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Josh Hamilton went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in his debut against the Texas Rangers Friday afternoon in Arlington.

The 31-year-old outfielder, who signed a five-year, $125 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels in December, has now gone 1-for-16 to start the season, including eight strikeouts.

Hamilton was booed in his return to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, making matters worse for the five-time All-Star.

Hamilton said, via Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times:

Obviously, it’s still very early in the 2013 campaign, and you figure the talented slugger will get it going eventually, but the Angels are obviously hoping to not see a repeat of Albert Pujols’ 2012 situation. Pujols managed to belt out 30 home runs and notch 105 RBI, but he also hit .285 (a career low for him).

There’s no sense in overreacting to Hamilton’s slow start, even if his “slump” continues for a while, but you can’t help but think of all the mega-long-term deals that destroyed clubs in the past when you see him struggling.

Hamilton hit .285 with 43 home runs, 128 RBI and 103 runs in his contract year last season. He was a monster throughout most of the regular season, but he didn’t show up in the one-game playoff against the Baltimore Orioles. With more money in his pocket now, he’s going to be expected to step up when it matters most.

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The Los Angeles Angels acquired left-handed pitcher Kramer Sneed from the New York Yankees on Tuesday in a package deal in exchange for outfielder Vernon Wells, according to ESPN.

Sneed was selected in the 32nd round of the 2010 amateur draft and has yet to advance past High-A ball in the minor leagues. The 24-year-old posted a 5.37 ERA in 31 games (four starts) with the Tampa Yankees in 2012 after an encouraging 2011 campaign with the club (3.69 ERA, 42 strikeouts in 39 innings).

Los Angeles Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said about Sneed, via J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles News Group:

A 6-3 left-hand pitcher. He’s got some history of striking people out. That’s a good thing. Did not have a particularly good year last year in the Florida State league. Prior to that had been a left-hander with angle, fastball velocity up to 92 mph, got some slice to his slider that will get up to 85 mph. At 24 years old with high A-ball experience and north of 9 strikeouts per 9 over his career, we feel like there’s a bullpen role for him in the system. We’ll see how far he can take it.

As mentioned by Dipoto, Sneed likely won’t be cracking the rotation anytime soon, but he’s still relatively young in baseball years and his ability to strike people out could see him fill a role for the Angels, in the minors or (potentially) the majors. In three minor league seasons, Sneed has posted a 4.39 ERA with 210 strikeouts in 207 innings.

Sneed has also struggled with his command. He posted 40 walks in 63.2 inning with the Tampa Yankees in 2012. On the other hand, he only registered 28 walks in 103.2 innings of minor-league ball in 2011, so there’s still a chance he regains his control.

The left-hander will likely be used to provide organizational depth as he looks to rebound from his 2012 campaign and get back to the level he was at in 2011. It appears this deal was mainly done for monetary reasons, as the Angels were reportedly able to shed $14 million of the remaining $41 million left on Wells’ contract.

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Derek Jeter was scratched from the New York Yankees‘ spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday due to a “cranky” left ankle, according to manager Joe Girardi (via Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com). 

UPDATE: Tuesday, March 19, at 6:30 p.m. ET by Ethan Grant

According to Daniel Barbarisi of The Wall Street Journal (via Twitter), an MRI on Jeter’s left ankle came back better than expected. He’s being listed as day-to-day:

—End of update—

The star shortstop suffered a scary injury in October when he broke his ankle in the American League Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers. He underwent surgery to repair the damage and hadn’t had any documented issues with the ankle until now.

Per Matthews’ report, Girardi said he’s keeping his “fingers crossed” that it isn’t serious. Jeter stressed that his absence from the lineup was merely a precautionary measure and that doctors had told him to expect some general stiffness in the ankle. 

“It’s not in the area I broke,” Jeter said. “I was told, ‘You’re going to feel it, not necessarily in the ankle but around the ankle.’ It’s normal. You got to deal with it and move on. lf I wasn’t told, I’d be concerned.”

Jeter signed a three-year, $51 million extension (2014 player option included) with New York in December 2010 despite a contentious offseason with the team. He responded by hitting .297 in 2011 and .316 in 2012. The Yankees captain also posted a .333 average in six postseason games last year.

The 38-year-old played in 159 games last season, but played in only 131 games in 2011. As the veteran ages, concerns over his ankle—and general durability—are sure to mount. Though he can still pull off the occasional highlight-reel play at short, it’s clear that his mobility is on the downturn. 

Though it is unknown when exactly Jeter will be ready to return, it has to worry the Yankees that precautions are already being taken with the start of the 2013 season on the horizon.  

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USA defeated Puerto Rico in the second round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic on Tuesday, 7-1.

