Reds, Ludwick complete 1-year deal
Baseball Betting Lines
02/08/2012 - Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Reds and outfielder Ryan Ludwick have finalized a one-year contract.
The deal, reported last month but not announced until Wednesday, includes a mutual option for the 2013 season.
The Reds also signed left-handed pitcher Jeff Francis to a minor league deal and invited him to spring training. They designated right-hander Carlos Fisher for assignment.
Ludwick, 33, joined his sixth team. The nine-year veteran played his final 38 games for the NL Central-rival Pirates last season after being traded to Pittsburgh from San Diego in July.
He had 13 homers and 75 runs batted in over 139 games last year and is three seasons removed from belting a career-high 37 home runs for the Cardinals in 2008.
Francis, 31, went 6-16 with a 4.82 earned-run average in one season for the Kansas City Royals. He also pitched six seasons for the Colorado Rockies and is 61-66 with a 4.78 ERA in 181 career games. He won a career-high 17 games for the Rockies in 2007.
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arbitrators ruled Wednesday in favor of Emilio Bonifacio against the Miami Marlins. Bonifacio will make $2.2 million next season instead of the $1.95 million salary targeted by the team, according to MLB.
<< Ruler On Ice and Shackleford meet in Donn Handicap
Hallandale Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Triple Crown race winners Ruler On Ice
and Shackleford head a field of 11 older thoroughbreds for Saturday's 1 1/8-
mile Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park. The two four-year-olds will each be
making
<< Capello walks away from England post
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Football Association confirmed on
Wednesday that Fabio Capello has resigned as England manager.
Capello was critical of the FA in an interview with Italian television when it
was announced that J
<< Super Bowl underdogs cash in again
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Betting the underdog in the Super Bowl is
never a sure thing as evidenced by Green Bay's win and cover as the favorite
in the 2011 contest. However, with the Giants victory as 2.5-point underdogs
last S
<< Good weather means increases at Oaklawn
Hot Springs, AR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Not one day of racing has been missed at
Oaklawn Park in 2012 allowing the track to increase daily purses. The track
announced Wednesday that overnight purses are going up $5,000 a day starting
this we
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The appointment of Fabio Capello as manager of England's national team in December 2007 was supposed to be a step in the right direction following the disappointing 18-months that Steve McClaren spent at the hel
Panthers sign long snapper to 4-year deal >>
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Panthers signed long snapper
J.J. Jansen to a four-year contract on Wednesday.
Jansen, 26, has played all 48 games in his three NFL seasons with the Panthers
and went without a mistake this p
Catania, Roma finish all square in resumed match >>
Catania, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The final 25 minutes of Roma's match at
Catania concluded on Wednesday with neither side able to break the 1-1
deadlock they started the day with.
The match was suspended after 65 minutes bec
Wildcat Creek comes in for Hutcheson Stakes >>
Hallandale Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A field of six three-year-olds have
been entered for Saturday's $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The
seven-furlong contest is an early prep for next month's $1 million Florida
Derby.
Benschop helps AZ join PSV at the top of the league >>
The Hague, Netherlands (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A hat trick from Charlison Benschop
helped AZ Alkmaar on its way to a 6-0 triumph at Den Haag on Wednesday,
allowing the club to join PSV Eindhoven at the top of the Eredivisie table.
AZ slip
Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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