MLB Notes

Yu Darvish is shown in this photo.
Yu Darvish is shown in this photo.

RED SOX

Penalized over signing bonuses

photo

Keone Kela is shown in this photo.

NEW YORK -- The Boston Red Sox were banned from signing international amateur free agents for one year, a penalty assessed after Major League Baseball concluded the team broke rules on signing bonuses last summer.

MLB concluded the Red Sox and buscones -- local trainer/representatives of the players -- worked together to evade a $300,000 cap on signing bonuses for five Venezuelan prospects who were 16 at the time: right-hander Cesar Gonzalez, infielders Antonio Pinero and Eduardo Torrealba, and outfielders Albert Guaimaro and Simon Muzziotti.

A person familiar with the investigation said Friday that the signing bonuses of those five were pooled with the bonuses of about 10 other players, and more than $300,000 was given to each of the five.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no public comments were authorized.

Boston may not sign international amateur free agents -- players under age 23 residing outside the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico -- for the signing period that starts today and runs through July 1, 2017. The contracts of the five players were voided, and they were declared free agents. They are allowed to keep their prior signing bonuses.

The investigation was first reported by Baseball America and details of the discipline were first reported by Yahoo.

Boston was subject to the $300,000 signing bonus limit in 2015-16 because it exceeded its $1,881,700 bonus pool in 2014-15, when the Red Sox agreed to a $31.5 signing bonus for Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada.

The Red Sox took responsibility for breaking the rules, but are not sure who exactly in the Red Sox organization was aware at the time, the person familiar with the investigation said. The violations occurred before Dave Dombrowski was hired last August as president of baseball operations, taking over from General Manager Ben Cherington.

"We are not at liberty to comment on an MLB investigation," Red Sox spokesman Kevin Gregg said.

MLB is investigating whether Venezuelan law allows it to ban the buscones from representing the five players in the signing period that starts today.

RANGERS

Darvish, Kela get rehab starts

MINNEAPOLIS -- Signaling that help is on the way for the Texas Rangers' hard-pressed pitching staff, starter Yu Darvish and reliever Keone Kela will begin injury-rehabilitation assignments on Monday.

Darvish was cleared on Friday for a three-inning start with Class AA Frisco at Northwest Arkansas. The final step was a 29-pitch bullpen session, followed by a dozen more throws on flat ground.

Kela reported no problems after throwing 25 pitches in a simulated game Thursday. He will work one inning with Class AAA Round Rock at New Orleans.

Each is likely to remain on the disabled list until the All-Star break. The Rangers will not let their need for pitching reinforcements enter the decision-making process, Banister said.

'There has not been and there is not going to be urgency with either one of them," Banister said. "I don't think we've indicated that we would be urgent with them."

Darvish has been on the disabled list since June 9 because of shoulder soreness. Banister indicated Darvish would need multiple rehab starts. He could return during the series at the Chicago Cubs after the All-Star break.

Kela has been on the disabled list since led list April 20 because of surgery to relieve an impingement in the right elbow. He will have to rebuild arm strength and pass the test of appearing on consecutive days.

MARLINS-BRAVES

Armed forces game could get wet

FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- What's believed to be the first regular-season baseball game played at an active military installation could be a wet one.

Rain is in the forecast for Sunday night's game between the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves, which is being held at a ballpark built at Fort Bragg, N.C., for the occasion. The National Weather Service said there's a 60 percent chance of rain, with showers and thunderstorms likely between noon and midnight.

Major League Baseball is staging the game at the sprawling U.S. Army post on the day before Independence Day as a thank-you to the armed forces. It has turned an overgrown golf course into a major league-ready field surrounded by a temporary 12,500-seat ballpark -- a project that's costing MLB and the players' association roughly $5 million.

-- Democrat-Gazette Press Services

Sports on 07/02/2016

Upcoming Events