DENVER — As a longtime shortstop, Ian Desmond knows all too well the value of a good first baseman.
He’s vowing to be that reliable as the Colorado Rockies convert him to a position he’s never played. He doesn’t even have a first baseman’s glove of his own yet, borrowing one from a buddy until his arrives in the mail.
Although the Rockies’ solution at first base seems out of left field – Desmond did play 29 games in left for Texas last season – it’s really not that farfetched. At least, that’s what Rockies are banking on, after finalizing a $70 million, five-year deal Tuesday with the two-time All-Star who’s gone from shortstop to outfielder and now back to the infield.
“I have all the faith in the world that Ian’s going to be a good first baseman,” Rockies General Manager Jeff Bridich said.
While Desmond can’t recall ever playing the position, even as a kid, he did prove to be a fast learner last season when he moved from shortstop to the outfield for the Rangers.
“I know what it takes to be prepared every day and that’s what I’m going to do,” said Desmond.
Desmond played at an All-Star level for the Rangers in 2016, hitting .285 with 22 homers and 86 RBI as he split time between left and center.
Before that, he was a shortstop for the Washington Nationals.
The Rockies gave him a lucrative deal to learn a new skill set at Coors Field, where he’s a .379 career hitter in 23 games.
• Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis hopes to be back on the mound for spring training after being diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Bettis said in a statement that he underwent surgery on Nov. 29 to have a testicle removed after bloodwork revealed an abnormality. Bettis added that doctors are confident the cancer was isolated and hasn’t spread.
The 27-year-old Bettis was 14-8 with a 4.79 ERA last season. He figures to be an integral part of the 2017 starting rotation.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING: A person with knowledge of the meeting said baseball owners ratified the sport’s new collective bargaining agreement by a 29-1 vote Tuesday.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity because no announcement was made, the person said Tampa Bay Rays managing general partner Stuart Sternberg was the lone dissenting vote during the telephone meeting.
Players also had been scheduled to hold a ratification vote. The five-year deal was agreed to Nov. 30, about 3 hours before the expiration of the previous contract.
BRAVES: Atlanta agreed to a minor league contract with left-hander John Danks.
The 31-year-old Danks was released by the Chicago White Sox in May after going 0-4 with a 7.25 ERA in four starts. He was in the final season of a $65 million, five-year contract.
METS: Third baseman David Wright expects to resume baseball activities next month after surgery last spring to repair a herniated disk in his neck.
YANKEES: Infielder Ruben Tejada agreed to a minor league contract.
RANGERS: Texas re-signed free agent outfielder Carlos Gomez, finishing the one-year, $11.5 million agreement reached during winter meetings.
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