The Detroit Tigers are happy ace Justin Verlander had a turnaround season in 2009.

They’re showing their appreciation by signing the right-hander to a five-year, $80 million extension, according to several reports. The deal is similar to that of Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, who inked a five-year, $78 million agreement last month. King Felix’s deal probably helped Verlander negotiate his contract.

Verlander helped the Tigers get to within a game of the AL Central crown last season. In 2008, he shared the Major League lead in losses with 17, but in 2009 Verlander tied for the lead in wins with a 19-9 record. He also had gaudy figures in strikeouts (269), innings (240) and starts (35).

The hard-throwing Verlander, who spent a short time with the Erie SeaWolves in 2005 before being called up, is the only pitcher in baseball history to be a Rookie of the Year and an All-Star, throw a no-hitter and start a World Series game in his first two full seasons.

The Tigers might have lost stud starter Edwin Jackson and relievers Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon this offseason, but the signing of Verlander gives the team stability from the top of the rotation for years to come.

Bucs not for sale

According to a report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle, co-owners of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, recently made an offer to buy the Pirates in a meeting with Bucs owner Bob Nutting.

Nutting, however, said no serious discussion about a sale had taken place. He also was adamant that the Pirates are not for sale.

After 17 straight losing seasons, a change in ownership certainly appeals to many frustrated Pirates fans.

The news of Lemieux’s offer was the talk of PirateFest, which drew 15,398 fans this past weekend. The Bucs’ front office probably was not pleased with the timing of the Post-Gazette’s story, which fueled fans to boo and cheer during a Q-and-A session with team president Frank Coonelly. Coonelly echoed Nutting’s statement that the team is not for sale.

Forbes magazine estimated the Pirates’ value last year at $288 million, with only the Florida Marlins below them. The Pirates have reportedly made a profit the past six years.

The Pirates have a crop of talented, young players for 2010, but their nearly $36 million payroll might be the lowest in the majors.

Garko’s back in AL

Former Indians first baseman Ryan Garko signed a one-year, $550,000 deal with the Seattle Mariners this week.

Garko was traded to San Francisco from Cleveland last season and struggled with the National League club, hitting .235 in 127 at bats (2 homers, 12 RBIs) in the second half of the year.

Garko said he was looking to return to the American League. Expect him to bounce back and help the M’s hit against left-handed pitching.

Mature for a rookie

Michael Brantley, likely the Tribe’s regular left fielder for 2010, is just 22 years old, but he plays beyond his years. Check out a profile on Brantley at MLB.com.

Two all-time fan favorites for the Cleveland Indians — Kenny Lofton and Jim Thome — were in the headlines this week.

Center fielder Lofton (1992-96, 98-2001, ‘07) will be inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame on Aug. 7 before the 7:05 p.m. game against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Cy Slapnicka, a former General Manager and scout for the Indians, also will be inducted that day.

Lofton, who said he was “ecstatic” to receive the honor from the Indians, said he feels good about his career knowing he did it without cheating by using performance-enhancing drugs.

“I was a guy who never did it,” Lofton said. “Never tried to do it. Never wanted to do it.”

Lofton is the franchise leader in stolen bases (452), ranks third in club history in runs scored (975) and 10th in career base hits (1,512).  In his 10 seasons with the Tribe, Lofton hit .300 with 975 runs, 244 doubles, 66 triples, 87 home runs and 518 RBIs.  He led the American League five straight seasons in stolen bases from 1992-96, stealing a single-season franchise record 75 bases in ‘96. He was an All-Star selection five times while in Cleveland (six overall) and won four straight Rawlings Gold Glove Awards for his play in center field. His ability to scale walls and rob batters of home runs was jaw-dropping.

Meanwhile, first baseman/DH Thome (1991-2002) agreed to terms with the Minnesota Twins on a one-year, $1.5 million contract. Thome, who played at third and first in his time with the Tribe, spent the majority of the past four seasons as the White Sox DH but will serve as a reserve for the Twins.

Thome, 39, has hit 564 career home runs, five behind Rafael Palmeiro for 11th place on the all-time list. Thome is the Indians’ all-time leader in home runs (334) and is second to Earl Averill in RBIs (927). Averill had 1,084 RBIs from 1929-39 with the Indians.

