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Boston Red Sox prospect Drake Britton got himself into hot water earlier in spring training because of bad decisions and may now have to pay big.

The 23-year-old left-handed pitcher was arrested in Estero, Florida on March 2 and charged with DUI.

He was taken into custody at 4:42 a.m. after being clocked at 111 mph in a 45 mph zone. He led police on a brief chase before jumping a curb with his truck and knocking over a barbed-wire fence before coming to a stop. 

Britton refused a breath test on the scene, but showed signs of intoxication and admitted to police that he had been drinking.

ESPN Boston’s Gordon Edes reported that Britton is scheduled for a hearing in Florida on April 12, where he faces multiple misdemeanor charges, including DUI, reckless driving and property damage. 

If found guilty, he faces up to a year in jail and thousands of dollars in fines. 

Britton was given a $700,000 signing bonus after being Boston’s 23rd-round selection in the 2007 draft, according to a CSNNE.com report. This swayed him to decide to play professional baseball instead of attending Texas A&M University. 

He struggled with injuries earlier in his career, including Tommy John surgery in 2009.  

Often compared to Red Sox lefty Jon Lester, the 23-year-old Britton was just a combined 4-18 with a 4.82 ERA in his first four professional seasons.   

But, Britton had the best season of his career last year, going a combined 7-12 with a 4.44 ERA and 118 strikeouts between high Single-A and Double-A. 

He had just a 5.80 ERA in 10 games with high Single-A Salem before being called up to Double-A Portland, where he had a 3.72 ERA in 16 games for the Sea Dogs. 

Following his arrest, Britton was optioned to Double-A Portland, where he is expected to start the season. 

Prior to being cut from camp, the southpaw had allowed five hits, four walks and three runs in 3.1 innings this spring, which was his first big-league camp. 

According to WEEI’s Alex Speier, the prospect was tightlipped about his situation, stating, “I’m extremely remorseful… I’m sorry for the negativity that I brought, but that’s about all I can say right now. I’d really rather not say anything else.”

Edes reported that Boston GM Ben Cherington confirmed in an email that Britton is currently a full participant in minor league camp.

It’s unknown how his upcoming hearing may impact his season or even his status with the organization.

Britton had an extraordinary opportunity this spring to play and learn with the major leaguers he hopes to one day have as teammates. That all ended because of his decision to drink and drive, and he will now face the consequences, which could be severe. 

Statistics via Baseball-Reference 

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The Cincinnati Reds are considering moving last year’s closer Aroldis Chapman to the starting rotation this season. With less than three weeks left in spring training, the team hasn’t yet made a decision, but that didn’t stop the pitcher from telling the team he wants to close.

According to CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler, Chapman made it clear Saturday that if the choice was his, he would rather close. When asked about his preference, the pitcher stated unequivocally, “I would like to be a closer, but that’s not in my hands.” 

The 25-year-old left-hander from Cuba has one of the most electric arms in baseball.

Last year was his first year closing in the majors, and he was an immediate success. He appeared in 68 games and went 5-5 with a 1.51 ERA and 38 saves. Most impressive were his 122 strikeouts in 71.2 innings, which translated to 44.2 percent of all batters he faced going down by way of the whiff.

During his career, Chapman has appeared in 137 games, all in relief, and gone a combined 11-8 with a 2.33 ERA and 212 strikeouts in 135 innings.

His success has come largely from his big fastball, which was regularly clocked at 100 mph or better. 

Hoping to capitalize on his ability, the Reds entered spring training with Chapman competing for a spot in their starting rotation.

He’s made three appearances (two starts) this spring, with mixed results. He has allowed just two runs in eight innings, but Knobler noted that his fastball has been sitting in the low-to-mid-90s, which is still excellent, but a far cry from the 98 mph the pitch averaged in 2012, according to FanGraphs.com.

