Free-agent catcher Bruce Maxwell hasn’t found a team since the Athletics outrighted him in September, and it doesn’t appear that’s going to change in the near future, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle explains. While Maxwell was arrested on a gun charge in 2017 and later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, he’s unemployed for a different reason, a major league executive told Slusser at the Winter Meetings.
“It’s the kneeling thing that might keep him from getting another job, not the arrest. Owners aren’t going to want to deal with that whole anthem issue,” the executive said of Maxwell, who in 2017 became the first and only major leaguer to kneel for the national anthem in protest of racial injustice.
Conversely, another source contended to Slusser that Maxwell’s not comparable to former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who began kneeling for the national anthem in 2016. Despite a respectable on-field career and a clean off-field record, Kaepernick, 31, has been out of the NFL for two seasons. “This is not a Colin Kaepernick situation,” said the source. “This is if Colin Kaepernick had knelt for the anthem and also been arrested for a gun crime.”
Aside from Maxwell’s arrest, there are concerns over a 2017 incident in an Alabama restaurant, per Slusser, who also notes that the 27-year-old showed up overweight to spring training last season. Both Maxwell’s conditioning issues and a poor spring performance helped ruin his once-decent chance of becoming the A’s starting catcher in 2018. He ended up having a miserable season at the Triple-A level, and has since fired agent Matt Sosnick. As Slusser details, Sosnick reached out to every team multiple times trying to score a minor league deal for Maxwell, but no one bit. Slusser’s piece is worth checking out for Sosnick’s quotes on his ex-client.
More from around the majors…
- The Nationals have shown reported interest in free-agent infielder Josh Harrison, though they “seem to prefer” Marwin Gonzalez to him, Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post writes. Most (if not all) teams would take Gonzalez over Harrison, which is why the former figures to rake in an especially lucrative payday this offseason. Nevertheless, this is the first connection of the offseason between the Nationals and Gonzalez, who can play up to six positions but could be their solution at second base. He’d also give the Nationals yet another Scott Boras client.
- The Twins have interest in free-agent reliever Kelvin Herrera, La Velle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune reports. The club knows Herrera well from his days with division-rival Kansas City, where he pitched from 2011 until the Royals traded him to Washington last June. The hard-throwing 28-year-old didn’t perform well with the Nats, though, and then saw his season end in late August on account of a torn Lisfranc ligament in his left foot. However, Herrera’s progressing in his recovery from that injury.
- With bench coach Brandon Hyde seemingly on his way out of the organization, the Cubs have begun seeking a replacement. It doesn’t appear the job will go to beloved ex-Cub David Ross, who’s content working as both a special assistant to their front office and an ESPN analyst, Bruce Levine of 670 The Score suggests. The team has contacted former major league infielder/outfielder and current MLB Network analyst Mark DeRosa to gauge his interest in the job, according to Levine. If there’s not a match between the Cubs and DeRosa – who declined to interview for the Rangers’ managerial post after the season – Dodgers special advisor Raul Ibanez and two of the Cubs’ minor league skippers (Buddy Bailey and Mark Johnson) could be candidates, Levine posits.
MLB Network would be so much better if the Cubs would hire DeRosa.
IMO he gives really good insight on individual players and the main aspects of the game like hitting and fielding. But when it comes to things like free agency and trades for both the player and team, he loses me. Which is why I think he would be great working with a team on the field, whether that be bench, third, first or manager.
DeRosa actually had a good take today on the Phillies not going after one big ticket free agent, and instead, signing 3 or 4 other guys to plug more holes, less commitment, which as a Phillies fan, I totally agreed with….we have more holes than Harper or Manny can fill.
They did need to strike on Harper or Machado imo , but I think they are waiting to see what happens with trout.
You also have free agents like Nolan Arenado coming on the market next year with Trout. The Phillies are better off taking significant steps without trying to build the team in one offseason.
I really think the length of contract is what is scaring teams away from Bryce, and that includes the Phillies. The Yankmees are mentioned out of habit by the press. and the Cubs have always been aggressive in the Epstein era. The White Sox are the best financial fit but are a year or two away from being a contender. The pale hose do have one thing going for them. They have rebuilt their Farm System and have a wave of talent on the way.
