Bobby Wilson’s time on Angels ends
A 10-year stint in the Angels organization, including the last two as a big league reserve, came to an abrupt end for Bobby Wilson on Monday when the catcher was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays, a move that clears the way for Hank Conger to be the Angels’ No. 2 catcher.
“I wasn’t expecting the phone call, and I don’t know what to think of it, but it’s time to move forward,†said Wilson, a solid defensive player who batted .211 in 75 games last season.
As a player entering his first year of arbitration, Wilson, who made $487,500 last season, would have cost the Angels a little more than they will pay Conger, a first-round pick in 2006, next season.
But a more likely reason for the move is that with starter Chris Iannetta locked up in a three-year, $15.55-million deal this month, Conger, who bats left-handed and has considerably more offensive upside than Wilson, is a better complement to the right-handed-hitting Iannetta.
—Mike DiGiovanna
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The Seattle Mariners hired Dave Hansen to be their new hitting coach.
Hansen spent half of the 2011 season and all of the 2012 season in the same position with the Dodgers before being fired.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Buckeyes’ Miller to practice
Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer said star quarterback Braxton Miller has a sore neck yet is expected to return to practice Tuesday.
Miller lay motionless for several minutes after being thrown to the turf by Purdue defensive back Josh Johnson late in the third quarter of the ninth-ranked Buckeyes’ 29-22 overtime win on Saturday. He was carted to the locker room and then taken to a hospital, where he was treated and released.
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Wyoming Coach Dave Christensen was suspended for one week and fined $50,000 for his actions following an Oct. 13 loss to Air Force.
Christensen confronted Falcons Coach Troy Calhoun on the field after Air Force’s 28-27 victory.
He accused the Falcons of faking an injury to their starting quarterback in the fourth quarter so they could set up the next play without taking a timeout.
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