The Americans got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning. After 2011 National League MVP Ryan Braun walked with two outs, catcher Joe Mauer doubled to center field to drive him home.

USA tacked on another in the third inning. After second baseman Brandon Phillips singled, Braun singled and Mauer walked, third baseman David Wright grounded into a fielder’s choice to score Phillips.

The Americans expanded the lead in the fifth. Jimmy Rollins led things off with a single to right field. He advanced to second after a bunt by Phillips. After Braun struck out and Mauer walked (again), Wright singled Rollins home with a line drive to right field. USA had the lead, 3-0.

San Francisco Giants left-handed reliever Jeremy Affeldt replaced USA left-hander Gio Gonzalez in the sixth inning. He pitched a scoreless sixth.

Cleveland Indians right-handed relief pitcher Vinnie Pestano faced four batters in the seventh—only giving up a single to Indians teammate Mike Aviles—en route to a scoreless inning. 

The Americans struck again in the bottom of the seventh. After young first baseman Eric Hosmer singled with two outs and stole second base, outfielder Adam Jones singled him home with a ground ball up the middle.

It was 4-0, USA.

The Puerto Ricans showed some life in the eighth inning. After pinch-hitter Jesus Feliciano was hit by a pitch to start the inning, left fielder Eddie Rosario doubled him to third. Center fielder Angel Pagan’s groundout scored Feliciano.

The Americans came back with a vengeance in the bottom of the eighth. With the bases loaded, Wright doubled to score three runs and put the game out of reach.

Gonzalez pitched five innings of scoreless ball, allowing three hits and striking out five. It was the Washington Nationals starter’s first action in the 2013 WBC. Puerto Rico right-hander Mario Santiago was touched for three runs in 4.1 innings, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out three. 

Atlanta Braves right-hander Craig Kimbrel finished off the game for the Americans, getting Aviles to ground into a double play.

USA joins the Dominican Republic at 1-0 in Pool 2.

Grades for Puerto Rico

Mario Santiago, SP: D+

Mario Santiago’s first outing of the WBC did not go well.

While the right-hander wasn’t exactly torched by the Americans, he was charged with runs in the first, third and fifth innings, ending up with a 6.23 ERA for the day.

USA had scored 17 runs in three WBC games coming into Tuesday’s contest (including nine against Canada in the first round), so it could have been worse. Still, it wasn’t that good, either.

Angel Pagan, CF: B

Angel Pagan not only drove home Puerto Rico’s only run, he also added a stolen base. The San Francisco Giants outfielder went 1-for-4 for the day, albeit in a losing effort. Headed into the contest, Pagan was hitting .455 in 11 at-bats (one RBI, one run, one stolen base).

Alex Rios, RF: F

As Puerto Rico’s No. 3 hitter, Chicago White Sox outfielder Alex Rios simply didn’t come to play on Tuesday. The right-hander went 0-for-4 while leaving three runners on base. He also committed an error in the sixth inning.

Grades for USA

Gio Gonzalez, SP: A

You can’t ask for much more than five scoreless innings. 

Gio Gonzalez stepped up big for the Americans on Tuesday, allowing just three hits (one double) while recording five strikeouts.

It was the left-hander’s first WBC action in his career and he didn’t disappoint. It’s not exactly surprising, given Gonzalez posted a 21-8 record with a 2.89 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 207 strikeouts in 199.1 innings with the Washington Nationals in 2012. 

Joe Mauer: B+

Joe Mauer not only went 1-for-2 with one RBI, one run and three walks on Tuesday, he also led the USA pitching staff to a strong showing against Puerto Rico.

The talented catcher may not have lit up the box score, but he was important on offense and defense for the Americans. The five-time All-Star and 2009 American League MVP was a steadying influence for USA.

David Wright: A

David Wright went 2-for-5 on Tuesday, driving in five of USA’s seven runs in the ballgame. He blew the game open in the eighth inning, doubling with the bases loaded to clear the bases.

Wright was hitting .455 with one home run, five RBI and four runs before Tuesday’s game.

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New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said on Tuesday that the club wasn’t interested in pursuing free-agent outfielder Johnny Damon, according to Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com.

Matthews tweeted on Tuesday:

Cashman on Johnny Damon II: It’s just not something that we’re going to pursue

— wallace matthews (@ESPNNYYankees) February 26, 2013

It was revealed on Sunday that the Yankees would be without outfielder Curtis Granderson for 10 weeks after he fractured his forearm, which brought up talk about Damon potentially rejoining the club he played for from 2006 through 2009.

The 39-year-old told Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News that he would be open to joining the Yankees again. 

But there doesn’t appear to be much interest from the Yankees. Damon is a two-time All-Star and a two-time World Series champion (with the Yankees and Boston Red Sox), but many believe he is past his prime.

