Apparently the wounds from the November deal that sent Prince Fielder to the Rangers are still raw for the 31-year-old second baseman.

"To be honest with you, I hope they (the Rangers) go 0-162," Kinsler told ESPN The Magazine. "I got friends, and I love my friends, but I hope they lose their ass."

Well, then.

In a lengthy profile in the magazine, Kinsler makes it clear he is not happy with the Rangers organization, which went to the World Series in 2010 and 2011 but failed to capture the American League West in 2012 and didn't make the playoffs in 2013.

"There was no remorse from the Rangers," Kinsler says of the trade. "They did not care." 

"The team had changed," he says. "It was not the same personalities, not the same players, not the same chemistry. To be traded, it was refreshing to start new."

Kinsler's bad feelings about the Rangers date back to the December 2012 trade that sent veteran Michael Young, Kinsler's close friend, to the Philadelphia Phillies. "It hurt us. He held everything together."

On top of that, Kinsler was miffed when the Rangers asked him to move from second base to first base to make room for super prospect Jurickson Profar, then 19. Kinsler, a three-time All-Star, did not agree, and the team backed off.

"These guys gotta earn it; that's what I did," he says. "I was a 17th-round pick, so there was zero coddling. I had to put myself on the prospect map."

Kinsler has a career .804 OPS, though his production has tailed off since he joined the 30-30 club in 2009 and 2011. Last year, Kinsler had 13 home runs and 15 steals while posting a .344 on-base percentage and .413 slugging percentage.

On Tuesday, Kinsler walked back his comments, telling the Associated Press the story was "written for drama" and that some of the critical comments were taken out of context.

Kinsler said the "0-162" comment was just a joke.


 


MLBPA MONITORING METS


Calling the New York Mets a "marquee franchise," new players' union head Tony Clark is paying attention to the team's payroll.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said he expects the team's payroll to be between $85 million and $88 million this season, which would be a slight decrease from its $90.9 million final figure last year.

Despite the additions of free agents Curtis Granderson, Bartolo Colon and Chris Young, the Mets have a payroll resembling that of a mid-market franchise. The Los Angeles Dodgers' payroll is over $225 million and the New York Yankees will top $200 million.


JOHAN SANTANA TO O'S


Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana agreed Tuesday to a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles as he tries to come back from the second major operation on his left shoulder.

Santana would get a $3 million, one-year deal if added to the 40-man roster and would have the chance to earn an additional $5.05 million in roster and performance bonuses. He would receive the full amount for 120 days and 25 starts.

The 34-year-old left-hander became a free agent after completing a $137.5 million, six-year contract with the New York Mets, who declined a $25 million option and paid a $5.5 million buyout.

Santana, 139-78 with a 3.20 ERA in 12 seasons with Minnesota and the Mets, missed the 2011 season following shoulder surgery on Sept. 14, 2010, returned to pitch the Mets' first no-hitter on June 1, 2012, then missed last season after an operation on April 2.

The deal announced Tuesday follows Baltimore's recent agreements with right-handers Ubaldo Jimenez and Suk-min Yoon, and outfielder Nelson Cruz.

Santana can earn $2.1 million in bonuses based on days on the active 25-man roster: $250,000 for 30, $350,000 for 60, $500,000 for 90 and $1 million for 120.

He can make $2.95 million based on starts: $250,000 for five, $350,000 for 10, $500,000 for 15, $750,000 for 20, $150,000 each for 21 and 22, $200,000 apiece for 23 and 24, and $400,000 for 25.

He has additional award bonuses for All-Star selection, and winning a Gold Glove and the Comeback Player of the Year and league championship series and World Series MVP awards.

Santana would get $100,000 if he is released before March 25. He would be able to opt out of the deal if he isn't added to the major league roster by May 30.


CUBS HIRE LILLY


Ted Lilly has been hired by the Chicago Cubs as a special assistant to Theo Epstein, the team's president of baseball operations.

Lilly retired after last season with a 130-113 record and a 4.14 ERA. He pitched for Montreal (1999), the New York Yankees (2000-02), Oakland (2002-03), Toronto (2004-06), the Cubs (2007-10) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2010-13).

Chicago said Tuesday he will spend time with the team during spring training, visit minor league clubs during the season, evaluate amateur players ahead of the June draft and scout professional players.

Contributors: Justin McGuire, The Associated Press