Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will be playing for the Oakland Athletics after signing a four-year, $36 million deal on Monday.

Oakland managed to beat out the Miami Marlins who also big $36 million but over a six year period.

The only hurdle was receiving his unblocking license from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control which was expected by Monday. US Treasury clearance was needed because Yoenis is a Cuban national who established residency in another country after defecting.

The outfielders agent Adam Katz said of his players signing:

“At the end of the day with all these big free agents, it comes down to the total package. Sure, money and the economic package had something to do with it. But it’s also about all the surrounding circumstances. And basically, this was a player who felt like this club wanted him more than anybody else.”

Once his worker’s visa is received Cespedes can show up at spring training and begin his work with the Oakland Athletics.

Under his contract Cespedes will receive $6.5 million in his first year of play, $8.5 million in his second year and then $10.5 million during each of his last two years.

Under his deal Cespedes will become the highest paid player on the Oakland roster, currently Coco Crisp is the highest paid player at $6 million per season.

Speaking of the teams acquisition Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said of losing out on Yoenis:

“You don’t land everybody you want to land. But I think we’ve been aggressive. We’re really happy with the way the club looks. You always have a sense of disappointment when you’re trying to either trade for or sign a player. It’s not the first time and won’t be the last. We would certainly wish him well.”

Do you think Yoenis Cespedes was a smart acquisition by the Oakland Athletics.

Yoenis Cespedes Agrees To 4-Year $36 Million Deal With Oakland Athletics is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dennis ‘Oil Can’ Boyd has revealed he probably pitched under the influence of cocaine “at every ballpark” in his 10-year major league career.

The former Red Sox pitcher, now 52, told Boston’s WBZ radio station that his habit cost him scores of possible wins, and quite a lot of sleep, by the sounds of it:

“Some of the best games I’ve ever pitched in the major leagues I stayed up all night – I’d say two-thirds of them. (But) if I had went to bed, I would have won 150 ballgames in the time span that I played.”

As it is, Oil Can Boyd – so named because of a love for beer in his youth in Missouri, where beer was known as ‘oil,’ – won only 78 matches.

Speaking to WBZ’s Jon Miller, Boyd said he had “learned how to indulge in an abundance of cocaine,” around a year before his most successful season in 1986. He is clean today, and now sees his former habit as a response to a “very cold, scary world I was living in as a young kid.”

If it’s surprising that Boyd got away with his cocaine abuse for so long, that’s because he was barely confronted about it:

“I never had a drug test as long as I played baseball. I was told that, yeah, if you don’t stop doing this we’re going to put you into rehab, and I told them … I’m going to do what I have to do, I have to win ballgames. We’ll talk about that in the offseason. Right now I have to win ballgames.”

And Boyd’s old teammates may have reason to be concerned. While he revealed no names in his interview with Miller, he has an apparently revealing memoir out in June, They Call Me Oil Can: My Life in Baseball. Boyd’s fellow players had varying reactions about his habit at the time, though most knew about it:

“All of them didn’t rally around me. All of them knew (of my habit) and the ones that cared came to me. The Dwight Evanses and Bill Buckners and Don Baylors … it was the veteran ballplayers. Some guys lived it; they knew what you were doing, and the only way they knew was they had to have tried it, too.”

Oil Can Boyd Pitched While High On Cocaine is a post from: The Inquisitr

Clayton Kershaw has signed the dotted line on a $19 million two-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers signing Kershaw has helped both club and player avoid a potentially awkward salary arbitration hearing – a scheduled arbitration hearing to determine Kershaw’s salary for the upcoming season was just a week away. Kershaw had asked for $10 million, while the Dodgers would only go to $6.5 million. The left-hander was paid $500,000 in his Cy Young Award season last year.

With this new deal signed and sealed, the young pitcher won’t become a free agent until after the 2014 season is completed. Kershaw revealed he was happy with the outcome, as you would be if someone said they’d be stuffing $163,000 in your pocket every week:

“I think everybody feels good about it.”

Well, quite. Kershaw will now be paid $7.5 million next season, as well as a $500,000 signing bonus. In 2013, he’ll rake in an $11 million salary.

