CINCINNATI — During his 12-year career, Sean Casey’s most endearing trait became his most enduring.
Fellow major leaguers dubbed him “The Mayor” because he seemed to know everyone he met. He chatted up runners at first base, making the game’s luminaries smile by respectfully calling them “Mr.” before offering a compliment.
When he retired on Tuesday to move into broadcasting — a career that fits his gift for gab — the 34-year-old Casey remained proud of his reputation as baseball’s Mr. Congeniality.
“It means a lot to me if I’m looked at as a good guy in the game and a pretty good player,” said Casey, who is joining the fledgling MLB Network as a studio analyst. “It’s a nice combination.”
It got him a lot farther than he ever expected.
Casey made three All-Star teams with Cincinnati, had a sensational World Series with Detroit in 2006, finished with a .302 career batting average and experienced every moment with a boyhood wonder that charmed fans and fellow players alike.
Those moments still make him marvel.
“When I homered off Jeff Suppan in Game 4 (of the ‘06 Series), it took me back to being that 12-year-old little kid in the backyard,” Casey said on a conference call Tuesday. “I remember rounding first base thinking, ‘I just homered in the World Series!”’
Casey hit .322 in 69 games for Boston last season with no homers and 17 RBI. Rather than play in a limited role again this season, he accepted the offer to join the MLB Network, which started this month.
Notes
Red Sox give Varitek deadline
BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox have given catcher Jason Varitek until Friday to accept or reject a one-year, $5 million contract offer with options for 2010. WEEI.com first reported that the offer was $5 million for 2009 with a $5 million club option or a $3 million player option for 2010 and that the team had set a deadline. The Web site did not specify the date of the deadline. Varitek, a two-time All-Star who turns 37 on April 11, is coming off the worst of his 11 seasons with the Red Sox. In 131 games, he hit .220 with 13 homers and 43 RBI.
White Sox spring
facility nearly ready
CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox’s new $100 million spring training complex in Glendale, Ariz., which they will share with the Los Angeles Dodgers, still needs some fine-tuning but is expected to be ready for workouts when players report next month. That was the word from Terry Savarise, senior vice president of stadium operations for the White Sox. Chicago pitchers and catchers are scheduled to hold their first workout Feb. 15 and the first spring training game is set for March 1 in a stadium that seats 10,000 and has 3,000 lawn seats.
Yankees designate Wright
NEW YORK — Left-hander Chase Wright was designated for assignment by the New York Yankees to clear a roster spot for Andy Pettitte. The 25-year-old was a combined 10-3 with one save and a 2.85 ERA last year at Class AA Trenton, Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and the rookie-level Gulf Coast Yankees.
Castro, Dodgers agree to deal
LOS ANGELES — Longtime big league shortstop Juan Castro agreed to a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 36-year-old Castro signed with the Dodgers in 1991 and began his major league career with them four years later. He has a .228 batting average in 984 career games with the Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles.
Jimenez, Rockies agree to deal
DENVER — Ubaldo Jimenez and the Colorado Rockies agreed to a four-year contract that guarantees the right-hander $10 million. The 25-year-old went 12-12 with a 3.99 ERA last year, his first full season in the majors. He led the Rockies with 172 strikeouts, the most in a season for a Colorado pitcher since Pedro Astacio’s 193 in 2000.
Sturtze agrees
to deal with Dodgers
LOS ANGELES — Right-handed reliever Tanyon Sturtze agreed to a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was invited to spring training. A favorite of manager Joe Torre, Sturtze made three appearances with the Dodgers last August before being designated for assignment at the end of the month.
Mets selling tickets
NEW YORK — Just 1 to 2 percent of people who placed deposits for season tickets at Citi Field failed to follow through with their purchase, and the New York Mets have sold about 25,000 seats per game for the first season in the ballpark.
Many people committed to season-ticket plans before the economy nose-dived late last year. Mets executive vice president David Howard termed the percentage that didn’t follow their deposits with full payments as “very, very, very small.”
While the Mets have sold all 49 luxury suites that were available — reserving two for individual game sales — Howard said some inventory remains among the 10,000 premium seats, which include club level. Single-game tickets for the 42,000-seat ballpark will not go on sale until early March.
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