Yanks’ Stanton questionable for Opening Day
New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton will likely miss Opening Day because of a strained right calf, another significant injury for a team that was beset by health problems last season.
Manager Aaron Boone said Stanton was hurt near the end of defensive drills on Tuesday. An MRI found a Grade 1 strain.
The announcement came a day after New York said All-Star pitcher Luis Severino needed Tommy John surgery and would miss the entire season. Slugger Aaron Judge and lefty James Paxton already had been slowed by injuries.
The Yankees put a major league-record 30 players on the injured list last year, with Stanton missing most of the season.
Stanton played in just 18 games due a number of injuries last season.
SANO SACRIFICES TO BRING IN DONALDSON >> For the Twins to land free agent Josh Donaldson, Miguel Sano knew what would be asked of him. He didn’t hesitate.
Instead, Sano sent a video to Donaldson, lobbying the 2015 American League MVP to join the Twins. The key to Sano’s pitch: He would happily move across the infield to play first base with Donaldson taking over at third.
Sano has appeared in just 31 games at first base since making his big league debut in 2015, spending the last five seasons working to improve at third.
“The first time I met him, I saw that he’s a really good guy and he’s got a lot of energy,” Sano said. “He’s the kind of player that I love to see. He’s positive, and he loves the game. He likes to win and play hard. That’s something that I see all the time.”
TEBOW TO PLAY IN WBC >> Tim Tebow is set to swing into action for a new team.
The New York Mets minor league outfielder and former Heisman Trophywinning quarterback will play for the Philippines next month in the World Baseball Classic.
Tebow was born in the Philippines in 1987 when his parents were serving as missionaries in the country. The family moved to Florida when he was 3 years old.
The Philippines will play in a WBC qualifying tournament March 20-25 in Tucson, Arizona. BREGMAN NOT BOTHERED BY HBP >> Houston’s Alex Bregman was hit on the back by a breaking ball from St. Louis reliever Ramon Santos on Wednesday, the seventh Astros player plunked in five spring training games.
“It was a splitter,” Bregman said. “It just got away from him.”
Some opposing players have called for retaliation against the Astros following MLB’s finding that Houston broke rules against electronic sign-stealing en route to its 2017 World Series title. JIMENEZ ON COMEBACK TRAIL >> It was only a short outing in a Cactus League game, but it meant a lot to Ubaldo Jimenez.
The 36-year-old took another step in his comeback attempt with the Colorado Rockies, pitching two innings against the Texas Rangers.
Jimenez threw 21 pitches, 14 for strikes. He gave up two hits and a run.
“It might be only a start for anyone else, but not for me,” Jimenez said. “It felt great, coming back to the Rockies.”