This puts the White Sox at the top of the list of teams that could reach the Boras level of contract. If however the market is not their by New Years, There is still a chance (about 40% according to the Crystal Ball) that Bryce ends up with the Nats (@ around 8 years 260MM)
He’s not going back to the Nationals for less than 10/300
He’s not getting ten years anywhere. Teams can’t wait that long to sign players. They have to make decisions and Commit money leaving far less options today than yesterday. If Harper is not signed by 2019 Boras will be leveraging the Nats. If no one beats there offer then (which wont be more than 8 years, but will be 30+MM)
“You also have free agents like Nolan Arenado coming on the market next year with Trout.”
– –
Mr. Trout is not a free agent next year.
Operation Big fish
MLB Central already lost Matty V, now Potentially Mark DeRosa. might as well just cancel the whole network!
As long as Shehadi stays, people will watch.
She’s good and it doesn’t hurt she’s hot too. I don’t have a problem with too many of them besides Fran Charles and Dan O’Dowd.
It’s shehottie isn’t it?
Except Matty V is smart and funny and talented and DeRosa is the opposite of those things.
And to answer below, Lauren is fine but it’s Ken Rosenthal that drives that entire network. Best sports reporter ever in any sport.
ok what is this all about people leaving the MLB channel
DeRosa grew on me with his insight into day to day baseball stuff. He is the least consistent amongst the on-air talent. I wish they did more inside the game stuff…whether it is hitting, pitching, and/or about stuff like shifts. I know the casual viewer may be “meh” about this, but if someone is watching MLBN…they likely are more than dirty casuals.
DeRosa is at least funny with bis takes. Billy Ripken and Harold Reynolds are awful and have the appeal of a toothpick
Reynolds runs his mouth a lot, yet says nothing that is interesting, but a lot which is annoying. Why MLB has let him hang around all these years is a big head scratcher.
Disagree- think Reynolds brings a lot to the table and he is much appreciated… it is subjective though!
Reynolds brings absolutely anti intellectual takes constantly. He’s an RBI guy, stuff like that.
Proves why former players don’t often make good executives.
Ask DeGrom how many games he would have won if the Mets would have had an RBI productor.
Remember this: Getting on Base is a Threat. Driving in Runs is Production!
Except hitting rbis isn’t a skill.
Or why stat heads don’t often make good baseball players.
WRC is what RBIs want to be. RBIs are not created equal and just a counting stat
Thank You!!!
Reynoldsprovides tremendous insight and brings interest to the show. I think he’s one of the best in that regard.
I wish I had more upvotes to give. Billy is brutal and awkward. Harold continues to be unwatchable. When he is on I tend to check on my laundry and/or other things in hopes I can limit my expose to him.
Agreed. I think DeRosa is basically the only unwatchable anchor on that network. He’s awful.
Lots of opinions here. Still waiting on a good one. 😉
Eric Byrnes is by far the worst. Did you ever watch him play? He dove every single fly ball at him. 90% of which were routine.
Have to agree with you on Byrnes. He showboats it on MLB Network as much as he did in the field with that stupid flip almost every time he threw the ball. When he comes on screen I change the channel
Oh yeah. Forgot about Byrnes! He’s terrible too. Maybe DeRosa just rubs me the wrong way. He’s just so full of himself and it comes off badly on the air.
He’s grown on me. He is only good in small doses, but he brings a pretty unique energy to the programming. He shouldn’t be a regular, but a few times a month would be a good compromise.
Fran Charles and his Uh uh uh is unwatchable.
DeRoosa isnt even that bad. Eric Byrnes is way worse.
I’d rather have Bill Ripken as bench coach.
DeRosa is a great personality on MLB Network. Would hate to see him leave, but he definitely would be a great coach. I hope to see Bill Ripken get a coaching or a managerial opportunity!
I hope SOMEONE hires him so he isn’t always around to do a drop in.
What does this have to do with the Twins being interested in Kelvin Herrera?
Maxwell can’t hit. That’s probably the biggest reason he wouldn’t get a job.
Amen
he’d probably hit better than .182 on one knee
On two knees San Francisco would sign him.
