NEW YORK — Desperate for starting pitchers, the New York Yankees expect to enter next season without 20-game winner Mike Mussina.
FoxSports.com reported Wednesday that Mussina intends to retire and will make the move official this week. In the report, the Web site cited unidentified major league sources.
Mussina, who turns 40 next month, would become the first pitcher to call it quits following a 20-win season since Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax in 1966.
“I have not talked to him lately,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Wednesday evening at a Manhattan charity event to benefit his Catch 25 Foundation and Alzheimer’s research. “He had led me to believe that that’s what was going to happen at the end of the year. I wasn’t quite sure in a sense that I believed him because sometimes when you get away from it you really miss it.”
Only 30 wins shy of 300, Mussina was 20-9 with a 3.37 ERA for the Yankees this season — becoming the oldest pitcher in big league history to win 20 games for the first time.
Bosox deal Crisp to Kansas City for reliever
The Kansas City Royals picked up the leadoff hitter they had been seeking, acquiring center fielder Coco Crisp from the Boston Red Sox for reliever Ramon Ramirez.
Kansas City was 12th among 14 AL teams in runs last season and added power last month, obtaining first baseman Mike Jacobs from Florida.
A’s owner: Make 1st playoff round 1 game
Lew Wolff has a way to shorten baseball’s postseason: Make the first round best-of-one.
“I’d make it one-game-and-you’re-out for the first series,” the Oakland Athletics owner said Wednesday. “It would be exciting. It would be great.”
Begun in 1995, the division series has been a best-of-five competition. Some people have advocated it be expanded to best-of-seven, but commissioner Bud Selig has repeatedly said he favors the current format.
Wolff said he hasn’t brought up his concept with Selig.
“No, I’m afraid to do that,” he said.
MLB says deadline for Cubs bids is Dec. 1
Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer, said representatives of four bidders have met in New York in recent weeks with officials from the commissioner’s office, MLB’s Internet company and the sport’s new television network.
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