The Reds have received criticism for their decision to tinker with Chapman’s role. An anonymous rival scout told Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal that, “I hope they do start him, but they’re crazy if they do. It’s Joba Chamberlain all over again… No question in my mind, he’s the closer.” 

Chapman lasted four innings and allowed one run in his most recent start, a 7-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. Despite the solid numbers, he struggled with his control. He explained to MLB.com’s Chris Haft that, “The issue I had was I was not commanding any of my pitches. I was just throwing too many balls, too many bad pitches.” 

Chapman’s preference to close is a complete reversal of what he told (translated by his trainer Tomas Vera) ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick at the start of spring training when asked about his feelings on starting:

I will prepare the same way I did last year. I would like to start a season and throw as many innings as I can, but that’s up to the team. When I was in Cuba, I threw 150 innings. I will prepare myself to throw as many innings as they want me to throw. 

Although his recent statement contradicts his previous stance, the comments pleased his manager Dusty Baker, who told Knobler, “We’re going to do what’s best for the organization, for the team and for him. But it makes it a lot easier if you get the person’s blessing. I’m happy he finally expressed something.”

If Chapman opens the season as a starter, the Reds’ closer will likely be big right-hander Jonathan Broxton, who re-signed with the team on a three-year free-agent contract this past offseason. He would shift to a setup role if Chapman returned to the bullpen. 

The Reds are expected to make a decision soon, but that can’t come fast enough for Baker, who shared his thoughts about the situation with the Cincinnati Enquirer’s John Fay:

I’d like to decide soon and get my team together. I don’t like having guys in the middle. That’s a bad situation when you’re in the middle of anything. An unknown. Then everybody else is in an unknown situation. That’s unfair to him or us—the situation he’s been put in. He was in that same situation last year.

I’d like to make a decision in the next week or so, so I can get my team together. The decision is not only mine, it’s ours. But I got my opinion.

Chapman’s fate is no easy decision for a team that won 97 games and the Central Division title in 2012, before losing to the San Francisco Giants in the LDS. Whatever the Reds decide will have major implications on their pursuit of another playoff run.

With Chapman going on the record, all the cards are now on the table. All that remains is the Reds determining what is in the best interests of their prized lefty and those of the team, and hopefully finding a solution that will work for all involved.

Statistics via Baseball-Reference 

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The Boston Red Sox’s top prospects have garnered a lot of attention this spring. However, the team and its fans should be most encouraged by the performance of some of their veteran pitchers who are seeking to rebound from a disappointing 2012 season.

Poor pitching was a major contributor to Boston’s 69-93 record last season. The staff’s cumulative 4.70 ERA ranked 12th in the American League.

Unfortunately, some pitchers—who had been counted on to be stalwarts of the pitching staff—submitted surprisingly ineffective seasons.

Despite the results, the Red Sox brought back some of the more disappointing performers in the hopes that they could turn things around in 2013.

It’s beginning to look like that patience might be rewarded.

Hard-throwing right-hander Daniel Bard was one of the best setup men in baseball for several years before Boston attempted to convert him to a starter last season. It was a disaster: He lost velocity and control, leading to a 6.22 ERA on the season and a highly publicized demotion to the minors.

The 27-year-old Bard arrived at camp this spring without the guarantee of a roster spot or knowing if he would be able to put last year’s troubles behind him.

The Red Sox have been careful with the righty thus far and have restored him to the bullpen. They are starting to see their patience pay off.

Bard has not been scored on in five appearances this spring, while striking out seven and walking two in five innings. Most importantly, his fastball is once again being clocked in the mid-90s.

Once nearly off Boston’s 2013 radar, he is now a serious contender to make the team and try to reclaim his once promising career.

Left-hander Jon Lester entered 2012 firmly entrenched as Boston’s ace. The 29-year-old had a combined 65-32 record in the previous four seasons, making him one of the most exciting pitchers in the game.

His success ended last year, as he went just 9-14 with a 4.82 ERA in 33 starts, while allowing a career-high 25 home runs.