Both Lofton and Thome are worthy of consideration someday for a spot in Cooperstown.

The full list of Indians Hall members are listed on the team’s site here.

Get more on Lofton’s reaction to his Indians Hall induction here.

Caravan stops in Erie

The Indians Winter Caravan made a stop in Erie on Tuesday night with outfielder Trevor Crowe, reliever Tony Sipp, coach Sandy Alomar Jr. and announcer Rick Manning in tow.

The message that Alomar was sending was that of promise for success soon. Despite back-to-back sub-.500 seasons, the Tribe’s new catching instructor and first-base coach believes the Indians won’t be in rebuilding mode this year.

Check out John Dudley’s discussion with Alomar here.

PirateFest in Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Pirates have shunned northwestern Pa. by not sending a caravan to the Erie or Meadville areas this year. So, area fans, instead, can meet and greet current and former Bucs players and coaches this weekend by taking the drive to downtown Pittsburgh for PirateFest. The annual fan event takes place Friday through Sunday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Scheduled to be at PirateFest are Andrew McCutchen, Paul Maholm, Andy LaRoche, Garrett Jones, Ryan Doumit, Lastings Milledge and more current players, along with former players John Candelaria, Kent Tekulve, Elroy Face and Bill Mazeroski.

Admission is $12 ($4 for kids 14 and under). Visit pirates.com for more information.

Sheets a high-reward signing

The Oakland A’s made a smart move by getting right-handed ace Ben Sheets to sign a one-year, $10 million (plus incentives) deal. It’s true that Sheets comes with injury risk — he hasn’t pitched since 2008 while recovering from elbow surgery — but he is worth it.

Sheets, 31, spent his first eight seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he went 86-83 with a 3.72 ERA. In ‘08, he started the All-Star Game and went 13-9 that year with a 3.09 ERA.

It’s a nice addition for the A’s, who have a young starting rotation which includes Justin Duchscherer and Dallas Braden.

Watch Sheets discuss his deal on a video highlight at mlb.com.

Left-handed starter Zach Duke and the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to a one-year deal Tuesday to avoid an arbitration hearing.

The value of the deal was not disclosed, but Duke, a National League All-Star in 2009, likely will earn a raise from the $2.2 million he earned last year.

Duke posted an 11-16 record with a 4.06 ERA last season. Although Duke led the league in losses, the 11 wins were a significant improvement over his 2007 and ‘08 seasons when he won just eight games in 50 starts. Poor run support was a big factor in Duke racking up losses.

The Pirates also upgraded their bullpen by signing free-agent reliever Octavio Dotel to a one-year deal with a club option Thursday. Financial terms were not disclosed. Dotel, a right-hander who likely could become the Bucs’ new closer, reportedly passed his physical.

Dotel, 36, spent last season with the Chicago White Sox and had a record of 3-3 with a 3.32 earned run average in 62 relief appearances. Dotel struck out 75 batters in 62 1/3 innings.

In 11 major league seasons, Dotel has a record of 46-39 with a 3.73 ERA and 83 saves in 562 appearances.

–The Cleveland Indians Winter Caravan will be in Erie at the Barber National Institute on Tuesday (Jan. 26). Outfielder Trevor Crowe, relief pitcher Tony Sipp, coach Sandy Alomar Jr. and broadcaster Matt Underwood will take part in a brief program followed by a question-and-answer session from fans. A ballpark dinner will be served at 5 p.m., with the program getting underway at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $8 in advance and at the door. For information, call the Barber National Institute at 453-7661 or visit www.barberinstitute.org.

–The Indians will have six spring training games televised on Sports Time Ohio. The Tribe opens spring training March 5 at the Cincinnati Reds.

The STO games include: March 10 (vs. Padres, 3:05 p.m.), March 12 (vs. Angels, 3:05 p.m.), March 14 (vs. Padres, 4:05 p.m.), March 16 (vs. Giants, 4:05 p.m.), March 18 (vs. Reds, 4:05 p.m.) and March 19 (at Giants, 4:05 p.m.).

