June 2011 - Baseball Wiretap

The Angels are hopeful first baseman Kendrys Morales can come off the 15-day disabled list within three weeks. Earlier indications were Morales would be out until mid-May, at the earliest, according to an ESPN.com report on Thursday.

Alex Rodriguez makes $32 million atop the New York Yankees' $201.7 million payroll. He is baseball's highest-paid player for the 11th straight year, according to an Associated Press report. Overall, salaries were nearly flat for this season, which started Thursday. The average salary for the 844 players on opening day rosters and disabled lists was about $3.3 million, up just 0.2 percent from last year. The increase was the lowest since a 2.7 percent drop in 2004.

Much more than a Hall of Fame pitcher to generations of Cleveland fans, Bob Feller was honored Thursday during a touching 75-minute tribute at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, where grounds were blanketed with fresh spring snow on the eve of the Indians' season opener. The ceremony, which was open to the public, was at times humorous, deeply moving and so befitting Feller, who died on Dec. 15 at age 92.

Brooks Robinson says he's on the road to recovery after the Hall of Fame third baseman was hospitalized with a fever and infection, according to an ESPN.com report. Robinson was scheduled for an outpatient procedure at Greater Baltimore Medical Center on Thursday, but on Wednesday night he became ill. In a statement, Robinson says doctors chose to admit him early "to aggressively treat the infection." He says he is "responding well to antibiotics."

Third baseman Ian Stewart has made the Rockies' 25-man opening day roster, according to an ESPN.com report. Stewart homered twice in a minor league game Wednesday night, when he was testing a troublesome left hamstring that could have landed him on the DL to start the season.

Chipper Jones doubled before scoring the 2011 season's first run on a chilly, damp opening day, and Derek Lowe allowed three singles in 5 2/3 innings, helping the Braves beat the Nationals 2-0 Thursday, according to an ESPN.com report.

Mike Cameron will draw the opening day start in right field for the Red Sox Friday against the Rangers, Terry Francona announced Thursday morning, according to an ESPN.com report. The right-handed hitting Cameron will play instead of J.D. Drew, in a concession by Francona to the presence of left-hander C.J. Wilson on the mound for the Rangers.

The Rays signed starting pitcher Wade Davis to a four-year extension Thursday, according to an ESPN.com report. The contract, which contains three club option years (2015-17), guarantees Davis $12.6M. If the Rays exercise the three option years, the 25-year-old Davis will make approximately $35.1M.

When Giants rookie first baseman Brandon Belt was called into manager Bruce Bochy's Wednesday's, he didn't have to wait long to learn his fate. "He kind of got right to it," Belt said. "As soon as I walked in he said, 'Congratulations, you made it.' I immediately started crying. I tried not to be too big of a wuss in there, but it's hard when you've been dreaming about this your entire life and it finally comes through. I couldn't be happier right now." Belt made the 25-man roster and will be the everyday first baseman beginning at at Los Angeles on Thursday night, when the Giants begin defense of their World Series championship against the Dodgers.

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau will be in the lineup on Opening Day against the Blue Jays on Friday, according to an ESPN.com report. Morneau missed the last three months of the season with a concussion and played in just eight spring training games while working his way back.