The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Arrieta feeling fine despite shaky start
He gives up 4 runs, 7 hits to Pirates in second spring start.
Jake Arrieta felt fine after his second spring training start with the Phillies, and that was more important than the mediocre results.
Arrieta allowed four runs, seven hits and struck out three over three innings in the Phillies’ 5-5, nine-inning tie against the Pirates. He also had a balk and a throwing error on an errant pickoff attempt to first base.
“My body is bouncing back really well the after day,” Arrieta said. “I haven’t been sore at all, knock on wood. Arm strength, I’m happy where it is. All signs point in a really positive direction.”
He threw 45 pitches, up from 31 in his first outing March 22, when he pitched two innings against Detroit.
Arrieta and the Phillies finalized a $75 million, threeyear contract on March 12 that could be worth up to $135 million over five seasons.
Nationals: Put second baseman Daniel Murphy and right-handed reliever Joaquin Benoit on the 10-day disabled list. The Nationals also put righty Koda Glover on the 60-day DL and selected the contract of catcher Miguel Montero.
Murphy had surgery on his right knee shortly after last season and had been expected all along to miss the start of this season. Benoit, 40, who joined the Nats during spring training as a free agent, strained his right forearm during spring training. Glover has tendinitis in his right shoulder.
Montero gets a one-year contract that pays him $1.3 million while in the major leagues. He can earn $1.7 million in performance bonuses.
Astros: Carlos Correa hit a first-inning grand slam as the Astros beat the Brewers 8-1 to finish the exhibition season 21-9, just behind Boston’s major league-best 22-9. Correa had three homers and 11 RBIs in spring training.
Diamondbacks: Infielder Ketel Marte finalized a $24 million, five-year contract, a deal that contains a pair of club options that could make the agreement worth $46 million over seven seasons.
A switch-hitter who plays both middle infield positions, he was obtained from Seattle after the 2016 season and filled in when shortstops Nick Ahmed and Chris Owings were hurt last year. He batted .260 with five homers and 18 RBIs in 73 games, then went 7 for 17 at the plate in four postseason games, including triples from each side of the plate in the NL wild-card win over Colorado.
Mariners: Seattle is monitoring Ichiro Suzuki’s strained right calf to determine whether he’ll be on the opening day roster or the disabled list.
Twins: Right-hander Phil Hughes is beginning the season on the disabled list with a strained left oblique. Manager Paul Molitor said the 31-year-old is “still in the mix” to pitch April 11, the first time Minnesota will need a fifth starter.
Mariners: Seattle is expected to sign Jayson Werth to a minor league contract, a deal contingent on a successful physical. Werth, 38, played in 70 games last year for Washington and hit .226 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs. His production has dropped steadily since he hit .292 in 2014.
Rays: Cut reliever Dan Jennings, enabling them to avoid paying most of his $2,375,000 salary in a non-guaranteed contract. The 30-year-old left-hander is 12-13 with a 2.90 ERA in 310 career big league appearances over six seasons. The Rays also obtained infielder/outfielder Rob Refsnyder from the Indians for $90,000. He has spent parts of three big league seasons with the Yankees and Blue Jays.