Sad that this comment will get overlooked!
nice.
Hes overweight and out of shape, he knelt for the national anthem, he was arrested for a gun charge, now there’s this story about the incident in an Alabama restaurant. So he fires his agent because he couldn’t get a job with a MLB team? Always someone else’s fault.
I actually hope he was telling the truth about the Alabama restaurant. I figured him for a Lib the moment I read the kneeling crap.
So many tough talking National Anthem lovers follow the party that sold its soul to Donald J Trump, money launderer and Adderall abuser.
But whatever.
Try serving your country Fidel.
Cereal Person,
This is a BASEBALL site. No need to sling slurs here.
rofl..”slinging slurs”, It’s still a fee country, and #marijausher’s post had zilch to do with BASEBALL. Take that condescending attitude somewhere else.
Is the earth flat or round, and did we really land on the moon are the burning questions. Is referring to someone as “Cereal Person” really fair, or is it labeling?
Then you should criticizemarijuasher who started the off topic comment.
Bruce Maxwell? Him and Familia can be roomies. Mets can get the guy cheap too.
Beltre used to hit bombs on one knee haha
RIP Maxwell’s MLB career.
Should’ve been suspended by MLB!!! Got joke of a sentence.
He had no career however he knelt because of a trend….remember tommy Hilfiger, coed naked, bum equitment???
It was a statement like a fashion statement. he’ll Wil cordero was no prince but still landed a job .
if he was NFL…he be ok
But he’s bad at baseball
And kaepernick was an awful qb. Great running back though.
Have you seen the crap options that have started this year at QB:? Josh Johnson, Jeff Driskel, whoever is in Jax (Kessler?), etc. Josh Allen probably deserves a spot on the list, though he at least has a chance to improve if he could sit for a season and just learn and get reps.
I’m not a Kap for as a football player because I think he is too limited skill-wise, but he is still much better than the above guys. He isn’t a franchise QB, particularly in today’s pass heavy league, but he can be a decent placeholder for teams that need another year or two to figure out their QB situation. Allen in BUF is probably the best example of this.
Maxell he’s gone!! The white Sox announcer said it best!
Maxell is a recording tape.
I feel terrible for Bruce Maxwell
Nice sarcasm, I got it .
Stubby66 is dead on with his comments. We all have to live with the consequences of our actions
Leave it to San Francisco to try and make a hero out of Maxwell. The biggest reason he can’t get a contract is because he’s terrible at baseball.
I never understood the A’s liking him so much before the whole legal problem. He could not hit a lick and was garbage behind the plate. He played with zero passion and negative attitude.
Billy Beane saw something in him.
Only reason he was not cut last year was because it would have been blamed on his kneeling instead of legal troubles. If the A’s cut him after the gun pointing incident they probably would be sued. How little they thought of Maxwell was when they signed Lucroy during spring training. Maxwelll stunk it up bad last year so when they cut him all they needed to do is point to his bad season as the reason. Maxwell was never seen more than a back up catcher.
Maxwell never played in San Francisco. Get your leagues straight.
It’s the same state. Easy mistake.
The article was in the San Francisco Chronicle, which is what WestCoastSoxFan is referring to.
Right. Because anything written in the SF Chronicle is automatically wrong to such a fine right wing specimen as Soxie.
Thank you, JJB. It’s the same market geographically and the article that was sited was the SF Chronicle. I didn’t think it was too hard to understand.
I don’t see anything in the article that says the Giants are trying to make a hero out of Maxwell. Do you?
Who’s calling him a hero?! All the article says is that his screwups and awful performance are more the reasons he was let go and probably won’t be signed in the future, and the kneeling was only one factor.
Personal politics inhibiting your ability to read?
He read as far as the San Francisco byline.
Hey, I live in CA. You don’t. SF has gone from one of the best cities in America to a disgusting, unsafe cesspool in only about 10 years. It is what it is.
It’s amazing isn’t it?
I live in Connecticut now but worked in San Francisco in the early 2000s. It was the best city in the country IMO.
I went back last year for a conference and could not believe what the city had turned into.
Cops telling me not to go in certain areas and people handing out pamphlets on how to properly deal with someone who may be homeless and or high if they should “aggressively approach” you?
