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The Atlanta Braves have reportedly been trying to trade left fielder Hector Olivera since his arrest for allegedly assaulting a woman.  

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MLB Executive ‘Can’t Believe’ Braves Asked About Olivera Trade

Monday, April 25

Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan reported the trade rumor regarding Olivera, citing two sources. Olivera was arrested on April 13, was placed on administrative leave thereafter and may face a lengthy suspension in the future.

The 31-year-old had a career in Cuba before defecting to the U.S. and initially signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as recently as March 2015 on a six-year, $62.5 million contract.

But before Olivera even played a game for Los Angeles, he was traded to Atlanta last July in a three-team deal.

“We look at this as the first building block to building the team,” said Braves president of baseball operations John Hart of Olivera at the time of the trade, per MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. “We think this guy is versatile enough. He can play third, he can play second or he could play left field. But we just liked the bat and we felt this was going to be a good piece.”

The immense investment Atlanta has made in Olivera has not panned out to date. Although he is a versatile defender, Olivera has yet to play enough to justify his huge contract, logging only 98 MLB at-bats in 30 games with a .245 average.

The Braves appear intent to cut their losses already but may have a difficult time trading a player who could face an assault conviction.

Olivera is not only on administrative leave and in limbo while his assault case plays out, but he’s also uncertain to return to his current club even if he is acquitted.

Other MLB players to recently go through the league’s domestic violence policy feature New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman and Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes. The latter is still on paid leave, while Chapman is serving a 30-game suspension even after charges were dropped in his case.

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Atlanta Braves players are reportedly considering filing a complaint to the MLB Players Association about the infield at Turner Field as a means of forcing their club to improve the current conditions.

Doug Padilla of ESPN.com reported the news Thursday, citing a source with knowledge of the situation. Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke to Padilla about the lackluster infield after his team played the Braves in two prior games at Turner Field this week.

“This is a tough infield,” Roberts said. “You look at Dodger Stadium versus this field, and this field, the guys talk about it around the league that it is not the best infield as far as playing.”

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal also weighed in on the situation, implying any potential changes aren’t up to him.

“Behind home plate, I felt it was very soft. But then again, it’s not our home field. It all depends on how the infielders like it here,” Grandal said, per Padilla. “We just have to adjust to every playing field we go to and make plays. Obviously it was a little hard for us the last two days, making a couple of errors, but that’s all right.”

Padilla’s source suggested Turner Field’s crew isn’t taking as good of care of the infield as it could since the team is moving to a new stadium next season. Uneven grass and the area where the infield dirt meets the turf were cited as the most troublesome areas.

The threat of filing a complaint may well lead to Atlanta solving the matter internally without the MLBPA getting involved.

But if the current status quo is maintained and the Braves infielders adjust, they may be able to use the adverse conditions to their advantage at their home ballpark.

It may also benefit Atlanta’s need to play small ball. The Braves entered Thursday’s game ranked last in baseball with only three home runs as a team. They were last in that category with 100 dingers last season, too, so perhaps a rough infield would help them manufacture offense in lieu of power in the lineup.

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Chicago Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward was allegedly hit with racial slurs upon his return to the St. Louis Cardinals’ Busch Stadium on Monday, but he wasn’t personally aware of it.

Heyward said Tuesday he didn’t hear any racially charged speech directed at him but added, “Honestly, I wasn’t really listening,” per CSN Chicago’s Patrick Mooney.  

The 26-year-old also downplayed the alleged abuse from fans, saying, per Mooney, “I don’t feel like it’s a story. It’s something I’ve dealt with my whole life. Keep going and don’t really give it any attention.”

Kate Feldman of the New York Daily News initially reported Heyward was allegedly subjected to “N-word” hate speech during Monday’s game, which the Cubs won 5-0. ESPN broadcast the game, and Feldman’s report specified crowd mics picked up the slurs, not ESPN audio.

ESPN Director of Communications Ben Cafardo said on Twitter that ESPN has been reviewing the matter and hasn’t found any evidence of the alleged slurs directed at Heyward.

Cardinals officials also began investigating the situation on Tuesday but also didn’t find any evidence to back up the New York Daily News‘ claims, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch‘s Derrick Goold. Cubs outfielder Dexter Fowler played alongside Heyward for Monday’s contest and, per Mooney, didn’t hear racial slurs.

Heyward was booed throughout upon his return to St. Louis, where he’d played in 2015 and shone with a slash line of .293/.359/.439 at the plate and picked up a third Gold Glove Award.

