The Oakland Athletics secured some stability in the middle of their infield, agreeing Monday on a two-year contract with Mark Ellis that guarantees the second baseman about $11 million.
The A’s also have a club option in the deal that could keep Ellis around through the 2011 season. The 31-year-old Ellis, who is coming off right shoulder surgery last month to repair chips in the cartilage as well as a torn labrum, could have become a free agent after the World Series.
Ellis, who has spent his first seven years in the big leagues with Oakland, batted .233 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI in 117 games for the A’s in 2008.
Red Sox 3B Lowell has surgery to repair hip
Red Sox spokesman John Blake said last year’s World Series MVP, Boston third baseman Mike Lowell, wanted surgery on his hip now to have sufficient time to recover before spring training.
The arthroscopic surgery repaired a tear in his hip and fixed a bone spur.
Lowell was limited to one at-bat in the last 11 regular-season games and went 0-for-8 in two postseason games.
Court date set for Yankees P Chamberlain
New York pitcher Joba Chamberlain is to appear in court Dec. 17 for his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving.
His blood-alcohol content level was 0.134 at the time of his arrest; the legal limit in Nebraska is 0.08.
The 23-year-old pitcher was cited early Saturday on suspicion of driving under the influence, speeding and having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle.
Cubs give GM Hendry four-year extension
General manager Jim Hendry and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a four-year contract extension through the 2012 season.
The move came following the Cubs’ best regular season in more than six decades. They won their second straight NL Central title but got swept out of the playoffs.
Orioles release Loewen
Baltimore released pitcher Adam Loewen and outrighted five other players to Class AAA Norfolk on Monday.
The 24-year-old lefty was 0-2 with an 8.02 ERA in seven games for the Orioles. Loewen was placed on the disabled list on July 8 when he re-injured the stress fracture in his left elbow that ended his 2007 season. Loewen is attempting a comeback as a position player.
The Orioles outrighted right-handers Randor Bierd and Rocky Cherry, infielder Brandon Fahey, outfielder Jeff Fiorentino and catcher Omir Santos to Norfolk.
Dodgers decline $5.5 million option on Berroa
The Dodgers have declined a $5.5 million club option on shortstop Angel Berroa, instead opting for a $500,000 buyout.
Berroa, who becomes eligible for salary arbitration, earned $4.75 million this season.
The 30-year-old Berroa served as the Dodgers’ primary shortstop after being acquired from the Kansas City Royals on June 6 for minor league infielder Juan Rivera.
Pirates hire Kerrigan as pitching coach
Joe Kerrigan, a former pitching coach with the Red Sox, Phillies and Expos, will succeed Jeff Andrews in the same job with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Kerrigan was Boston’s pitching coach from 1997-2001, during the time Pedro Martinez won two AL Cy Young Awards. Kerrigan was with the Phillies from 2003-04 and was the Yankees’ bullpen coach in 2006-07 after serving as a Yankees special adviser for one season.
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