As the most successful and arguably talented pitcher on Boston’s staff, Lester has the heavy burden of returning to form as the team ace in 2013.

Like Bard, Lester has looked very good this spring. New Boston manager John Farrell told WEEI’s Alex Speier that he notices a tangible difference in the southpaw. Those changes have also manifested in his numbers.

Lester has allowed just six hits and two earned runs in 14 innings this spring. He has also struck out 10 batters and has yet to allow a home run. If he can carry that effectiveness over to the regular season, the Red Sox may have their ace back.

The pitcher with the most to prove this season in Boston is the enigmatic John Lackey.

After signing a five-year, $82.5 million free-agent contract with the Red Sox prior to the 2010 season, the right-hander was expected to be a major piece of the rotation for years to come.

Instead, he went 26-23 with a 5.26 ERA in his first two seasons. He also became embroiled in a major clubhouse scandal involving fried chicken, beer and video games. Then he ultimately missed all of 2012 because of Tommy John surgery.

Finally healthy once again, the 34-year-old Lackey is expected to rejoin Boston’s rotation and hopefully provide some consistency that was lacking last year.

His focus was noticeable as soon as he reported to camp, where he was lauded for his impeccable physical condition.

While his spring training results have been uneven (8.10 ERA with four strikeouts in 6.2 official innings), he has impressed with his command and control. Coming back from major surgery, he needs to continue getting work in to shake off the rust.

Most recently, he allowed just one run in five innings against a team comprised of Tampa Bay Ray minor league players.

It’s impossible to hazard a guess as to how Lackey will pitch this season, but signs are encouraging that he is healthy and has a chance to finally start living up to his large contract.

If the Red Sox hope to contend in 2013, they will need a lot of help from their pitching. With spring training now more than half over, some of the pitchers being counted on for rebound seasons are off to promising starts.

Statistics via Baseball-Reference

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The Boston Red Sox got closer to finalizing their regular-season roster on Friday, when they decided the fate of their top-two pitching prospects, sending Allen Webster and Rubby De La Rosa to the minors.

The story was first reported in a tweet by the Providence Journal’s Tim Britton:

Red Sox announce new round of cuts: De La Rosa and Webster to Pawtucket, Vazquez to Portland.

— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) March 15, 2013

The moves were confirmed in a subsequent tweet by MLB.com’s Evan Drellich:

Red Sox optioned Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster to Triple-A Pawtucket, Christian Vazquez to Double-A Portland.

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) March 15, 2013

De La Rosa and Webster, both right-handed power pitchers, were obtained in a huge trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers last summer, which sent high-priced veterans Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett packing out of Boston.

Although neither Webster nor De La Rosa have thrown a single pitch in a regular season game for the Red Sox, they have rapidly been anointed the face of the future for the team’s pitching staff.

The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham wrote how the 23-year-old Webster rose from relative obscurity as a 2008 18th-round draft pick to become a top prospect.

Webster dominated this spring, allowing just two earned runs in 11 innings, while striking out 14. His numbers were punctuated by stories about his high-90s fastball that wowed players and reporters alike.

De La Rosa is 24 and appeared in 14 games with the Dodgers in 2011 and 2012, sandwiched around Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss nearly a full year. 

Britton reported that De La Rosa came out blazing in his first spring training game this year, hitting 100 mph with his fastball, before struggling with his command and control in his other outings. He finished with a 9.45 ERA in 6.2 innings this spring, while striking out five and walking five.

Fans started comparing De La Rosa to Boston pitching legend Pedro Martinez after ESPN Boston’s Gordon Edes reported that the youngster grew up being mentored by the future Hall of Famer.

The fervor only grew when Martinez, who is in his first season as a Boston special assistant, told WEEI’s Rob Bradford that his protégé has a chance to be special.

