Paul Hoynes is reporting Major League Baseball has suspended Edward Pinales for one year after failing a background check.
Right-hander Edward Pinales from the Dominican Republic did not pass a background check by MLB officials. John Mirabelli, the Indians’ director of scouting, said he wasn’t sure if Pinales said he was younger than he really was or used a false identification…Pinales claimed to be 16.
Pinales is the latest of 16 international free agents to be suspended. These suspensions show baseball is trying to get a better grip on international free agency and will certainly have an effect on how teams handle these players in the future. However, Hoynes reports the Indians "lost no money in the deal," suggesting these suspensions are unlikely to curb signing bonuses.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here .
