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A18 SPORTS
Friday 14 december 2018

Free agent reliever Familia reaches deal to return to Mets

By BEN WALKER a quick turnaround with
AP Baseball Writer Van Wagenen in charge.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The re- They still want to upgrade
vamped New York Mets all over the diamond, and
bullpen is set to include a he said they made prog-
very familiar face — long- ress at the meetings.
time reliever Jeurys Familia. “I know we wanted to be
Familia reached agree- busy, we were,” he said.
ment on a $30 million, three- Familia posted 43 saves in
year deal late Wednesday 2015 when the Mets made
night with the team that it to the World Series. He
traded him away last sum- led the majors with a fran-
mer. The contract won’t be chise-record 51 saves the
complete until he passes a following year and was an
physical. All-Star, again helping New
The 29-year-old righty will York reach the playoffs.
join a Mets bullpen that re- Familia served a 15-game
cently added major league suspension at the start of
saves leader Edwin Diaz in 2017 for violating Major
a trade with Seattle that League Baseball’s domes-
also netted longtime All- tic violence policy. Later
Star second baseman Rob- that year, he had a blood
inson Cano, a move made clot that required surgery
by new general manager and finished 2-2 with a
Brodie Van Wagenen. 4.38 ERA and six saves in
Before leaving the winter 26 games. Last season, he
meetings Thursday, Van was 4-4 with a 2.88 ERA and
Wagenen said the Mets In this May 18, 2018, file photo, New York Mets pitcher Jeurys Familia (27) delivers against the 17 saves in 21 chances with
liked Familia because of his Arizona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning of a baseball game in New York. the Mets. He struck out 43
“age, performance, rep- Associated Press and walked 14 in 40 ap-
ertoire and comfort being likely means Familia will Mets, who signed him at it being a high-priced one. pearances covering 40 2/3
able to handle our mar- slide back into a setup role, age 17. Craig Kimbrel, An- “Would we play on mul- innings. The Mets got two
ket.” The GM said he also where he flourished as a drew Miller, Adam Ottavino tiple, high-end arms in the minor leaguers from Oak-
thought Familia would be a rookie in 2014. and David Robertson are bullpen?” he said. “I don’t land for Familia, acquiring
good influence on Diaz. Familia was a combined 8-6 among the other relievers think that’s part of our strat- Triple-A righty Bobby Wahl
Familia had spent his entire with 18 saves in 24 chances on the free-agent market. egy at this point.” and Class A third baseman
career with New York be- and a 3.13 ERA for the Mets Van Wagenen said the The Mets, looking to bounce Will Toffey, and $1 million in
fore being traded to Oak- and A’s last season. He has Mets would like to add a back from consecutive los- international signing bonus
land last July. This move 123 career saves for the lefty but didn’t anticipate ing seasons, are hoping for pool allotment.q

Negro Leagues bobbleheads part of fundraising campaign

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Star reported . bobbleheads, which will be
Fans of the former Negro Production of the rest of the individually numbered up
Leagues are being asked licensed, limited-edition to 2,020.
to help a campaign to bobbleheads will depend The bobblehead series
create bobbleheads of on a Kickstarter campaign is licensed by the Negro
30 stars from the league launched Wednesday by Leagues Baseball Museum
— with a goal of com- the National Bobblehead in Kansas City.
memorating the league’s Hall of Fame and Museum Museum President Bob
upcoming centennial. Or- and Dreams Fulfilled, which Kendrick and Caldwell on
ganizers of the effort, which was formed to promote the Wednesday announced
was unveiled Wednesday, Negro League centennial. the African-American and
have created a team of 30 “The Negro Leagues Cen- Hispanic players selected
Negro Leagues stars who tennial Team series will bring for the Centennial Team.
would be honored with long overdue recognition to They played between 1895
bobbleheads if the cam- players who were not only to 1947, when Jackie Rob-
paign raises enough mon- among the best to play the inson became the first Afri-
ey. The first bobblehead of game, but also early civil can-American in the major
pitcher Satchel Paige of the rights pioneers who helped leagues. “This is really im-
Kansas City Monarchs has pave the way for integra- portant because not only
already been produced. tion in baseball and the is it a way to perpetuate
The Paige bobblehead country,” Dreams Fulfilled the legacy of the Negro
stands on a baseball- founder Jay Caldwell said leagues but it’s such a tre-
shaped base in front of a in a statement. The goal is mendous way to educate
replica of the Kansas City This Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018, photo provided by the National to raise $10,000 by Jan. 7. the public about these leg-
Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum and Dreams Fulfilled,
YMCA at 18th Street and LLC, shows bobbleheads of former Negro League pitcher Any donation is welcome endary athletes who the
the Paseo, where the Negro Satchel Paige of the Kansas City Monarchs on display at the but those who give $20 or majority of people have
National League was orga- Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo. more will get first choice no idea about,” Kendrick
nized on Feb. 13, 1920, The Associated Press and better pricing for the said.q