This works both ways, naturally. The Dodgers will be pleased to have secured the considerable talents of a 23-year-old pitcher who would have no shortage of offers from other teams. General Manager Ned Colletti told the LA Times:

“When you think about how he’s 23 years old and how he’s progressed as a pitcher, how he’s taken his great gift and put in the work to refine it, that says a lot about him.”

Kershaw clinched the National League’s triple crown of pitching last season. He led the league with 21 wins, a fine 2.28 earned-run average and 248 strikeouts.

Clayton Kershaw Signs $19 Million Deal With Dodgers is a post from: The Inquisitr

L.A. Dodgers first baseman James Loney smashed into several cars on an L.A. freeway last November and now the recently released 911 tape reveals that he was passed out behind the wheel and then tried to flee after hitting the first vehicle.

Loney was driving his Maserati down the highway when a driver called 911 and described the scene that was unfolding, the caller said of the incident that Loney was  ”‘completely passed out in the front seat.” She goes on to say that after smashing into several cars he woke up and then tried to take off:

 ”Oh my god! Oh my god! He tried to leave the scene … He woke up, and he slammed on the gas and took off across all the lanes on the freeway.”

The caller then reveals that he quickly smashed into another car and ended up on the other side of the highway where he broke an anxle on his Maserati.

Police arrived on the scene where they handcuffed Loney and took him to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Loney was arrested on suspicion and a blood sample revealed no drugs in his system.

The L.A. City Attorney eventually rejected the case for prosecution because of a lack of evidence.

Do you think Loney should have been tried given his attempt to flee the scene and then damaging more vehicles in the process?

L.A. Dodgers First Baseman James Loney Fell Asleep At Wheel Before Freeway Accident [911 Call] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum of all people felt that he needed to slim down before returning to the Giants for spring training. After shedding 22 pounds in the offseason, it appears that Lincecum has achieved that goal.

Yahoo’s Big League Stew blog has the story of how Lincecum shed the weight, just a year or so after deciding that he wanted to add weight. The two-time Cy Young winner reasoned that if he could add weight to his wiry frame, it would help add durability.

In doing so, though, Lincecum kept adding on the pounds, to the point that he realized he needed to slim down some. One of the first steps was to improve his diet — particularly eliminating trips to fast food establishments.

“You take your first bite of a McDonald’s burger and it’s like ‘Why did I buy this?’” said Lincecum, who went from 197 pounds down to 175. “You feel instantly sick. That’s what ended up happening with all these places and why I started eliminating them. I take a bite and I’m like ‘I can’t even finish this.’ So I just started going for stuff that made me feel better. I’m not crushing vegetables by any means, but I’m definitely eating better.”

In addition to the diet change, Lincecum also said that he’s dedicated himself to a swimming regimen, in which he gets a good workout by putting in time in a specially designed “endless” pool.

Giants fans will surely appreciate that the smoke-throwing right-hander still has the “hunger” to succeed even after recently signing a two-year contract extension worth $40.5 million.

Tim Lincecum talks about his weight loss in the following video clip:
Source: NESN

Tim Lincecum Weight Loss: Giants Pitcher Drops 22 Pounds After Ditching Fast Food is a post from: The Inquisitr

The filing comes just days after Louise Neathway (who also goes by the last name Meanwell), a 36-year-old British born single mother, was arrested for stalking Brian Cashman.

Photo of Louise Neathway (Meanwell) via Deadspin

According to the NY Post, Neathway – currently sitting in a jail cell on Rikers Island after failing to post bail – has been charged with grand larceny, attempted grand larceny, stalking, and aggravated harassment.

Among other things, Cashman’s lawyers say Neathway was “an unhinged con woman” out to extort him, bombarding him with text messages and calls during the past 10 months.She alleged tried to blackmail him into paying for an unspecified $15,000 medical treatment, threatening to contact the press and his family if he didn’t.

Cashman says he eventually caved, and gave her $6,000 in different bank accounts, before contacting police.

Mrs Cashman, who endured the humiliation of an affair her husband had back in 2009, has been living apart from him for nearly a year in the family’s $3.7 million mansion with her daughter and son, sources told the Post.

Per the divorce filing, she has requested permanent alimony, a split of their property and joint custody of their two children.