Get the full schedule here.

–Get more on the latest signings at mlb.com.

–Tony Battaglia

Former first baseman Mark McGwire admitted on Monday that he used steroids and HGH (human growth hormone) during his major league career. It’s about time.

It was no revelation that Big Mac, long suspected of using performance enhancers, came clean. It was just a matter of time. By taking the job as St. Louis Cardinals hitting coach this offseason, McGwire had to clear the books or risk having the spotlight on him every day instead of the team.

McGwire hit a single-season record 70 home runs in 1998 with the Cardinals, breaking the record of 61 set in 1961 by the New York Yankees’ Roger Maris. McGwire hit 65 homers in 1999.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa hit 66 homers in 1998 to also surpass Maris. Sosa cracked 63 homers in 1999 and 64 in 2001.

McGwire’s mark didn’t last long. San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds hit 73 homers in 2001.

It’s time for Sosa and Bonds to fess up and admit they too were juicers during baseball’s Steroid Era.

Maris’ record still should be recognized as the home run mark of its time, just as Babe Ruth’s 60 homers in 1927 is looked at with significance (Ruth’s mark is considered the official record for 154-game seasons).

Let’s keep the steroid homers in a distinct group and let drug-free hitters try to break Maris’ mark.

Read more on McGwire’s confession here.

Check out a video panel reaction to McGwire’s admission from MLB Network.

Alomar to visit Erie with Caravan

–The Indians new catching instructor, Sandy Alomar Jr., will be one of the participants for the Indians Caravan stop in Erie on Jan. 26.

Also scheduled to appear are reliever Tony Sipp, outfielder Trevor Crowe and broadcaster Matt Underwood.

There is a scheduled press conference at 4 p.m. before the 6 p.m. event at the Barber National Institute on East Ave.

Tickets are $8 and available at The Barber Center.

Pirates add outfielder Church

–Outfielder Ryan Church agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.

Church likely will be used as a fourth outfielder, and he gives the team depth in case top prospect Jose Tabata needs more seasoning at Triple-A Indianapolis. Church, a 31-year-old left-handed hitter, comes with risk as he had multiple concussions last season with the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets. He finished 2009 with a .273 average, four homers and 40 RBIs.

Read more on Church and check out the progress of first baseman Jeff Clement at post-gazette.com.

Other signings

–The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to terms Thursday on a one-year deal with former Pirates first baseman Adam LaRoche.

LaRoche batted .277 with 25 homers and 83 RBIs in 150 games for the Pirates, Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves last season.

–The Tigers signed reliever Joel Zumaya to a one-year contract worth $915,000.

Zumaya, 25, had a injury-shortened 2009 season, going 3-3 with a 4.94 ERA in 29 games before undergoing season-ending surgery in August to fix a stress fracture in his right shoulder.

–The San Francisco Giants got a new cleanup man in first baseman Aubrey Huff, who signed a one-year, $3 million contract Wednesday. Huff, a left-handed hitter, hit .241 with 15 homers and 85 RBIs last season with the Orioles and Tigers.

It’s reported Huff likely will bat fourth in front of another new Giants player, Mark DeRosa.

–Tony Battaglia

The Cleveland Indians made quiet moves Tuesday by signing infielder/outfielder Shelley Duncan and outfielder Austin Kearns to minor league deals.

Get more on the signings at mlb.com.

Duncan, 30, was the International League MVP in 2009 while with the New York Yankees’ Triple-A team, Scranton. He hit .277 with 30 doubles, a league-record 30 homers and 99 RBIs.

Duncan, who hit .219 with eight home runs and 24 RBIs in 68 career games in the majors, could join Andy Marte and Jordan Brown as a fill-in for Matt LaPorta at first base. Duncan or Kearns also could be in the mix as a starting corner outfielder, depending on how management evaluates the development of rookie Michael Brantley.

Kearns played for new Indians skipper Manny Acta the past three years in Washington.

Kearns hit .195 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in 80 games for the Nationals last year.

