Baseball-Major League Baseball roundup

Reuters

Dec 23 (The Sports Xchange) - L.J. Mazzilli, a minor-league second baseman in the New York Mets' organization, was suspended 50 games on Tuesday for a second positive test for a drug of abuse. The son of former major league Lee Mazzilli batted .301 with 11 home runs, 79 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in the minors for Savannah and St. Lucie in 2014. Mazzilli, drafted in the fourth round in 2013, also hit .306 with one homer and seven RBIs in 49 at-bats during the Arizona Fall League. Mazzilli will serve the suspension at the start of the 2015 season. He is currently part of Mets' Class A St. Lucie roster in the Florida State League. His father played in the majors from 1976 to 1989 for the Mets and Texas Rangers and also managed the Baltimore Orioles in 2004 and 2005. - - - The St. Louis Cardinals averted arbitration with right-hander Jordan Walden by reaching agreement on a two-year contract. The deal with Walden, who came to the Cardinals in the deal with the Atlanta Braves for outfielder Jason Heyward, includes a team option for 2017. In five major league seasons, Walden has a 3.10 ERA in 212 innings. As a setup man for the Braves last season, he pitched in 58 games and had an 0-2 record with three saves, 20 holds and a 2.88 ERA with 27 walks and 62 strikeouts. - - - The Washington Nationals signed third baseman Ian Stewart to a minor-league contract on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Stewart played in only 24 games for the Angels last season and batted .176 with two home runs and seven RBIs but spent most of the season in Triple-A. The former Colorado Rockies infielder has struggled with injuries the past few years and likely will compete for a bench role with the Nationals next season. - - - Right-hander Preston Claiborne was claimed off waivers on Tuesday by the Miami Marlins after he was designated for assignment last week by the New York Yankees. The 26-year-old posted a 3-0 record with a 3.00 ERA in 18 games this past season for the Yankees. In parts of two seasons with the Yankees, Claiborne has pitched in 62 games and has a 3-2 record with four holds and a 3.80 ERA. (Editing by Steve Keating.)