A spokesman for Brian Cashman declined a request from the Post to comment on the divorce filing.

via NY Post

Mary Cashman, Wife of Yankees GM, Files for Divorce Amid Stalking Scandal is a post from: The Inquisitr

Skip Schumaker is barely shown in his 2012 Topps Series 1 baseball card set, in fact only his pant leg is visible while the rest of the card is taken up by the now famous rally squirrel.

The rally squirrel became an internet sensation last year after it crossed Schumaker’s path during a Roy Oswalt pitch in the fifth inning of Game 4 of the NLDS last October. Following that play the St. Louis Cardinals surged ahead and eventually ended up winning the World Series title.

Apparently the rally squirrel is a bigger name then Schumaker as it became the main focus on the players baseball card. According to Topps this is the first time that a players face has not been featured on the baseball card that hosts their name and stats.

Topps didn’t even bother to give Schumaker a sneak peek at his card, although they will also offer an alternate card with a more full shot of Schumaker. Because the rally squirrel will only appear on the “short-print” variation of the card it will likely become a quick collectors edition find.

Would you like to own your very own rally squirrel Topps baseball card or is this a silly attempt at making some extra cash from collectors?

Chip Schumaker’s Topps Baseball Card Features Rally Squirrel, Almost None Of Chip’s Body is a post from: The Inquisitr

According to the reports, Lincecum will earn $18 million in 2012 and $22 million next year, in addition to receiving a $500,000 signing bonus.

As usual, the deal – which was completed on Tuesday (Jan. 24) – is contingent upon Lincecum passing a physical examination next week.

Though sources say the Giants organization and Lincecum had discussed deals beyond 2 years (including a 5-year offer worth $100 million), the two-time Cy Young winner ultimately rejected them, only feeding fans’ fears that Lincecum wants out after 2013 due to the club’s perennially weak offense.

Tim’s agent, Rick Thurman, however, told Mercury News that those fears – of Lincecum bolting as soon as he is a free agent – are unwarranted.

“Although we were not able to work out a longer-term deal, we found common ground in a two-year deal,” Thurman stated. “This doesn’t preclude continued negotiations for Tim to remain a Giant for the rest of his career.”

Once his new contract is official, Lincecum will become the highest-paid Giant ever by average annual contract value.

His average of $20.25 million a year bests the $18 million that Barry Bonds and Barry Zito averaged with their big contracts.

Lincecum — the 10th overall draft pick out of Washington in 2006 — is 69-41 with a 2.98 earned run average and 1,127 strikeouts in five seasons as a MLB pitcher.

Although he went 13-14 with a 2.74 ERA last year for his first losing record, those numbers are more of a reflection of the Giants offense as the team scored no runs while he was in the game in seven of 33 starts, had one run six times and two runs five times, according to STATS LLC.

In the clip below, MLB.com analysts Jeremy Brisiel and Jim Duquette talk about Tim Lincecum‘s new two-year deal with the Giants:

Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants Agree on 2-Year, $40.5M Deal is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Detroit Tigers have come out of no where and swept up one of the most eligible members of the free agent market, first baseman Prince fielder. The Tigers reportedly will commit 9 years and $214 million to bringing the slugger to Detroit.

Fielder, 27, hit .299 with 38 homers, 120 RBIs and a .415 on-base percentage for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2011. In his seven-season major league career, he is .282 hitter with 230 homers, 656 RBIs and a .390 on-base percentage.

Albert Pujols signed a 10-year $240 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels in December.  It was assumed that Fielder who is younger and just as accomplished would field about the same offer.  For the entire off season it seemed as if it wasn’t going to happen and that interest in Fielder and his huge financial commitment were scaring away most suitors.  His agent, Scott Boras, was always convinced that a deal was right around the corner.

After losing DH Victor Martinez for the 2012 season because of an ACL injury, the Tigers may have decided to get into the mix.  They originally had little interest in Fielder.

The Tigers already have a first baseman in Miguel Cabrerra, but sources say that they will be moving him to third base.  Fielder was unlikely to commit to a team where he couldn’t play first base.

Interestingly, Fielder will join the franchise with which his father, Cecil Fielder, hit 245 homers over seven seasons.

The Washington Nationals had been considered the front-runners for Fielder.  The Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs also had been reported to have varying levels of interest in Fielder.

Do you think Prince Fielder is worth $214 million dollars?

