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Sports
TOM PENNINGTON (GETTY IMAGES)
Do You Want To
Outfielder Nelson Cruz served a 50-game suspension for a violation of Major League Baseball’s drug agreement last season.
Cruz Looks to Move On Orioles’ new slugger trying to shift focus away from 2013 ban Baseball When it comes to his 50-game drug suspension, Nelson Cruz didn’t have much to say during his introduction by the Baltimore Orioles. Cruz gave short answers to any Biogenesis-related questions during a news conference Tuesday, a day after the 33-year-old outfielder finalized an $8 million, one-year contract. “Whatever happened in the past, I look to move forward and have a great year with the Baltimore Orioles,” Cruz said. C r u z w a s s u s p e nde d f or 50 games last August while with the Texas Rangers for a violation of Major League Baseball’s drug agreement related to the league’s
“I’m really excited for the opportunity. I like challenges and I think it’s going to be a great challenge for me.” — ORIOLES OUTFIELDER NELSON CRUZ
investigation of Biogenesis of America, an anti-aging clinic. He was joined at the news conference by eight of his new teammates, including Chris Davis, J.J. Hardy, Adam Jones, Manny Machado, Nick Markakis and Matt Wieters. Markakis said last summer that MLB needed stiffer penalties for violations of the drug rules. On Saturday, Markakis said he still favored tougher penalties but was happy to have Cruz on the Orioles. “My opinion doesn’t change
toward anything,” Markakis said. “He’s part of this team now and he’s going to be in this clubhouse and we’re going to welcome him just like anybody else.” Cruz hit .266 last year with 27 homers and 76 RBIs in 109 games. The suspension cost him $2.7 million of his $10 million salary. He signed with Baltimore more than three months after he turned down a one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer from the Rangers. “It was a frustrating process, but I’m happy for the decision that I made,” Cruz said. Cruz is part of a late spending spree for the Orioles. Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez agreed to a $50 million, four-year contract and South Korean right-hander Suk-min Yoon received a three-year deal for $5.6 million. “We’ve been steadily putting our team together,” Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said. (AP)
A National (Pastime) Holiday: There’s a drive afoot to make baseball’s opening day a national holiday. Naturally, a brewery thinks it’s a good idea and has enlisted the St. Louis Cardinals’ Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith in the quest to get everyone another day off work. Budweiser and Smith, left, announced an advertising initiative Monday to get 100,000 signatures from people 21 and older on WhiteHouse.gov/petitions within 30 days. (THE WASHINGTON POST )
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