Ex-Athletic Norris denies abuse claim
Mariners lock up shortstop Segura with five-year deal
Tampa Bay Rays catcher Derek Norris denies a claim by his ex-fiancee that he was physically and emotionally abusive to her during their relationship and that he will cooperate with Major League Baseball’s investigation of the matter.
Kristen Eck told the Tampa Bay Times on Wednesday that she left Norris last June, about eight months after a 2015 incident in which Eck said the player put her in a “chokehold” and grabbed her hair and arms after she confronted Norris about talking to another woman.
Norris, a former A’s catcher, said in a statement released before Wednesday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox that he wants to be “absolutely clear that abuse of any form, is completely unacceptable.”
“Allegations regarding this issue are a very serious matter and should not be taken lightly under any circumstances. That being said, in this circumstance, the comments made by my ex-fiancee could not be further from the truth,” the player added.
“I have NEVER been physically or emotionally abusive towards her, or anyone else in my life,” Norris said. “I plan to go above and beyond to assist MLB with their investigation into this matter.”
Mariners: Seattle agreed to a $70 million, five-year contract with shortstop Jean Segura covering 2018-22, a deal that brings stability to what has been a position of flux for more than a decade.
Segura was the centerpiece of one of Seattle’s biggest offseason moves, being acquired from Arizona as part of a five-player trade. Despite two stints on the disabled list, Segura entered Wednesday leading the American League in hitting with a .341 average.
Red Sox: Boston announcer Jerry Remy apologized for his on-air remarks a night earlier that pitchers such as Yankees star Masahiro Tanaka shouldn’t be allowed to have translators on the mound.
“I sincerely apologize to those who were offended by my comments during the telecast last night,” Remy tweeted.
During the NESN broadcast of the Boston-New York game at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, Remy said pitchers such as the Japanese-born Tanaka should “learn baseball language.”
Orioles: Pitcher Edwin Jackson will resume his major league career with Baltimore — his 12th big league team — after the Orioles selected his contract from Triple-A Norfolk. Jackson, 33, broke into the big leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2003.