The Detroit Tigers Win The Prince Fielder Sweepstakes is a post from: The Inquisitr

After a very quiet offseason, the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners have completed a mega trade which will see Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for red hot rookie Michael Pineda and pitcher Jose Campos.

The trade significantly boosts the Yankees rotation less than month before pitchers and catchers report for spring training.  Going into SSpring Training the Yankees Rotation looks to boast CC Sabathia in the number 1 spot, Hiroki Kuroda as their number 2 starter, Michael Pineda in the number 3 slot and Ivan Nova going up for number 4.  The number 5 slot will be decided during spring training and could be A.J. Burnett, Freddie Garcia or Phil Huges.

The Yankees had had their eyes on Pineda and Kuroda for quite some time as the teams answer to what was perceived as being a weak rotation.  The Yankees are confident that they have pretty much addressed all of their offseason needs for now.  There is still a question as to whether they will still shop the market for a designated hitter but we will all see about that.

Speaking about Pineda, Yankees Ace CC Sabathia told Yankees.com,

“We made some good moves. Our team was good, but we made it even better. Anytime you can add an arm like Pineda and get a veteran like [Hiroki] Kuroda, it makes the team a lot better. I’m excited to see if we can stay healthy and try to win a championship.”

Pineda went 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA as a rookie with Seattle. He finished fifth in the American League Rookie of the Year Award voting while leading all AL rookies in strikeouts (173) and strikeouts per nine innings (9.11). He also held right-handed batters to a Major League-low .184 average.

Do you think this year the New York Yankees will win their 28th World Series Championship?

Yankees Finalize Pineda Swap With Mariners is a post from: The Inquisitr

Although he never directly addressed the allegations against him — that his MVP season was accomplished with the help of a banned substance — it was clear Braun’s statements were pointed at the legal battle he is currently involved in.

“Sometimes in life, we all deal with challenges we never expected to endure. We have an opportunity to look at those challenges and view them as either an obstacle or as opportunities,” Braun said, while accepting his award at the annual dinner of the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

“I’ve chosen to view every challenge I’ve ever faced as an opportunity, and this will be no different. I’ve always believed that a person’s character is revealed through the way they deal with those moments of adversity,” he continued.

Braun’s latest comments come just two days after the appeal of his positive test was heard by a three-person panel in New York, according to the Associated Press.

The panel, consisting of MLB Players Association executive director Michael Weiner, MLB executive vice president for labor relations Rob Manfred and independent arbitrator Shyam Das, will decide whether Braun will serve a 50-game suspension when the 2012 season kicks off.

Braun, the NL’s Rookie of the Year in 2007 and an All-Star in each of his first four major league seasons, won the NL MVP in his fifth season, batting .332 with 32 home runs and 111 RBIs, 109 runs scored and 33 stolen bases. He also led the league in slugging percentage (.597).

The BBWAA has said Braun will not be asked to relinquish the award.

To see see Ryan Braun’s NL MVP acceptance speech in its entirety, head over to MLB’s website.

via ESPN

Ryan Braun Accepts NL MVP Award, Indirectly Addresses Positive Test During Speech is a post from: The Inquisitr

Yu Darvish and the Texas Rangers made it official on Friday, announcing that the Japanese Phenom will be wearing number 11 on opening day.

Darvish spoke through an interpreter joking about Ranger’s Ballpark,

“I looked at the right-field fence and I thought that was in too close.  I was asking my general manager if they could move it back. I don’t know where they are on that yet.”

Texas General Manager Jon Daniels looked at Texas power hitter Josh Hamilton sitting in the front row and said,

“I don’t think Josh wants us to move them back. I’ll let them arm-wrestle for it.”

Darvish was just brought to Texas from the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan on a $60 million dollar five year deal (that doesn’t include the $52 million dollar posting fee Texas paid).

Darvish faces a dramatically different playing experience in Texas than he is used to in Japan.  In addition to having to face Major League Baseball hitters, Darvish is used to playing in a dome one a week.  In Texas he will face the hottest weather in Major League Baseball and will be playing on 4 days rest.

Addressing the rest issue Darvish said,

“Last year near the end of the season I went to four days’ rest. I still threw 120 pitches and still threw hard between starts. I didn’t feel any fatigue. I feel confident I can pitch through that again.”

As for the heat, Darvish said, “That comes from experience. I haven’t experienced that yet. Once I do it, it will take some adjustments. It will take time but I’ll get used to it.”

