DETROIT-- Kansas City Royals' first-round draft pick Eric Hosmer can't play until the Pittsburgh Pirates settle their dispute with their first-round selection and the players' association.
The commissioner office has withdrawn approval of Hosmer's contract pending the resolution of a grievance against the Pirates filed by the MLBPA in support of No. 2 overall pick Pedro Alvarez. Until then, Hosmer is not able to play for the Royals or any of their minor league affiliates.
The Pirates announced early on Aug. 16 that Alvarez, a power-hitting third baseman from Vanderbilt, agreed to a minor league contract with a $6 million signing bonus. The Pirates said his agent, Scott Boras, told the team Alvarez would not report unless the deal was renegotiated. Boras claimed the agreement was reached after the midnight deadline for draft picks to sign on Aug. 15.
The Players Association filed a grievance claiming the Aug. 15 deadline was unilaterally extended by Major League Baseball without the union's permission.
Alvarez was placed on baseball's restricted list.
Pirates president Frank Coonelly said the agreement between the Kansas City Royals and No. 3 pick Hosmer, a first baseman was submitted to MLB after Alvarez's deal.
Boras is also Hosmer's agent. Full story
O's Cabrera begins serving suspension
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Baltimore Orioles pitcher Daniel Cabrera began serving his six-game suspension Friday for throwing at the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez after the ruling was upheld by Major League Baseball.
"Cabrera will throw a side-line on Wednesday, and pitch the first game of the spilt doubleheader a week from Saturday against Oakland," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said before Friday night's game against Tampa Bay
Cabrera, 8-8 with a 5.24 ERA in 28 starts, was also fined for throwing a pitch at Rodriguez's head in the eighth inning of a game on July 29. Cabrera was ejected.
"The way I'm looking at it is, although we don't agree with it, we don't think he was intentionally throwing at anybody, we have to accept it and move on," Trembley said.
Diamondbacks' Upton off DL
PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks reinstated right fielder Justin Upton from the 15-day disabled list and claimed left-hander Wil Ledezma off waivers from the San Diego Padres.
The Diamondbacks also recalled righty Max Scherzer from Triple-A Tucson to bolster their bullpen before the NL West leaders hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Upton was out since July 9 with a strained oblique in his left side. He will join a crowded outfield that has Conor Jackson, Chris Young and recently acquired Adam Dunn. Manager Bob Melvin said Dunn could see time at first base.
Ledezma is expected to report on Saturday, and the team will have to make a corresponding roster move then.
Rockies reinstate Fuentes
DENVER -- Colorado Rockies closer Brian Fuentes was reinstated from the bereavement list and the team optioned reliever Steven Register back to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Fuentes, who has converted 26 of 28 save chances since reassuming the closer role from Manny Corpas on April 26, missed two games.
Since July 3, Fuentes has converted 13 consecutive save opportunities while striking out 34 of the last 73 batters he's faced, an average of 16 per nine innings.
A three-time All-Star, Fuentes is making $5 million this season and is headed for free agency this winter.
Nats' Hill to have surgery
WASHINGTON -- Nationals right-hander Shawn Hill is scheduled to have his chronically sore right forearm evaluated on Wednesday and will then undergo arthroscopic surgery on his pitching elbow.
Hill, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since June 25, was examined in Pensacola, Fla., by orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. Dr. Ben Shaffer, a Nationals team physician, said Andrews discovered "bony buildup" behind Hill's elbow ligament and recommended arthroscopic surgery to clean out the joint.
Before the surgery, Hill will see Dr. Tom Hunt, a hand and upper extremity specialist, at the University of Alabama-Birmingham on Wednesday. Shaffer said it is hoped the cause of the lingering forearm soreness that has plagued Hill for much of his career can be determined before the operation.
"It's a mystery. It's difficult to discern exactly what the problem is ... It doesn't appear to be anything structural," Shaffer said.
Three minor leaguers suspended
NEW YORK -- Two New York Yankees pitchers and one Chicago Cubs pitcher from the Dominican Summer League were each suspended 50 games for testing positive for banned performance-enhancing drugs under baseball's minor league program.
Justo Arias and Rafael Martinez of the Yankees tested positive for metabolites of stanozolol. Jhon Rodriguez of the Cubs tested positive for metabolites of nandrolone.
All three suspensions will begin at the start of next season.
A total of 41 minor leaguers have received bans since July 25, including 33 from the Dominican Summer League.
Padres place Hairston on DL
SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres placed outfielder Scott Hairston on the 15-day disabled list because of a torn ligament in his left thumb.
The Padres also recalled right-handed reliever Cla Meredith from Triple-A Portland; purchased the contracts of right-hander Josh Geer and outfielder Will Venable from the Beavers.
Hairston was hurt diving for a ball in center field in the Padres' win over Arizona on Wednesday. He is hitting .248 with 17 home runs and 31 RBI.
Meredith was optioned to Portland on Aug. 15. He had a 2.70 ERA in six relief appearances with the Beavers. Meredith was 0-3 with a 3.99 ERA in 60 relief appearances for San Diego.
Venable hit .292 with 14 home runs and 58 RBI in 120 games. Geer was 8-9 with a 4.54 ERA in 28 appearances, including 27 starts. He is the son of former big leaguer Max Venable.
Astros extend Moehler, Erstad
HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros extended the contracts of pitcher Brian Moehler and outfielder Darin Erstad through the 2009 season.
Erstad will make $1.75 million plus bonuses next season and Moehler will make $2.3 million plus bonuses. Moehler's contract also includes a mutual option for 2010.
Erstad was hitting .293 with three homers and 26 RBI heading into the game against St. Louis. The 34 year old was making his 32nd start in center field and his 53rd start overall.
The 36-year-old Moehler is 9-5 with a 3.99 ERA in 25 games for the Astros this season, including 20 starts. The right-hander is 4-1 with a 3.52 ERA since the All-Star break and won five straight outings between July 9 and Aug. 19.
"They both epitomize the professionalism we pride ourselves on," general manager Ed Wade said. "They're also very talented guys. Their presence on the club speaks for itself."
