Liriano Finally Headed to Twins Camp

Associated Press
Tuesday, February 26, 2008

The Boston Red Sox are taking a "no-risk, high-reward" shot on Bartolo Colon.

The Red Sox came to terms yesterday on a minor league contract with the 2005 Cy Young Award winner. The 34-year-old righty, who last pitched on Feb. 6 in the Caribbean World Series, is expected to arrive in camp today.

The team's medical staff will evaluate the two-time all-star, who has gone 7-13 with a 5.72 ERA while slowed by shoulder and elbow injuries the past two seasons. He went 6-8 with a 6.34 ERA in the final year of a four-year, $51 million deal with the Angels last season. If he is added to Boston's 40-man roster, he would get a one-year, $1.2 million contract and have the chance to earn bonuses.

If healthy, Colon is expected to provide depth for a rotation that may be without Curt Schilling, who is rehabbing a shoulder injury, for all of the upcoming season.

¿ TWINS: Pitcher Francisco Liriano said yesterday he received his U.S. visa and was preparing to travel from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to spring training in Fort Myers, Fla.

The left-hander had a delay in obtaining the visa because of a Florida drunken-driving plea and missed the team's Feb. 18 voluntary reporting date for pitchers and catchers.

Liriano was among baseball's top rookies in 2006, going 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA prior to a devastating elbow injury.

¿ RAYS: Tampa Bay has had internal discussions about pursuing Barry Bonds.

Manager Joe Maddon said he knew "little" about what was going on, but acknowledged some thought has been given to the career home run leader.

"A minor discussion was thrown out there a little bit, and it's really not gone any further than that," Maddon said. "That's all it is right now."

¿ YANKEES: Senior Vice President Hank Steinbrenner plans to talk about a new contract with General Manager Brian Cashman before the regular season ends.

Cashman, in the final year of his contract, said after arriving at spring training he wanted to keep any discussion of a deal between himself and the Steinbrenner family.

¿ RANGERS: Right-hander Kevin Millwood was scratched from his first spring start because of a hamstring injury.

The 33-year-old injured his right hamstring in the final conditioning drill Sunday. He was scheduled to pitch two innings Friday against the Angels in Surprise, Ariz.

Texas also hired former manager Jerry Narron as a consultant and scout.

Narron, 52, managed the Rangers in 2001 and '02, and the Reds the past two years.

¿ METS: Duaner Sanchez pitched in a game for the first time since July 2006, when his right shoulder was separated in a taxi accident in Florida.

He gave up two hits and walked a batter in Port St. Lucie, Fla., striking out one in a scoreless inning.

Drug Policy Discussed

While lawyers for players and owners plan to resume discussions on the Mitchell report's recommendations for improving the sport's drug testing, union general counsel Michael Weiner, the No. 3 players' association official, said that the "current program is working fine."

Weiner led a group that met with the Astros yesterday to discuss the report and other issues. The report includes recommendations for increased frequency in testing and more independence for the program administrator, who is jointly selected by players and owners and was added in 2006. . . .

A draft letter asking the Justice Department to investigate whether Roger Clemens made false statements to Congress has been written by House staffers, the New York Times reported on its Web site. The chief of staff for committee chairman Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) said no decision has been made on whether to ask for a criminal investigation.