MLB Notes: Red Sox Feel the Absence of David Ortiz

FORT MYERS, Fla. - When the Boston Red Sox started to report for spring training Monday, David Ortiz was missing.

For the first time since 2002, Big Papi is not on the roster.

"It's going to be different," second baseman Dustin Pedroia said. "He's been here every year that I've been here. We just have to find a way to overcome his absence and it's going to have to be a team effort to find a way to do that."

Ortiz retired last October after helping Boston win its first three World Series titles since 1918. He hit 541 home runs in 20 major league seasons and decided he didn't want to put himself through another season at age 41.

Hanley Ramirez took over Ortiz's locker, the one closes to the exit to the players' lounge and cafeteria. He also is expected to also take over the majority of Ortiz's duties as designated hitter, with Mitch Moreland also getting some at-bats.

"Nobody is going to replace Ortiz," Moreland said. (see full story)

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Braves: Sean Rodriguez to have shoulder surgery
ATLANTA - Braves general manager John Coppolella isn't sure if it's realistic to hope for a return this season of infielder Sean Rodriguez, who will have shoulder surgery.

Rodriguez, who agreed to an $11.5 million, two-year contract with Atlanta in November, hurt his shoulder when a vehicle he was driving was rammed by a stolen police car in Miami on Jan. 28. His wife Giselle and two of their children were hospitalized with injuries she said on her Twitter account were not life-threatening.

Rodriguez's shoulder injury was not immediately disclosed. On Monday, Coppolella told The Associated Press that Rodriguez's surgery hasn't been finalized.

Atlanta acquired second baseman Brandon Phillips from Cincinnati on Sunday.

Rodriguez hit .270 with 18 homers and 56 RBI -- all career highs -- for Pittsburgh last year.

Rays: Odorizzi takes salary dispute to arbitration
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Pitcher Jake Odorizzi and the Tampa Bay Rays have gone to salary arbitration.

Eligible for arbitration for the first time, Odorizzi asked arbitrators Edna Francis, Margaret Brogan and James Oldham for a raise from $520,700 to $4.1 million. The Rays argued during Monday's hearing that he should be paid $3,825,000.

A right-hander who turns 27 next month, Odorizzi was 10-6 with a 3.69 ERA last year, his third full season with the Rays.

A decision won't be issued until all cases involving first-time eligible starting pitchers are completed. Milwaukee's Chase Anderson, Houston's Collin McHugh, Toronto's Marcus Stroman and Arizona's Taijuan Walker also have had hearings and are awaiting decisions. St. Louis' Michael Wacha is among five players scheduled for hearings this week.

Teams and players have split six decisions: Oakland outfielder Khris Davis ($5 million), Miami pitcher David Phelps ($4.6 million) and New York Mets infielder Wilmer Flores ($2.2 million) won, and Arizona pitcher Shelby Miller ($4.7 million), Boston pitcher Fernando Abad ($2 million) and Baltimore catcher Caleb Joseph ($700,000) lost.

Red Sox: TV analyst Remy announces cancer diagnosis
BOSTON - Boston Red Sox TV analyst Jerry Remy says that he has experienced a cancer relapse.

Remy announced the diagnosis Monday on Twitter, a day before the Red Sox were set to hold their first spring training workout in Florida.

The 64-year-old former Red Sox second baseman was originally diagnosed with cancer in 2008 and has missed numerous games in recent years while battling health issues, including lung cancer. He also took time off while dealing with the legal problems of his son, Jared, who is serving a life term in prison after pleading guilty in 2014 to the murder of his girlfriend.

Remy, who has worked more than 3,900 Red Sox games during his broadcast career, agreed to a new multiyear contract with cable network NESN in January to remain the Red Sox's primary color analyst and work 115 Red Sox games each season.

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