MLB Notes: Mike Trout says his back is pain-free

Mike Trout, who had 40 homers and 80 RBIs despite missing time last season with an upper back and ribcage injury, said his back is fine as he prepares for the 2023 season. Alex Gallardo/Associated Press

NEW YORK — As spring training nears its start, Mike Trout feels pain free.

The three-time AL MVP for the Los Angeles Angels was sidelined from July 12 to August 19 last year with upper back and ribcage injuries. After his return, he batted .308 with 16 homers and 29 RBI in 40 games for a season batting average of .283 with 40 homers and 80 RBI in 119 games.

The 31-year-old 10-time All-Star is captain of the U.S. team in the World Baseball Classic and will be reported to spring training by Feb. 16.

“My back hasn’t been an issue for the last four months,” Trout said on a conference call Friday. “When I came back during last season I was feeling a little sick, but I’ve been doing pretty well since then, just maintaining the same routine in the weight room and doing the warm-up and all the backs around it. I’m sure the muscles of the are strong.”

The US team will attempt to defend the 2017 WBC title (the 2021 tournament was canceled due to the pandemic). That journey began when the player reported to the Phoenix area on March 6, San Francisco on March 8 where he will play in exhibitions against the Giants and Arizona on March 9 against the Angels. .

The Americans will open the World Baseball Classic against Great Britain on March 11 as part of a first-round group that includes Mexico, Canada and Colombia.

twins: Minnesota traded AL batting champion Luis Ares to the Miami Marlins for a three-player package featuring starting pitcher Pablo Lopez.

Arraez, 25, had a breakthrough season last year in Minnesota, batting a league-leading .316 and beating Aaron Judge’s Triple Crown while earning his first All-Star Team selection. The New York Yankees star led his AL in home runs and RBI.

Alaez was a multi-position player who spent most of the Twins’ time at first base last year, starting 61 games there, 34 at designated hitter and 31 at second base. He also played widely at third base and left field.

The Twins also acquired two prospects from the Marlins: infielder Jose Salas and outfielder Byron Churio. Salas was named as Miami’s fifth most promising player in his latest MLB pipeline rankings.

Cubs: Trey Mancini and Chicago have signed a two-year deal.

Cancer survivor Mancini helped the Houston Astros win the World Series from Baltimore on Aug. 1 in a three-team trade that included Tampa Bay.

He struggled at bat with Houston and finished the season with the Orioles and Astros with a . 239 batting average, 18 home runs, 63 RBIs and a . Worlds against Philadelphia, Gold late in Game 5 of his series His Glove Award first baseman Yuri When his Gurriel sprained his right knee and played on the field for the first time in a month, Mancini put up a great defense. , he started the service. The Astros are holding on to his 3-2 victory.

Mancini, who turns 31 in March, has a powerful right-handed at-bat that could make him a prime candidate for the Cubs’ designated hitter. He will play first base and corner outfield spots, giving Chicago a potential platoon partner in new first baseman Eric Hosmer, a left-handed hitter.

Over five major league seasons, Mancini has a .265 batting average, 125 home runs and a .787 OPS.

The Cubs have been busy after losing 74-88 on a two-game losing streak. They also added Gold Glove shortstop Dansby Swanson, right-hander Jameson Tyllon, outfielder Cody Bellinger, reliever Brad Boxberger, and catcher Tucker Bernhardt.

Pirate: Andrew McCutchen is back where he once belonged.

The five-time All-Star centerfielder signed a $5 million, one-year contract to return to the Pittsburgh Pirates, nearly five years after the day Pittsburgh sent him to San Francisco on a cost-cutting measure.

McCutchen played a central role in Pittsburgh’s brief return to contention nearly a decade ago. He won his MVP award of the National League in 2013. This is the season that marked the beginning of his three-year run in which the Pirates reached the playoffs as a wild card.

The 36-year-old has been playing professionally since being traded to San Francisco, but is based in Pittsburgh. He spent his 2022 with Milwaukee, batting . 237 with 17 home runs and 69 RBIs.

Referee: Alan Porter and Adrian Johnson became the second and third black umpire crew chiefs in the MLB as the league announced ten retirements along with promotions from the minors.

Tom Harrion and Ted Barrett have retired, according to the Commissioner’s Office, and are joined by Marty Foster, Greg Gibson, Jim Reynolds, Jerry Meals, Sam Holbrook, Bill Welke, Paul Nauert and Tim Timmons. bottom.

Porter, 45, made his big league debut in 2010 and joined the regular staff in 2013. Johnson, 47, made his first major appearance in his league game in 2006 and became a full-time big league umpire in 2010.

Kerwin Danley was the first Black Crew Chief in 2020. He retired after his 2021 season.

Lance Barksdale, Dan Bellino, Chris Conroy, James Hoey and Todd Tichenor have also been promoted to crew chief.

Minor League: Arizona pitcher Jose Valdez has been suspended for 120 games under baseball’s minor league drug program after testing positive for the performance-enhancing substance stanozolol.

Valdez received a 60-game suspension on Feb. 4 last year and was also disciplined a second time under the drug program after testing positive for stanozolol. He has not pitched in his league game since his 2021 Dominica summer.

It was the first suspension of the year under the major and minor league programs.

Last year, he had 50 suspensions under minor league drug programs and 7 under major league drug programs. Milwaukee pitcher JC Mejia and Brewers catcher Pedro Severino each played 80 games. Baltimore pitcher Matt Harvey appeared in 60 games. Free agent outfielder/first baseman Danny Santana, pitcher Richard Rodriguez, and infielder Jose London each played 80 games.

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