The Samsung Lions, the two-time defending South Korean baseball champions, announced on Friday they have signed former big league pitcher Esmailin Caridad.The right-hander will be the new foreign pitcher for the Korea Baseball Organization club and is signed for the rest of this season at $120,000 with no signing bonus.On Wednesday, the last day to waive foreign players in the KBO, the Lions released the struggling right-hander Aneury Rodriguez.KBO teams are each allowed to carry two foreign pla

The Kia Tigers and the Samsung Lions in the top domestic baseball league have each released a struggling foreign pitcher, the teams announced.The Tigers said they have released their American right-hander Anthony Lerew. The Lions have parted ways with Aneury Rodriguez, a right-hander from the Dominican Republic.Before the Tigers’ game against the LG Twins, Tigers’ manager Sun Dong-yol told reporters the team had waived Lerew. Lerew has had an up-and-down season as the team’s closer. He has colle

MILWAUKEE (AP) ― Commissioner Bud Selig defended baseball’s fight against performance-enhancing drugs on Wednesday, declining to discuss the recent suspension of Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun or whether other stars will also face penalties.Braun was suspended for the rest of the season Monday, a total of 65 games, for violating baseball’s anti-drug policy. He is the first player to be punished as part of an investigation of the now-closed Biogenesis Clinic, which is believed to have provided per

BOSTON (AP) ― All-Star second baseman Dustin Pedroia is close to a contract that could keep him with the Boston Red Sox for his entire big league career.A person with knowledge of the talks said Tuesday that Pedroia is in the process of agreeing to a deal adding $100 million over seven seasons through 2021.The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement was not yet complete. The new deal was first reported by WEEI.Pedroia is making $10 million this year a

TORONTO (AP) ― Things are going so well for the Los Angeles Dodgers right now, they’re starting to believe that anything is possible and any deficit can be overcome.Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run homer, Andre Ethier and Jerry Hairston Jr. added solo shots and the streaking Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-9 Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory and 22nd in 27 games.“We’re starting to be able to throw some big innings together,” manager Don Mattingly said. “If you can get to the po

Former National League MVP Ryan Braun was suspended without pay for the rest of the season and the postseason Monday, the first penalty from baseball's investigation of players reportedly linked to a Florida clinic accused of distributing performance-enhancing drugs.The Milwaukee Brewers star accepted the 65-game penalty, 15 games more than the one he avoided last year when an arbitrator overturned his positive test for elevated testosterone because the urine sample had been improperly handled.`

CINCINNATI (AP) ― Jeff Locke broke into a grin before taking any questions.“Happy to be back,” the left-hander said.No one’s happier than the Pittsburgh Pirates, who used their formula from a highly successful first half ― great pitching, just enough scoring ― to salvage the final game of their series with Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Locke allowed only an infield single through six innings of a 3-2 victory.Second-place Pittsburgh left town with a three-game cushion over the NL Central-rival Reds,

CINCINNATI (AP) ― Joey Votto drove in a pair of runs, and Choo Shin-soo extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games on Saturday, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates that revolved around an early rain delay.The third-place Reds have won the first two games in the NL Central series, closing their gap with second-place Pittsburgh to two games. The Ohio River rivals have split their 12 games this season.Cincinnati’s Mat Latos (9-3) and Pittsburgh’s A.J.

As the first half of the 2013 Korea Baseball Organization season drew to a close this week, a familiar name sat atop the standings, chased by a pair of surprising contenders.The two-time defending champions Samsung Lions are in first place at the All-Star break for the second straight season. The Lions have played in each of the past three Korean Series. The first-place team in the regular season earns the bye to the championship round, and the Lions have positioned themselves for another run at

As the first half of the 2013 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season drew to a close this week, a familiar name sat atop the standings, chased by a pair of surprising contenders.The two-time defending champions Samsung Lions are in first place at the All-Star break for the second straight season. The Lions have played in each of the past three Korean Series. The first-place team in the regular season earns the bye to the championship round, and the Lions have positioned themselves for another

NEW YORK (AP) ― Mariano Rivera reported for work an inning early, and walked off to a fitting tribute.Summoned in the eighth to make sure he would pitch in his final All-Star Game, the New York Yankees’ indomitable closer tossed a perfect inning and soaked up a pair of standing ovations while helping the American League to a 3-0 victory over the National League on Tuesday night at Citi Field.Rivera, who took home MVP honors, and nine other pitchers combined on a three-hitter for the AL, which sn