The Commissioner's Office announced today that Los Angeles Angels minor league catcher Carlos Ramirez received a 100-game suspension after testing positive for a third time for a drug of abuse.
MLB roundup: Angels minor league C Carlos Ramirez suspended 100 games
An Angels minor leaguer tests positive for a third time, the White Sox bring in a LOOGY and Seattle inks three to minor league deals
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The 25-year-old Ramirez is currently with the organization’s Triple-A roster, and the suspension will take effect at the start of the 2014 season. He hit .206/.301/.400 in 180 plate appearances at Double-A in 2013, with six home runs and 22 RBI. He was selected in the eighth round of the 2009 draft.
More Ramirez: Halos Heaven's response
Philadelphia, Comcast extend partnership
With their partnership set to end following 2015, the Phillies and Comcast Sportsnet finalized a long-term extension.
The terms of the contract are not known at the moment, though the previous deal is believed to have paid the Philles around $35 million per season. With the exploding value of local television contracts, we can safely assume the new deal will improve upon that figure.
More on the Phillies: Head to The Good Phight
Seattle signs three to minor league deals
The Mariners announces today that they signed outfielder Cole Gillespie, and pitchers Matt Palmer and Ramon Ramirez to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training.
Gillespie saw time in San Francisco and Chicago (NL) last season, putting together a .203/.294/.237 slash line between the two clubs. He was better in minor league action, with a .277/.361/.455 line at Triple-A, though at 29 years old, that’s to be expected.
Palmer last saw major league time in 2012 with the San Diego Padres and spent 2013 with the Triple-A affiliate for the Los Angeles Dodgers, recording a 3.84 ERA. He was last relevant in 2009 when he went 11-2 with a 3.93 ERA for the Angels.
2013 was ugly for Ramirez, as he logged a mere 5 2/3 major league innings pitched with an 11.12 ERA. It wasn’t all bad though, as his FIP was nearly a full run lower, clocking in at 10.28! Ramirez was decent at Triple-A, and registered a 4.24 ERA (3.93 FIP) in just under 64 innings in 2012.
More Mariners coverage: Lookout Landing
Sox DFA Rodriguez on his birthday
The White Sox finalized their one-year, $4 million contract with reliever Scott Downs on Thursday, and to make room on the 40-man roster they designated pitcher Santos Rodriguez for assignment.
Rodriguez, who turned 26 on Thursday, was 2-0 with a 4.91 ERA in 33 relief appearances between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte in 2013, with 41 strikeouts and 26 walks in 47⅔ innings.
More White Sox coverage: South Side Sox
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