TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Ortiz Linked To Banned Trainer

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 21, 2009

FORT MYERS - David Ortiz says he worked out with controversial trainer Angel Presinal in the Dominican Republic, but the Red Sox slugger never saw anyone use performance-enhancing drugs there.

"All I know is that we all worked with him as a group of guys that wanted to be ready in spring training, and that's about it," Ortiz said. "He's one of the guys that trained everybody."

Ortiz said the facility is not owned by Presinal, and he is not worried his name will be linked with others accused of steroid use. He urged major-leaguers to be cautious in their relationships.

"You are the owner of your own decisions," he said. "It's sad that's he's involved in things like this, but you have to be careful."

Presinal has been barred from major-league clubhouses. The Daily News in New York reported Friday that Presinal was the trainer who worked directly with Alex Rodriguez during the time the Yankees superstar admitted to using banned drugs.

ARBITRATION: Nick Markakis and Ervin Santana received the steepest raises among the 111 players in salary arbitration, a group that overall earned a record increase of 172 percent, according a study by The Associated Press.

The rise broke the previous mark of 169 percent set in 1999 and was up sharply from last year's 120 percent hike, partly because the arbitration group started out with a lower average. The 111 players in this year's filing class rose to an average of $3.07 million from $1.13 million.

Markakis received a 24-fold increase, from $455,000 last year to an average of just more than $11 million under a $66.1 million, six-year deal Baltimore gave the outfielder. Santana got a 16-fold rise, from $445,000 last season to a $7.5 million average under a $30 million, four-year contract.

INDIANS: Outfielder David Dellucci will miss at least the first three Cactus League games after cutting his left thumb while packing for spring training.

Dellucci, who throws left-handed, slammed a trailer tailgate on his thumb at his home in Baton Rouge, La., on Feb. 1.

PIRATES: Picked up Manager John Russell's contract option for 2010 despite a 67-95 record in his first season.

TWINS: Agreed to terms with free-agent third baseman Joe Crede on a one-year deal.

YANKEES: Left-hander CC Sabathia missed his scheduled batting practice session because of the flu.

Sabathia was sent home from Steinbrenner Field after it was determined he was too ill for the workout.

WBC: At Miyazaki, Japan, Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners went 0-for-3 Saturday in Japan's 10-0 win against the Yomiuri Giants in the national team's first tuneup for the World Baseball Classic.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT