Starling Marte of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pittsburgh Pirates reached agreement with outfielder Sterling Marte on a six-year contract extension worth $31 million with two club options, CBSSports.com reported Wednesday.
The deal is contingent on Marte passing a team physical. The 25-year-old left fielder batted .280 with 12 home runs, 10 triples, 35 RBIs and 41 stolden bases in 135 games last year, his first full season in the major leagues.
According to CBSSports.com, the six-year deal extends through the five remaining years on Marte’s contract and at least one free agent year, with club options covering two more years.
Los Angeles Angels release Blanton
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim released veteran right-hander Joe Blanton.
The 33-year-old Blanton struggled in his first season with the Angels in 2013, posting a 2-14 record with a 6.04 ERA in 28 games covering 132 2/3 innings, and continued to have trouble this spring, allowing 16 runs in 20 1/3 innings in Cactus League games.
Yankees are most valuable
The most valuable baseball franchise award again goes to the New York Yankees. In Forbes magazine’s annual rankings, the Yankees’ value rose 9 percent in 2014 to $2.5 billion, topping all baseball franchises for the 17th consecutive year since the list was first published.
The Yankees are actually the most valuable American team in all sports, ahead of the Dallas Cowboys, who are worth $2.3 billion according to Forbes’ August 2013 NFL survey.
Next among baseball franchises are the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were up 24 percent to $2 billion, followed by the Boston Red Sox at $1.5 billion, Chicago Cubs at $1.2 billion and San Francisco Giants at $1 billion.
Darvish in disabled list
Tests determined that Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish has no structural damage in his neck, but he will begin the season on the disabled list.
Darvish, 27, was scratched from a spring training start last week when he developed a stiff neck. He believed it came from sleeping in an awkward position. Recent tests confirmed that there are no serious medical issues.
Abreu out of Phillies’ roster
Veteran outfielder Bobby Abreu will not be on the Philadelphia Phillies’ Opening Day roster, ending his comeback attempt.
A member of the Phillies from 1998 through part of 2006, the 40-year-old Abreu hit .263 in 38 at-bats this spring in his bid to make the club as a reserve outfielder after putting together an impressive showing in the Venezuelan Winter League this offseason.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw has been scratched from his next start due to a back injury. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, and two-time winner overall, underwent an MRI scan that revealed an inflamed back muscle.