Baseball roundup: New name wanted for Mets park

Monday, May 25, 2009 3:06 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

Associated Press

NEW YORK — Two New York City Council members say that Citigroup should show its thanks for a federal bailout by sharing the naming rights to the new Mets ballpark in Queens.

The struggling bank is slated to pay $400 million over the next 20 years to name the stadium Citi Field.

Now that Citigroup is getting billions of dollars in federal aid, Staten Island Republicans Vincent Ignizio and James Oddo say the ballpark's name should be changed to Citi/Taxpayer Field.

MARLINS

MIAMI — The Florida Marlins' new ballpark won't open until the 2012 season, a one-year delay because a recent court challenge slowed the start of construction.

PHILLIES

PHILADELPHIA — Second baseman Chase Utley has had arthroscopic hip surgery and is expected to need four to six months to recover.

RED SOX

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox have expressed an interest in bringing back captain Jason Varitek but have not made a contract offer, the catcher's agent said Tuesday.

MARINERSSEATTLE — Longtime major league coaches Mel Stottlemyre and Lee Elia will not return to the remodeling Seattle Mariners in 2009, leaving an almost entirely new staff for first-time manager Don Wakamatsu.

STEROIDS

NEW YORK — Roger Clemens' former trainer gave samples of his DNA to federal investigators trying to ascertain whether the star pitcher committed perjury before Congress, two New York newspapers reported.

The request for a DNA sample from trainer Brian McNamee suggests that investigators found readable DNA on the syringes, needles and gauze pads McNamee turned over to federal prosecutors in January, The New York Times and Daily News reported Monday night.