Baseball-Major League Baseball roundup

Feb 17 (The Sports Xchange) - New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Monday that Brian Roberts will succeed Robinson Cano as the team's second baseman. The concern is that Roberts has struggled with injuries since 2009. "That is the plan, for him to be our second baseman," Girardi said, according to ESPNNewYork.com. "I know he hasn't played a full season in the last few years, he's obviously a guy who has some age on him too, but my plan is to run him out there every day." Roberts, 36, played 77 games last year, his most since playing 159 in 2009. He has been plagued by a variety of injuries, with the effects from concussions slowing him down the past two years. Roberts signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Yankees this winter. He batted just .249 in limited action with the Baltimore Orioles last year. - - - Cincinnati Reds right-hander Homer Bailey said he is close to agreeing on a multiyear deal with the club. Bailey has a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Thursday. He is asking for $11.6 million while the team is offering $8.7 million. Bailey went 11-12 with a 3.49 ERA last year and set career highs with 209 innings pitched and 199 strikeouts. He and the Reds avoided arbitration last season with a one-year, $5.35 million deal. - - - Texas Rangers second baseman Jurickson Profar, who has experienced shoulder tendinitis, was cleared to throw by team physician Keith Meister, according to ESPNDallas.com. However, the club plans to proceed slowly with Profar as a precaution. General manager Jon Daniels said Profar will start spring training games in a few weeks as a designated hitter until he is fully healthy. He is expected to be ready for the regular season. - - - New Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Matt Garza said he missed out on a free-agent deal with the Los Angeles Angels this offseason because he was on vacation. Garza, who is from California, told MLB.com that he did not respond to the offer because he did not want to be bothered. The Angels did not want to wait so they moved on and instead signed pitchers Hector Santiago and Tyler Skaggs, who came much cheaper. Garza ended up getting a four-year, $50 million deal with the Brewers, similar to what the Angels offered. - - - Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig told the Los Angeles Times that he will tone down his on-field antics this season. Puig, who made his major-league debut last year with a bang, received criticism for being too animated and playing reckless at times. He is not going to hide his emotions entirely, however. "Fans go to the stadium to enjoy themselves," Puig said. "... After work, they spend their free time watching us play. We have to do our best to entertain them." (Editing by Gene Cherry)