MLB notes: Phillies get Howie Kendrick from Dodgers
PHILADELPHIA – The Phillies have acquired Howie Kendrick from the Los Angeles Dodgers for first baseman Darin Ruf and utilityman Darnell Sweeney.
A 2011 AL All-Star, Kendrick hit .255 with 26 doubles, eight home runs, 40 RBIs, a team-leading 10 stolen bases and a .326 on-base percentage for the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The 33-year-old Kendrick made 123 starts – 79 in left field, 23 at second base, 14 at third base and seven at first base – and made only five errors.
Kendrick is a career .289 hitter with 95 homers, 595 RBIs, 111 stolen bases and a .332 on-base percentage. He is signed to a deal that pays him $10 million next year.
Ruf hit .205 with three home runs and nine RBIs last season. The 30-year-old has a .240 batting average with 35 homers in his career. Sweeney spent the entire season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He hit .233 with six homers, 35 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. Sweeney played second base, third base, shortstop and center field for the Iron Pigs.
Red Sox: Betts undergoes arthroscopic surgery on right knee
BOSTON – Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
The team announced the procedure on Friday, saying it included repair of cartilage and loose fragment removal.
He is expected to make a full recovery in time for spring training, which opens Feb. 14 for the Red Sox.
Betts is coming off a career season in which he was chosen an All-Star for the first time, posting career-high marks in batting average (.318), home runs (31) and RBIs (131). He was also a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner, becoming the seventh Red Sox player to earn both awards in the same season.
Angels sign RHP Jesse Chavez to $5.75 million, 1-year deal
ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Los Angeles Angels have signed right-hander Jesse Chavez to a $5.75 million, one-year contract.
The Angels also designated outfielder Rafael Ortega for assignment Friday night.
Chavez went 2-2 with a 4.43 ERA in 62 games last season for the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitched exclusively as a reliever at the start of his career and again last season, but also started 47 games over the 2014 and 2015 seasons for Oakland.
The Southern California native is joining his seventh team during a nine-year career in the big leagues. Chavez is likely to compete for a spot in the Angels’ starting rotation, which has lost depth due to injuries. Matt Shoemaker, Tyler Skaggs and Ricky Nolasco are also in the rotation along with ace Garrett Richards.
AP source: Bartolo Colon, 43, and Braves agree on deal
ATLANTA – A person familiar with the situation says the Atlanta Braves have added another 40-year-old to their starting rotation, agreeing to terms with Bartolo Colon.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because no announcement is expected from the Braves until next week on the reported $12.5 million, one-year deal with the 43-year-old Colon.
The agreement is subject to a physical and comes one day after the Braves announced an agreement with 42-year-old R.A. Dickey.
Colon went 15-8 with a 3.43 ERA for the New York Mets in 2016. He was picked for the All-Star Game and became the oldest player in baseball history to hit his first career homer when he went deep at San Diego on May 7. MLB.com first reported the deal.
Brewers, manager Craig Counsell agree to 3-year extension
MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Brewers and manager Craig Counsell have agreed to a three-year contract extension through the 2020 season.
General manager David Stearns made the announcement on Friday at Miller Park.
The 46-year-old Counsell just finished his first full season as skipper. He has a 134-165 record since taking over in May 2015 for the fired Ron Roenicke.
The rebuilding Brewers finished 73-89 this past season, a five-win improvement from 2015.
Counsell grew up in the Milwaukee area. His father, John, worked in the Brewers front office in the 1980s.