A cause has yet to be determined in the death of former major league pitcher Tommy Hanson, but authorities believe an overdose is possible.
The former Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels right-hander was not breathing Sunday when emergency squads tried to assist him at a friend’s home near Atlanta. But there was no indication from Coweta Couny sheriff’s officials what might have resulted in the overdose.
An initial “crime incident” report included the word overdose. In a statement Wednesday, the sheriff’s office said an officer spoke with hospital emergency room workers but didn’t specify details of the conversation. The 29-year-old Hanson died Monday night at an Atlanta hospital. He was visiting a friend on Sunday when rescue crews arrived and transported him to an emergency room.
—St. Louis Cardinals great and Hall of Famer Lou Brock is recovering after his left leg was amputated just below the knee due to an infection related to diabetes.
The 76-year-old Brock had surgery on Oct. 27 and is recovering at a St. Louis-area hospital, the Cardinals and his family confirmed. He is undergoing physical therapy at the hospital and will be fitted for a prosthetic leg. He was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at age 60.
Brock holds the National League record with 938 career steals, second in major league history behind Ricky Henderson’s 1,406. Brock had 118 steals in 1974, the second most in a season in the modern area and trailing Henderson’s 130.
—The New York Yankees have discussed a potential trade of outfielder Brett Gardner to the Seattle Mariners, according to The New York Post.
The discussions were not characterized as far along or limited only to the Mariners, but Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has said he is open to talking about any player on his roster and there is sentiment that New York has similar type outfielders in Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury.
According to the report, Gardner has been a player new Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto has respected since his days in the Arizona and Los Angeles Angels organizations. Dipoto recently completed a six-player deal with the Tampa Bay Rays that landed outfielder Boog Powell, a prospect with a similar skillset as Gardner, but Powell is not expected to be ready for the major leagues next season.
—The Yankees acquired outfielder Aaron Hicks from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for catcher John Ryan Murphy.
Hicks, 26, hit .256 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs in 97 games with the Twins in 2015. The switch-hitter batted .307 with six home runs off left-handed pitching last season and has hit .272 with 10 homers in his career off left-handers.
Murphy, 24, hit .277 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 67 games (43 starts at catcher) for the Yankees in 2015, spending the entire season at the major league level for the first time in his career.
In addition, the Yankees acquired right-hander Ronald Herrera from the San Diego Padres in exchange for infielder Jose Pirela.
—Hitting coach Turner Ward has informed the Arizona Diamondbacks he will not return to the team next season.
Manager Chip Hale said an emotional Ward called him Monday night to deliver the news.
Hale has no insight as to where Ward may land.
The team announced on Oct. 5 that Ward had been offered a contract for next season, but he apparently never signed it. He had spent the past three years with Arizona, and the Diamondbacks finished last season second in the league in runs scored, second in slugging and third in on-base percentage.