Instead of returning to the Cardinals, Heyward opted to flee for their National League Central rival in the Windy City on a massive contract worth $184 million over eight years, per Spotrac. That naturally drew the ire of St. Louis’ fanbase and culminated in a negative reception for Heyward on Monday.

Although the alleged racism is disturbing, Heyward didn’t seem fazed by it and chalked it up to harassment that comes with the territory of being in an opposing ballpark. Nevertheless, it is worth the Cardinals and ESPN doing their due diligence to discourage such conduct from occurring in the future.

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Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Felix Doubront underwent Tommy John surgery on Tuesday.

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Doubront’s Estimated Recovery Time Is 12-18 Months

Tuesday, April 12

Jane Lee of MLB.com reported Doubront’s surgery was successful, and the pitcher will begin his rehab on Friday. Doubront’s wife posted a photo of the pitcher on Twitter after the procedure: 

On Monday, the San Francisco Chronicle‘s Susan Slusser noted the timetable for Doubront’s eventual return, based on the span often associated with those undergoing Tommy John surgery for the first time. 

The 28-year-old southpaw began his career with the Boston Red Sox but has bounced around a lot since 2014 in brief stints with the Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays and now with the A’s.

Doubront has a unique sweeping delivery but hasn’t lived up to his potential in the big leagues, posting a career record of 31-26 with a 4.89 ERA to date. Now he has an uphill climb just to get back to the mound in light of Monday’s severe injury news.

Based on the rather surprising move the A’s made in the first place to keep Doubront in their rotation and option Jesse Hahn to Triple-A, it stands to reason Hahn will get the call-up to be Oakland’s new No. 5 starter.

Twenty-six-year-old Sonny Gray, who is a solid ace but is the only proven commodity in the Oakland rotation, headlines the A’s staff. Hahn, Kendall Graveman and Chris Bassitt have potential but are inexperienced.

Manager Bob Melvin shouldn’t have too much trouble adjusting to Doubront’s absence. It’s bound to create even more opportunities for Graveman, Bassitt and Hahn, who will hopefully round out a solid staff of the future using the 2016 campaign as a springboard, pivotal development year.

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Texas Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo was placed on the disabled list on Sunday after he suffered a calf strain during pregame warm-ups on Saturday. An exact return date has yet to be announced.

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Choo Placed on 15-Day DL

Sunday, April 10

John Blake of TexasRangers.com revealed that Choo was placed on the 15-day disabled list and that outfielder Nomar Mazara was recalled.

The Rangers announced that Mazar was starting in right field and batting second in the lineup against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.

Choo battled ankle injuries and missed 39 games during the 2014 campaign but was healthier and showed improvement last season. The 33-year-old veteran batted .276 with 22 home runs and 82 RBI, including a .404 batting average in September.

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New York Mets Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza spoke on Tuesday about the club auctioning a jersey he wore in a game on September 21, 2001, mere days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The New York Post‘s Kevin Kernan passed along Piazza’s comments on the controversial merchandise situation:  

I’m very disappointed with the situation regarding my game jersey from September 21st, 2001. I’ve expressed my feelings to Jeff (Wilpon) and the Mets. And while it never should have left Citi Field, they have assured me that contact with the seller has been made and they are making a concerted effort to get the jersey back. I’m hopeful that an agreement can be reached and we can give back to the fans and all New Yorkers a piece of that evening that was more than just a game.

A Mets spokesperson responded to Piazza’s comments, per Kernan:

We made a mistake in selling the jersey and Jeff called Mike to express our regret in so doing. We have dedicated a section in the Mets Hall of Fame and Museum to celebrate Mike’s achievements and his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and are exploring memorabilia to display in that area. We can’t verify the item being auctioned, but can confirm that our memorabilia group sold a jersey that meets this description, which was not authenticated with respect to game use.

Kernan indicated that Piazza didn’t speak out initially so as not to detract focus from the Mets’ 2016 regular-season opener on Sunday—a World Series rematch with the Kansas City Royals, who won 4-3.

In the 2001 game that Piazza wore the No. 31 jersey, he hit a late go-ahead home run to spark a 3-2 Mets victory over the Atlanta Braves. The homer led to a “USA!” chant at Shea Stadium and a moment in New York sports lore that won’t be forgotten.

“For me to be at the right place and the right time and to come through, I can only think it comes from above and a lot of people put wind under my wings,” said Piazza of his timely home run after getting inducted into the Hall of Fame in January, per Kernan.

The jersey features an embroidered logo reading “9-11-01” and American flags. Bidding on the jersey began online on Monday, with the current amount, per Kernan, set at $42,000.

