MLB Roundup: Orioles call up Bundy, MLB close to renewing TV deals
Top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy has been called up Wednesday by the Baltimore Orioles, and is expected to pitch out of the bullpen.
Bundy, the No. 2 overall prospect on MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects List, behind Texas Rangers phenom Jurickson Profar, was barely challenged in the minors. The 19-year-old went a combined 9-3 with a 2.08 ERA between Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie.
The fourth overall pick in the 2011 draft will become the first Baltimore player to make his Major League debut before age 20 since right-handed pitcher Mike Adamson in 1967.
The Orioles are percentage points behind the New York Yankees in the American League East race. Last month, they summoned their top offensive prospect, Manny Machado, and inserted him at third base.
---Major League Baseball is close to renewing deals with Fox and Turner that would give the broadcasting networks rights to games through 2021, according to a Sports Biz Daily report.
Though contracts haven't been signed, the main points have been successfully negotiated, the paper said, citing sources. The deal is similar to last month's MLB's ESPN deal.
Fox and Turner have agreed to eight-year deals worth more than twice what they had previously paid. Fox will pay around $4 billion (about $500 million per year), while Turner will pay about $2.8 billion (about $300 million per year).
Including the $700 million annual return ESPN, MLB's will receive roughly $1.55 billion a year over the next eight years.
A formal announcement is expected to come next week.
The two networks will keep their current packages. Fox will broadcast the World Series, and share the League Championship Series with TBS.
---Major League Baseball isn't likely to prevent Melky Cabrera from winning the National League batting title, despite his 50-game suspension for a failed drug test.
The San Francisco Giants outfielder is seven points ahead of Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen with a .346 average entering Wednesday.
"We'll see how it all plays out," baseball Commissioner Bud Selig told reporters Wednesday, after taping an episode of "CenterStage" for the YES Network. "We generally don't interfere in that process. We'll take a look at it at the end of the year."
He has 501 plate appearances, one fewer than the required amount to be eligible if the Giants play 162 games. According to MLB rules, an additional hitless at-bat would be added to his average and he would still win the title if he remains higher than any other qualifying player.
Cabrera, the MVP of the All-Star game, was suspended Aug. 15 for a positive test for testosterone, forcing him to will miss the final 45 games of the regular season.
---Cleveland Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday.
Hafner has been out since Aug. 6 with lower back inflammation. He's batting .239 with 11 homers and 32 RBI in 60 games.