MLB
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners have acquired catcher Carlos Ruiz from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for left-handed pitcher Vidal Nuno.
The clubs announced the trade Monday at the start of the general manager meetings. The Mariners have exercised the option on Ruiz for the 2017 season worth $4.5 million.
The acquisition of Ruiz fills an immediate need for Seattle after the Mariners declined the option on Chris Iannetta for 2017. Ruiz, who will turn 38 before the start of next season, hit .264 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 62 games last season with the Phillies and Dodgers. Ruiz was traded from Philadelphia to Los Angeles in August.
Nuno appeared in a career-high 55 games last season for Seattle and was 1-1 with a 3.53 ERA. Nuno has been used as a starter and reliever in Seattle.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Pitcher Scott Kazmir has decided not to opt out of the final two seasons of his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, choosing to keep $32 million in pay rather than become a free agent.
The 32-year-old left-hander was 10-6 with a 4.56 ERA in 26 starts after signing a $48 million, three-year contract.
The Dodgers have also extended $17.2 million qualifying offers to free agents Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner.
NBA
DALLAS — Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban says his decision to revoke the credentials of two ESPN writers who cover his team was driven partly by concern that automated game reports could eventually replace human-generated content.
Cuban said Monday that he banned Marc Stein and Tim MacMahon from Mavericks home games to bring attention to the issue of companies using automation in sports coverage.
The Associated Press, in a partnership with Automated Insights, produces automated stories on minor league baseball but does not use the technology for most of its sports coverage. The AP has at least one reporter at all games in the four major professional sports and most major college football and basketball games.
Cuban told The Dallas Morning News that ESPN had informed the club that it wouldn’t have a reporter at every game and would rely on wire services. Barry Bedlan, AP’s sports product manager, said ESPN “has relied on us for years.”
PGA Tour
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Tim Finchem is stepping down after more than two decades as the PGA Tour commissioner.
The tour’s board of directors accepted his resignation Monday at a quarterly meeting and approved Jay Monahan as his replacement.
Neither development was a surprise. Finchem, who took over as commissioner in 1994, had indicated he would not seek another contract extension and he appointed Monahan as his deputy commissioner more than two years ago.
Finchem was only the third commissioner since the tour broke away from the PGA of America in 1969. During his 22 years, total prize money has grown from $52.4 million in 1994 to nearly $300 million this season, which doesn’t include the four majors.
Finchem also kept the tour fully sponsored through the economic downturn while Tiger Woods was sidelined.
Associated Press
