In brief: Twins land Young in multiplayer deal
Delmon Young was traded by Tampa Bay to Minnesota on Wednesday night as part of a six-player deal that sent right-hander Matt Garza to the Rays.
In a swap of talented youngsters, the Twins also gave up starting shortstop Jason Bartlett and minor league pitcher Eduardo Morlan while acquiring shortstop Brendan Harris and minor league outfielder Jason Pridie.
“Francisco Cordero is getting a lot of money to fix the problem that cost the Cincinnati Reds a bunch of games.
The National League’s worst bullpen got a new closer when Cordero and the Reds finalized a $46 million, four-year contract.
The 32-year-old right-hander was second in the N.L. with 44 saves and a 2.98 ERA last season for Milwaukee.
“Relief pitcher Scott Linebrink and the White Sox finalized their $19 million, four-year contract, and the right-hander will move into the setup role for Chicago.
“Catcher Jason Kendall finalized a one-year contract that guarantees him $4.25 million with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Kendall will replace switch-hitting Johnny Estrada, traded to the New York Mets last week.
“Reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta has agreed to a $6 million, two-year contract with the Kansas City Royals and will compete for a spot as the team’s primary setup man.
A 34-year-old right-hander, Yabuta spent 12 seasons with the Pacific League’s Chiba Lotte Marines, who are managed by Bobby Valentine.
“The Tampa Bay Rays formally unveiled plans to replace Tropicana Field with a 34,000-seat ballpark that would go up on the downtown site of Al Lang Field, where they play spring training games.
The Rays would pay about a third of the cost, with much of the rest hinging on the sale and redevelopment of Tropicana Field and the surrounding land.
“Jon Lester, who came back from a cancer diagnosis in 2006 to win this year’s World Series clincher for Boston, was honored with the Tony Conigliaro Award for overcoming adversity through spirit, determination and courage.
The 23-year-old pitcher was diagnosed with a rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in August 2006. After cancer treatment during the off-season, he started the year on the disabled list. Lester was recalled in July and finished the regular season 4-0 with a 4.57 ERA.
“St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, eight months after police found him asleep inside his running sport utility vehicle at a stop light and smelling of alcohol in West Palm Beach, Fla.
La Russa said he had decided to plead guilty because it was in the best interest of all concerned.
Basketball
Coach reprimanded
The Mountain West Conference reprimanded Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds for criticizing the officials in the Falcons’ 59-57 loss to Montana during last weekend’s tournament at the Spokane Arena.
The reprimand said Reynolds broke the conference sportsmanship rules with comments published by The Gazette of Colorado Springs, Colo.