Giants sign reliever Acosta to one-year deal

The Yomiuri Giants have acquired 31-year-old reliever Manny Acosta on a one-year, ?100 million contract, the Central League club said Thursday.

The 193-cm, 98-kg right-hander went 1-3 with one save and a 6.46 ERA in 45 games for the New York Mets last season, also pitching 17 games in the minors. The native of Panama is 13-13 for his career with nine saves and a 3.99 ERA.

The Giants had the best bullpen in Japan last season as they went on to win the CL pennant and the Japan Series. Yomiuri's relievers went 24-8 with 48 saves and 106 holds and a 1.80 ERA.

View the original article here

Saints' Vilma appeals one-year ban

NEW ORLEANS — Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma appealed his season-long suspension under the NFL's bounty investigation, which named him as a ringleader of the cash-for-hits system.

In papers filed Monday, Vilma argued that commissioner Roger Goodell should not hear the appeal and asked for a delay in the process until the jurisdictional issue has been settled through NFL Players Association grievances filed last week.

Vilma's appeal also said the NFL has failed to presented evidence linking him to a system in which players were paid to injure opponents. It asks the league to provide documentation, including witness statements and the names of those witnesses.

Vilma was one of four players given suspensions of various lengths as a result of the NFL's bounty probe.

View the original article here