KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Third baseman Chipper Jones and the Braves agreed Tuesday to a $42 million, three-year contract extension though 2012. An option could make the extension worth up to $61 million over four seasons.
The NL batting champion hit .364 with 22 home runs and 75 RBIs last year.
Hochevar sent to Omaha
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Royals optioned Luke Hochevar to Triple-A Omaha.
The right-hander, a former athlete at Fowler High School and the first player picked in the 2006 draft, had a 3.86 ERA in five spring-training games, allowing 17 hits and four walks in 16 1/3 innings. He was 6-12 with a 5.51 ERA in 22 starts for Kansas City last season.
Footnotes.
Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun left in the second inning of Milwaukee’s game against the Padres to get X-rays on his right thumb.
• Geoff Jenkins, who had a key hit for Philadelphia in the resumption of Game 5 of last year’s World Series, was released by the Phillies, who also named Chan Ho Park their fifth starter.
• The Reds sent shortstop Jeff Keppinger to the Astros for a player to be named.
• Athletics co-closer Joey Devine will start the season on the disabled list because of a recurring elbow problem.
• Herman Franks, who managed the Giants (1965-68) and Cubs (1977-79), died Monday of congestive heart failure in Salt Lake City. He was 95.
The Associated Press
