Baseball: M’s close in on Weaver deal
Jeff Weaver and the Seattle Mariners have just about finalized a one-year contract worth $8,325,000 – the same salary he had last year.
Only minor details remain for the deal to be worked out, a person familiar with the negotiations said Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been completed.
The 30-year-old right-hander, who helped the St. Louis Cardinals win their first World Series title since 1982, probably will take a physical early next week.
In addition to his base salary, Weaver would be able to earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses: $300,000 each for 180 innings or 28 starts, and 190 innings or 30 starts, and $400,000 for 200 innings or 32 starts.
Weaver has made 240 starts over eight major league seasons – 34 each in 2004 and 2005, and 31 last year.
Weaver was 3-10 with a 6.29 ERA when the Los Angeles Angels designated him for assignment on June 30, then traded him to the Cardinals five days later. He was 5-4 with a 5.18 ERA with the Cardinals, but starred during the postseason. He was 1-1 in the World Series against Detroit, getting the victory in the Game 5 clincher by allowing two runs – one earned – and five hits in eight innings.
He would join a Seattle rotation with three new starters. The Mariners, coming off three straight last-place finishes in the American League West, have a slimmed-down Felix Hernandez and Jarrod Washburn returning.
Horacio Ramirez was acquired in a trade with Atlanta for setup reliever Rafael Soriano. Miguel Batista, an 11-game winner with Arizona last season, agreed to a $25 million, three-year contract last month.
Minaya in for Africa trip
New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya will be among a delegation of baseball officials going to Accra, Ghana, next week to hold a clinic and promote baseball.
Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, former San Francisco and Chicago Cubs manager Dusty Baker also will be on the trip along with Dave Stewart, Bob Watson and Reggie Smith, Minaya said. The group is scheduled to leave New York on Thursday, spend four days in Ghana and return Feb. 6.
Ryan hospitalized
Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan was hospitalized and in good condition with an undisclosed ailment, his son said.
The 59-year-old strikeout king checked into Round Rock Medical Center in Texas for treatment of recurring symptoms from a pre-existing medical condition, Reid Ryan said.
Reid Ryan declined to specify the condition, but said it was discovered when his father had double-bypass heart surgery in 2000.
His son said it was not an emergency.
“He takes medication for it,” Reid Ryan said. “From time to time, he has episodes that require him to get checked out when he has pain or something.”
Clearing the bases
The Boston Red Sox announced their long-ago agreed-to deal with J.D. Drew that puts the left-handed hitting right fielder in the fifth spot in the batting order. The five-year, $70 million agreement was reached on Dec. 5 but not finished until the lawyers worked out an arrangement that would allow the Red Sox to opt out of the guaranteed money for 2010 and 2011 if Drew’s right shoulder injury recurs. … Jake Peavy’s disorderly conduct charge was dismissed after the San Diego Padres pitcher apologized for a confrontation with a security officer when he double parked to unload baseball gear at Mobile Regional Airport in Alabama.