Gästebuch » WASHINGTON (AP) Nationals shortstop

Trea Turner apologized to his teammates on Tuesday for homophobic and racially insensitive tweets he sent several years ago.An emotional Turner met with reporters following meeting with his teammates Matt Adams Jersey , coaches and manager Dave Martinez.”It’s not when I said the things I said. It’s that I said them at all,” the 25-year-old Turner said. ”That’s a clear learning point from this to make sure that anybody is aware of what they’re saying at all times. No matter how you use it or what context you think you are using it in, words hurt. It’s wrong and inexcusable for what I said.”The posts, from 2011 and 2012 when Turner was playing at N.C. State, surfaced hours after Washington’s 5-0 loss at Miami on Sunday. Turner and Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo issued statements of apology Sunday night, and the Nationals were off Monday.”I want to apologize to everybody that was affected by things that I said: LBGT community, African-American community, special needs community,” Turner said Tuesday. ”I’m truly sorry for what I said and I want to take full responsibility for that. I want to apologize to my teammates, I just talked to them, make sure that they know my thoughts and where I’m at.”Turner also shared his contrition with Rizzo http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-kevin-long-jersey , the Nationals and the team’s fans. Turner was applauded before his first at-bat against the Mets Tuesday night.The Washington shortstop was one of two players, along with Atlanta Braves pitcher Sean Newcomb, who had their tweets unearthed Sunday by fans. Years-old racist, misogynist and homophobic tweets from Milwaukee Brewers All-Star pitcher Josh Hader were found during the All-Star Game.”We’ve seen three guys now in our league that have some old tweets surface like this, and I really hope it can be a learning experience and that people can grow from it because I know Trea. I know the man he is. I love him as a friend, as a teammate,” said Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle, who posted a series of tweets about the issue on Monday, saying he was disheartened to hear such language coming from major league players and offering his support to the LGBTQ community.”I really don’t think that those reflect who he is,” Doolittle said of Turner, ”but now he has the opportunity to demonstrate that growth and we have to give that space for him to be able to demonstrate that he’s grown and he’s changed since then.”Rizzo was asked what he would tell young players about using social media.”This is a cultural thing http://www.nationalsfanproshop.com/authentic-joaquin-benoit-jersey ,” he said. ”It’s not about social media. It’s about people’s attitudes. Love one another. Treat others how you want to be treated. I think that rule is long-lasting and forever.”— CHICAGO (AP) — In a story Nov. 1 about a couple transactions by the Chicago Cubs, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Cole Hamels‘ option is worth $19 million. The option is worth $20 million, not $19 million.A corrected version of the story is below:Pedro Strop, Brandon Kintzler stay with CubsChicago Cubs exercise $6.25 million option for key reliever Pedro StropCHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs exercised their $6.25 million option for Pedro Strop on Thursday, and fellow reliever Brandon Kintzler picked up his $5 million player option.Strop can earn $750,000 in performance bonuses next year based on games finished: $250,000 each for 45, 50 and 55 games. He has never finished more than 22 games in a single season.Strop would have received a $500,000 buyout if the option had been declined.The Cubs have to make another decision on one of their key pitchers by Friday when they face a deadline on whether to exercise Cole Hamels’ option for 2019. Hamels, who turns 35 in December, went 4-3 with a 2.36 ERA in 12 starts after he was acquired in a July 27 trade with Texas.Hamels’ option is for $20 million. If the Cubs decline the option and pay a $6 million buyout Ryan Zimmerman Jersey , the Rangers would pay the Cubs an additional $6 million.Chicago could decline the option and work out a new contract with the left-hander, who is 156-114 with a 3.40 ERA in 13 big league seasons.Kintzler had a 7.00 ERA in 25 games with Chicago after he was acquired in a July 31 trade with Washington. The Cubs declined their $10 million team option on Tuesday.Chicago also claimed outfielder Johnny Field off waivers from Minnesota on Thursday. Field made his major league debut this year and hit .222 with nine homers and 21 RBIs in 83 games with the Twins and Tampa Bay Rays.Strop, one of the baseball’s most consistent relievers since he was acquired in a July 2013 trade with Baltimore, went 6-1 with 13 saves and a 2.26 ERA in 60 appearances last season.The 33-year-old right-hander hurt his left hamstring while running to first base at Washington on Sept. 13. He missed the rest of the regular season and then threw a scoreless inning in Chicago’s wild-card loss to Colorado.Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward let the deadline pass for exercising an opt-out provision in his contract. Heyward keeps the $184 million, eight-year deal that pays him $106 million in the next five seasons.The 29-year-old Heyward, who in 2016 helped the Cubs to their first title in 108 years, hit .270 with eight homers and 58 RBIs in 127 games this season. He is owed $20 million in 2019, $21 million in each of the following two seasons and $22 million apiece in the final two years. If he has 550 plate appearances next year, he would again have the right to void the deal and become a free agent.