Felix Hernandez will not pitch in the World Baseball Classic.
With a reported $135.5 million extension being negotiated with the Mariners, Hernandez has decided not to play for his native Venezuela.
Hernandez was slated to be the No. 1 starter for his home country, as he was in 2009.
His representatives told ESPNdeportes.com that because the deal is not done, Hernandez will not play in the WBC.
“We still have not reached an agreement, but we are moving forward,” Hernandez’s agent Wilfredo Polidor told ESPNdeportes.com. “At this moment, we have covered 70 percent of the road.”
Polidar went on to say, “Felix called Luis Sojo with a lot of pain in his heart to inform him that he could not play with Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. It’s a shame, because he was really eager to start the first game for Venezuela against the Dominican Republic.”
D-BACKS SIGN HILL
The Diamondbacks and Aaron Hill reached a deal that will keep the second baseman under contract through the 2016 season.
The deal adds three years and $35 million to his existing deal, which pays him $5.5 million this year.
General manager Kevin Towers said Hill has become “one of the premier second basemen in the game, not only in the National League but in all of baseball.”
FIGGINS TO MIAMI
Former Mariners third baseman Chone Figgins signed a minor-league contract with the Marlins with an invitation to their major-league camp beginning next week.
He hit .181 in 66 games with Seattle last season. He’s a .277 career hitter with 337 stolen bases in 11 seasons, all in the American League.
SHORT HOPS
The Cardinals and 2011 World Series MVP David Freese agreed to a one-year contract that avoids salary arbitration. … The Mets signed reliever Brandon Lyon to a one-year deal. … All-Star closer Jim Johnson and pitcher Jason Hammel agreed to one-year contracts with the Orioles. Both right-handers avoided salary arbitration.
ryan.divish @thenewstribune.com
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