The Brewers are close to adding right-hander starter Matt Garza to their rotation, according to FOX Sports. The deal will be for four years and $52 million, pending a physical.
The team isn't ready to say a deal is done, however.
"Despite media reports, negotiations between the Brewers and Matt Garza are ongoing, but there is no deal yet," the Brewers said in a statement.
Garza went 6-1 in 11 appearances for the Cubs last year, putting up a 3.17 ERA in 71 innings..
He was traded to the Rangers hours before he was scheduled to start a July game against the Diamondbacks. With Texas, he went 4-5 in 13 appearances, with a 4.38 ERA in 84 1/3 innings. Combined he finished the season 10-6 with a 3.82 ERA.
HARVEY AIMING FOR SEPTEMBER
Matt Harvey initially resisted Tommy John surgery for his injured pitching elbow. It's no surprise, then, that the Mets' ace right-hander wants to return to action as quickly as he can.
"I'd like right now," Harvey said Thursday night, per MLB.com. "That's not possible. I'd like to shoot for being out there in September. Obviously I don't make those decisions. I can only prepare to the best of my ability and make sure I'm in good strength and flexibility, and when they do let me go, I'm good to go."
Harvey underwent the surgery in October, and recovery time is generally 12 months, so maybe there's a chance. It's more likely that Harvey will have to wait until March or April 2015, though, as the Mets try to protect one of their biggest assets.
Harvey, a Connecticut native, was in Boston to accept an award at the Boston Baseball Writers' Dinner.
BALFOUR, RAYS AGREE ON DEAL
Grant Balfour is headed back to the Tampa Bay area.
The Rays agreed to terms with the veteran closer on Thursday. Balfour played for the Rays from 2007 (when they were still the Devil Rays) to 2010.
The deal is for two years and $12 million, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times.
Balfour, 36, was set to sign a two-year, $15 million contract with the Orioles in December, but a failed physical torpedoed the deal.
He saved 38 games for the A's last season with a 2.59 ERA and made the American League All-Star team. For his 10-year career with the Twins, Brewers, Rays and A's, he has a 3.27 ERA, 72 saves and a 1.186 WHIP.
NO MORE BEARDS
For the Boston Red Sox, bushy beards are so last year.
Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes, the bandleader of the beard brigade during Boston's run to the 2013 World Series title, said he will be shaving his off before spring training so that he can file it "in the archive" with his memories of the team's improbable championship.
"It was a pretty cool experience. Want to bottle it up and enjoy it," he said on Thursday, still with his recognizable chin scruff. "I'll start 2014 pretty clean."
Some of the Red Sox players already have shaved their beards, but Jon Lester was sporting a trimmed-back style before the 75th annual dinner of the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Designated hitter David Ortiz and outfielder Shane Victorino cut theirs off for charity shortly after the World Series.
Manager John Farrell said the rest will soon follow.
"We've come to an agreement that when we get on the field we'll be cleaned up," he said.
LOGOS ANNOUNCED FOR HOF INDUCTEES
The caps are here.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum announced Thursday which baseball cap each 2014 Cooperstown inductee will have on his plaque.
The selections:
Bobby Cox – Braves
Tom Glavine – Braves
Tony La Russa – no logo
Greg Maddux – no logo
Frank Thomas – White Sox
Joe Torre – Yankees
The inductee's plaque is meant to represent the whole of that person's career. The logo represents the team to which the player or coach made the biggest contribution. If there is no clear choice for a logo, if a player or coach made what is deemed equivalent contributions to multiple teams, a logo does not have to be chosen. That was the case with Maddux (Cubs, Braves) and La Russa (A's, Cardinals).
The induction ceremony will take place Sunday, July 27, at 1:30 p.m. as part of Hall of Fame Weekend in Cooperstown.
HEALTH KEEPS SCHMIDT FROM SPRING TRAINING
Roy Halladay and Brad Lidge, two recently retired former Phillies, will be in Clearwater, Fla., this spring to work as guest instructors at spring training. But the franchise's most famous guest instructor — and the best player in franchise history — will not be able to work on the field this spring.
Phillies Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt will not take part in camp as he deals with a health issue.
The team released a statement:
"Mike is treating a health issue that requires him to remain near his doctors and will be unable to attend spring training as a field instructor this year. He plans to visit camp in the middle of March as part of his marketing relationship and continue his normal visits to Philly throughout the summer."
Contributors: Cassandra Negley, Tom Gatto, The Associated Press