How the hell did that happen and why don’t they do something about it?
Yup. San Fran was the Manhattan of the West Coast. It was beautiful, had amazing food and tons to see. I used to go with the wife every year, or so. Then the homelessness started to get out of control and we didn’t feel safe walking around at night. Then the junkies started to chase tourists around and scare everyone. Now the streets are fithy and overrun with human waste. We stopped visiting 2-3 years ago and are in no hurry to go back again. It’s only going to get worse, too, because leadership is blind/indifferent to the issue. The SF that we remember is gone for good. It’s really sad.
The problem is that the kneeling isn’t a factor at all. The guy simply sucks at baseball.
No use protesting the anthem unless you’re both talented and morally decent. Maxwell was neither. I wish him the best in his career shift to the fast food industry.
Sometimes it is the most vulnerable in the sport that are needed to really show injustice in this world. I think it took guts for him to protest. Here we have a player whose career reads more like career backup than all-star, and he could have easily been released or sent down for protesting. He stuck his career on the line. That shows integrity. I don’t excuse any of Maxwell’s off the field troubles. It sounds like he has some things he personally needs to work out, especially if he is pulling guns on defenseless delivery drivers. We can only surmise on why that happened. That could be a mental illness. It’s not like he ordered the death of thousands of innocent people, like some individuals we worship and celebrate in this culture.
takes guts to politicize least political sport of all?
We watch sports to GET AWAY from politics?
No, it takes guts to wreck your baseball career to highlight injustice. Some may also say it is foolish, but it certainly takes guts regardless of your political ideology.
If Maxwell was protesting “right” ideologies instead of “left” injustice, he’d still be wrong.
Not a proper forum to protest political beliefs. Frankly, his career being on the line, shouldn’t matter. Kaepernick had 16-5 TD-INT ratio and was in SB years prior. Where is today??
He wrecked his baseball career by being awful at baseball and being an even worse person, not by highlighting injustice.
Was Bruce’s nickname Corky??
Woof!!…Bong
I’m sure white people in the south felt that buses weren’t the proper forum to protest political beliefs either. Have to use whatever platform you have if you are passionate about your cause.
Burn a jersey if it makes you feel better
The kneeling didn’t “ruin his career”, though. Being an awful baseball player did.
You are right. Maxwell is now free to protest from the unemployment line.
Welcome to MLBTR Mike Florio
Lol
What’s a Mike Florio? That a type of drink people imbibe for escape?
Shut your airhole, son.
Watch it now, you just pissed off the wrong xabial !!
Why the mean spirit? I wasn’t mean to you. Is that just your nature?
I just took a giant dump, it won’t flush !
Grow up and learn life son
I’ve learned in my short time here that the MLBTR comments section is filled with willful ignorance and blind anger against “the others”. This leads to the meanness you’ve described here.
Luckily, the writing is well-done and some of the regular posters seem like good people.
I’ve probably been coming here over a dozen years but the comment section has gotten so bad that I’d happily leave if a website offered similar content with a slightly more moderated (meaning moderated at all) comment section. I like talking baseball transactions and unfortunately there’s not much competition in this niche space
Comment section WAS moderated full time by a group of us volunteers John, but that was years ago. Now? Writers as I understand it are responsible for maintaining proper dialogue within the topics, or that’s how it was setup when we volunteers were let g several years back and the posts got more abusive.
I’ve asked since then to the higher power on this site regarding abuse, It still is by far the best MLB site going and back then was hard finding volunteers. Maybe that’s why they stopped.
Yeah I recall those days. I’m sure it’s not a simple issue for management. Having volunteer moderators has its issues certainly and may have been deemed not to be worth the trouble if trolling and whatnot isn’t affecting the bottom line
All these pepeople that want “properly moderated” message boards all tend to lean one way, left.
They have no problems with trump bashing but the second it turns into bashing the other side, let’s silence them somehow, lol
Cnn’s comment section is a ghost town so the snowflakes gotta find their new safe space somewhere.
The Yahoo message boards are a hoot.
CNN doesnt believe in comment section of any capacity. Frankly, I’m surprised they allow Youtube comments.
