Blue Jays get Tulowitzki
TORONTO (AP) — It seemed the Toronto Blue Jays needed to add starting pitching to help their playoff push. Instead, they traded for a superstar shortstop.
Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said acquiring five-time All-Star Troy Tulowitzki from the Colorado Rockies was “the rare chance that one of the best at his position was available.”
“We’re getting the best shortstop in baseball in our minds,” Anthopoulos said. “We’re just thrilled.”
The Blue Jays also picked up reliever LaTroy Hawkins from the Rockies in exchange for shortstop Jose Reyes and minor league right-handed pitchers Miguel Castro, Jeff Hoffman and Jesus Tinoco.
Toronto (50-50) is tied for second place in the AL East, seven games behind the New York Yankees. The Blue Jays lead baseball with 528 runs scored but their starters have an ERA of 4.38, tied for third worst in the AL.
The Blue Jays have not reached the playoffs since winning the 1993 World Series — the longest drought of any major league team.
Royals get Zobrist in trade
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals have made another big addition for the season’s stretch run, acquiring utilityman Ben Zobrist and cash from the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday for right-hander Aaron Brooks and minor league left-hander Sean Manaea.
The 34-year-old Zobrist, an infielder and outfielder, batted .268 with six home runs, 20 doubles, two triples and 33 RBIs in 67 games for the A’s, who are in last place in the AL West after three straight playoff seasons.
He joins a Royals team that leads the AL Central a season after beating Oakland in the one-game wild card on the way to the franchise’s first World Series in 29 years and a seven-game loss to the reigning champion San Francisco Giants.
Kansas City general manager Dayton Moore already dealt for former Cincinnati ace Johnny Cueto while sending three left-handers to the Reds in the swap.
UM ending ‘legends program’
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan will retire six jersey numbers in a ceremony at the Ohio State game Nov. 28, ending the school’s “legends program” in which players were given the same numbers as some of the team’s all-time greats.
Michigan says it will retire Gerald Ford’s No. 48, Tom Harmon’s No. 98, Desmond Howard’s No. 21, Ron Kramer’s No. 87, Bennie Oosterbaan’s No. 47 and the Wistert brothers’ No. 11.
Howard’s was the only jersey of the six that was not retired at Michigan before the start of the legends program.
Coach Jim Harbaugh also said Tuesday that a plan was put in place that would enable wide receiver Dennis Norfleet to “achieve his goals academically and athletically” at Michigan. But Norfleet can talk to other schools if he wants.
Voters to be eliminated
NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball’s Hall of Fame is cutting the number of voters in its annual election by eliminating writers who have not been active for more than 10 years.
The change was announced Tuesday by the Hall’s board of directors.
Until now, the electorate has included people who have been active members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America for 10 consecutive years at any point.
The Hall says in a statement “BBWAA members previously holding Hall of Fame voting privileges who are no longer active in the game and are more than 10 years removed from active status will have the opportunity for annual reinstatement, based on their coverage of the game in the preceding year.”
Before the change, about 650 people were eligible to vote.
Mexico coach Herrera fired
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican national team coach Miguel Herrera was fired Tuesday following a television reporter’s claim that the man known as “El Piojo” punched him.
The ouster came just two days after Herrera led Mexico to victory in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. But Decio de Maria, who on Saturday becomes president of the Mexican Soccer Federation, said the incident with the journalist was not in keeping with “the spirit of fair and respectful competition” the organization espouses.
“Our values, our principles, are above any result,” de Maria said at a news conference. “In our profession, our industry, the matches are never over, and as public figures who represent an institution we must be absolutely clear on that.”
There was no comment from the coach on his firing, nor has he said anything publicly on the incident with the reporter.
Herrera is the latest to depart from what has become a revolving-door job since Ricardo La Volpe of Argentina was the last to complete a four-year World Cup cycle as head of the team, known as “El Tri.” Mexico has burned through 10 head coaches in the nine years since La Volpe departed after the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
De Maria did not announce a replacement for Herrera, who led Mexico to the round of 16 at last year’s World Cup.
Injured wrist sidelines Trout
HOUSTON (AP) — Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout was out of the starting lineup on Tuesday against the Houston Astros because of an injured left wrist.
The All-Star center fielder was hurt attempting to make a diving catch in the fourth inning on Sunday but stayed in the game and later hit a grand slam.
Trout leads the majors with 31 homers and is hitting .315 with 64 RBIs.
Tuesday was the first game of a three-game series between the top teams in the American League-West. Los Angeles entered first in the division, one game ahead of Houston.
Cowboys release Ryan Williams
IRVING, Texas (AP) — Ryan Williams, one of the possible replacements for NFL rushing champion DeMarco Murray, has been released by the Cowboys.
The oft-injured Williams was among three players cut Tuesday before the team left for training camp in Oxnard, California. The first workout is Thursday.
The 25-year-old Williams was a second-round pick by Arizona in 2011 but has appeared in just five games because of knee and shoulder injuries. He missed most of this offseason with knee problems.
The Cowboys signed running back Gus Johnson, an undrafted rookie out of Stephen F. Austin. He will join a group led by Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar.
Dallas also signed center Ronald Patrick while releasing linebacker Cameron Lawrence and tackle Ryan Miller.
