BASEBALL ROUNDUP News and notes

Diamondbacks: Bob Gebhard, former Colorado general manager, was hired Wednesday as assistant general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin also filled out his staff, which will include newcomers Brett Butler as first base coach, former Toronto manager Carlos Tosca as third base coach and Mike Aldrete as hitting coach. Gebhard fills the role held by Sandy Johnson, who resigned as senior assistant general manager to take a position with the New York Mets. Gebhard, vice president of the St. Louis Cardinals for the past five seasons, became the first general manager of the Rockies in 1991 and remained with Colorado through 1999. When Melvin was hired, he announced that former Diamondbacks player Jay Bell would be bench coach. Pitching coach Mark Davis and Glenn Sherlock, who will move from first base coach to bullpen coach, were retained from last season's staff. Butler will make his major league coaching debut after working in the minor league system the last two years. Tosca, a member of Arizona's original coaching staff from 1998-00, was manager of the Blue Jays from June 2002 until he was fired last Aug. 8. Aldrete was Melvin's first base coach in Seattle last season. Aldrete managed two Arizona minor league teams, Class A Yakima in 2002 and Class A Lancaster in 2003.
Dodgers: Manager Jim Tracy agreed Wednesday to a two-year contract after leading Los Angeles to its first postseason appearance in eight years. Tracy's previous deal expired last month, and the Dodgers had been the only major league team without a manager under contract. "I'm hopeful I'm going to have the opportunity to continue here," he said in an interview last month. "I love the community, I love the fans. I feel very strongly that when you put the work in that myself and my coaching staff has put in over the past four years, and realizing what's out there on the horizon, this has a chance to be special for several years to come." Los Angeles is 356-292 during Tracy's four years as manager, and he guided the team to a 93-69 mark last year, its best since 1991. The Dodgers lost to St. Louis 3-1 in the first round of the playoffs, winning their first postseason game since the 1988 World Series.
White Sox: Left-handed reliever Kevin Walker agreed Wednesday to a $525,000, one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox. Walker, who spent most of last season with the Giants' Triple-A club at Fresno, Calif., would earn bonuses of $25,000 each for pitching in 65 and 70 games. Chicago guaranteed $100,000 of his base salary. Walker, 28, was 1-3 with a 4.26 ERA and one save in 48 appearances, including one start, with Fresno. He was claimed by San Francisco off waivers from San Diego on March 31. He was 0-0 with a 16.20 ERA in five relief appearances with the Giants. Walker has made 113 major league appearances over five seasons, going 7-2 with a 4.45 ERA.
Reds: Catcher Javier Valentin agreed to a 2005 contract on Tuesday for $450,000. Valentin, 29, was Jason LaRue's backup last season, appearing in 82 games. He started 44 games behind the plate and three at first base, hitting .233 with six homers and 20 RBIs.
Twins: Catcher Mike Redmond agreed on a $1.8 million, two-year contract Wednesday, giving the club veteran insurance behind Joe Mauer. Redmond, who played the past six-plus seasons with Florida, batted .256 with 15 doubles, two homers and 25 RBIs in 246 at-bats last year for the Marlins. A .284 career hitter who has a World Series ring from 2003, Redmond had spent his entire career in the Florida organization. This means the Twins are no longer interested in Henry Blanco, who filled in capably at the position when Mauer tore cartilage in his left knee -- and wound up playing in just 35 games when recovery from surgery took much longer than expected. Blanco's increase in playing time allowed him to exercise a right to become a free agent earlier this month. He was asking a little too much for general manager Terry Ryan's budget. "We did pursue him," Ryan said. "We just couldn't find a common ground, so we've moved on." Minnesota's most important free agent is right-hander Brad Radke, who also has received serious interest from other teams. Negotiations are ongoing, and the Twins are expecting the process to take awhile. Redmond, who gets $900,000 in each of the next two seasons, is an offensive upgrade from Blanco, who hit 10 home runs with 37 RBIs in 315 at-bats but finished with a .206 average. Blanco, however, is good with the glove and developed an excellent rapport with the Twins' pitching staff -- especially fellow Venezuelans Johan Santana, the AL Cy Young Award winner, and Carlos Silva, a 14-game winner. Mauer had an exam on Wednesday, Ryan said, and received an encouraging report on his knee. He'll be returning to the club's complex in Fort Myers, Fla., next week to resume workouts and is on track to be ready for spring training in February. The first overall pick in the 2001 draft, Mauer showed his promise in the limited appearances he made last season. The 21-year-old batted .308 with six homers in 107 at-bats. Matthew LeCroy, primarily a designated hitter, Corky Miller and Rob Bowen are the other catchers on Minnesota's roster.
Twins: Catcher Mike Redmond agreed on a $1.8 million, two-year contract Wednesday, giving the club veteran insurance behind Joe Mauer. Redmond, who played the past six-plus seasons with Florida, batted .256 with 15 doubles, two homers and 25 RBIs in 246 at-bats last year for the Marlins. A .284 career hitter who has a World Series ring from 2003, Redmond had spent his entire career in the Florida organization. This means the Twins are no longer interested in Henry Blanco, who filled in capably at the position when Mauer tore cartilage in his left knee -- and wound up playing in just 35 games when recovery from surgery took much longer than expected. Blanco's increase in playing time allowed him to exercise a right to become a free agent earlier this month. He was asking a little too much for general manager Terry Ryan's budget. "We did pursue him," Ryan said. "We just couldn't find a common ground, so we've moved on." Minnesota's most important free agent is right-hander Brad Radke, who also has received serious interest from other teams. Negotiations are ongoing, and the Twins are expecting the process to take awhile. Redmond, who gets $900,000 in each of the next two seasons, is an offensive upgrade from Blanco, who hit 10 home runs with 37 RBIs in 315 at-bats but finished with a .206 average. Blanco, however, is good with the glove and developed an excellent rapport with the Twins' pitching staff -- especially fellow Venezuelans Johan Santana, the AL Cy Young Award winner, and Carlos Silva, a 14-game winner. Mauer had an exam on Wednesday, Ryan said, and received an encouraging report on his knee. He'll be returning to the club's complex in Fort Myers, Fla., next week to resume workouts and is on track to be ready for spring training in February. The first overall pick in the 2001 draft, Mauer showed his promise in the limited appearances he made last season. The 21-year-old batted .308 with six homers in 107 at-bats. Matthew LeCroy, primarily a designated hitter, Corky Miller and Rob Bowen are the other catchers on Minnesota's roster.
Associated Press