Instead of starting the year in Boston, both prospects will begin the year in the starting rotation for Triple-A Pawtucket.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see either pitcher in Boston at some point this season, either relieving or starting. Their arrival and usage will likely be dictated by injuries or ineffectiveness impacting the big-league staff.

Also included in the cuts was catcher Christian Vazquez, who drew rave reviews this spring with his stellar defensive play. He will report to Double-A Portland and be the team’s starting backstop.

Although Webster and De La Rosa were cut from camp, it appears to be only a matter of time before they’re both in the majors for good. If they are able to live up to even a fraction of the hype they experienced this spring, they will both have very successful careers.

Statistics via Baseball-Reference 

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The Boston Red Sox have had a number of young players like Allen Webster, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Rubby De La Rosa make favorable impressions this spring. Most recently, catcher Christian Vazquez is starting to emerge as a top prospect.

Although he is just 22, Vazquez is about to enter his sixth season in the Red Sox organization. He was a ninth-round draft selection in 2008 out of Puerto Rico.

Known earlier in his career as more of a defense-first type of player, he has begun to round out his game and see his stock rise.

In 337 career minor league games, the right-handed hitter has batted a combined .256 with 30 home runs and 183 RBI. He has also thrown out 35 percent of baserunners and reached as high as Double-A this past season.

Vazquez’s best season came in 2011 at Single-A, where he hit .283 with 18 home runs and 84 RBI in 105 games.

Last season, he played in 101 games between High-A and Double A, hitting a combined .254 with seven home runs and 46 RBI. He also led High-A Carolina League by throwing out 42 percent of baserunners.

A squat 5’9”, he is reminiscent of all-time great catcher Ivan Rodriguez. However, the youngster has watched and trained with the Molina brothers (Bayamon, Benji, Jose and Yadier) over the years. “Very good guys. I watched them in winter ball. When I was a kid, I was there watching,” he explained to The Boston Globe‘s Peter Abraham.

Vazquez told MLB.com’s Ian Browne that the primary thing he took away from his time with the Molinas was, “Be quick with your feet and throw to second base as hard as you can.”

He seemingly took that advice to heart with a highlight-worthy play in a recent game, when he made a spectacular throw to nail the Minnesota Twins’ Trevor Plouffe at second on a stolen base attempt, as described by Browne.

WEEI’s Rob Bradford reported that Vazquez’s throw to second was timed between 1.75 and 1.82 seconds, which is considered elite.

Red Sox manager John Farrell told Browne that he’s liked what he has seen from the young catcher this spring:

I will say this: He’s a bright-looking prospect behind the plate. He’s durable. This is a guy that’s really come a long way since he signed out of Puerto Rico. He’s really worked his way from a stamina standpoint, overall strength. When his arrival date is here, he’s probably a couple injuries away in the short term. In the long term, he’s got some development left with the bat, but he’s a very good prospect behind the plate.

Despite his need to continue refining his offensive approach, it’s clear that Vazquez has made great strides since starting his career. He has seen his OBP and OPS rise steadily since his first season and his increasing willingness to take a walk (a career-high 48 in 2012) is an excellent sign for a young hitter.

Recently rated by MLB.com as Boston’s 16th-best prospect entering the 2013 season, Vazquez should open the year with Double-A Portland. If he can prove himself capable there, he will be on the threshold of being ready for his major league debut.

Vazquez’s quest to reach the majors could be helped by Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ryan Lavarnway, who are two catchers ahead of him on the organization’s depth chart and more known for their bats than their gloves.

If the Red Sox determine they need to shore up their play behind the plate, the defensive-minded youngster could get the call.

In the meantime, Vazquez will continue to work on his overall game and prepare himself for the next level. If his recent play is any indication, he may not have far to go.

Statistics via Baseball-Reference

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Boston Red Sox pitching prospect Drake Britton was just optioned from big league spring training camp to the minors. Although he wasn’t ready for the majors, the move was likely prompted by his recent arrest for DUI.

