The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Yankees plan to go slowly with Tanaka
An eyebrow or two was raised two weeks ago when Masahiro Tanaka said he wouldn’t play in this year’s World Baseball Classic, something the right-hander did in 2009 and 2013.
Larry Rothschild said last week it has nothing to do with the pitcher’s health, always Yankees fans’ primary concern with Tanaka.
“He’s ahead of where he was last year,” the Yankees pitching coach said. “He’s already been on the mound a little bit. Coming in, he seems to be in a good place.”
Tanaka, who worked out at the club’s minor-league complex in Tampa, entered last spring a bit behind as he underwent a procedure to remove a bone spur in his right elbow shortly after the 2015 season ended.
The deliberate spring pace hardly acted as a hindrance as Tanaka went 14-4 with a 3.07 ERA in 31 games.
General manager Brian Cashman said the 28-yearold Tanaka, who missed his final scheduled start of last season with a minor flexor mass strain in his right forearm, will likely be brought along slowly again, though exactly how that plays out hasn’t been determined.
Teixeira joins ESPN
Mark Teixeira will work as an ESPN analyst following his retirement as a player.
ESPN said it had reached a multiyear agreement with the three-time All-Star first baseman. Teixeira will appear on baseball studio coverage, anchor show “SportsCenter” and ESPN radio.
The 36-year-old Teixeira hit 409 home runs for Texas (2003-07), Atlanta (2007-08), the Los Angeles Angels (2008) and the New York Yankees (2009-16).
Shelby Miller loses
The Diamondbacks won their salary arbitration case against pitcher Shelby Miller, who will be paid $4.7 million this year instead of his $5.1 million request.
The 26-year-old righthander went 3-12 with a 6.15 ERA in 20 starts last year and made $4.35 million.
He was acquired from Atlanta along with minor league pitcher Gabe Speier in a December 2015 trade that sent No. 1 overall 2015 draft pick Dansby Swanson to the Braves along with outfielder Ender Inciarte and pitcher Aaron Blair. Miller was demoted to the minor leagues in July during the All-Star break, made eight starts for Triple-A Reno and returned Aug. 31.