New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman plans to appeal any punishment levied by Major League Baseball as a result of a domestic dispute, Chapman said on Thursday, his first day in spring training with his new team.
Chapman was not charged in the dispute. He allegedly pushed and choked his girlfriend, and admitted to firing eight shots from a handgun in his garage.
A suspension could be significant for Chapman because of he could potentially have his first foray into free agency delayed until 2017. The 27-year-old would not accrue a year of needed service time to become a free agent if MLB suspends him 45 days or longer.
Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes and Los Angeles Dodgers outfield Yasiel Puig are also being investigated under the domestic violence policy, which could be addressed by commissioner Rob Manfred at Grapefruit League Media Days on Friday. Manfred has said he hopes to rule on any discipline before the start of the 2016 regular season.
Reyes is a no-show at the outset of spring training. His trial is scheduled to begin April 4, the date of the Rockies’ regular-season opener.
—The Kansas City Royals rewarded manager Ned Yost with a two-year contract extension and general manager Dayton Moore also had his deal lengthened, the club announced.
Yost’s extension keeps him under contract through the 2018 season. The length of Moore’s extension wasn’t revealed.
The duo are the architects of a Kansas City team that has played in back-to-back World Series. The Royals defeated the New York Mets in last season’s World Series and lost to the San Francisco Giants in 2014.
—After managing the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 15-game improvement in 2015, Chip Hale reportedly agreed to a contract extension through the 2017 season, according to Fox Sports.
Hale took the job after Kirk Gibson’s 4 1/2-year tenure ended with a 98-loss season. While the Diamondbacks finished without a winning record for the fourth straight season, Arizona was within five games of first place in late August.
Arizona has not had a winning season since going 94-68 in 2011 under Gibson and Hale will face increased expectations following the offseason acquisitions of right-handers Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller.
—The Tampa Bay Rays and right-handed reliever Ryan Webb agreed to a one-year contract.
Webb, 30, was 1-0 with a 3.20 ERA in 40 games for the Cleveland Indians last season. Webb also has pitched for the San Diego Padres, Miami Marlins and Baltimore Orioles in seven major-league seasons, and is 17-18 with a 3.55 ERA in 357 career appearances.
—The Washington Nationals signed relief pitcher Burke Badenhop to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, according to an SI.com report.
Last season with the Cincinnati Reds, Badenhop worked 66 1/3 innings and posted a 2-4 record and a 3.93 ERA with 20 walks and 36 strikeouts. The 32-year-old has a 20-27 career record and a 3.77 ERA with four saves in 418 appearances since 2008 with the Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox and the Reds.
—Veteran infielder Nick Punto has retired, according to a published report.
Punto, 38, sat out the 2015 season and was hopeful of latching on with a team for spring training but it never materialized. Punto played 14 major-league season with the Philadelphia Phillies, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics and had a career batting average of .245 with 19 homers.
—Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City will be one of at least three ballparks in Major League Baseball to extend protective netting from behind home plate to span the length of the dugout on either side.
The Royals, Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers have announced the additional safety measure. Several others teams, including the Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs, are known to have at least investigated installing more protective barriers prior to the 2017 season.
Texas officials said the new netting at its ballpark will be six feet high above the dugouts. The nets will extend about 68 feet from the previous end of the home plate screen on both sides.