The left-handed Britton was arrested over the weekend, according to WFTX-TV Fort Myers, which was shared in a tweet by CSNNE.com’s Maureen Mullen:

According to WFTX-TV Fort Myers, #RedSox LHP Drake Britton arrested for DUI over the weekend. Optioned to AA Portland Mon. #redsoxtalk

— Maureen Mullen (@MaureenaMullen) March 5, 2013

The story was later confirmed by The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo.

ESPNBoston.com’s Gordon Edes reported in a series of tweets that Britton was arrested for driving 111 mph in a 45 mph zone and crashing through a fence.

Sox p Drake Britton was arrested on reckless driving, DUI and property damage charges. Arrest report says he was driving 111 mph in 45 zone

— Gordon Edes (@GordonEdes) March 5, 2013

Britton was arrested at 4:42 a.m. Saturday. He was scratched from Sunday appearance, and optioned to Double-A Portland next day.

— Gordon Edes (@GordonEdes) March 5, 2013

Arresting officer said Britton was swerving thru slower-moving cars at that speed before jumping curb and crashing thru barbed wire fence

— Gordon Edes (@GordonEdes) March 5, 2013

Edes provided a more detailed account of the arrest in his blog.

BustedMugShots.com published a mugshot photo of the pitcher.

Britton was given a $700,000 signing bonus by the Red Sox when he was the team’s 23rd-round selection in the 2007 draft, according to a CSNNE.com report. He decided to sign instead of attending Texas A&M University.

He missed a lot of time because of injuries earlier in his career, including Tommy John surgery prior to the 2009 season.

Often compared to Red Sox lefty Jon Lester, the 23-year-old Britton was just a combined 4-18 with a 4.82 ERA in his first four professional seasons.

Despite the lack of production, Baseball America’s Jim Callis named him Boston’s fifth-best prospect for 2011; ahead of the likes of Josh Reddick and Felix Doubront. Since then, he has fallen off of the team’s top-10 prospect list.

Britton had the best season of his career in 2012, going 7-12 with a 4.44 ERA and 118 strikeouts while splitting his time between high Single-A Salem and Double-A Portland.

He had just a 5.80 ERA in 10 games with Salem before being summoned to Portland and posting a 3.72 ERA in 16 games for the Sea Dogs.

Britton struggled this spring for the Red Sox, making two appearances and allowing four walks, five hits and three earned runs in 3.1 innings, without a decision. He also threw a wild pitch, hit a batter and struck out one.

He was also in camp last year, primarily to soak up experience from the veteran pitchers, according to the Providence Journal’s Tim Britton (not related). Britton the pitcher told Britton the reporter that Lester was who he watched the most:

Obviously they want me—and I want—to watch Jon Lester and how he goes about his business. They told me that, pretty much all spring and the time I’m up here, I need to watch what he does, do what he does and interact with him as much as possible. That’s what I’ve been doing. He’s been really nice, really helpful working with me on some things they want me to work on that he does.

Following Britton’s arrest over the weekend, the team tweeted that he was one of three players who had been cut from major league camp:

Roster Moves: #RedSox optioned LHP Drake Britton to Portland & reassigned IF/OF Justin Henry & SS Deven Marrero to minor league camp.

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) March 4, 2013

Britton will be returning to Portland, where he finished last season and pitched the best ball of his career.

He is now at a crossroads. He’s obviously made a huge mistake that will impact him both on and off the field. How he responds to this will largely determine how his baseball career will play out.

His actions should be equally disappointing to him and the team because of the obvious implications and because it cut into his time in major league camp this spring.

It’s a shame that Britton has started his 2013 season with such a setback. It remains to be seen if he can bounce back once again from adversity and fulfill his baseball potential.

Statistics via Baseball-Reference

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The Boston Red Sox have a number of prospects making headlines this spring training, but not all of the youngsters may be getting their just due. With his makeup and production comparing favorably to the more highly regarded Ryan Kalish, little-known outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker deserves more recognition and a chance with Boston in 2013.