Addressing the weather Darvish said,

“Even in Japan, the label put on me was that I pitched better in the dome or I liked pitching in the dome. But the last few years, if you looked, I had better numbers pitching outside. I like pitching outside better.”

It will be interesting to see how the latest Japanese import fares in the Major Leagues.

Do you think Yu Darvish will live up to his salary and expectations?

Yu Darvish Officially Arrives in Texas is a post from: The Inquisitr

Carmona, whose real name is actually Roberto Hernadez Heredia, was arrested Thursday in the Dominican Republic, charged with using a fake identity.

In addition to falsifying his name, Carmona (or Hernandez) also apparently lied about his age as well. In the Indians media guides, Carmona is listed as 28 years old. However, it was recently found out that he is actually 31 years old, according to Yahoo Sports.

“I ask for the forgiveness of my fans, the government of the United States and the Cleveland Indians for this situation,” Carmona was quoted as saying as he exited a courthouse Friday.

Carmona’s lawyer, Joaquin Perez, indicated to the AP that the pitcher would speak more at a later date.

The Carmona/Hernandez arrest comes on the heels of the arrest last summer of Juan Carlos Oviedo, who was pitching for the Marlins under the name Leo Nunez.

Oviedo returned to the Dominican to face charges, and while he has signed a $6 million contract for 2012, he is still working through legal issues that would allow him to return to the United States.

Since his debut with the Indians club in 2007, Fausto has accumulated a win-loss card of 53-66 with a 4.59 ERA and 565 strikeouts over four seasons with the Tribe.

His breakout season came in 2007, where he went 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA and 137 strikeouts.

In 2010, Carmona made it to the All-Star squad for the first time and finished the season on 13-14 slate with a 3.77 ERA and 124 strikeouts.

As of this writing there was no word on what charges Carmona (or Hernandez) will face, or what effect the ID fraud incident will have on his contract with the Indians.

Here’s a clip by ESPN’s Enrique Rojas on the Fausto Carmona arrest:

via USA TODAY

Fausto Carmona Arrest: Indians Pitcher Released on Bail Following ID Fraud is a post from: The Inquisitr

Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish has signed a $60 million, six-year deal with the Texas Rangers. Under a rumor part of the deal Darvish has the right to opt out of the final year of his contract should certain parameters not be met.

Under terms of his agreement $56 million will be paid in guaranteed salary.

Darvish signed his contract just before the 5 p.m. ET deadline on Wednesday after 30 days of negotiations which began after the Texas Rangers submitted a record $51.7 million bid to talk with the player.

The agreed upon payment will be sent to the Nippon-Ham Fighters and Darvish will become a primetime pitcher in the United States.

On his website Darvish posted a note about his new MLB home:

“I will have a press conference first in America and then come back to Japan at which point I will express my gratitude to my fans here in Japan,” he wrote.

When all is said and done and the players contract and posting fees are combined the Texas Rangers paid more than $111 million to sign Yu Darvish, making it the most expensive deal of it’s kind, eclipsing the $103 million the Boston Red Sox negotiated when signing Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Last season with his Japanese team Darvish went 18-6 with a league-best 1.44 ERA, he also amassed 276 strikeouts and walked just 36 batters in 232 innings of play.

Speaking of the teams decision to sign Darvish Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said.:

“We saw a guy that we felt was built to pitch innings and has a classic pitcher’s build,” and  ”He has a real commitment to his conditioning and work ethic. We think he can pitch innings at a high caliber for a large amount of time.”

Do you believe the Texas Rangers made the right decision in shelling out $111 million to secure Yu Darvish for their pitching roster?

Yu Darvish Agrees To Six-Year Texas Rangers Deal Worth $60 Million is a post from: The Inquisitr

A person familiar with Kuroda’s signing told The Associated Press the deal, contingent on the 36-year-old passing a physical,  also includes performance bonuses. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because there has not yet been an announcement.

Kuroda, who turns 37 in February, earned $12 million last season while posting a 3.07 ERA and 161/49 K/BB ratio over 202 innings. He has a 3.45 ERA since coming over to the United States four years ago.

The Yankees tried to acquire Kuroda at the deadline last year, but he wasn’t willing to waive his no-trade clause.