After hitting .261 with 16 home runs, 73 RBI, 79 runs and 19 stolen bases with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011, Damon hit .222 with four home runs, 19 RBI and 25 runs in 64 games with the Cleveland Indians in 2012. He cited a lack of regular playing time as the main reason, per Feinsand.

The Yankees lineup is a mess right now—as pointed out by Bleacher Report’s own Zachary D. Rymer on Monday—but apparently Damon is still not an option for them. 

It’s going to be interesting what the club does moving forward after not making it past the ALCS since winning the World Series in 2009. With Alex Rodriguez on the 60-day disabled list, it’s not looking great for the former world champions at this point.

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Topps unveiled the world’s largest baseball card on Tuesday, measuring 90 feet by 60 feet. 

MLB.com tweeted pictures of the card, which showcases Detroit Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder:

As if the 5’11”, 275-pound behemoth could get any bigger. 

In all likelihood, no one is going to be collecting or trading these cards. Then again, I’ve seen people do stranger things.

Topps, a Brooklyn-based company, has been around since 1938. The company made its first sets of cards in 1951. Since then, Topps has been looking for new ways to spice up its products, from new designs to different materials.

The latest move by Topps is just another means to attract publicity. Judging by the overall reaction to the unveiling on Tuesday, it appears the company did a fine job.

Little is known regarding the future of these jumbo-sized cards. Will there be a running series of them, ranging from Fielder to the smallest players of MLB like Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia?

Also, what would the cost of the cards be? Would they become collectors’ items? And where would you store them?

For all of us who collected baseball cards as a kid, our memories of opening up that new set came flashing back on Tuesday, in the form of a larger-than-life Prince Fielder.

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Friday was a big day for Major League Baseball, as players and teams tried to agree to deals in order to avoid arbitration.

Some big names agreed to terms with their respective teams, making hometown fans ecstatic in the process.

First of all, we’ll start with the defending-champion San Francisco Giants. 

Buster Posey agreed on a one-year, $8 million deal with the Giants to avoid arbitration, according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. Schulman reported earlier this week that the Giants will attempt to sign Posey to a “blockbuster deal” this spring. The agreement on Friday won’t change that.

Outfielder Hunter Pence, who came to the Giants last season via trade with the Philadelphia Phillies, agreed to a one-year, $13.8 million contract for 2013, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Pence is eligible for free agency following the 2013 campaign.

The Boston Red Sox may be coming off a nightmare campaign, but they were able to lock up outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury for another year. According to Heyman, the two sides agreed on a one-year, $9 million deal for next season. Ellsbury is slated to enter free agency after the 2013 season.

The Red Sox also locked up closer Joel Hanrahan for 2013, dishing out $7.04 million, according to Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe. Hanrahan, who was acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates in December, posted a 2.72 ERA while racking up 36 saves in 40 chances with Pittsburgh in 2012.

The Detroit Tigers, who made it to the World Series in 2012, were able to ink outfielder Austin Jackson to a one-year, $3.5 million deal, according to Heyman. As Detroit’s leadoff hitter last season, Jackson hit .300 with 16 home runs, 66 RBI and 103 runs. He was also productive in the playoffs.

The Baltimore Orioles, who enjoyed a resurgent campaign in 2012 under Buck Showalter, were able to agree to a one-year, $5.5 million contract with young catcher Matt Wieters, according to Heyman. Wieters doesn’t hit for a high average (.249 last season), but he has power at the plate (23 home runs and 83 RBI). The two-time All-Star is also an excellent defensive player, as noted by his Gold Glove Awards in 2011 and 2012.

The Cleveland Indians were able to re-sign closer Chris Perez to a one-year, $7.3 million deal with awards bonuses, according to the right-hander’s agency, CAA Baseball. Perez posted a relatively high ERA for a closer in 2012 (3.59), but he still managed to register 39 saves in 43 chances.

After acquiring Kendrys Morales in a trade last month, the Seattle Mariners inked him to a one-year, $5.25 million deal (including performance bonuses), according to Heyman. Morales hit .273 with 22 home runs, 73 RBI and 61 runs in 134 games with the Los Angeles Angels last season, but he’s had trouble staying on the field.

For a complete look at all the deals on Friday, check out MLBTradeRumors.com.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired first baseman prospect Lars Anderson, shortstop Didi Gregorius and left-hander Tony Sipp in a three-way trade with the Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, via MLB.com.

In exchange, Arizona traded right-handed pitchers Trevor Bauer, Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw.

Time to dissect who the Diamondbacks received. Here are three things you need to know about Lars Anderson.

