MLB notes: ‘Ruth, Mantle, Will Ferrell’; Ferrell storms spring training
Will Ferrell stormed through his Arizona spring training odyssey and emerged – well – just like Will Ferrell.
“Ruth, Musial, Mantle, Will Ferrell,” he said, addressing the crowd at his final stop Thursday night. “Who would have thought that one day those names would be synonymous? Show of hands – scratch that, never mind.”
The star of “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” “Elf” and many other movies started in an Oakland Athletics uniform at noon, then was off to four other ballparks, playing for each team, and at every position along the way.
Ten teams, five ballparks.
“When I embarked on this journey way back at breakfast,” Ferrell said, “I thought to myself, ‘Could I do it?’ The answer is yes.”
He hugged a guy in an elf suit as he left Mesa, held up a sign saying “Remember These Games Don’t Count’ as impromptu third base coach for the Chicago Cubs, struck out twice on three pitches each, watched two home runs sail over his head, and chased the ball around the outfield during a challenging stint in left field for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
His caravan took him from Mesa to Tempe to Scottsdale. From there, he rode by helicopter across north Phoenix to Glendale, making a triumphant landing in center field at the Camelback Ranch ballpark where the San Francisco Giants were meeting the Chicago White Sox.
The night ended in the dark in Peoria, when the Los Angeles Dodgers met the San Diego Padres.
Before his odyssey began, Ferrell told a radio interviewer that he expected to raise $1 million to be used for college scholarships for cancer survivors. The entire tour was being chronicled by HBO for an upcoming special. Memorabilia from his journey is to be sold at auction on MLB.com with proceeds going to Cancer for College and Stand Up to Cancer.
Red Sox finish Moncada deal
The Boston Red Sox have finalized a minor league contract with 19-year-old Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada.
Moncada’s agent and the Red Sox reached agreement in late February on a deal with a $31.5 million signing bonus. Moncada had to pass a physical before the contract was completed.
The Red Sox will pay $63 million overall to get Moncada, due to a tax by Major League Baseball involving international signings.
Kluber to make thousands
Corey Kluber, the A.L. Cy Young Award winner, agreed to a one-year contract with the Cleveland Indians, who may still sign the steady right-hander to a long-term deal.
Kluber gets paid at a salary of $601,000 while in the major leagues and $308,400 while in the minors, up from $514,000 and $277,300 last year. Kluber went 18-9 with a 2.44 ERA and 269 strikeouts last season.
Clearing the bases
Yankees’ CC Sabathia threw 29 pitches broken down into two innings during his first simulated game of spring training. Sabathia is lined up to possibly pitch on Tuesday. … Tigers OF Yoenis Cespedes left the game against the Phillies with tightness in the front of his left thigh. … David Ortiz and Pablo Sandoval both hit home runs for the Red Sox. … Royals LHP Tim Collins has undergone season-ending Tommy John surgery.