Tigers get Renteria in trade
The Detroit Tigers made the first splash in baseball's off-season as they addressed a pressing priority.
Again.
Detroit filled its No. 1 void Monday, acquiring shortstop Edgar Renteria and cash from the Atlanta Braves for two prospects.
Shortly after reaching the World Series last season, the Tigers pulled off the first major move when they traded for Gary Sheffield.
"The Tigers don't wait around for the winter meetings, when all the owners and agents get involved," all-star catcher Ivan Rodriguez told The Associated Press. "We got Sheffield early last year and now we got Renteria right away.
"I think this was a good move because Renteria is a great player who is a winner with a championship under his belt."
Detroit hopes this year's deal at the start of the off-season, necessitated by shifting Carlos Guillen to first base, helps the franchise get back to the postseason after falling short this year with 88 wins.
"We were able to address our biggest need, heading into the winter, with one of the best shortstops in the game," Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said on a conference call.
Renteria, a five-time all-star, hit .332 with 12 homers and 57 RBI in 124 games with Atlanta this season.
In exchange for the 32-year-old Renteria, Detroit gave up right-hander Jair Jurrjens and minor-league outfielder Gorkys Hernandez.
Boras apologizes: Major League Baseball had this message for Alex Rodriguez and agent Scott Boras: Shame on you. Boras announced during Game 4 of the World Series on Sunday night that A-Rod was opting out of the final three seasons of his contract with the New York Yankees. The timing left baseball officials livid, and Boras apologized Monday evening, just after Rodriguez filed with the players' association and became a free agent for the first time since 2000.
"We were very disappointed that Scott Boras would try to upstage our premier baseball event of the season with his announcement," Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said Monday in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
"There was no reason to make an announcement last night other than to try to put his selfish interests and that of one individual player above the overall good of the game," DuPuy said. "Last night and today belong to the Boston Red Sox, who should be celebrated for their achievement, and to the Colorado Rockies, who made such an unbelievable run to the World Series."
Boras said causing a distraction was an unintended consequence.
"I apologize to the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies and their players, Major League Baseball and its players, and baseball fans everywhere for that interference," he said in a statement. "The teams and players involved deserved to be the focus of the evening and honored with the utmost respect. The unfortunate result was not my intent, but is solely my fault. I could have handled this situation better, and for that I am truly sorry."
Hunter to test the market: Minnesota Twins center fielder Torii Hunter filed for free agency on Monday, immediately becoming one of the most prized players on the market. The Twins have a 15-day window in which they can negotiate exclusively with Hunter, but all signs point to him hitting the open market Nov. 13. The six-time gold glover had a career year at the plate, hitting .287 with 28 homers and 107 RBI.
Also on Monday, starting pitcher Carlos Silva filed for free agency, and the Twins exercised their $6 million option on closer Joe Nathan, ensuring the two-time all-star will be back for another season in Minnesota.
Cardinals' staff returns: A week after Tony La Russa agreed to a new two-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, the team announced that all of his coaches also would be back. Pitching coach Dave Duncan has been with La Russa since 1983, and first-base coach Dave McKay has been an aide since 1989. Third-base coach Jose Oquendo, bullpen coach Marty Mason, bench coach Joe Pettini and hitting coach Hal McRae also will be back.
Bonds files for free agency: The home run king is looking for a job. Barry Bonds filed for free agency Monday, the first possible day after the World Series ended with Boston's sweep of the Colorado Rockies on Sunday night. That means the slugger's tenure with San Francisco is now over. Giants owner Peter Magowan told him last month the club would not bring him back for a 16th season.