Fox allows comments every article, even blogs. I believe those who disable comments are scum, forget their politics; CNN probably is the worst offender there. Wasnt kidding when said shocked CNN allows Youtube comments haha. not ghost town…. wish it was. It’s censorship
Agreed. I teach political science. I don’t want it near baseball. Most of the present players keep it separate. We should too.
Oh boo hoo Hillary. Sorry he is NOT a hero
Never called him a hero. Those are your words and I can show you where and when in the transcript.
Lol 14 upvotes for the clumsiest strawman I’ve ever seen. That checks out
Maxwell wanted attention. That doesn’t take guts. Kneeling takes about the same effort as a sweet bat flip after a homerun.
This exactly. I think it’s also why 90% of athletes joined the Kaeperwagon. It was the cool thing to do to get attention. I bet half of them didn’t even know what they were protesting.
He was fine with injustice when his fame allowed him to skate on a serious charge. No way I’d get that joke of a sentence.
Or, a guy who has mental problems and knew he has not long for the league based on his ability was looking to use this “protest” as a way to force them to keep him in the league or become a hero of the left and make money that way.
Maxwell and 6 others were denied service he says in an Alabama Restaurant.
First sign of complete BS is when he says the waiter recognized him, who the hell would recognize Bruce Maxwell?
And not one of these people being refused service by this big, bad, KKK waiter hit the video button on their phone? Lol
Yet left wing loons will still defend him
So what was he protesting again? Police violence? So the thing that happens to white people more. So he then points a gun in a delivery person’s face. He should have been handed a hefty suspension for that alone but he gets a slap on the wrist. His kneeling doesn’t show integrity. It shows a lack of awareness and a willingness to do what is trendy and not what is right. Also, “arrested on a gun charge” doesn’t go into enough detail. Nice way to make it seem not as bad as it was.
Now, that’s funny
The “fast food Industry “ comment was funny, to paraphrase The Rocket, I was misslotted on my reply to that comment
Why do people insist on conflating “protesting unarmed black people being shot,” with protesting the anthem?
Nobody has anything against the anthem.
What about unarmed cops?
“What about unarmed cops?”
That seems like a separate issue, but if you’d like to promote awareness of this, thrn please do. I just pray you don’t mention the issue while you’re at work, because half the nation will be soon demanding your termination.
Ah Whataboutism. I see you practice debate at the kindergarten level.
What about square watermelons while we’re at it? That’s another thing that has nothing to do with the issue at hand.
To piggyback onto Slevin’s post here. Do you realize there’s been more cops assassinated this year than unarmed black men shot?
So you’re saying that as long as less black men than cops are killed it isn’t a problem?
MuelerAstro: Thank You….There are intelligent, caring and concerned people on both sides of the argument….unfortunately, most have left the building….
Nobody wants to see unarmed people being shot. Who would argue that? There are very few cases like this, however(and it doesn’t only happen to black people, btw), and when it does, the cops should be held accountable.
or – protest on your own time. not during oakland a’s time.
I appreciate DeRosa’s comments, but it seems he’s played for every MLB team and with every MLB player; I cringe when he rambles about “when I played with (whomever), blah, blah, blah”. I’ll take Lowell’s and Darling’s intelligent and analytical comments instead.
That said, he’s always been considered coaching (and FO) material. The question is, is the dugout big enuf for his and Maddon’s egos?.
DeRosa comes off as the biggest egomaniac of them all. Maybe even more than Madden.
Completely agree think the Yankee should pick them up along Harper and Matt Chapman
Darling is excellent.
Maxwell can go hang out with Danry Vasquez now
Dude should be in prison not in baseball. The bulky drew a gun on a defenseless woman.
But at least he’s out of shape, can’t hit, and takes no responsibility for his actions.
Bruce Maxwell and Mat Latos will form a great “battery” in the indy leagues (or overseas) for the remainder of their careers.
Formidable hitters too.
I wanted to say something else, but I realized it may come of as assault-y comment.
I wanted Matty V to be the Dodgers guy after Vin left.
Its not a political issue with Maxwell
It’s that he’s an 82 OPS+ backup catcher with a recent violent charge and he lied about a public incident.
