Low & Outside: AL Notes
It pays to be an all-star
The initial 66 picks for Tuesday's All-Star Game in St. Louis will receive $2.3 million in bonuses, with Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay leading the way at $125,000.Four players earned $100,000 each: Outfielder Torii Hunter of the Los Angeles Angels, and centerfielder Carlos Beltran, closer Francisco Rodriguez and pitcher Johan Santana of the New York Mets.
Hunter, who has a strained abductor muscle and will not play Tuesday, was replaced yesterday by the Texas Rangers' Nelson Cruz, who received the next-highest vote total among American League outfielders.
Contact staff writer Kevin Tatum at 215-854-2583
Beltran has been on the disabled list since June 22 because of a bone bruise in his right knee, and will miss the game. He was replaced by the Phillies' Jayson Werth.
Pitchers Ted Lilly of the Chicago Cubs and Jason Marquis of Colorado got $75,000 apiece. Twenty-two players earned $50,000, and 20 got $25,000. Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buerhle received $15,000, and Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton and Tampa Bay second baseman Ben Zobrist earned $10,000 each.
For Atlanta catcher Brian McCann, an option for 2012 increased by $1 million to $12 million as part of a points system for accomplishments.
Fourteen players who did not earn bonuses included Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, closer Mariano Rivera and first baseman Mark Teixeira.
Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer accepted an invitation to participate in Monday night's Home Run Derby. He will try to pick up where teammate Justin Morneau left off last year.
Morneau overtook Josh Hamilton and won the derby in 2008, but the first baseman decided he wanted to rest this time.
Detroit third baseman Brandon Inge, who earned the final spot on the AL roster after receiving 11.8 million Internet votes from fans, also will compete in the derby.
Be careful what you say
Baltimore manager Dave Trembley was suspended for two games and fined an undisclosed amount after his ejection in the first inning of the Orioles' game against Seattle on Tuesday night.Bob Watson, Major League Baseball's vice president in charge of discipline, said Trembley violated a rule that says an ejected manager must take no further part in a game.
Trembley was tossed for arguing a baserunning call. He told reporters after the game that when Luke Scott entered the clubhouse, Trembley told him to "get me a couple" of runs. Scott ended up with seven RBIs in the Orioles' 12-4 win.
Noteworthy
Seattle traded infielder Yuniesky Betancourt to Kansas City for a pair of minor-league pitchers, righthander Danny Cortes and lefthander Derrick Saito, and cash. . . . The Angels placed Hunter and rightfielder Vladimir Guerrero on the 15-day disabled list. Guerrero has a lower hamstring strain. . . . Baltimore activated shortstop Cesar Izturis from the 15-day DL and sent rookie pitcher Dave Hernandez to double-A Bowie.
Contact staff writer Kevin Tatum at 215-854-2583
This article contains information from the Associated Press.
