Cashman: Extension offer coming for Judge
TAMPA, Fla. – New York Yankees star slugger Aaron Judge will soon get an offer for a long-term contract extension, general manager Brian Cashman said Saturday.
“Between now and opening day we’ll make an offer and he’ll obviously receive an offer and all the conversions will have taken place and will either resolve into a multiyear deal or it won’t,” Cashman said.
“We’re committed. We’ll make an offer and hear what he has to say in response and then it will be pencils down before opening day,” he said.
The Yankees open on April 7 at home against the Boston Red Sox.
Judge has said he doesn’t want to negotiate an extension during the regular season. The outfielder, who turns 30 next month, is eligible to become a free agent after the World Series.
The Yankees and Judge so far have failed to reach a deal for 2022, which could result in the two sides heading into arbitration during the season. He asked for a raise from $10,175,000 to $21 million, and the Yankees offered $17 million.
“Our position has always been, we wind up only in a hearing if we’re dragged there,” Cashman said. “We only go when forced to go. We’re not afraid of going. Our history shows that we stay out of that arena unless we’re compelled to get there. We’ll see how it all plays out.”
Judge hit .287 with 39 homers and 98 RBIS in 148 games last season.
Grapefruit League debut of Cards’ Molina delayed 1 day
JUPITER, Fla. – The Grapefruit League debut of St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina has been pushed back another day in order to give him more time to hone his swing, manager Oliver Marmol said on Saturday.
Molina had been scheduled to play in Sunday’s game against the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie.
“After yesterday and waking up, he just wants to get his legs under him and get some at-bats today,” Marmol said.
The 10-time All-star Molina is now scheduled to make his debut on Monday against Houston.
“He feels playing at home on Monday probably makes more sense,” Marmol said.
Molina, 39, missed the first week of what could be his final spring training for personal reasons.
On Friday, he played in his first live simulated game against minor leaguers, catching pitcher Miles Mikolas for four innings and going 0 for 4, flying out twice and grounding out twice.
The nine-time Gold Glove winner also threw out a would-be base stealer.
Reds sign Pham to boost outfield
GOODYEAR, Ariz. – The Cincinnati Reds signed free agent outfielder Tommy Pham on Saturday, trying to boost a spot where a pair of All-stars no longer play.
Nick Castellanos signed this month with Philadelphia as a free agent and left fielder Jesse Winker was traded to
Seattle.
Reds manager David Bell said Pham “will be a big part of our lineup.” Pham gives Cincinnati a right-handed hitting outfielder who can hit left-handed pitching.
“He’s going to play a lot,” Bell said. “He is going to play left field. He’s another guy because of the DH will be part of that mix. Tommy Pham is an all-around player. We do have the DH this year so, again it just opens up that rotation.”
The 34-year-old Pham is expected to add speed and power to the Reds’ lineup in the outfield with Nick Senzel in center and Tyler Naquin in right.
Guardians pitcher Karinchak sidelined
GOODYEAR, Arizona – Guardians reliever James Karinchak could miss the start of the regular season with a shoulder strain suffered earlier this week in camp.
One of Cleveland’s top bullpen arms, Karinchak underwent an MRI on Thursday that revealed a mild strain in his right teres major muscle. The team said Karinchak has already shown improvement, but won’t throw for up to 10 days before being re-evaluated.
The Guardians open the season on April 7 in Kansas City.
The hard-throwing Karinchak, who also has a devastating curveball, went 7-4 with a 4.07 ERA and 11 saves last season. Manager Terry Francona has used Karinchak in a set-up role and as a closer.
MLB asks umps for more random checks for sticky substances
Major League Baseball is asking umpires to make more random checks of pitchers for sticky substances after watching its crackdown become less effective late last season.
MLB instituted regular checks last June 21 for grip aids. Seattle’s Héctor Santiago was ejected on June 27 and Arizona’s Caleb Smith was tossed on Aug. 18, and both received 10-game suspensions.
“After an initial dip in spin rates as a result of the periodic checks, unfortunately the data showed that spin rates started to rise toward the end of the season as players grew accustomed to the circumstances of routine umpire checks,” MLB Senior Vice President of On-field Operations Mike Hill wrote in a memorandum Friday to team owners, executives and managers, and all major and minor league players.
“As a result, umpires have been instructed to be more vigilant and unpredictable in the timing and scope of their checks during the 2022 season,” he said.
The memorandum, first reported by Sports Illustrated, was obtained by The Associated Press.