What organization is going to go through that stuff for a 3rd string catcher?
Kneeling or not, that’s pretty far down the list for teams to even care about. If he hit like JT Realmuto and was kneeling and couldn’t get a job, and didn’t have legal issues, then I’d agree with you.
God Bless this German Born American PATRIOT. While all of Maxwell’s decisions might not be smarter than the American-born grandson of a German PIMP who currently degrades our White House for his bosses in Russia, Saudi Arabia, China and North Korea, you can’t fault Maxwell for his DEVOTION to the American Constitution, and his RESPECT for the flag.
The german born jerk off is out of a job for good. Maybe he can grow a fool afro like Krappy the Clown. To get more attention.
Very nice!
Grandpa Rossy would be perfect for this job. DeRo wouldn’t be bad either.
The Twins apparently want to celebrate Christmas by putting together their own Island of Misfit Toys.
On a separate note, MarGo’s inflated contract will reinforce what we learned from Zobrist’s last foray into free agency, the ability to play all over the diamond is worth more than the ability to hit for power consistently.
That’s World Series MVP Zobrist to you, mister.
Maybe the question is, will Joe retire during or after this coming season, and regardless of the timeline, aren’t the Cubs suggesting Joe’s replacement?
If its mid season replacement then it would be Butterfield – if its before season begins or after the season then yes you are correct.
This article on maxwell is the biggest joke I’ve ever seen. Shame on you for putting this garbage out there. His taking a knee is only a very minor item, on a very long list of serious issues this kid has done. He doesn’t deserve to get paid to play a game, and he sure as heck doesn’t need an article like this trying to make the lack of interest in him based on a social issue when he’s continues to find himself in the media for other more serious actions
This fool Maxwell thought he would be the Krappy The Clown of MLB. Now they’re both out of work. They both suck too.
This is the problem with sports today. You CAN NOT punish a professional athlete for exercising his right, as an American, to express himself. This is exactly the reason I no longer watch the NFL because all I hear is how the NFL wants to fine and/or punish anyone that takes a knee during the national anthem. Let me you tell you people something, many members of my family have fought in countless wars, dating back to the Korean War and they fought for the freedoms that professional sports are trying to take away from an athlete. It’s sickening. There’s a reason why it’s called “Freedom of Speech” & “Freedom of Expression”.
You realize Colin opted out of his SF contract largely because he’s lost his starting gig due to ooor his play and then turned down an offer from Denver.
Last I checked, turning down offers isn’t the same as being blackballed.
So you’re cool with him brandishing a firearm on an innocent pizza delivery woman? Or is it his trying to get servers at restaurants fired because he didn’t like the way he was looked at? Asking for the community. Other than the willful ignorance you demonstrated on this whole Maxwell situation, cool story bro.
It’s a business bro.
@Danny B, you misunderstand your constitutional right to free speech. The right is to be able to say what you want politically without the fear of arrest by the government. Any business can do what it wants if it feels your speech and actions are a detriment to it’s ability to conduct business. The sports leagues or any other business can fire you if you conduct yourself in a way that they do not like. That is the reality and the law.
If you want to know what our Constitutional rights are, read the writings of the founders. The Bill of Rights are protections from the government. They do not in any way apply to private businesses who are free to make and enforce rules and regulations to protect their private interests. If you want the government to enforce their will on private business, then you insult MY relatives who fought in WWII to protect our freedoms from a scourge that actually enforced what you think that our government should enforce. Reading is a skill. Develop that skill.
Hey Danny B quick question.
If a waitress insists on wearing a pro life button on her uniform at work and customers complain to management, does management have the right to fire her if she refuses to take the button off?
What are you talking about??? I’m talking about Bruce Maxwell.
You’re wasting your time here. A site like Fangraphs actually has an elevated discourse about such things but MLBTR comments degraded into little more than juvenile name calling some time back.
Try coming with facts about baseball and not your politics then!
I haven’t discussed my politics. I only pointed out that Maxwell wasn’t protesting the anthem as such an idea is absurd.
It’s this kind of poor comprehension that makes discussion here a waste of time.
