In Chicago, Bruce Miles reports MLB yesterday "ruled the Cubs did not violate tampering rules" when they hired manager Joe Maddon from the Rays last fall. The ruling "concluded a six-month investigation that began when Maddon opted out of his contract" with the Rays. Cubs GM Jed Hoyer: "I suppose you could say vindication because it had been a public process. There was never concern of any wrongdoing." Asked why the process took six months, Hoyer said, "There was a lot of data. They had a lot of things to go through" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 4/30). Rays Owner Stuart Sternberg: "We make our decisions based on the facts at hand and the processes we trust. We can never be certain of the outcomes" (TAMPABAY.com, 4/30).
ALLIED FORCES: In San Diego, Stefanie Loh notes the Padres yesterday "took a strong stance in favor of LGBT rights ... when they became the first MLB team to host Athlete Ally at their ballpark." Athlete Ally is a N.Y.-based nonprofit that "works to foster welcoming environments for LGBT athletes." Before the team's game against the Astros yesterday, Athlete Ally Founder Hudson Taylor, Padres President & CEO Mike Dee, manager Bud Black, bench coach Dave Roberts and San Diego Unified School District BOT Trustee Dr. Michael McQuary and Kevin Beiser "led about 60 students from local high schools in the Athlete Ally pledge to promote inclusion and acceptance in athletics" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/30).
SAY HEY: In N.Y., David Waldstein reported the Yankees "do not intend to pay" 3B Alex Rodriguez a bonus that he "believes he is owed" for tying Willie Mays on the all-time home run list with 660. For Rodriguez, who has 659 homers, the "matter is worth" $6M, but for the Yankees, it is actually $9M. The reason is that the team "would be taxed" 50% on any added payment to Rodriguez because the Yankees "are over the luxury-tax threshold and the figure would be added to the team’s payroll" for '15 (N.Y. TIMES, 4/28). SNY's Eamon McAnaney said Yankees fans seem to have "forgiven and forgotten" because Rodriguez is "playing so well." The N.Y. Daily News' Bob Raissman said, "The way he's playing, he's the face of this team now ... and if he does hit this home run and he was to sell T-shirts, I think they'd sell a few" ("Daily News Live," SNY, 4/27). FS1's C.J. Nitkowski: "He can be marketable if they want him to be. ... You need to embrace it. It's not going away" ("America's Pregame," FS1, 4/27).
