Brewers, Middlebrooks agree to minor league deal
Third baseman Will Middlebrooks reached agreement on a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday.
Middlebrooks, who began the 2015 season as the San Diego Padres’ starting third baseman, hit only .212 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs in 83 games and spent time in the minor leagues. He was non-tendered by the Padres on Dec. 2 and became a free agent.
The 27-year-old Middlebrooks is expected to compete for the third base job with the Brewers.
Middlebrooks made a splash as a rookie with the Boston Red Sox in 2012 with a .288 batting average and 15 home runs in 75 games, but his production has dropped off the past three years. He hit .227 in 2013 and .191 in 2014 for the Red Sox.
Waterville names assistant baseball coach
WATERVILLE, Maine — Tim Corey, a captain and starting catcher for the Colby College baseball team last spring, will be an assistant coach for the Mules under head coach Dale Plummer.
Corey graduated with a degree in biology-neuroscience and was named to the New England Small College Athletic Conference All-Academic Team as an undergraduate.
Corey, who holds the single-season doubles record with 14 last year, was a three-year member of the Colby Leadership Academy. Last season he earned the team’s Dexter/Nelson Coaches Award for a player who exemplifies the spirit of the program. In 2014 he was the John Winkin Award winner for passion and dedication to the game and team.
Blevins staying win Mets
Left-hander Jerry Blevins has opted to remain with the New York Mets, reaching agreement on a one-year contract for a guaranteed $4 million with the chance to add $1 million in performance bonuses.
Because of injuries, Blevins appeared in only seven games last year. He retired all 15 batters he faced before he suffered a broken left forearm on a line drive off the bat of Miami’s dee Gordon on April 19. The 32-year-old Blevins rebroke the arm on Aug. 3 when he slipped off a curb in Florida.
In nine major league seasons with the Oakland Athletics, Washington Nationals and the Mets, he has a 16-9 record with two saves, a 3.53 ERA in 329 innings.
Roethlisberger questions Burfict’s motives
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger believes Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict intended to hurt him with a low hit during Sunday’s game in Cincinnati.
Burfict dived at Roethlisberger’s ankles after a pass left his hand during the first half of the Steelers’ 33-20 win. Burfict later told Roethlisberger that he was pushed into him.
“I don’t buy that he was pushed,” said Roethlisberger, who watched the play on tape after the game. “He definitely was diving in low and going for my legs. It’s tough. I am just glad I didn’t get hurt.”
Burfict was not penalized on the hit against Roethlisberger but could draw a fine from the NFL.
Seattle shuffles backfield
The Seattle Seahawks continued to shuffle their injury-riddled backfield, officially re-signing Bryce Brown and placing undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls on injured reserve.
Brown was expected to figure into the mix against the Cleveland Browns this Sunday, but his role could be larger than expected with DuJuan Harris released. Harris had 18 carries for 42 yards after Rawls was injured at Baltimore, but he also had a red zone fumble and averaged just 2.3 yards per carry with a long of six yards.
With starter Marshawn Lynch still at least one week away from returning after sports hernia surgery, Brown will figure into the mix along with veteran third-down back Fred Jackson, and fullback Derrick Coleman, who was a running back in college. The Seahawks also have one open roster spot following a flurry of moves and could look to add another running back. Christine Michael, a former second-round pick traded to Dallas before the start of the season, was released by Washington on Tuesday.
The Seahawks also re-signed tight end Chase Coffman, waived receiver B.J. Daniels and safety Akeem Davis and activated linebacker Brock Coyle from injured reserve/ designated to return.
