Angels’ Ohtani struggles in exhibition start
TEMPE, ARIZ. » Angels rookie Shohei Ohtani allowed six runs while pitching three innings in an exhibition game against the Mexican League’s Tijuana Toros on Friday.
The 23-year-old Ohtani struck out six and walked one.
Ohtani spent five seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters before signing with the Angels as an international free agent on Dec. 10. He is trying to become the first player in nearly 100 years to play regularly as a pitcher and hitter, but he has had mixed results so far this spring.
Dodgers’ Jansen scratched with hamstring injury
GLENDALE, ARIZ. » Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen was held out of what was to have been his first big league spring training game this year due to an injured upper right hamstring.
“When he was getting ready today, his pregame stuff and kind of getting his legs loose, it tightened up on him,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday after a 6-4 win over a Kansas City split squad. “We had the trainers look at him and it just made sense to just not throw him out there.”
Jansen never warmed up in the bullpen and Zach Neal came out to pitch the ninth inning for the Dodgers. Roberts said he expects Jansen will pitch in a minor league game on Monday, then hopefully work in his first big league spring training game next Thursday against the Royals.
A two-time All-Star, Jansen has been brought along slowly in spring training after 78 games and 85 innings last year, including the postseason. Jansen also dealt with a flu-like virus.
Clark faults Marlins for breaking up team
JUPITER, FLA. » Baseball players’ union head Tony Clark claims the Marlins’ rebuilding decision is different from the ones that led to World Series titles for the Chicago Cubs and Houston because Miami broke up a competitive club.
“Those teams didn’t tear themselves down,” Clark said Friday. “Those teams went through rough stretches. And then they added, too. When you start with a team that has a number of talented players and you tear that down, it’s a different conversation than starting from scratch and building up.”
The union filed a grievance two weeks ago against Miami, Pittsburgh, Oakland and Tampa Bay, accusing them of not properly using money received in revenue sharing to improve their team’s ability to win.
After the Marlins were sold in October to Bruce Sherman’s ownership group, the management team headed by former Yankees star Derek Jeter traded NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Christian Yelich and Dee Gordon for prospects.
Clark said those decisions impacted the free agent market and “can be a detriment to the industry as a whole.”
Miami’s home attendance of 1.65 million last season was 28th among the 30 teams, ahead of only Oakland and Tampa Bay.
Former Red Sox closer Uehara return to Japan
TOKYO » Former major league pitcher Koji Uehara returned to his former Japanese team on Friday, agreeing to a one-year contract with the Yomiuri Giants worth $1.87 million.
The 42-year-old right-handed closer helped the Boston Red Sox win the World Series in 2013 when he was named MVP of the American League Championship Series. He spent nine seasons in MLB, compiling 95 saves and a 2.66 ERA.
Prior to going to the U.S., Uehara was a member of the Giants from 1999-2008 and was a two-time winner of the Sawamura Award, Japan’s version of the Cy Young Award.
Last season, Uehara pitched in 49 games for the Chicago Cubs, winning three, losing four and saving two with a 3.98 ERA.
Moustakas, Royals agree to 1-year contract
Mike Moustakas is staying with the Royals in a surprising turn dictated by a historically slow free-agent market.
Kansas City agreed to a oneyear contract that guarantees the third baseman $6.5 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The deal could be worth up to $22.7 million over two seasons, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Moustakas gets a $5.5 million salary this year and has the chance to earn $2.2 million in performance bonuses.
The infielder turned down a $17.4 million, one-year qualifying offer from the Royals in November.