Associated Press
The baseball notebook …
TAMPA, Fla. ó Right-hander Kevin Millwood agreed Friday to a minor league contract with the New York Yankees.
“I don’t know if he can help us or not,” New York general manager Brian Cashman said. “No-risk, possible-reward option.”
The 36-year-old was 4-16 with a 5.10 ERA last season with Baltimore.
Millwood is 159-137 with a 4.11 ERA in 14 big league seasons with Atlanta (1997-02), Philadelphia (2003-04), Cleveland (2005), Texas (2006-09) and Baltimore (2010).
BONDS TRIAL
SAN FRANCISCO ó Barry Bonds’ trial was a lot like high school chemistry and biology class Thursday.
After former Bonds business partner Steve Hoskins finished a cross-examination in which he admitted his previous statements included inconsistencies and inaccuracies, Larry Bowers of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency took the witness stand for more than four hours of mind-numbing testimony on the whats, whys and hows of steroids, human growth hormone and changes they cause to the body.
Bonds is charged with lying when he told a grand jury in 2003 that he didn’t knowingly use performance-enhancing drugs.
RETIRING
SURPRISE, Ariz. ó Mike Sweeney wanted to end his career the same way he started it, as a member of the Kansas City Royals.
So the former slugger signed a one-day minor league contract with Kansas City, then officially retired Friday as a member of the Royals.
The 37-year-old Sweeney was a five-time All-Star with Kansas City. He finished with a .297 average, 215 home runs and 909 RBIs.
MESA, Ariz. ó Braden Looper has told the Chicago Cubs he is retiring.
The 36-year-old pitcher was in camp as a non-roster player, trying to make a comeback after sitting out last season. The Cubs informed him Friday that he would not make the team out of spring training, so Looper decided to retire.
REDSí INJURIES
GOODYEAR, Ariz. ó The Cincinnati Reds took another hit to their starting rotation on Friday, losing right-hander Homer Bailey because of a shoulder problem.
General manager Walt Jocketty said that Bailey felt something in his shoulder during his last start. Tests found he has some limited movement, forcing him to rest for a week. He’ll open the season on the disabled list along with right-handed starter Johnny Cueto, who has mild inflammation in his shoulder.
WHITE SOX
GLENDALE, Ariz. ó The Chicago White Sox named Brent Morel their starting third baseman.
The 23-year-old rookie is hitting .286 this spring. Morel beat out veteran Mark Teahen, who is hitting .333.