Juvenile name calling would be something like “safe space social justice warriors”
I see none of that here. Mostly comments about how you reap what you sow and how Maxwell should have reaped it a long time ago.
Oh feel free to scroll up and read people calling each other Hillary and talking about their giant poo.
Hey Danny B quick question.
If a waitress insists on wearing a pro life button on her uniform at work and customers complain to management, does management have the right to fire her if she refuses to take the button off?
I can’t wait until 5 years from now I read about this fat loser overdosing or going to prison for life?
I’ll take the under on that bet – my guess is 18 months from now there will be a blurb in the middle of the paper ” ex MLB star arrested for gun violations”
LOL at “star”… maybe ex-MLB player.
Any team looking for a move infielder will prefer Gonzalez to Harrison. He’s a switch hitter and younger. Also has played some OF
I had opinions before reading the comments, and I still have them after reading the comments.
Yup. Nothing like politics polluting a perfectly good argument about baseball. Ugh.
The kneeling thing? Is America emotionally 10 years old?
Does any idiot American in the audience know what the Boston Massacre was? It was a &$+*#ng protest. How about engaging each other on the issue of violence against black people instead of villifying the people trying who try to bring awareness about it?
I agree.. Black on black violence is a major issue.
This is a baseball site – of course we know all about the Boston Massacre – 2004 Sox come from down 3 games to beat the Yankees.
Win
Yes let’s talk about the issue of black violence. Thanks for bringing it up.
Think it has something to do with black men abandoning their kids at higher levels than in third world countries?
Seems very irresponsible to not take care of your kids because it’s tough raising kids.
Imagine having a kid, and basically not caring about it. Chances are it will have a negative effect.
That’s a sickening culture and one that should be addressed and looked at as the shameful, lazy, irresponsible act it is.
Or just ignore it and blame the cops, lol
Violence against black people?
Lol
Go look at some stats moron.
The issue is black people being too violent against others.
Go watch another law and order episode, lol
Why does everyone get so bent out shape about the flag?? Seriously, it’s just cloth. What’s more important, what the flag/anthem is “supposed” to represent or the people (not just soldiers) who live under that flag??
And if you are going to judge someone based on their actions, than why not Miguel Sano, Addison Russell, Aroldis Chapman, Jose Reyes, Jeurys Familia, Derek Norris??? Do they get a some kinda pass because they didn’t kneel (won a WS, throws 100 mph, or is an all-star player)?? Obviously Maxwell belongs in this list too for his violent actions, but some people can only see this through partisan lens. Newsflash!!! Both parties are corrupt…
And if you still hate Maxwell for firing a gun at the pizza woman, then I don’t know what to say other than that athletes are very flawed people, and some think they can get away with anything because they can hit, catch, and throw a damn ball. This is what makes Clemente, Musial, and Mauer so special.
Huh?
The flag is a symbol representing America and Americans.
Protesting against it and nebulous injustices** are a direct slap in the face to law-abiding American citizens that paid and showed up to watch a sporting event…..or come to read/post on an Internet blog such as MLBTR.
As a private business MLB has the right – within boundaries set in a legal agreement between Owners and the Players Union – of taking action against player(s) as you noted above for questionable behavior that puts the business in a compromising position with its customers; as well as harsher actions up to and including suspension from the league if the unacceptable behavior continues. In turn, the player(s) have the right to find an employer outside of MLB.
** As for injustice – it has been in the world through history. And not only people – is it fair that big animals eat little animals to survive? Don’t little animals have rights? How do you get your nutrition? Should Americans take a knee outside of fast-food restaurants? Do fans have the right to enjoy sports? Should all sporting events end in a tie so that no one is belittled and all participants are equal?
There’s a lot of confused people in this country.
Mr. Patriot: “I love America, the most free country in the world!!!”
Mr. Minority: “Agreed. I love that I’m free to express myself and stand up for the rights of my people.”
Mr. Patriot: “What?! Shut up and fall in line, loser!!!”
When you’re at work you follow the rules and guidelines of your employer, simple as that.
Great!
Hey…..
Mind if me and a dozen of my buddies come over your house to express ourselves every night by taking a knee to stand up for the rights of our people as you and your family are eating, watching TV, reading, playing and sleeping?
