MLB notebook: Pedroia ahead of schedule after knee procedure

Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia arrived at spring training camp on Saturday with a four-inch scar down the front of his left knee.

The 34-year-old Pedroia is not sure when he will be ready to play, but he told reporters he is "ahead of schedule" and pain-free for the first time since last April. He underwent a cartilage restoration procedure after last season that he expects to prolong his career.

Pedroia isn't expected to be ready for the start of the 2018 season, but the Red Sox expect his return to the lineup sometime in May. Pedroia hit .293 with seven home runs and 62 RBIs in 105 games last season.

"The way it's worked out, it was the best decision I could have made," Pedroia said at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Fla., per the Boston Herald. "My knee doesn't hurt. Last year, waking up and walking around was painful. It's not fun to live your life like that. Having the surgery, I could tell immediately that I was feeling better. Not one time did I have any pain in the entire process. Now it's just building strength and getting back to being athletic and things like that and your body picks that up quick."

--Cincinnati Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett won his arbitration case and will earn $5.7 million in 2018.

The Reds lost their bid to pay Gennett a salary of $5.1 million. The ruling reportedly pushes the team's payroll to $98.4 million.

Gennett, 27, enjoyed a breakout season in 2017. He hit .295 with 27 home runs and 97 RBIs in 141 games. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound player made national headlines in June when he slammed four home runs in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

--The Los Angeles Dodgers announced they have re-signed veteran infielder Chase Utley to a two-year contract.

The move was expected to happen since the start of camp in Glendale, Ariz., where media members noticed all of Utley's gear in his locker but no nameplate listed above. Utley spent the majority of the offseason working out at Dodger Stadium.

Utley, 39, will return for his third full season with the Dodgers after playing his first 12-plus years with the Philadelphia Phillies. He hit .236 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs in 309 at-bats last season. He is 150 hits shy of 2,000 for his career.

--The San Francisco Giants and left-handed relief pitcher Tony Watson reached an agreement on a two-year contract, according to multiple reports.

The deal includes incentives, plus a player option for 2020, a source told ESPN.

The 32-year-old Watson was 7-4 with 10 saves and 53 strikeouts over 66 2/3 innings in 71 relief appearances last year for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was acquired by the Dodgers for a pair of minor leaguers at the July 31 trade deadline.

--The Minnesota Twins signed right-hander Anibal Sanchez to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract, according to multiple reports.

Sanchez, who turns 34 on Feb. 27, agreed to a deal that would pay him $2.5 million should he make the major league club out of spring training. He can also earn $2.5 million in incentives.

Sanchez holds a 90-94 record and 4.09 ERA over 12 seasons with the Miami Marlins and Detroit Tigers. He went 3-7 with a 6.41 ERA over 105 1/3 innings in 28 outings (17 starts) for the Tigers in 2017.

--The Cleveland Indians signed free agent outfielder Rajai Davis to a minor league contract with a non-roster invitation to major league spring training camp.

Davis, 37, was a member of the 2016 American League champion Indians, leading the AL in stolen bases (43 in 49 attempts) and hitting one of the most dramatic home runs in the history of the franchise in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series against the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field.

Davis spent the 2017 season between Oakland and Boston, hitting a combined .235 with 19 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 20 RBIs and 29 steals in 36 attempts.

--The Philadelphia Phillies and free agent left-handed relief pitcher Fernando Abad agreed to a minor League contract, according to multiple reports.

The deal is only a non-roster invitation for Abad, who can make $3.1 million, according to FanRag Sports.

The 32-year-old Abad spent the 2017 season with the Boston Red Sox, appearing in 48 games out of the bullpen and going 2-1 with a 3.30 ERA. He has a 3.65 career ERA in 317 2/3 innings over eight major league seasons.

--The San Francisco Giants are not ruling out a reunion with two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum.

General manager Bobby Evans said the team would be interested in bringing back the 33-year-old right-hander after Lincecum's encouraging performance during a Thursday outing for a number of major league teams.

Lincecum, who turns 34 in June, is attempting to return to the majors after spending nine seasons with the Giants, winning three World Series titles and making four All-Star teams. He last pitched in the majors in 2016, going 2-6 with a 9.16 ERA in nine starts with the Los Angeles Angels.

--The reported deal between the Texas Rangers and Korean reliever Seung Hwan Oh no longer is expected to be completed according to multiple reports.

The Rangers and Oh had agreed to terms before spring training opened, but the deal was contingent on the results of a physical and was never finalized. A source told the Dallas Morning News there were concerns after an MRI exam on the 35-year-old pitcher's arm.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels declined to comment on Oh, who reportedly was set to earn a base salary of $2.75 million this season with a team option for 2019. Oh converted 39 of 47 saves over the last two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals.

--Field Level Media