Bucs can Erie stop

The New York Mets made a splash in the free-agent mark by landing right-handed slugging outfielder Jason Bay this week. Bay and the Mets have agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth $66 million with a fifth-year option, according to mlb.com. The deal is contingent on Bay passing a physical.

Bay, primarily a left fielder, hit 36 home runs to go with 119 RBIs and a .267 average last season with the Boston Red Sox.

Bay played five-plus seasons with the Pirates and was the face of the franchise during his time in Pittsburgh. Bay has averaged 30 home runs per season since 2005 and has driven in at least 101 runs four times.

The Bay signing means the power-hitting burden lessens on third baseman David Wright, who struggled last season with just 10 home runs in the new and cavernous Citi Field.

–The Matt Holliday rumors continue to swirl.

Holliday, who is rumored to be in talks with the St. Louis Cardinals and Baltimore Orioles, among others, has a starting point for contract talks now that Bay has signed. Bay was considered the second-best offensive player, behind Holliday, available on the free agent market.

Holliday, who split last season between Oakland and St. Louis, hit .313 with 24 home runs and 109 RBIs in 2009.

Check out the latest Holliday talk and baseball rumors here.

–Free-agent infielder Mark DeRosa signed a two-year, $12  million deal with the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. DeRosa likely will play third base for the Giants, pushing Pablo Sandoval to first base and Travis Ishikawa to the bench.

I really liked DeRosa in his short tenure with the Cleveland Indians last season. I’m still baffled as to why the Tribe cut bait on as a player with DeRosa’s ability after just 71 games. DeRosa hit .228 with 28 RBIs in 68 games following a trade to St. Louis. Before that, he hit .270 with 50 RBIs with Cleveland in 2009.

The versatile DeRosa, 34, is a great asset for any team as he can move all across the diamond defensively and can hit almost anywhere in the lineup.

–Former Pittsburgh Pirates closer Matt Capps agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals recently. The deal is pending a physical in early January.

Capps is expected to make $3.5 million, not including bonuses.

Capps collected 67 saves and posted a 3.61 ERA in his five-year career with the Pirates. He was not tendered a contract by Pittsburgh on Dec. 12. Capps had his worst season in the majors last year, going 4-8 with a 5.80 ERA and 27 saves in 32 chances over 57 games.

Capps will battle Brian Bruney for the closer role in D.C.

The Pirates, meanwhile, are reportedly looking at two veteran ex-closers in former Cubs pitcher Kevin Gregg, who lost the closer role last season, and Octavio Dotel, who has not closed games since 2007.

–Tony Battaglia

The Indians completed the trade of catcher Kelly Shoppach by acquiring right-hander Mitch Talbot from the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Indians also sent an undisclosed amount of cash to the Rays in the Dec. 1 deal. Shoppach’s departure likely opens the door for Lou Marson to become the starter. Wyatt Toregas likely will be the backup while highly touted prospect Carlos Santana continues to develop in Triple-A Columbus.

Talbot, 26, had only 10 starts in Triple-A Durham last season because of a strained elbow. He went 4-4 with a 4.47 ERA. Talbot, who was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2006, appeared in three games for the Rays in 2008.

Also Monday, manager Manny Acta brought in one of his former players as the Indians signed right-handed reliever Saul Rivera to a minor league contract.

Rivera made 245 relief appearances for the Washington Nationals from 2006 through 2009. He’s 13-15 with a 4.05 ERA in his major league career.

–Former Indians outfielder Coco Crisp is reportedly close to signing a deal with the Oakland Athletics. Crisp had shoulder surgery in June that cut his season short with the Kansas City Royals. He batted .228 with 14 RBIs in only 49 games.

–The Pittsburgh Pirates added a piece to their bullpen over the weekend by signing former Red Sox left-hander Javier Lopez to a one-year contact. Lopez is the only lefty currently in the Bucs’ pen.

Lopez struggled in 14 appearances with the Red Sox last season, going 0-2 with a 9.26 ERA. However, Lopez rebounded in Triple-A with a 1-1 record and 3.18 ERA in 38 appearances.

For more on the signing, visit MLB.com.

–The rich get richer, even if they have to pay.