The 24-year-old Kalish has tantalized Boston and its fans during the past several seasons because of his 20-home run and 20-stolen base potential. Unfortunately, that promise has never come to fruition because of repeated injuries that have allowed him to only play in 89 major league games since 2010.

Most recently, it was announced that he would miss at least six months this year because of shoulder surgery.

While it would be great to have Kalish healthy and back on track, in Hazelbaker the Red Sox have another similar prospect who deserves a chance of his own.

The left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing Hazelbaker was a fourth-round draft pick in 2009 out of Ball State University. He had a disastrous start to his professional career after signing later that summer, hitting just .165 with 61 strikeouts in 48 games in the low minors.

However, it’s been a different story during the past three seasons.

Hazelbaker has quietly progressed through the Boston system, producing and making a case that he should be given a chance to play for the Red Sox sometime in the near future.

Since 2010, he has been amazingly consistent, advancing through four minor league levels and posting an OPS between .806 and .815 each year.

He has displayed both power and speed during that time, averaging .270 with 16 home runs, 61 RBI, 48 stolen bases and 120 games per year. This production allowed him to reach Triple-A at the end of 2012.

Last season, playing in 121 games between Double-A and Triple-A, he hit a combined .273 with 19 home runs, 67 RBI and 36 steals.

He may not have any major league experience, but the 25-year-old Hazelbaker is only seven months older than Kalish. Despite their offensive similarities, he has received a fraction of the recognition heaped on his counterpart.

Hazelbaker’s career minor league batting average/OBP/OPS split of .259/.345/.779 is close to Kalish’s minor league marks of .279/.366/.794.

Both players are capable of manning any of the three outfield positions but are each better suited for one of the corner spots.

SoxProspects.com wrote, “Hazelbaker has above-average range,” but he has a “fringe-average arm” and some habits that make him a better fit for left field.

One area where Hazelbaker has struggled is consistently making contact at the plate. He has struck out once every 3.37 at-bats throughout his career but has seen that number improve in all four of his professional seasons. By comparison, Kalish has struck out once every 4.67 at-bats during his minor league career.

The Boston Globe’s Craig Forde wrote, “He [Hazelbaker] needs to improve his patience and cut down on the first-pitch swings that seem to almost always result into outs for him and he needs to improve at recognizing pitches which should help tie everything together.” However, this is a refrain not uncommon with most prospects.

Jackie Bradley Jr. may be the top outfield prospect in the Red Sox system, and he could debut with Boston this year. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room to give Hazelbaker his chance.

In addition to his defensive versatility, his speed could be a real game-changer.

According to the Providence Journal’s Tim Britton, Boston manager John Farrell plans on keeping the Red Sox aggressive on the basepaths. This could make Hazelbaker a potentially great fit off the bench or playing his lefty bat against some right-handed pitchers instead of starting outfielders Jonny Gomes or Shane Victorino, both of whom have had their struggles against them.

Hazelbaker has looked good in his limited playing time this spring, going 3-for-6 for two walks and a stolen base. He would be a long shot to make the team at the end of camp but should be in consideration if Boston needs another outfielder at any point this season.

For some reason, Hazelbaker has never gotten the recognition he deserves, especially when considering how he stacks up against other Red Sox prospects. Hopefully that will change if he continues his consistency and Boston realizes the potential value they have in this young outfielder.

Statistics via BaseballReference.

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Everyone loves a comeback story, and right-handed pitcher Mark Prior hopes he can make his own, having signed a free-agent contract with the Cincinnati Reds.

Prior was signed by the Reds to a minor league deal and reported to the team’s spring training camp in Goodyear, Ariz. after passing his physical on Friday, according to a report by the Cincinnati Enquirer’s John Fay.

The signing was confirmed by MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon.

The 32-year-old Prior was once one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball but hasn’t appeared in a major league game since 2006 because of a litany of injuries, including several major shoulder surgeries.

