Pete Rose Named to Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame

Pete Rose will get into one Hall of Fame, just not Major League Baseball's. The Cincinnati Reds announced on Tuesday that Rose will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame.

In December, new MLB commissioner Rob Manfred upheld Rose's lifetime ban from the game for gambling on baseball. The Reds made it clear that MLB's all-time hits leader belongs in their Hall, though.

"Inducting Pete into the Reds Hall of Fame will be a defining moment in the 147-year history of this storied franchise," Reds CEO Bob Castellini said in a statement. "He is one of the greatest players to ever wear a Reds uniform and it will be an unforgettable experience watching him being honored as such."

As part of their Hall of Fame weekend June 24-26, the Reds will also retire Rose's No. 14, hold a 40-year reunion of the 1976 world champion Reds and have a banquet where Rose will receive the red sports coat Hall members wear.

"This is an honor, that you can't just believe how you feel,'' Rose said at a news conference, noting that he grew up a Reds fan and was born a few miles from the Great American Ball Park where he will be honored.

The Reds will unveil a statue honoring Rose at a later date. Rose was asked what he'd want the statue to portray.

"Well, I sure as hell don't want it to be me standing at the $2 window at Turfway," he said, poking fun of his gambling reputation.

An MLB spokesman confirmed Tuesday that the Reds had submitted ceremonial plans that were approved.

Upton, Tigers Agree To Deal

The Detroit Tigers and free-agent outfielder Justin Upton have agreed to a six-year deal worth $132.75 million, a source told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.

The contract includes an opt-out after the second year, which would allow Upton to go back on the market as a free agent at age 30, a source confirmed to Crasnick.

A three-time All-Star, the 28-year-old spent the past season with the San Diego Padres and batted .251 with 26 homers and 81 RBIs.

With Upton agreeing to move to Detroit and Chris Davis agreeing to re-sign with the Baltimore Orioles, Yoenis Cespedes is left as the biggest bat on the free-agent market.

Howard May Become Platoon Player at Philadelphia

Ryan Howard may be the longtime face of the Philadelphia Phillies organization, but he'll be a platoon player -- at best -- if he doesn't hit.

That's the message manager Pete Mackanin gave reporters on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park, and that's what he'll tell the slugger when spring training begins.

"It's going to be a difficult situation," Mackanin said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "But decisions have to be made. And I have to do what I think is best for the organization and the team."

Howard is entering his 12th and most likely final year with the Phillies, the only team he's known. He's belted 357 home runs and driven in 1,135 runs. But the former rookie of the year and MVP has hit below .230 in three of the last four years. He had a .418 OPS in 100 at-bats against lefties last season, so Mackanin likely wants to see Darin Ruf play more. He had a 1.107 OPS in 114 plate appearance against lefties last season.

"I'm going to make that decision in the spring," Mackanin said, according to the newspaper. "But I'm going to have a discussion with Ryan. I'm going to tell him, 'If you want to face lefties, you have to hit them better. If you don't hit them better, I'm going to platoon.' That's basically what we're looking at. It's gotten to that point."