LOS ANGELES — Jeff Kent plans to announce his retirement from baseball today at Dodger Stadium.
Kent spent 17 years in the major leagues and leaves as the career home run leader among second basemen with 351, 74 more than Ryne Sandberg.
He spent the last four seasons with the Dodgers, hitting .291 with 122 doubles, 75 homers and 311 RBIs.
A five-time all-star and the 2000 National League MVP, Kent hit .253 during the first half of last season, improved to .353 in August, then injured his knee Aug. 29 and had surgery four days later. He returned to make the postseason roster, but was relegated to a bench role. He became a free agent in November. He’ll be replaced at second base by Blake DeWitt. Kent had a .290 career batting average, 377 homers, 1,518 RBIs and a .500 slugging percentage.
• Catcher Brad Ausmus, a three-time Gold Glove winner, and the Dodgers agreed on a one-year contract worth $1 million.
Phillies, Werth strike deal
PHILADELPHIA — Outfielder Jayson Werth and the Phillies reached a preliminary agreement on a $10 million, two-year contract.
The Phillies also announced a one-year contract with reliever Chad Durbin worth $1,635,000.
Footnotes.
Free-agent catcher Henry Blanco and the Padres agreed to a $750,000, one-year contract.
• Omar Vizquel, a 41-year-old shortstop and 11-time Gold Glove winner, is going to spring training with the Rangers, who want him to mentor 20-year-old Elvis Andrus.
Also, Rangers right-hander Eric Hurley, a former first- round pick who made his major-league debut last year, will likely miss the 2009 season after surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff.
The Associated Press
