I-ROD TO SIGN WITH HOUSTON

In the wake of a terrific performance for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, future Hall of Fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez has worked out a one-year contract with the Houston Astros for the upcoming season. The deal calls for $1.5 million in salary, with another $1.5 million in incentives.


Rodriguez is coming off a disappointing 2008 campaign for the Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees. Over his two months in pinstripes, I-Rod batted just .219 in 33 games. He ended the season with a .276 average, seven homers and 10 stolen bases in 115 games. For his career, Rodriguez has a .301 batting average, 295 homers, 2,605 hits and 1,217 RBIs, and is considered one of the greatest defensive catchers in the game’s history.

The 14-time All-Star was 10-for-20 with two homers in six games in the WBC.

CARIBBEAN LEAGUES ROUNDUP

Carolina will need a strong showing from Williams if they hope to break into the Puerto Rico League’s playoff picture. Currently, Ponce leads the league with a 23-11, giving the Leones a comfortable five-game cushion over 17-15 Arecibo. Ponce’s Andy Gonzalez leads Puerto Rico batters with a .385 average, while Arecibo’s Jorge Padilla continues his strong season with a .363 mark, 12 homers and 63 RBIs.

The regular season is over in the Dominican League, with the 30-20 Ciboa Gigantes edging the 30-22 Este Azucareros for first place. The two teams will be joined by Licey and Cibaenas in the first round of the playoffs. After an 18-game round robin, the top two finishers will advance to the final series. Oriente’s Pablo Ozuna led Dominican batters with a .390 batting average, while Victor Diaz of Cibaenas set a record with 17 homers.

Caracas continues to sit pretty in the Venezuelan League standings with a 38-19 record, five games ahead of 33-24 Aragua. Pablo Sandoval of Magallenes leads Venezuelan batters with a .396 average, and Caracas’ Jesus Guzman continues his phenomenal campaign at the plate with a .363 average, 12 homers and 63 RBIs. David Austen of Zulia is 7-2 with a 1.87 ERA, leading the league in wins and ERA.

In the Mexican Pacific League, 19-8 Mazatlan is three games ahead of 17-12 Guasave in the second half standings with a week to go in the regular season. Augie Murillo of Obregon leads the MexPac with a .356 batting average, while Arturo Lopez of Los Mochis is 6-2 with a 2.89 ERA. Among relievers, Tim Lavigne of Guasave leads the league with 19 saves. Lavigne is 3-0 and has a 1.80 ERA.

BERNIE WILLIAMS WINTERBALL COMEBACK BEGINS

Former New York Yankees star Bernie Williams, who never actually announced his retirement after becoming a free agent in 2006, has embarked on the comeback trail with the Carolina Gigantes of the Puerto Rico Winter League.
A 40-year-old native of San Juan, Williams hopes to play for Puerto Rico in next year’s World Baseball Classic. He took his first step last Monday by going 1-for-3 in Carolina’s 4-1 win over Mayaguez, stroking a line drive single up the middle off starter Jerome Williams in the first inning. Current Yankees catcher Jorge Posada is also on the Carolina roster, but has not played this winter.

PUDGE HOMERS IN SECOND WINTERBALL GAME

Free agent catcher Ivan Rodriguez has played his first winterball game in his native Puerto Rico since 1996, ending an absence of eleven seasons. Rodriguez went 1-for-3 last Tuesday for Caguas against Santurce, then went 3-for-5 with a homer and a double one night later against Mayaguez. He scored six times over his first two games.

The 37-year-old Rodriguez hit .273 for Caguas in 29 games for the 1995-96 Puerto Rican League season. He hit .276 with seven homers this past summer for Detroit and the New York Yankees. Rodriguez has played in 14 All-Star Games, won 13 Gold Gloves and won the 1999 American League MVP award. He has a .301 average with 295 homers in his career.

PUERTO RICAN SEASON TO BEGIN THIS WEEK, PUDGE TO PLAY FOR CAGUAS

The reformed Puerto Rico League will open their 2008-09 season later this week after taking last winter off due to financial troubles. There are six teams slated to play this season, including the Caguas Creoles. The Creoles lineup will include catcher Ivan Rodriguez for two weeks in November and one in December. Rodriguez, a likely future Hall of Famer who finished the recently-concluded Major League season with the New York Yankees, has not played winter ball in Puerto Rico for ten years.

The season will begin Thursday night when Santurce takes on Carolina.