Page 22 - ANTILL DGB

A22 SPORTS
Friday 20 March 2020
AP sources: MLB could skip draft; service time big issue

By RONALD BLUM ball is not played.
NEW YORK (AP) — Major How much money would
League Baseball is consid- be advanced and which
ering skipping its amateur players the money would
draft this year and putting go to are also a part of
off the next international the negotiation. Advances
signing period as a way to could go to the entire 40-
preserve cash while games man roster or a subset.
are affected by the new Also under discussion is
coronavirus, people famil- the union's desire to have
iar with the discussions told players receive allowance
The Associated Press. money, even if they have
Talks between manage- returned home from spring
ment and the players' as- training.
sociation are ongoing and Among the other issues are
include the contentious is- adjusting salaries, luxury
sue of major league service tax rules, revenue sharing
time, which determines eli- and performance bonus-
gibility for free agency and es thresholds in the event
salary arbitration. MLB has of a season of fewer than
proposed crediting full ser- 162 games, and relaxing
vice for 130 games or more schedule and roster rules.
and proportional service Getting money to players
for a shorter season, the A closed sign is displayed on the Pittsburgh Pirates spring training baseball gift shop at LECOM with minor league con-
people said on condition of Park, Monday, March 16, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. tracts, who are not cov-
anonymity because those Associated Press ered by the union, is likely
details have not been to be decided later by MLB.
made public. Some radical solutions, $400 million annually. With a Republican admin- The sides also are discuss-
The union has taken the such as more doublehead- Baseball moved the first istration in Washington, the ing a transaction freeze.
position that a full season ers and playing deep into round of the draft to Oma- union would have a diffi- Some players are still using
of service should be cred- autumn by using enclosed ha, Nebraska, ahead of cult path with a legal chal- their team's spring training
ited even if no games are stadiums and warm-weath- the College World Series lenge before the National facilities, but the Colorado
played, one of the people er sites, have not been thor- in June, but the CWS was Labor Relations Board. Rockies and Arizona Dia-
said. oughly discussed yet. canceled last week. The The sides also are discuss- mondbacks will no longer
Scheduling has been left With the prospect of ex- international signing period ing whether MLB would hold voluntary workouts at
open since there is no way pected cash not coming runs from July 2 to June 15. advance money to play- their shared Salt River Fields
to determine when the in from tickets, broadcast While bonus rules for the ers, who get paid only dur- complex in Arizona. The
season could start. and sponsorship contracts, draft and international ing the regular season. The teams are leaving after a
Opening day has been teams have told the com- players are part of the col- Uniform Player's Contract decision by the Salt River
pushed back from March missioner's office they are lective bargaining agree- has a provision allowing Pima-Maricopa Indian
26 to mid-May at the ear- fearful they may have to ment, management could the baseball commissioner Community to temporar-
liest, and both sides are lay off administrative staff. attempt to cite the nation- to suspend the deal during ily cease operations in the
committed to playing as Signing bonuses for ama- al emergency as reason to any national emergency wake of the coronavirus
many games as possible. teur players total about make unilateral changes. when Major League Base- pandemic.q

Red Sox ace Chris Sale to have Tommy John surgery

By JIMMY GOLEN described as a flu that discomfort in his pitching
BOSTON (AP) — Boston morphed into pneumonia. elbow. The team said then
Red Sox ace Chris Sale will A Red Sox spokesman did there had been no addi-
have Tommy John surgery not immediately respond tional damage to his ulnar
on his left elbow, an oper- to an email asking if Sale collateral ligament, which
ation that would keep him has been tested for CO- was treated with a plate-
out the entire 2020 base- VID-19. let-rich plasma injection in
ball season if and when it Sale is 109-73 in 10 major August.
resumes after the corona- league seasons is entering Sale's season last year end-
virus pandemic. the second season of a six- ed after a start on Aug. 13.
The team made the an- year, $160 million contract. "Tommy John's been a fac-
nouncement on Thursday, After helping the Red Sox tor in my life for 20 years
two weeks after saying win the 2018 World Series, now," Sale said earlier this
that the left-hander who he went 6-11 with a 4.40 month. "It's on the table,
turns 31 later this month ERA in 25 starts last year, his but it's always been on the
had a flexor strain near fewest wins and starts and table. So, that's not some-
the elbow. At the time, the Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale throws during spring highest ERA in a full season thing I'm going to worry
training baseball camp Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, in Sarasota,
Red Sox hoped Sale would Fla. since 2012. myself with. I can't go out
avoid the operation that Associated Press After his illness set back there with that in the back
usually requires a full year his pitching schedule, he of my mind. I have to have
of recovery. has been pushed back break. Sale missed the threw his first batting prac- the confidence that what
Opening day, originally until at least mid-May due start of spring training with tice of the spring on March we're doing is going to
scheduled for next week, to the coronavirus out- an illness that the team 4; a day later, he reported work."q