The Chicago Cubs made him the second overall pick in the 2001 draft out of the University of Southern California. After a nine-game stint in the minors, he was summoned to Chicago and inserted in the Cubs rotation.

In five seasons (2002 to 2006) with Chicago, Prior accumulated a record of 42-29 with a 3.51 ERA in 106 starts. Armed with a mid-90s fastball and dominant curve, he also averaged 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. 

His best season came in 2003, when he went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA and 245 strikeouts in 30 starts, resulting in a third-place finish in that year’s National League Cy Young race. Unfortunately, it was the only full season he has managed in his professional career.

He last pitched in the majors in 2006, going 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA in nine starts with the Cubs before being shut down because of reconstructive shoulder surgery.

Since then, he has pitched (primarily in relief) in the minors for the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox. He even had a stint in independent ball, but he has not been able to regain his once-promising career.

Last season, Prior had a 3.96 ERA in 19 relief appearance for Boston’s Triple-A affiliate in Pawtucket, but he failed to be called up to the Red Sox.

The Reds’ manager, Dusty Baker, who managed Prior when he was with Chicago, was instrumental in bringing him to Cincinnati. The skipper told Fay, “He called me and said asked for a chance. I talked to Walt (Jocketty). (Prior) says he feels good. He feels like he has some unfinished business.” 

Once a rising star, Prior told Sheldon that he is now simply grateful to still receive opportunities:

I don’t necessarily feel like a martyr or something because I’ve worked hard and I should be paid with an opportunity, but I’m grateful for it. I don’t take it for granted. I’ll do everything I can to go out and perform and try for a spot. I enjoy competing, first and foremost. It’s always a joy to go out and compete. I’m going to take it day by day. I know that’s a cliche, but it’s literal for me. I really do have to take it day by day. I was in San Diego without a job on Tuesday and I’m here today.

Some believe that past overuse by Baker contributed to Prior’s injury woes, but the pitcher will have none of that, telling Sheldon, “I hold no ill will against him. By no means do I think it was his fault with how my career has gone. It’s no one’s fault.”

The Reds are looking to repeat last season’s NL Central title. They have little time for heartwarming stories, but if Prior can prove he still has the talent, they would be happy to give him a chance to resume his major league career. 

Statistics via BaseballReference.

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Bobby Valentine did a hell of a job managing the 2012 Boston Red Sox to a 69-93 record—at least according to him.

Speaking at a press conference signaling his appointment as the new athletics director at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, Valentine spoke openly about his last job and his new appointment.

According to the Connecticut Post‘s William S. Paxton, Sacred Heart’s senior vice president for intercollegiate athletics and student affairs, Jim Barquinero, was ebullient about his new hire, proclaiming, “It’s a significant and wonderful moment for Sacred Heart University. Bobby’s a leader and brings great energy.”

During the conference, Valentine was asked a number of questions, including if he thought his one season managing the Red Sox was a failure. He defiantly refuted that notion to WEEI’s Jerry Spar, saying, “I thought I did a hell of a job in Boston. I thought what had to be done there was done except for winning a pennant. But Connie Mack wasn’t going to win with that team.”

There are many who might disagree with Valentine’s claim, as he seemed to be in the middle of much of last year’s negativity. Additionally, managers are rarely hired to bring in second-division teams, so winning a pennant should always be expected.

It may also be worth pointing out to Valentine that Mack, while a Hall of Fame manager, also had a career losing record, and his 3,948 losses are the most in baseball history.

The Red Sox actually had a winning record last year through June, but the wheels fell off after that, and they finished with a 28-56 mark. It was the team’s worst record since 1966.

It would be unfair to pin the entire Red Sox collapse on Valentine, as there were a number of injuries and several star players were shipped off in one of the largest trades in history.

However, Valentine did little to endear himself to the players or fans, displaying a contrary personality. He had a number of key missteps.

