005 and 2013.