Former Mets pitcher Chris Young yesterday agreed on a minor league deal with the Nationals.
Young is 53-43 with a 3.79 ERA in 159 career starts with the Mets, Padres and Rangers. The 33-year-old right-hander was an All-Star with the Padres in 2007. He went 4-9 with a 4.15 ERA in 20 starts last season with the Mets.
PIRATES: Shortstop Clint Barmes said he has a theory on why catcher Russell Martin will be comfortable playing short instead of catcher for Team Canada in next month’s World Baseball Classic. “I told him, ‘How often did you work with [Derek] Jeter over there in New York? Maybe you can bring me a little something over here,’ ’’ Barmes said.
REDS: Pitcher Johnny Cueto was blocked by team brass from pitching for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Cueto, who was 19-9 with a 2.78 ERA last season, strained his right oblique eight pitches into last October’s division series against the Giants. Because he finished the year with an injury, the Reds had the right to block him from playing in the WBC.
RED SOX: New closer Joel Hanrahan struck out two hitters in the first inning as Boston beat Northeastern University 3-0 in Fort Myers, Fla., in the first exhibition game of spring training.
ATHLETICS: Pitcher Michael Ynoa reported to spring camp in Phoenix after missing the opening week because of chicken pox. Signed by Oakland for $4.25 million when he was 16, the 21-year-old right-hander has been limited to 17 professional games because of elbow problems.
RANGERS: Ivan Rodriguez has re-joined the Texas organization as a special assistant to the general manager.