The common line of thinking after the season was that the veteran right-hander would either pitch in Los Angeles or return to his native Japan to pitch for the Hiroshima Carp, but he changed his stance after the Dodgers added Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang earlier this winter.

The Kuroda deal comes just on the heels of the Yankees’ blockbuster trade with the Seattle Mariners in order to acquire pitcher Michael Pineda.

In that trade, New York sent power-hitting catcher Jesus Montero, the organization’s top prospect, to Seattle for the hard-throwing Pineda, according to a person familiar with the deal. The source added that the swap also includes Yankee pitcher Hector Noesi and Seattle pitcher Jose Campos and is pending a physical.

Pineda, a 22-year-old righthander, was 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 171 innings in his rookie season with Seattle.

With the addition of Hiroki Kuroda and Michael Pineda, the New York Yankees have completely reconstructed their now suddenly deep rotation. Ace CC Sabathia will likely be followed by Pineda, Ivan Nova, Kuroda and then either Phil Hughes, A.J. Burnett or Freddy Garcia.

Source/Image: ESPN

Hiroki Kuroda, Yankees Agree on One-Year, $10M Deal is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sue Selig has said all along that there was no way husband Bug Selig would walk away from Major League Baseball (MLB) and now the man who will turn 80-years-old in July has agreed to extend his contract for two additional years, allowing Bud to lead the league through the 2014 season.

On Tuesday I reported that the offer was ready to be made and while Bud has said in recent years that he was ready to walk away from the sport he has run since 1992 pretty much everyone around him said he couldn’t give it up.

Selig became the interim commissioner of Major League Baseball in 1992 and the interim part of his title was then removed in 1998.

Speaking about his decision to remain at the top of baseballs control he said on Thursday:

“I’ve often said, and I believe this, for me personally in my life there’s no higher honor than being the commissioner of baseball.”

If he hadn’t agreed to the extension his rein as baseball commissioner would have ended on Dec. 31, 2012.

According to Bud Selig he would have loved to teach after leaving the position however team owners pleaded with him to stay.

“I started hearing a couple of weeks ago that there was a groundswell movement to do this,” he said. “‘You can’t leave now.’ I’d hear from various owners.”

“In the end, doing what’s in the best interest of baseball — if this many people believe that and feel that — is something that I felt I should do,” he said.

Should Bud Selig extend his contract two more years and continue to perform his duties through September 2016 he will become the longest serving baseball commissioner in league history, passing Kenesaw Mountain Landis who managed Major League Baseball from 1920-1944.

If he stays until September 2016, he would surpass Kenesaw Mountain Landis (1920-44) as the longest-serving baseball commissioner.

Do you think MLB owners made the right decision in extending Bud Selig’s contract through the 2014 season?

Bug Selig Accepts Two Year Contract Extension, Will Remain League Commissioner Through 2014 Season is a post from: The Inquisitr

Manny Ramirez failed the MLB’s drug testing policy not one but two times and then walked away from the game after being handed a 100-game suspension and now he seems almost desperate to come back after promising to be a “role model” if any team in the MLB will give him another chance during Spring training.

With his ban now cut down to just 50 games Ramirez has filed for reinstatement and tells ESPN’s Pedro Gomez:

“I want to show people that Manny can change, that he can do the right thing. And to show people that I still can play. I don’t want to leave the game like I did. I also want to show my kids that if you make a mistake, don’t quit. Just go back and fix it. And if you’re going to leave, leave the right way.”

To prepare for a potential comeback Ramirez has been working out in Florida where he takes practice swings in a batting cage and then works on his stamina at a local pool.

Speaking of his want to become a role model Ramirez notes:

“A bunch of guys are going to look at me and say hey, this guy made a mistake but he didn’t quit. Look how he finished. He did the right thing and came back.”

An 18-year-veteran of Major League Baseball Manny has spent time with the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. During his career Manny Ramirez has hit for 555 home runs and 1,831 RBIs with a career hitting average of .312.

Do you think Manny Ramirez can still be an effective player after taking time away from the game and weening himself off performance enhancing drugs?

Manny Ramirez Gets Desperate, Promises To Be A ‘Role Model’ If Given The Chance To Play is a post from: The Inquisitr

77-year-old MLB commissioner Bud Selig will be offered a contract extension and a source inside the league says he’s likely to accept it.

