Suzuki lands hug from Trump for hat choice
The lasting image of the world champion Washington Nationals’ visit to the White House on Monday was President Trump’s awkward hug of former A’s catcher Kurt Suzuki.
Trump, though, can be forgiven for his unbridled show of affection toward Suzuki, who donned a “Make America Great Again” hat after being summoned to the podium by the president.
“I love you all. I love you all. Thank you,” Suzuki told the crowd on the South Lawn after putting on the president’s signature hat when Trump asked him to come say a few words.
Trump rubbed Suzuki’s shoulders before embracing him from behind and saying of the 36-year-old catcher, “I love him.”
The mutual admiration between Trump and Suzuki is noteworthy since the traditional White House visits by championship sports teams have become politicized in recent years. Like when the Warriors twice declined to meet Trump in Washington after winning NBA titles.
In fact, Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle, a former batterymate of Suzuki’s in Oakland, was the most outspoken of the few Washington players who chose not to attend Monday’s ceremony.
“There’s a lot of things, policies that I disagree with, but at the end of the day, it has more to do with the divisive rhetoric and the enabling of conspiracy theories and widening the divide in this country,” Doolittle told The Washington Post.
“At the end of the day, as much as I wanted to be there with my teammates and share that experience with my teammates, I can’t do it. I just can’t do it.
“People say you should go because it’s about respecting the office of the president,” added Doolittle. “And I think over the course of his time in office (Trump’s) done a lot of things that maybe don’t respect the office.”
Doolittle and Suzuki, who was the A’s catcher when the left-hander made his big league debut with Oakland in 2012, rode in the same float during the championship parade in Washington last week after the Nationals beat the Astros in seven games.
A’s free-agent pitcher Brett Anderson poked fun at his two former teammates regarding visiting Trump’s White House.
“He tell you about his new hat on the float?” Anderson asked Doolittle on Twitter.
MARTINEZ STAYS WITH BOSTON >> Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez has decided to keep his contract with the Red Sox instead of becoming a free agent again.
Martinez signed a $110 million, five-year deal after teams had started reporting to spring training in 2018. ANDRUS REMAINS IN TEXAS >> Elvis Andrus is staying with the Rangers after the shortstop passed up on a second chance to opt out of his contract and become a free agent.
Andrus has $43 million and three years left on his contract in Texas. ANGELS DECLINE CALHOUN >> The Los Angeles Angels have declined their $14 million contract option for next season on longtime right fielder Kole Calhoun.
Calhoun gets a $1 million buyout as part of his $26 million, three-year contract and becomes a free agent for the first time.
YANKEES FREE UP GREGORIOUS >> The Yankees failed to make a $17.8 million qualifying offer to Didi Gregorius and will not receive draft-pick compensation if the free-agent shortstop signs with another team.
Gregorius, who turns 30 in February, came back from Tommy John surgery in early June and hit .238 with 16 homers and 61 RBIs in 82 games.
If New York doesn’t re-sign Gregorius, it could move Gleyber Torres from second to shortstop, make DJ LeMahieu the regular second baseman and allocate more payroll to starting pitching.
BREWERS DEAL ANDERSON >> The Brewers cut $15 million in payroll for next season, trading right-hander Chase Anderson to the Toronto Blue Jays for prospect Chad Spanberger and declining a $7.5 million option on first baseman Eric Thames.
Golf
MICKELSON STREAK ENDS >> The streak ended with little fanfare, and that was just fine with Phil Mickelson.
He tied for 28th in the HSBC Champions. Mickelson played his last nine holes right behind Rory McIlroy, but only because Lefty was in the first group to tee off on the back nine. He signed for a 68 in his final round of the year.
The number that stands out is No. 51, his position this week in the Official World Golf Ranking.
For the first time in nearly 26 years, Mickelson is no longer among the top 50 in the world.
Motorsports
PENSKE NOW OWNS INDY SPEEDWAY >> Roger Penske was a car-loving, 14-year-old who regularly listened to the Indianapolis 500 on the radio when his father landed tickets to the 1951 race. They made the trek from Cleveland, and Penske fell in love when he saw the cars zipping around Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Now he owns the iconic speedway, its hallowed grounds, “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” the IndyCar Series and all its properties in a stunning deal. Penske Entertainment Corp. will soon take over all those entities owned by the Hulman family for 74 years in one of the biggest transactions in the history of motorsports.