Dodgers Get Nixon From Toronto
The Los Angeles Dodgers, looking to add speed at the top of their lineup, acquired outfielder Otis Nixon from the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday for minor-league catcher Bobby Cripps.
Nixon, second in the A.L. with 47 stolen bases, will start in center field for the Dodgers, manager Bill Russell said.
“He’s got 47 stolen bases and he’s still getting on base,” Russell said. “You get a guy with that experience, he can bring a lot here. He can really help us.”
Brett Butler and Nixon will be the first two hitters in the lineup, but Russell doesn’t know who will bat first.
Nixon, 38, hit .262 with 26 RBIs in 102 games for Toronto. He is a career .268 hitter with 545 career steals, including 47 in 57 attempts this year.
The Dodgers, who have Butler in left field and Raul Mondesi in right, trailed San Francisco by two games in the N.L. West when the trade for Nixon was announced.
Nixon will be a free agent at the end of the season.
Phillips must see doctor
Tony Phillips was charged in California on Tuesday with felony possession of cocaine and the Anaheim Angels announced later that the infielder would not return to the lineup until he met with doctors representing baseball and the players’ union.
Phillips was arrested early Sunday by Anaheim police who said he bought a small quantity of free-base cocaine at a motel.
After missing Sunday’s game and spending Monday at his home in Arizona, Phillips entered the Angels clubhouse about 2-1/2 hours before Tuesday night’s game against his former team, the Chicago White Sox.
Bosio signs minor-league pact
Former Seattle Mariners pitcher Chris Bosio has signed a minor-league deal with the Boston Red Sox, and he will begin his comeback attempt with Triple-A Pawtucket.
Bosio, 34, has had nine knee operations and has not pitched since September. With Seattle in 1996, he was 4-4 with a 5.93 ERA and twice went on the disabled list.
In his best year, 1989 with the Milwaukee Brewers, he was 15-10 with a 2.95 ERA. In all, he has a 94-93 record and 3.96 ERA over 11 major league seasons. He threw a no-hitter for the Mariners against Boston on April 18, 1993.
Saberhagen looks sharp
Boston Red Sox right-hander Bret Saberhagen allowed seven hits and one run in six innings Tuesday in his first Triple-A pitching assignment since beginning his rehabilitation after right shoulder surgery.
Saberhagen, pitching for Pawtucket in a 1-0 loss to Richmond in an International League game, struck out three and walked none over 76 pitches, 53 for strikes. His fastball was at 89 mph.
Gwynn on the mend
Tony Gwynn’s un-excellent adventure is finally over.
Two days after having a kidney stone surgically removed while on a road trip, the batting star was back in uniform, although he’s not yet ready to return to the San Diego Padres’ lineup.
Gwynn will probably sit until Thursday’s game against Cincinnati.