MLB may use labor deal to suspend A-Rod

MLB may use labor deal to suspend A-Rod

NEW YORK

Major League Baseball may try to suspend Alex Rodriguez under its collective bargaining agreement instead of its drug rules, which would eliminate any chance of delaying a penalty until after the case goes to an arbitrator, The Associated Press has learned. Rodriguez has never been disciplined for a drug offense, and a first offender under baseball’s Joint Drug Agreement is entitled to an automatic stay if the players’ association files a grievance — meaning the penalty is put on hold until after an arbitrator rules.

Taking that action would prevent the New York Yankees third baseman from returning to the field, even if he recovers from a quadriceps injury cited by the team as the reason for keeping him on the disabled list. Baseball has been investigating Rodriguez and other players since a January report in the Miami New Times alleging they received PEDs from Biogenesis of America, a closed anti-aging clinic in Florida.

Relievers on the move as deadline approaches

The Detroit Tigers added some help for their shaky bullpen Monday, acquiring reliever Jose Veras from the Houston Astros for minor league outfielder Danry Vasquez and a player to be named. Veras is 0-4 with a 2.93 ERA and 19 saves this season.

In other trades for relief pitchers, Tampa Bay acquired injured reliever Jesse Crain from the Chicago White Sox and the Atlanta Braves added left-hander Scott Downs to their bullpen, sending minor league righty Cory Rasmus to the Los Angeles Angels.

The White Sox will receive players to be named or cash for Crain, a 32-year-old right-hander who is 2-3 with a 1.15 ERA in 38 appearances. He was placed on the disabled list on July 3 with a right shoulder strain. The 37-year-old Downs was 2-3 with a 1.84 ERA in 43 games with the Angels.

George ’Boomer’ Scott, All-Star 1B, dies at 69

GREENVILLE, Miss.

George “Boomer” Scott, a three-time All-Star first baseman who hit 271 homers in a 14-year major-league career and is a member of the Red Sox hall of fame, has died. He was 69. A three-time All-Star, Scott spent most of his career with the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers. He hit 27 homers with 90 RBIs during his rookie season in 1966 and had his best year with the Brewers in 1975, when he hit 36 homers and had 109 RBIs.

Garber talks potential MLS expansion plans

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Expansion is coming to Major League Soccer. The only questions facing the league’s board are how many teams, where to locate them and when to bring them into the fold. Commissioner Don Garber told The Associated Press in a wide-ranging interview Monday that the league’s owners plan to discuss expansion “in great detail” during a meeting Wednesday. The MLS will play Italian club AS Roma in its annual All-Star game that night.

Surging attendance, modest but consistent television growth and even the recent success of the U.S. national team have made the MLS a hot property. It cost English club Manchester City and its partner, the New York Yankees, an expansion fee of $100 million to launch New York City FC, which will begin play in 2015.

Other cities that have expressed interest in a team, or have lower-tier franchises who want to join MLS, include Atlanta, Sacramento, Orlando and the Twin Cities.

Ex-Cav Gibson faces charge in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS

Unrestricted NBA free agent Daniel Gibson surrendered to police Monday to face a second-degree battery charge. Gibson is accused of breaking another man’s jaw with a punch during an argument at a nightclub on July 8, New Orleans Police spokeswoman Remi Braden said. Gibson’s wife, Keyshia (KEY-shuh) Cole, sang at the Essence Festival on July 6. Online court records show he was released on $20,000 bond. Gibson said he was protecting his family when the fight occurred at a club where he and Cole had gone to celebrate while in New Orleans.

Associated Press