Pirates, McCutchen agree at $51.5 million

BRADENTON, Florida (AP) ― Andrew McCutchen sounded a bit overwhelmed.“It all really hasn’t sunk in for me yet,” the All-Star centerfielder said Tuesday after agreeing to a $51.5 million, six-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. “It like when you’re getting remarried and you are renewing your vows. That’s how I feel.”Though he hit just .259 last year, McCutchen had career highs in home runs (23) and RBIs (89) while stealing 23 bases. He would have been eligible for free agency following the

March 7, 2012

Pitchers implicated in match fixing released

The LG Twins in the Korea Baseball Organization released their two pitchers facing match-fixing allegations and asked the league to hand out lifetime bans if the players are criminally punished.The Seoul-based Twins announced that pitchers Kim Seong-hyun and Park Hyun-jun are no longer on the team. They are being investigated for allegedly taking kickbacks from a gambling broker last season to issue first-inning walks on purpose.Kim was recently taken into custody, while Park has been questioned

March 7, 2012

Pitchers implicated in match fixing released by team

The LG Twins in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) on Tuesday released their two pitchers facing match-fixing allegations and asked the league to hand out lifetime bans if the players are criminally punished.The Seoul-based Twins announced that pitchers Kim Seong-hyun and Park Hyun-jun are no lon

March 6, 2012

KBO suspends players implicated in match fixing

Two pitchers in the nation’s top baseball league have been suspended indefinitely for their alleged roles in match fixing, officials said Monday.The Korea Baseball Organization said Kim Seong-hyun and Park Hyun-jun, both of the Seoul-based LG Twins, will remain under suspension indefinitely. Kim was recently taken into custody for allegedly taking kickbacks from a gambling broker to issue first-inning walks on purpose.Park, who was grilled by prosecutors last week for his connection, has partial

March 5, 2012

Cuban defector Cespedes joins A’s

PHOENIX (AP) ― After watching the YouTube promotional video of the five-tool outfielder with a sculpted body and freakish athleticism, the Oakland Athletics were eager to see Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes up close.“He’s finally here,” catcher Kurt Suzuki said. “We hear about the potential and the tools and all that stuff. I’m not just excited to see him hit but excited to see him working out with the team.” Cespedes certainly didn’t disappoint.The 26-year-old Cespedes worked out with the Athlet

March 5, 2012

MLB expands playoff format

NEW YORK (AP) ― With less than a month to go before opening day, baseball at last decided who’s in and who’s out come October.Now, even a third-place team can win the World Series.Major League Baseball made it official, expanding the playoff format to 10 teams by adding a wild-card club to each league.“I hope we get that extra spot,” said new Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, whose team is coming off a 56-106 finish that was the worst in the majors. “I think it’s great any time you hav

March 4, 2012

Twins pitcher arrested on suspicion of match-fixing

A pitcher from the LG Twins in the country’s top professional baseball league has been arrested on suspicion of match-fixing, prosecutors in Daegu said Tuesday.The Daegu District Prosecutors’ Office announced that they arrested the 23-year-old pitcher Kim Sung-hyun on charges of rigging matches in return for receiving money from a 29-year-old broker named Kang. Prosecutors said the pitcher was introduced to the gambling broker by a former college baseball player named Kim, who was also arrested

Feb. 28, 2012

Heat, Thunder in June forecast?

ORLANDO, Florida (AP) ― Kevin Durant says it’s too early to think about a potential Heat-Thunder NBA finals.It seems hard to ignore at the season’s midpoint.The teams share the league’s best record and both rolled into the All-Star break. With Durant and Russell Westbrook on one side and LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh looking to avenge their finals disappointment, the series could be a thriller.But Chicago is right on Miami’s heels in the East, and a number of contenders could emerge f

Feb. 28, 2012

Nats extend Zimmerman for 6 years, $100 million

Ever since he became the Washington Nationals’ very first draft pick, Ryan Zimmerman wanted to stay with the club for the long haul.Now he’ll get that wish.The Nationals took what they hope is another step toward consistent contention by locking up their third baseman ― and the guy many still call the face of the franchise ― through 2019, adding six years to Zimmerman’s existing contract in a deal announced Sunday.The deal includes a full no-trade clause.The extra six seasons are worth $100 mill

Feb. 27, 2012

Red Sox ban alcohol in clubhouse

FORT MYERS, Florida (AP) ― There will be no drinking in the Boston Red Sox clubhouse this season.The team will ban alcohol in the clubhouse and on the last plane flight of road trips, new manager Bobby Valentine announced on Saturday.The move comes in the wake of last season’s September collapse in the AL East, a tailspin that included reports of Boston starting pitchers drinking beer in the clubhouse on their off-days rather than supporting their teammates in the dugout.It’s one of a handful of

Feb. 26, 2012

Braun’s suspension overturned

NEW YORK (AP) ― National League MVP Ryan Braun’s 50-game suspension was overturned Thursday by baseball arbitrator Shyam Das, the first time a baseball player successfully challenged a drug-related penalty in a grievance.The decision was announced Thursday by the Major League Baseball Players Association, one day before the 28-year-old outfielder was due to report to spring training with the Milwaukee Brewers. The commissioner’s office and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency each were disappointed and a

Feb. 24, 2012

Key suspect under questioning in investigation on baseball fixing

DAEGU (Yonhap News) -- Prosecutors in Daegu said Friday they are questioning a key suspect in a widening investigation into match fixing in baseball.Prosecutors in this southeastern metropolitan city, 300 kilometers from Seoul, said they were investigating a former college baseball player surnamed K

Feb. 24, 2012