The New York Yankees added a starter Tuesday, reacquiring right-hander Javier Vazquez from the Braves as part of a five-player trade.

The Yanks sent outfielder Melky Cabrera and minor league pitchers Mike Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino to the Braves in exchange for Vazquez and left-hander Boone Logan. Vazquez, who has posted 142 victories in 12 seasons, was a 15-game winner last season with a sub-3.00 ERA.

No surprise that the Yankees were the only team who were hit with a luxury tax for this past season. New York, which has paid the tax in all seven years since its inception, must fork over $25.69 million by Jan. 31.

–Tony Battaglia

The Cleveland Indians coaching staff and front office received some holiday cheer with news of Jake Westbrook’s off-season rehabilitation.

Westbrook, one-and-a-half years after having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, pitched effectively and pain-free in four starts with the Ponce team in the Puerto Rican Winter League. The Indians are counting on Westbrook to solidify their rotation in 2010. Westbrook compiled four no-decisions with a 3.65 ERA. He  gave up five earned runs while walking six and striking out six in 12 1/3 innings.

–Jamey Carroll signed a two-year, $3.85 million deal to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Carroll will split time at second base with Blake DeWitt, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said.

It’s sad to see the likeable Carroll leave, but the Indians weren’t willing to offer a bigger deal. Carroll spent the past two seasons with the Indians as a utility infielder who played mostly second base. Carroll, 35, hit .276 with two home runs and 26 runs batted in in 93 games for the Tribe in 2009.

–The Indians signed right-handers Anthony Reyes and Adam Miller to minor league contracts.

Reyes, who went 1-1 with a 6.57 ERA last season for the Indians, is rehabbing from reconstructive surgery on his pitching elbow.

The oft-injured Miller underwent reconstructive surgery on his right middle finger in November.

–It’s interesting to see former Indians pitcher Cliff Lee get traded to Seattle. Lee, who is looking for a CC Sabathia-type deal after this season, said he wanted to stay in Philly, but the Phillies pulled the trigger on Roy Halladay in the three-team trade.

Seattle is a legitimate playoff contender next season as it boasts a formidable pair of aces in Lee and right-hander Felix Hernandez.

–Lee will join former Indians outfielder Milton Bradley in Seattle. The troubled Bradley was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Mariners on Friday.

The Cubs will receiver underachieving right-handed pitcher Carlos Silva and his bloated salary in return.

Bradley, who was critical of the Cubs in his one season there, hit .257  with 12 home runs and 40 RBIs in 2009. He has played for seven teams in nine seasons.

The Indians traded Bradley to the Dodgers at the end of spring training in 2004 after manager Eric Wedge had enough of his antics.

–There is speculation that the Indians will get Mitch Talbot or Joseph Cruz — both right-handed starters — from the Tampa Bay Rays as the player to be named later in the Kelly Shoppach trade.

Talbot, 26, spent most of last season in Triple-A, while Cruz, 21, went 5-8 with a 4.04 ERA in Class A last season.

–The Indians named catcher Carlos Santana ( Lou Boudreau award) and right-handed starter Hector Rondon ( Bob Feller award) as their minor league players of the year.

Last season at Class AA Akron, Santana hit .290 with 91 runs, 30 doubles, 23 home runs and 97 RBIs. He was named the Eastern League’s MVP. Santana underwent surgery last week for a broken hamate bone in his right hand and is expected to be sidelined eight to 10 weeks. Santana likely will start the season at Triple-A Columbus.

Rondon pitched for Akron and Columbus last season; he could be in the Indians rotation in 2010. Rondon went a combined 11-10 with a 3.38 ERA last season. He led Indians minor leaguers with 137 strikeouts.

–The Pirates have signed three players who are expected to make key contributions next season — second baseman Akinori Iwamura, infielder Bobby Crosby and outfielder John Raynor.

Iwamura, who was traded from the Tampa Bay Rays for pitcher Jesse Chavez, missed half of 2009 with a knee injury. Iwamura, a left-handed hitter, hit .274 with 30 doubles, nine triples, six homers and 48 RBIs in 2008.