2012 Stats

Anderson hit a combined .250 with nine home runs, 27 doubles and 59 RBI with Triple-A Pawtucket (Boston Red Sox) and Triple-A Columbus (Cleveland Indians) in 2012.

He went 1-for-8 in six games with the Red Sox.

Scouting Report 

First of all, Anderson is a left-handed hitter. He has a smooth swing with good gap power and can hit the ball to the opposite field. He also has a good feel for the strike zone.

Anderson generally has trouble with breaking balls and inside fastballs, and has below-average speed, according to SoxProspects.com.

He’s improved defensively, but still needs work in that area, making him more of an offensive player rather than a complete one.

His trouble making contact at the next level is evident. He went 7-for-35 in his first big league action with the Red Sox in 2010.

In 2011, he went hitless in five at-bats.

Background

The 25-year-old from Oakland was widely considered to be an early-round prospect in the 2006 MLB draft, but dropped to the 18th round due to issues signing him.

He eventually agreed to a $825,000 bonus with the Red Sox, equal to the money a supplemental-round draft pick would receive.

Anderson was a star at Jesuit High School and had committed to Cal before deciding to enter the pro ranks.

Fun fact: Anderson replaced Mike Lowell in the former first baseman’s last major league game on Oct. 2, 2010. 

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Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz will reportedly be suspended for the first 25 games of the 2013 MLB season for the use of amphetamines, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

Nightengale tweeted on Tuesday:

All-Star catcher Carlos Ruiz of the Philadelphia #Phillies is suspended 25 games for using amphetamines, #MLB announced

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) November 27, 2012

You can only be suspended for the use of amphetamines if it’s your second offense, meaning Ruiz has already been caught before.

Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com tweeted:

Suspension means Ruiz tested positive for amphetamines once before. Second positive carries suspension, first does not and is kept private

— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyCSN) November 27, 2012

Ruiz released a statement in response, according to the Associated Press, via ESPN:

I am sincerely regretful for my mistake in taking a prohibited stimulant. I apologize to my teammates, the Phillies organization and the Philadelphia fans. I will serve the imposed 25-game suspension to begin the season and I look forward to returning to the field and working toward bringing a championship back to Philadelphia in 2013.

This is a big blow for the Phillies franchise. The 33-year-old backstop batted .325 with 16 home runs, 68 RBI and 56 runs scored in 114 games for the Phillies in 2012, earning his first All-Star selection in the process.

Erik Kratz, a 2002 29th-round pick, was the backup to Ruiz. He batted .248 last season with nine home runs, 26 RBI and 14 runs scored in 50 games.

Philadelphia went 81-81 last season, missing the playoffs for the first year since 2006. It ranked eighth in the National League in runs scored, and that was with Ruiz in the lineup for 114 games.

Ruiz went undrafted in 1998 and first played with the Phillies in 2006. The Panamanian has been a key component not only for the offense, but also for a pitching staff that includes Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels.

Major League Baseball simply cannot seem to get the use of performance-enhancing drugs under control. We saw former San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera get suspended for 50 games last season. He batted .346 before his suspension.

Despite all of this, Cabrera still received a two-year, $16 million deal from the Toronto Blue Jays this offseason. When players are rewarded for cheating, it’s no wonder why they continue to use PEDs despite the potential to get suspended by the league.

We can only hope that this issue is curbed.

So far, it still appears prevalent.

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The New York Yankees have reportedly signed right-hander Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year extension, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.

Olney tweeted on Tuesday:

Sources: The Yankees have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Hiroki Kuroda.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 20, 2012

Olney later tweeted the details of the contract:

The agreement with the Yankees and Kuroda is for $15 million, with some incentives that are worth less than $1 million.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 20, 2012

While this may be a bit pricey for a starter in his late 30s, this isn’t a bad move for the Yankees, considering that the 37-year-old led the team’s regular starters in starts (33), innings (219.2), ERA (3.32) and quality starts (20) last season. He also had just 51 walks while notching 167 strikeouts.

Beyond that, Kuroda pitched well in the postseason, allowing a combined five runs in two starts (16 innings) against the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers.

This is nothing new for the Osaka native, of course. He’s had a history of success ever since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008. He’s never had an ERA over 3.76 in his major-league career and posted an ERA of 3.07 with the Dodgers in 2011.

The Yankees registered a starters’ ERA of 4.05 last season, which was good for sixth in the American League, although young starters Phil Hughes and Ivan Nova, as well as Freddy Garcia (17 starts), struggled. Kuroda and CC Sabathia were huge for New York.

The Yankees are hoping Kuroda can duplicate his success in 2013 after a season that saw the club get swept by the Tigers in the ALCS despite posting the AL’s best regular-season record (95-67).

The offense is going to have to show up in the playoffs, though.

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