Or are you going to abridge our rights, call us losers, and tell us to fall in line?
Yes – there truly are “a lot of confused people in this country”.
WTF does this have to do with my point?
What i don’t understand is they get upset about somebody that kneels but not people that wear it in a disgraceful manner. Read the flag code and it should not be a bikini, hat, underwear, shirt, pants, and ect… shouldn’t you be upset about that too? the only reason it is a big deal is because Trump used it to get votes. trump can’t even recite the star spangle banner something every real American can do.
You recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and sing the National Anthem. Every American should know the words to the SSB, but I guarantee less than 20% of people younger than 30 can.
I’d take the under on that. At least they’d know the first few words, which is more than they’d know of the Constitution or Bill of Rights.
They know what celebs and twitter tell them and that’s it.
thegreatcerealfamine;
Not responding to you kid.
It’s where the software slotted me..
Samuel, you think coming to my house and protesting in my living room equates to what these players are doing?
Greatcereal, yeah you’re right. But as far as I know, the A’s didn’t care to do anything about it. The kid got canned because of his off the field crap and because he sucks playing baseball, as was detailed in the article. But it’s ultimately up to the team and MLB, not you keyboard warriors.
The Cubs screwed themselves this year; as long as Joe Maddon is a lame duck manager, you’re going to have a hard time filling in coaching vacancies: any quality coach or guy with another gig is not going to move for only a 1-year gig. [And yes I am in the camp that says Joe is as good as gone, but for financial reasons].
You either need to extend Joe now (which the Cubs won’t do because they want to go cheap like the rest of MLB) or let him go now (which they also won’t do now because they can’t sell it to the fans yet).
Kneeling during the National Anthem has NO place in major league baseball. Good job shutting out Maxwell.
You hate free speech?
Free speech does not mean you escape civil repercussions. It only means the government won’t lock you up for it. Of course even that is not accurate anymore. But as an experiment tell your boss (If you have one) to F off. And then tell me how the 1st amendment protected you.
I do agree with this. Those freedoms are specifically designed to limit government.
While I may not agree with what you say (or how you say it, for instance by not saying anything and kneeling), I support your right to do so and not have the government infringe on that right. However, many of us have jobs that require maintaining certain societal norms. That’s different.
I wish all my friends understood this, right and left. There’s a real lack of understanding around this…
Need an old cub as bench coach, Sandburg comes to mind.
Jody Davis comes to mind – catchers make good managers and I believe he has minor league coaching experience
People like Bruce Maxwell are the reason cops shoot people.
Sure Bruce, its not the career .4 WAR or the disaster of a 2018 season or the fact you were arrested last off season.
It has to be the fact you knelt………you also a flat earther or “man has never been to the moon” guy too?
Wow, so much for free speech…#libsruineverything
Any team that’s using the anthem protest as a reason not to bring a guy in needs to be folded. The legal issues are a different story though.
I agree. Who gives a damn? Seriously, it doesn’t hurt anyone. However, the legal issues are probably the bigger problem.
quick question jdgoat
If a waitress insists on wearing a pro life button on her uniform at work and customers complain to management, does management have the right to fire her if she refuses to take the button off?
Kneeling for the anthem? There’s no room for that in the game of baseball. Worst move he could have ever made. Congrats Bruce. You’ve lost the respect of absolutely everybody.
Maxwell would probably have a job if he didn’t suck at baseball. But throw in his mental instability and his penchant for controversy it is easy to predict his MLB days are over. But he will have some cool stories to tell his homies on Cell Block 3.
Cheerleaders should be the only athletes allowed on their knees in the sports industry.
As a Twins fan (and season ticket holder), the front office hasn’t done anything yet to get me excited for next season. I sure hope that Falvine have some better options than all these take a chance signings…
Maxwell won’t get a job cause he sucks
Liberals: He should be able to kneel for the anthem at his job, piss off 70% of the teams customers and its unamerican if any repercussions come his way.
Also liberals: Make an off color joke at your job we demand you be fired, even if it offends one person and has zero negative effect on the companies bottom line.
I bet y’all a hundred bucks I can yell my opinions the loudest
Raul Ibanez would be a nice addition.