Crosby, the AL Rookie of the Year in 2004, was signed to a one-year deal after six seasons in Oakland. Crosby  is expected to compete with Ronny Cedeno for playing time at shortstop.

Raynor, a speedy outfielder, was picked off of Florida’s Triple-A roster in the Rule 5 Draft. Raynor compiled a .299 batting average and 36 stolen bases per season in the minors, including a stint with Jamestown (N.Y.) in 2006. He should compete for a bench role for the Bucs to start the season.

–Stay up to date on Hot Stove news and rumors here.

–Tony Battaglia

The Indians paid big money (two-year, $20.5 million deal) to obtain closer Kerry Wood at the winter meetings last season. At this year’s meetings in Indianapolis, Wood could be on his way out of Cleveland.

After the Indians’ dismal 2009 season in which Wood did not get many save chances (20 saves in 26 opportunities), management is moving in a new direction with a young roster. If the Tribe is able to deal the 32-year-old Wood, they likely would give reliever Chris Perez a shot at the closer’s role.

–The Indians have a shot at bringing back free-agent infield utility man Jamey Carroll. Carroll, who made $2.5 million last season, would rank as the sixth highest-paid player for the Tribe with that salary now.

Carroll, 35, hit .276 with 53 runs, two homers and 26 RBIs last season.

There are reports that the Reds have interest in Carroll to play shortstop.

Carroll’s absence would leave a void in the Tribe locker room. He was selected by the Cleveland baseball writers as the Frank Gibbons/Steve Olin Good Guy award winner last week.

–Shin-Soo Choo was selected by a chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America as the Indians Man of the Year. He batted .300 with 20 homers, 38 doubles, 86 RBIs and 21 steals in his first full major league season.

–The Danville Register & Bee is reporting that Jon Nunnally will be named the Indians’ hitting coach, rounding out Manny Acta’s staff. Nunnally, who played six seasons in the majors, spent last season as hitting instructor for the Indians’ triple-A affiliate in Columbus.

–The Pirates have had further talks with free-agent pitcher Justin Duchscherer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting. Duchscherer missed the 2009 season with physical and personal issues. He declined salary arbitration from the Oakland A’s.

Duchscherer was 10-8 with a 2.54 ERA in 2008 for the A’s.

Meanwhile, Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit has generated interest from several clubs, including the Toronto Blue Jays. Doumit, who missed extensive time with a wrist injury last season, is owed more than $9 million over the next two seasons.

–Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson appears to be on his way out of Detroit. The talented Granderson, who starred for the Erie SeaWolves in 2004, likely will become a Yankee as part of a three-team deal which also involves the Diamondbacks. Granderson hit .303 with 21 homers, 93 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 2004 for the SeaWolves.

– Check out more trade gossip from the winter meetings at mlbtraderumors.com.

–Tony Battaglia

Kelly Shoppach

The Indians dealt catcher Kelly Shoppach to the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday for a player to be named later.

The move frees up playing time for a glut of backstop prospects in the Indians organization. Lou Marson, who came over from Philadelphia in the Cliff Lee trade, and Wyatt Toregas figure to battle for the starting spot next season. Carlos Santana, the Eastern League player of the year, likely will start the year in Class AAA Columbus. Santana is one of the top prospects in baseball; he hit .290 with 23 homers and 97 RBIs with the Akron Aeros in 2009.

Shoppach played the past four seasons with the Indians, most of the time as the backup to All-Star Victor Martinez, who was traded to the Boston Red Sox in July. Shoppach had a tough season at the plate, hitting just .214 (98 strikeouts) with 12 homers and 40 RBIs. He threw out 23 percent (15-of-64) of potential basestealers.

For more on the Shoppach deal, visit MLB.com.

– On Monday, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed former Erie SeaWolves starter Wilfredo Ledezma to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Ledezma went 10-3 with a 2.42 ERA with the SeaWolves in 2004.

The left-hander made five appearances for Washington last season.

In 160 career major league games (40 starts) with Detroit, Atlanta, San Diego, Arizona and Washington, Ledezma owns a 5.17 ERA and has posted 255 strikeouts and 183 walks in 370 2/3 innings.

–Tony Battaglia