Capuano back in MAss - MLB Notebook

The Boston Red Sox  signed former All-Star left-handed pitcher Chris Capuano to a one-year contract through the 2014 season. Capuano a free agent has spent the last two seasons with the Dodgers. Ryan Dempster was placed on the restricted list, to make room on the 40-man roster.

Capuano, 35, a native of West Springfield, MA, is a nine-year major league veteran. In 2013, he went 4-7 with a 4.26 ERA (50 ER/105.2 IP) and 81 strikeouts over 24 outings for the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Throughout his career, Capuano is 73-83 with a 4.27 ERA (602 ER/1,267.2 IP), 1,050 strikeouts, and 392 walks in 238 games, including 209 starts. Selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the eighth round of the 1999 June Draft, he has played for the Diamondbacks (2003), Milwaukee Brewers (2004-07, 2010), New York Mets (2011), and Dodgers (2012-13). He missed time from 2008-09 recovering from Tommy John Surgery performed in April 2008.

Capuano attended Cathedral High School in Springfield, MA and went on to graduate from Duke University with a degree in economics in 2000.

Dempster, 36, announced earlier this week that he would not pitch in 2014. In his only season in Boston he went 8-9 with a 4.57 ERA in 32 regular season games, including 29 starts.

Other Player New & Notes

The NY Yankees and outfielder Brett Gardiner reportedly are very close to an agreement on a four year extension. The deal is reportedly worth in the neighborhood of $52 million. Those in the know, considered the speedy outfielder to be trade bait after the signing of Jacoby Ellsbury this off season. Yet the Bronx brass apparently has far more value for the versatile outfielder then the so called experts thought.

Paul Maholm is making an impression on his new club. Maholm signed by the Dodgers in early Febuary is expected to be a key part of their rotation.  LA allowed free agents Ricky Nolasco & Chris Capuano to leave the coast, leaving a whole in the rotation.

Maholm, 31, has posted double-digit victories in both of the last two seasons and has gone 76-95 with a 4.28 ERA in nine Major League seasons with the Pirates (2005-2011), Cubs (2012) and Braves (2012-13). Since 2006, he ranks among the National League leaders in starts (236, 4th), innings pitched (1444.1, 4th), wins (73, 18th) and strikeouts (924, 15th). During the course of his career, Maholm has been especially tough against left-handed hitters, limiting lefties to a .225 batting average, a .287 on-base percentage and a .318 slugging mark.

In 2013 with Atlanta, Pat won seven of his first 11 decisions and finished the season with a 10-11 record and a 4.41 ERA in 26 starts. Maholm allowed just nine extra-base hits to left-handed hitters, while holding lefties to a .226 batting average (35-for-155) with 35 strikeouts and just six walks

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More Suspensions

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that free agent Minor League first baseman Rhyne Hughes has received a 100-game suspension without pay after testing positive for exogenous Testosterone, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Hughes originally drafted by Tampa in the 8th round back in 2004, has only played in 14 big league games. He spent the 2013 campaign in the Mets organization.

Date Night

The Arizona Diamondbacks invite fans to join A&E's "Duck Dynasty" stars Jase and Missy Robertson for a Date Night at the Ballpark on May 2 at 7:00PM at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Tickets for the event start at $25 and include admission for a second date night at a future D-backs game.  The D-backs have teamed up with the Association of Marriage & Family Ministries (AMFM) to host Date Night at the Ballpark with the theme of the night focused on the importance of healthy relationships and how marriages and relationships thrive on continued dating.

 The night will be highlighted by Jase and Missy sharing their love story as well as entertainment from David and Tamela Mann, co-stars on Tyler Perry's "Meet the Browns." Additional entertainment for the night will include 1970s and 80s love songs performed by Raun Alosi & The Date Night Band and a talk with relationship expert and author Michael Smalley. FOX 10 morning show weather anchor Cory McCloskey will emcee the event.

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