Baseball Article-Grapefruit League: Rivera surprised he was let go

Grapefruit League: Rivera surprised he was let go

PANAMA CITY, Panama — Ruben Rivera said he was surprised that the New York Yankees cut him for taking a bat and glove from teammate Derek Jeter's locker.

In a telephone interview with Telemetro Canal 13 television station in his native Panama, Rivera admitted to taking Jeter's glove and bat from his locker and selling them to Jared Jones, a Seattle sports-memorabilia dealer, for $2,500.

"I made a rookie's error," said Rivera, 28, who was attempting to make the Yankees for a second time.

"I did it without thinking, because it wasn't for the money. I had a good contract. It was just an instant when I wasn't thinking, and I made a mistake that I'm paying for now."

Players, owners far apart

Baseball players showed no interest in owners' proposals for a luxury tax and vastly increased revenue sharing, offering a far different view of what the sport's labor contract should include.

In its first response to plans offered by management Jan. 9 and Feb. 26, the union declined to accept the owners' luxury-tax proposal and made a small change to its revenue-sharing system.

Instead, players proposed that teams be allowed to trade draft picks and that the richest and most successful clubs lose draft picks, which would be given to losing and low-revenue teams.

Talks recessed until after Opening Day on March 31.

Baseball Article-Cardinals ace Wainwright will miss entire season

Cardinals ace Wainwright will miss entire season

Adam Wainwright's season is over before it started. The St. Louis Cardinals ace learned Thursday that he will need surgery to replace a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, an injury that usually takes at least a year to recover from

By The Associated Press

Adam Wainwright's season is over before it started.

The St. Louis Cardinals ace learned Thursday that he will need surgery to replace a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, an injury that usually takes at least a year to recover from.

"That's a big guy to miss," teammate Kyle Lohse said in Jupiter, Fla. "We've still got to go out there and play. Nobody is going to feel sorry for us. We still have to go out there and do our jobs."

The 29-year-old right-hander experienced soreness toward the end of last season and didn't pitch in September. He threw to the Cardinals' top hitters in batting practice Monday and was set to start his team's spring-training opener, then felt soreness the following day and was sent back to St. Louis on Wednesday for an examination.

Lewis Yocum then gave a second opinion to Wainwright, who won 19 games in 2009 and 20 last year to earn a second-place finish in NL Cy Young Award voting.

St. Louis will search for a fifth starter to go along with Chris Carpenter, Lohse, Jaime Garcia and Jake Westbrook.

"You're losing an ace," Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said. "It's not something you can replace overnight. I would also say we have four quality pitchers. It's not exactly like we have no bullets left."

Cabrera reports

LAKELAND, Fla. — Miguel Cabrera arrived at spring training for the first time since he was arrested last week on suspicion of drunken driving. He promptly apologized as Major League Baseball said he will undergo treatment set up by doctors administered by management and its players union.

The 27-year-old was arrested Feb. 16 on suspicion of driving under the influence and resisting an officer without violence, both misdemeanors. He is set to be arraigned March 16.

"I am very sorry for what I have done," Cabrera said through a translator. "I have worked hard for a period of time and I hope everyone forgives me. All I ask for is forgiveness."

Cabrera didn't deny he had an alcohol problem but said he was willing to undergo treatment. He refused to say he is an alcoholic.

"I have it under control," Cabrera said. "It was just a bad decision. I plan to continue with treatment. I made a mistake this time, and all I can do is continue treatment."