MLB
Violence classes set
NEW YORK -- All major league players on 40-man rosters will attend a mandatory education program on domestic violence during spring training.
Major League Baseball said Tuesday the sessions, which will be held for every team under an agreement with the players' association, will be coordinated by San Francisco-based Futures Without Violence.
MLB officials began meeting with groups about domestic violence last fall after a series of high-profile domestic violence cases involving NFL players. Esta Soler, president of Futures Without Violence, said in September that MLB reached out to her group, which works to prevent domestic and sexual violence and child abuse.
Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Monday there also will be an education program for players who are not on 40-man rosters.
The program begins Thursday with Kansas City, Oakland and the Chicago Cubs participating.
ANGELS
Visa problems surface
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Cuban infielder Robert Baldoquin has visa issues and is not expected to be at spring training with the Los Angeles Angels when position players report today.
The 20-year-old, who agreed last month to a contract with an $8 million signing bonus, is in the Dominican Republic. While Baldoquin is expected to work with coaches mostly on minor league fields, manager Mike Scioscia said he could appear in spring training games next month.
"We want to get him comfortable," Scioscia said Tuesday. "We're excited to get him on the field and see what his skill set is and how it translates. He's an exciting player."
CUBS
Ramirez rehired
MESA, Ariz. -- Controversial slugger Manny Ramirez has been rehired by the Chicago Cubs as a hitting consultant.
Ramirez, who spent last season as a player-coach at Triple-A Iowa, will work with the team's major and minor league hitters on the fundamental and mental aspects of hitting.
"Manny got rave reviews from everyone he worked with, from the young hitters he helped influence to the coaches that he spent a lot of time around," Cubs President Theo Epstein said. "He did a great job of fitting in, sharing his wisdom and experience and being very open and honest about what not to do from his past and lessons that he learned along the way."
Ramirez hasn't formally retired as a player after a 19-year career in which he batted .312 but tested positive twice for performance enhancing drugs. Epstein said it is unlikely he will play in the minor leagues at this time.
The Cubs also announced the hiring of former major leaguer Kevin Youkilis as a scouting and player development consultant. Youkilis will assistant the front office by scouting amateur and professional hitters in Northern California and will work with hitters in the minor league system under the direction of the hitting coordinator.
ROYALS
Gordon on road back
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Alex Gordon's season ended stranded on third base for the final out of Game 7 of the World Series. After having wrist surgery this winter, he vows he'll be in the Kansas City Royals' lineup for the start of this season.
Gordon missed time in July with an injured right wrist and it flared up during December workouts.
"That's when we decided we needed to take care of it," Gordon said. "I'm not glad that it happened. But if I didn't take care of it, who knows what would have happened during the season if it would have come back."
Manager Ned Yost said the four-time Gold Glove outfielder would be held out for the first week of spring training games. Gordon was cleared Monday to begin a throwing program and he took 15 swings Tuesday.
In the final season of a four-year $37.5 million contract with a $13.25 million player option for next year, the 31-year-old Gordon hit .266 last season, while leading the team with 19 home runs and a .432 slugging percentage. He said he planned on picking up the option last year, but is backing off that after winning his fourth consecutive Gold Glove and making his second All-Star team in a row. Another solid year and he could price himself out of a return to the team that drafted him second overall in 2005.
YANKEES
A-Rod, replacement visit
TAMPA, Fla. -- Alex Rodriguez started his second day of workouts at the New York Yankees' minor league complex by hugging Chase Headley, the player signed to replace him at third base.
"He's an excellent addition to our team," Rodriguez said Tuesday. "He had some questions, stuff about hitting, baseball dialogue. That's my wheel house. It was great."
Suspended for violations of baseball's drug agreement and labor contract, Rodriguez missed all of last season and is trying to return as his 40th birthday approaches in July. Yankees manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman say Headley will be their starting third baseman and Rodriguez will compete for at-bats at designated hitter.
"If I thought that I was coming here as a first baseman or a left fielder or whatever, that wouldn't have made sense for me," Headley said.
Rodriguez has apologized to the Yankees and to fans, but didn't go into specifics on his actions that led to the suspension. Six years ago, he admitted using performance-enhancing drugs while with Texas.
When asked whether he will be mentally OK without using PEDs, Rodriguez responded: "I think I'll be fine, but only time will tell."
Sports on 02/25/2015