Baseball notebook | Molina excited about opportunity to become everyday catcher with Tampa Bay Rays
A career backup with two World Series rings, Jose Molina is excited about having an opportunity to become an everyday catcher with the Tampa Bay Rays.
At least as regular as you reasonably can expect at age 36.
The brother of a couple of other two-time World Series winners, Bengie and Yadier Molina, signed with the Rays this offseason. Manager Joe Maddon envisions a healthy “J-Mo” starting somewhere between 80 and 90 games as the Ray chase their fourth playoff berth in five years.
Molina says he preparing as if he’s going to play 162, even though he’s never appeared in more than 100 during parts of 12 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.
“I’m ready to catch 162 every year, not just this year. Every year. Because you never know. If the starting catcher gets hurt, you have to come in and be ready to do your job,” Molina said Tuesday, the first day of spring training for Tampa Bay’s pitchers and catchers.
He has been the toughest catcher to steal against in the majors over the past four seasons, throwing out 62 of 170 runners (36.5 percent). He was sixth-best a year ago when he threw out 12 of 36 for a 33.3 percent success rate that enticed the Rays, already one of baseball’s top defensive teams.
RULE CHANGE -- Major League Baseball has tweaked its rulebook to prevent managers from stalling to give relievers extra time to get ready.
The rule change comes a season after Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon put outfielder Sam Fuld on the mound for warmups with no intention of letting him pitch. From now on, managers won’t be allowed to use such a stalling tactic.
RANGERS -- Yu Darvish arrived at the Texas spring training complex and had his first bullpen session with his new team.
Rangers manager Ron Washington said Darvish threw about 35 pitches.
INDIANS -- Closer Chris Perez, sporting a full beard and longer hair this spring, says he’s done with rebuilding, second place and any talk about waiting until next year.
Perez, a Holmes Beach native and former Manatee High standout, wants more for the Indians in 2012.
“We were contending last year,” he said. “Winning is the word this year. I don’t want to compete. I want to win.”
INDIANS-RANGERS TRADE -- Cleveland traded minor league left-hander Kelvin De La Cruz to Texas for cash considerations.
MARLINS -- Hanley Ramirez fielded practice grounders at third base, sending the strongest signal yet that he’s willing to make the change from shortstop to accommodate Jose Reyes.
“I never said I’m not going to do it,” he said. “I’m positive mentally. I feel great.”
ATHLETICS -- Manny Ramirez is expected to join Oakland at its spring training facility Friday, yet another part of the Athletics’ offseason overhaul.
REDS -- Aroldis Chapman will be tested as a starter this spring by Cincinnati.
MARINERS -- Seattle manager Eric Wedge says he will begin the season having Chone Figgins bat leadoff and hit Ichiro Suzuki third.
CUBS-RED SOX DEAL -- Chicago and Boston have agreed on a deal that settles their dispute over what the Red Sox should get after Theo Epstein left for the Cubs.
The Cubs sent right-handed reliever Chris Carpenter and a player to be named to the Red Sox for a player to be named.
This story was originally published February 22, 2012 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Baseball notebook | Molina excited about opportunity to become everyday catcher with Tampa Bay Rays."