Angels outfielder Shane Robinson has an upcoming opt-out, MLBTR has learned. On Monday, Robinson can request his release, and the Angels have to either promote to the big leagues or grant his request. Robinson was in camp this season with the Indians, but exercised an opt-out from his minor-league deal and signed with the Angels in late March. Since then, he’s hit .306/.348/.371 with Triple-A Salt Lake. The 31-year-old is a veteran of six big-league seasons, most recently hitting .250/.299/.322 while playing all three outfield positions for the Twins in 2015. Here’s more from around the league.
- On FOX Sports today, Ken Rosenthal discussed players’ feelings on PEDs in the wake of the 80-game suspension to the Marlins’ Dee Gordon (video link). Rosenthal believes it is at least fairly likely that the next collective bargaining agreement will include stiffer PED penalties. He suggests, however, that it’s not likely those penalties will include voiding contracts, since the possibility of voided deals could raise suspicions about teams tampering with players who have albatross contracts — by, for example, putting something in a player’s drink to ensure he tests positive for PEDs.
- 2013 Orioles first-round pick Hunter Harvey will see a specialist next week after having a setback in his recovery from a groin injury, according to reporters, including MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko. The injury isn’t healing as expected, and the team is concerned that there’s more going on than just groin discomfort — according to Dan Connolly of Baltimore Baseball, the specialist will try to determine whether Harvey actually has a sports hernia, in which case he will miss four to six weeks. Manager Buck Showalter does express optimism that Harvey will pitch this season. The 21-year-old Harvey hasn’t pitched since the middle of the 2014 campaign, when he was sidetracked by a strained flexor mass and then a fractured fibula. His pro career had previously been off to a terrific start, with a 2.87 ERA, 11.1 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in his first 113 innings in the low minors.
I still say part of the penalty should be forfeiting a full year salary to an anti-drug charity. The irony alone would make it worth it.
I think that’s actually a great idea! But for some reason I’m pissing my pants I’m laughing so hard at the irony…
As long as money still comes out of the teams’ pockets I’d be fine with it. Don’t want to encourage them to look the other way on suspected users because they know they can get out of having to pay of the player gets caught.
I agree entirely. If teams are still paying a player while being suspended then a) it will force them to police their own players closer, making sure none are on PEDs and b) make any team think hard before signing a former PED user to a lucrative deal.
So if a player is caught using PEDs, the team and the player suffer and the money goes to a better cause.
There is no way that will ever happen.
When MLBPA reps are vocal about feeling that the penalties aren’t harsh enough .. there certainly could be a way it would happen.
Voided contracts cannot and will not happen. Same with salary forfeiture. Most teams are in control of player supplements. Very easy to set a player up to void his contract (or get him off the books for a year) by spiking his stuff with something that will trigger a positive test. Best part – it is very difficult to prove the team was responsible.
It will be very interesting to see what happens with the next CBA.