New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson, Tampa Bay executive vice president Andrew Friedman and retired player Tony Clark have been appointed to a committee to study whether Major League Baseball should have an international draft.
Retired player Stan Javier, Kim Ng of the commissioner’s office and Rick Shapiro of the players’ association also will be on the committee, which is co-chaired by union head Michael Weiner and MLB executive vice president Rob Manfred.
The committee, established in the new collective bargaining agreement, will hold its first meeting by Jan. 15.
Currently, the June draft is limited to players who are residents of the U.S., U.S. territories and Canada, with residents of other nations free agents.
The committee will discuss several issues, including: whether international amateurs should be subject to a draft; whether there should be a single worldwide draft or a separate international draft; the age for signing international amateurs; which draft should include Puerto Rican players if there are multiple drafts; and how to deal with players leaving Cuba.
SCIOSCIA HONORED – BY RIVAL DODGERS
Mike Scioscia can be forgiven for getting a big head over this: The Los Angeles Dodgers are honoring the manager of the rival Angels with his own bobblehead night.
The Dodgers said fans will get the Scioscia bobbleheads when he brings the Angels to Chavez Ravine for an interleague game on June 12.
Scioscia, a two-time All-Star catcher, spent his entire playing career with the Dodgers from 1980-92 and helped them win World Series titles in 1981 and 1988.
OWNERS RATIFY CBA
Major League Baseball owners ratified a five-year collective bargaining agreement, sealing 21 consecutive seasons of labor peace through 2016.
Owners voted unanimously to approve the deal during a telephone conference call. The players’ association announced Dec. 1 that its executive board had ratified the agreement, which was signed Nov. 22.
The deal starts blood testing for human growth hormone and institutes restraints on signing bonuses for amateur draft picks and international players coming to the big leagues.
PHILLIES SIGN WILLIS
The Philadelphia Phillies signed left-hander Dontrelle Willis to a one-year contract, worth $850,000.
Willis, 30, was the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year with Florida and finished second in Cy Young Award voting in 2005. He was 1-6 with a 5.00 ERA for Cincinnati in 2011.
The deal includes $400,000 in performance bonuses – including $25,000 for 30 plate appearances, which is an unusual provision for a pitcher.
Willis is expected to pitch out of the bullpen for the Phillies, who have won five straight NL East titles. He’s 72-69 with a 4.17 ERA in nine seasons with four teams.
SHORT HOPS
Outfielder Josh Willingham, 32, and the Twins have agreed to a $21 million, three-year contract. He had a career-high 29 homers and 98 RBI for Oakland last season. … Left-handed reliever J.C. Romero, 35, agreed to a one-year contract with the Cardinals.
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