Selig currently has just one year remaining on his contract and had previously said he would retire when that contract agreement expired.

If the rumor is correct Selig is expected to stick around for at least two additional years, placing his position squarely through the 2014 baseball season.

According to ESPN:

It’s expected that at some point during the upcoming owners’ meetings, which start Wednesday in Scottsdale, Ariz., Selig will be asked to depart the room, and then, as a matter of formality, a motion will be made to extend Selig’s contract — a motion that will be widely supported, according to sources.

Along with his use of a private jet Selig is believed to make more than $22 million annually.

While Bud Selig has talked about leaving his position on several occasions,  including after his three-year contract extension ran up in 2009 he has backed down each time.

Selig became the MBL’s acting commissioner in 1992 when owners forced out Fay Vincent, at the time of his appointment he said he didn’t want the job but then in 1998 accepted a five-year contract which forced him to give up the running of the Milwaukee Brewers, the franchise his family purchased in 1970 and then ran until they sold their interest in 2005.

Do you think Bud Selig has done a good enough job with Major League Baseball to keep his job for two additional years past his current contract?

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig Will Be Offered Job Extension [Insider Report] is a post from: The Inquisitr

According to ESPN, Larkin, a 12-time All-Star, nine-time Silver Slugger and three-time Gold Glove winning shortstop, received 86 percent of the required 75 percent of votes from qualifying Baseball Writers Association of America voters to earn his induction into Cooperstown.

“I’m incredibly, incredibly honored by the whole experience, and so excited about being the newest member of the Hall of Fame,” Larkin said after hearing the news via phone call from Jack O’Connell, secretary-treasurer of the BBWAA.

Over the course of his 19-year career with the Reds, Larkin put together a set of impressive numbers, hitting .295 with 2,340 hits (including 441 doubles, 76 triples and 198 home runs), 960 RBIs and 379 stolen bases.

He was voted the National League Most Valuable Player in 1995 by the BBWAA and hit .353 in the Reds’ World Series sweep of the Oakland Athletics in 1990.

Larkin also became the first shortstop to join the 30-30 club when he had 33 home runs and 36 steals in 1996.

“Larkin was a dream player, an outstanding leader who had great physical skills,” former Atlanta manager Bobby Cox was quoted as saying by the Toronto Sun. “He really has all the credentials. If there had been a draft each year for clubs to build their team from scratch, Barry would have been the first or second pick each year over the course of his career. He was so well-rounded.”

The New York Times reports that Larkin, 47, will be inducted into the Hall July 22 at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, N.Y., along with the late third baseman Ron Santo, who was elected last month by the Golden Era Committee.

Barry Larkin currently works for ESPN as an analyst for the popular MLB recap show, Baseball Tonight.

Hear ESPN’s Jim Bowden speak on why Barry Larkin was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the video below:

Barry Larkin Elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame is a post from: The Inquisitr

According to the New York Times, the cause of Carey’s death was due to Lewy body dementia, a gradual deterioration of the mind closely allied to both Alzheimers and Parkinson’s Diseases.

Joining the Yankees in 1952, Andy Carey became a regular at third a few years later and batted in a lineup consisting of Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Moose Skowron and Hank Bauer.

In 1954 Andy had his best season, batting .302 in 122 games. In 1955 Carey led the MLB in triples with 11.

The Times also pointed out that Carey twice helped preserve the only perfect World Series game, pitched by Don Larsen against the Dodgers on Oct. 8, 1956.

The paper writes:

“In the second inning, the Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson smacked a shot between third and short that Carey knocked down, allowing Yankees shortstop Gil McDougald to pick up the ball and nip Robinson at first. In the eighth, he robbed Gil Hodges by snaring a low line drive that seemed headed for left field.”

Following his time with the Yanks, Carey went on to play for two other teams (Kansas City Athletics and Chicago White Sox) before ending his career on September 30, 1962 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Over the course of his 11 years as a major leaguer, he had a .260 batting average, with 64 home runs, and 350 RBIs.

Carey is survived by his wife, Susie; a sister, Sandy Carey; daughter, Elizabeth; another daughter, Jennifer James; a son, Christopher; and three granddaughters.

Andy Carey, Former Yankees Third Baseman, Dies is a post from: The Inquisitr