Dodgers’ Turner suffers broken wrist after HBP
GLENDALE, ARIZ. » Los Angeles third baseman Justin Turner’s broken left wrist is expected to heal without surgery, according to Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts.
Turner was hurt Monday when hit by a pitch from Oakland’s Kendall Graveman.
Turner arrived at the Dodgers spring training facility with a cast over his wrist Tuesdaymorning and was scheduled to see a hand specialist for an estimate of theamount of time he could miss.
“We know that it’s not a surgery thing, it’s just essentially time,” Roberts said. “That’s the initial thought. That could change but that’s what I’ve heard.”
Turner hit .322 with 21 homers and 71 RBIs last year and was a first-time All-Star. He had 14 RBIs in the postseason, including seven against the Chicago Cubs in the NL Championship Series, when he was voted MVP.
The Dodgers appear poised to move Logan Forsythe from second base to third in Turner’s absence and have Enrique Hernandez and Chase Utley share time at second.
“It obviously makes a lot of sense to have Logan over there a lot more at third, and to kind of put together some guys at second base, and leave Chris (Taylor) in center field,” Roberts said.
Backup catcher Austin Barnes also could see time at second base. BUCHHOLZ, ROYALS FINALIZE MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT » Right-hander Clay Buchholz and the Kansas City Royals have finalized a minor league contract.
The two-time All-Star would get a $1.5 million, one-year deal if added to the 40-man roster. Under the terms of the agreement announced Tuesday, the 32-year-old could earn $250,000 in performance bonuses: $25,000 per start from 10-19.
Drafted by Boston with the 42nd overall pick in 2006, Buchholz made his debut in August 2007 and pitched a no-hitter against Baltimore in his second big league appearance. He was 81-61 in 10 seasons with the Red Sox and made four starts without a decision in the 2013 postseason as Boston won its third World Series title in a decade.
Buchholz was traded to Philadelphia in December 2016 for minor league infielder Josh Tobias, made two starts for the Phillies and needed surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right forearm.
Buchholz was 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA in 7 1/3 innings for the Phillies last season, when hemade $13.5million in the second option year of a contract he signed with Boston that paid him $56.75 million from 2011-17. BLUE JAYS NAME HAPP OPENING DAY STARTER » J.A. Happ has been picked to start opening day for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Manager John Gibbons said Tuesday that the 35-year-old left-hander will face the New York Yankees and right-hander Luis Severino on March 29. Happ went 10-11 with a 3.53 ERA in 25 starts last season.
He will face a Yankees lineup that could see Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez hit 2-3-4.
Entering spring training, Marcus Stroman was expected to get the opening day assignment, but he was slowed by right shoulder inflammation. Stroman will start the finale of the four-game series against the Yankees.
Aaron Sanchez will start the second game, followed by Marco Estrada. Jaime Garcia will be the Blue Jays’ fifth starter.