His fans from Seattle to Venezuela call him "King Felix." Yet it's another, more personal title that Felix Hernandez cites as the reason his career took off last year, when he went from maddening inconsistency and unfulfilled potential to dominant pitching that earned him a $78 million, five-year deal with the Mariners.
Octavio Dotel agreed Thursday to a $3.5 million, one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the only club that offered him the chance to be a closer. The deal calls for a $3.25 million salary next season and includes a $4.5 million club option for 2011 with a $250,000 buyout. If Dotel is traded, the option becomes mutual.
Eric Chavez is already embracing his new role with the Oakland Athletics this season: backup and utilityman. The six-time Gold Glove third baseman has ordered himself a first baseman's mitt and one to play the outfield, too. "I'm going to have to get a bigger bag," Chavez said. He's not going to be picky about where he plays — he's just happy to be returning to the A's…
Ferguson Jenkins says Mark McGwire owes an apology to all those pitchers who gave up his home runs. The Hall of Fame ace sent an open letter to The Associated Press this week, telling the former home-run king: "You have not even begun to apologize to those you have harmed." "How many pitchers do you think he ended their careers by hitting numbers of home runs off them?" Jenkins…
Right-hander Todd Coffey and the Milwaukee Brewers have avoided salary arbitration, agreeing to a $2,025,002, one-year contract. Coffey became a key reliever in Milwaukee's bullpen last year after being claimed off waivers in September 2008. He went 4-4 with a 2.90 ERA in 78 appearances last year and led NL relievers with 83 2-3 innings pitched.
Amid the towering columns that will anchor the Florida Marlins' new ballpark stood the 6-foot-7 pillar of their pitching staff. Josh Johnson had just signed a $39 million, four-year contract cementing his status as the Marlins' ace. Now he surveyed the construction site, looking toward the spot that will be home plate as workers scurried about and cranes swung blocks of concrete into place.
Brandon League and the Seattle Mariners settled on a one-year contract Wednesday night for $1,087,500, avoiding an arbitration hearing. The right-handed reliever was acquired from Toronto last month with minor league outfielder Johermyn Chavez for pitcher Brandon Morrow. League appeared in 67 games for the Blue Jays last season, going 3-6 with a 4.58 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 74 2-3 innings.
