Former Yankees closer Wetteland arrested
Charged in Texas with sex abuse of child under 14
John Wetteland, a former All-Star and World Series MVP, has been charged in Texas with continuous sex abuse of a child under age 14.
Wetteland, 52, was arrested Monday and freed on $25,000 bond, according to Denton County jail records. Wetteland lives in the Dallas-area suburb of Trophy Club.
Bartonville Police Chief Bobby Dowell said the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services contacted his office last week. After an investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Wetteland, who was taken into custody by Denton County sheriff’s deputies.
Dowell said that because of the nature of the offense and the stage of the investigation, he had no further details to release. DFPS spokeswoman Marissa Gonzales said details of the agency’s cases are confidential.
According to a consolidated complaint and probable cause affidavit, Wetteland is accused of having a child perform a sex act on him, beginning in 2004 when the child was 4. The accuser said it happened twice more during a two-year period.
The Associated Press was not able to contact Wetteland or his attorney for comment.
Wetteland was the Most Valuable Player of the 1996 World Series when he helped the New York Yankees beat the Atlanta Braves. He posted four saves in that Series, still a major league record.
He’s also been inducted into the Texas Rangers’ Hall of Fame.
Wetteland, a three-time All-Star, ranks 15th on the all-time list with 330 saves. He had a 48-45 record with a 2.93 ERA in a 12-season career also included stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Montreal Expos.
Lowrie officially joins Mets:
It wasn’t necessarily the splashy signing Mets fans were clamoring for, but the team’s surprising acquisition of Jed Lowrie became official Tuesday, providing them with infield depth and adding to the slew of moves new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen has made in his early tenure.
Lowrie, 34, was signed for two years, $20 million and will be introduced Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at Citi Field. That meeting also will be something of a reunion, because Van Wagenen, his former agent, will be there to greet him. Additionally, Van Wagenen will address the media for the first time in several weeks, perhaps shedding some light on the team’s next moves.
With the A’s last year, Lowrie made the All-Star team for the first time in his 11-year career, and compiled a slash line of .267/.353./.448 with career highs in home runs (23) and RBIs (99). He has a career .262 batting average and .335 on-base percentage.
Nationals sign Dozier:
Brian Dozier turned down a more lucrative deal to join what he hopes is a playoff team with the Nationals. The 31-year-old signed a $9 million, one-year contract with Washington that makes him the new second baseman and potentially a bridge from Daniel Murphy to prospect Carter Kieboom. Dozier said other clubs offered him more money and longer deals, but he and his wife opted for the opportunity to win now.
“We’re not the ones to go with the highest bidder by any means or any of that kind of stuff,” Dozier said on a conference call. “With more years and dollars out there, we felt like this one-year deal with the Nats would be the best fit for us.”
Dozier’s contract includes $2 million deferred without interest until Jan. 15, 2020. Next winter could bring an even bigger windfall if he’s able to get his swing back on track.
Last season, Dozier battled a bone bruise in his left knee and hit a career-low .215 with 21 homers with the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers. He averaged 35 homers over the preceding three seasons, with a career best of 42 for Minnesota in 2016, and is a career .246 hitter.
Washington could be counting on Dozier to supply some of that power in the middle of the lineup if outfielder Bryce Harper signs elsewhere. Dozier can’t control that, but he said his struggles in 2018 serve as motivation to bounce back.