Last April, Valentine announced to the press that popular veteran third baseman Kevin Youkilis wasn’t “as physically or emotionally into the game as he has been in the past for some reason.” The comments created quite a stir in Boston and eventually led to the popular player being traded to the Chicago White Sox later in the season.

Valentine became so unpopular with Red Sox players that Yahoo! Sport’s Jeff Passan reported a large veteran contingency made extensive complaints to team owners in a surprise meeting.

Passan also wrote Valentine became the butt of jokes in the clubhouse, citing Dustin Pedroia taking unflattering pictures of the sleeping manager with his cell phone and passing them around to teammates.

After the season ended and he was fired, Valentine continued to run afoul of Boston players. He appeared on NBC Sports Network’s Costas Tonight for an interview with Bob Costas and blasted designated hitter David Ortiz, who missed most of the second half of the season with an injured heel.

The Providence Journal‘s Tim Britton transcribed the interview and quoted the manager as believing Ortiz quit on the team:

David Ortiz came back after spending about six weeks on the disabled list and we thought it was only going to be a week. He got two hits the first two times up, drove in a couple runs; we were off to the races. Then he realized that this trade meant that we’re not going to run this race and we’re not even going to finish the race properly and he decided not to play anymore. I think at that time it was all downhill from there.

Ortiz lashed back at the allegations and hasn’t stopped since.

Valentine’s repeated clashes with players made some wonder if he liked the attention; a question that carried over to the press conference about his new job.

When he was asked if his new position was a joke, according to Paxton, Valentine earnestly replied, “If it’s a joke, it’s an inside joke. I’m very serious about everything I do in my life. I deal with passion and commitment and I deal with excellence.”

In a previous interview with the Connecticut Post‘s Dave Ruden, Valentine became upset when asked if he took the Sacred Heart job for the publicity, snapping, “Why would I need the publicity? I wouldn’t understand the question and I wouldn’t dignify it with an answer.”

About to enter a new chapter in his life, Valentine was given a chance to stop making inflammatory comments.

When asked by the Boston Herald‘s Steve Buckley to talk about the negative things Boston players have said about him this spring, the former manager responded, “I don’t want to comment on stupid things that stupid people say. I’m not going to comment on any of that.”

It appears old habits do indeed die hard.

Statistics via Baseball-Reference.

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Although spring training is officially under way, there are still players finding homes with new teams for the 2013 season, including pitcher Jose Contreras, who was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

The right-handed Contreras’ signing, which was a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, was announced via the team’s official Twitter feed:

The @pirates have signed RHP Jose Contreras to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) February 24, 2013

The signing was confirmed in a subsequent report by MLB.com’s Andrew Simon.

The 41-year-old Contreras is a veteran of 10 major league seasons, playing previously for the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies.

He defected from his native Cuba and signed a $32 million contract with the Yankees in the winter prior to the 2003 season.

He began his major league career as a starter but has pitched exclusively in relief in recent years.

The best season of his career came in 2005 with the White Sox, when he went 15-7 with a 3.61 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 32 starts.

Last season, he appeared in just 17 games with the Phillies, going 1-0 with a 5.27 ERA.

During his career he has a combined record of 78-67 with a 4.55 ERA in 292 games (175 starts).

CBSSports.com’s Dayn Perry wrote that Contreras has missed major chunks of the past two seasons because of elbow surgeries. He appeared in just 34 total games during that time. He will still be rehabbing his most recent procedure during camp with the Pirates.

If Contreras can bounce back from his most recent injury, he may be able to earn a role as a setup man in the Pittsburgh bullpen.

He has produced much better results in relief throughout his career, posting a 3.78 ERA and 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings in that role. By contrast, he has just a 4.63 ERA and 6.6 strikeouts per nine innings as a starter.

The Pirates are seeking their first winning season since 1992. Adding a veteran like Contreras is a good gamble that could pay off if he is healthy and productive.

Statistics via BaseballReference

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