According to Kernan, Piazza wants the jersey on display at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Given the extraordinary circumstances and the emotion behind perhaps the most significant of Piazza’s 427 career homers, it’s well worthy of a place in such high baseball esteem.

It stands to reason, based on the public comments Piazza has made and the perspective he’s provided about the situation, that the jersey will wind up where he feels it belongs.

There is still time to put a halt to the auction. Per the report, it runs until April 30 and concludes with a live event.

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The Cleveland Indians’ 2016 season home opener against the Boston Red Sox was postponed from Monday until 1:10 p.m. ET Tuesday due to inclement weather.

Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reported the news Monday. The Indians will now host the Red Sox for three games in as many days. Boston was supposed to start pitcher David Price against Cleveland’s Corey Kluber for Opening Day, per the Associated Press, via ESPN.com.

Tom Withers of the Associated Press captured a shot of the scoreboard at Progressive Field that seemed appropriate under the circumstances:

Cleveland.com reacted to the situation as cold temperatures and snow hit the city in untimely fashion:

Although fans will be disappointed not to witness the game as scheduled, they can still look forward to a captivating pitching duel between two former American League Cy Young Award winners.

Price arrived in Boston as a massive free-agent addition and will be playing for his fourth club since 2014, most recently serving a brief stint with the Red Sox’s AL East rival Toronto Blue Jays.

The Indians posted a third straight winning record under manager Terry Francona in 2015 yet failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Kluber had a letdown from his 2014 Cy Young Award campaign last season. His ERA rose from 2.44 to 3.49, which isn’t horrible, but a dearth of run support resulted in Kluber posting a 9-16 record as a starter. He has his work cut out to limit an opposing lineup headlined by slugger David Ortiz, who’s in the midst of his final season.

“I don’t feel any different yet,” Ortiz said Sunday about Opening Day, per Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe. “Knowing it’s your last one, I’ll try and enjoy it. I’m just going to play the game, man. You have to move forward.”

Francona managed the Red Sox to two World Series titles during his tenure in Boston. His counterpart, current Sox skipper John Farrell, also has a championship on his resume.

Farrell’s return to the dugout for the 2016 opener is notable after he underwent cancer treatment and received news it went into remission this past October.

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An autographed scooter donated by San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence was stolen Saturday night at a San Francisco Make-A-Wish Foundation office.  

NBCBayArea.com’s Rhea Mahbubani reported the news, indicating two thieves were responsible for stealing Pence’s scooter, along with other items, including laptops. Pence also had a scooter stolen in May 2014.

Based on his history with scooter theft, Pence reacted on Twitter to the unfortunate situation:

Surveillance cameras caught footage of the two thieves, according to Make-A-Wish Foundation executive director Patricia Wilson, per Mahbubani.

The office the thieves raided had items scattered all about after they stole the goods, but the most notable item was the scooter, which Wilson said a donor paid $40,000 to acquire. It’s autographed with a message that reads, “To Michelle, Much Love!”

Crime-scene investigators were at the office looking into the matter Sunday. The thieves broke into the office by wrecking a door handle; they appeared to confer and enter through a stairwell, based on photographs of the surveillance video.

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St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Jordan Walden was diagnosed with a Grade 2 lat strain on Sunday.

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Walden Out ‘A Few Months’

Sunday, April 3

MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch reported the news from Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak, who provided the estimated timeline for Walden’s return.

Injury has plagued Walden since he joined the Cardinals in a November 2014 trade from the Atlanta Braves. The 28-year-old had a nagging right rotator cuff issue and was on the disabled list in 2015 due to biceps inflammation.

After pitching in only 12 games last season, it appears St. Louis will be without its capable reliever for a prolonged period of time.

The Cardinals do have a loaded pitching rotation that finished first in quality starts last season, and their bullpen helped the club finish first in team ERA (2.94). Walden would make St. Louis’ pitching even better based on 2015’s small sample size, when he posted a stellar 0.87 ERA.

With a fastball that can hover near triple digits on the radar gun and a biting slider, Walden is a dynamic force on the mound who towers at 6’5″ and 250 pounds. His presence can’t be imitated, but the Cardinals have grown accustomed to winning without him.

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Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder A.J. Pollock left the field with a fractured elbow during Friday’s spring training game against the Kansas City Royals. The injury will require surgery, and it’s unclear when Pollock will be able to return to the lineup. 

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Pollock Comments on Injury

Saturday, April 2 

“It felt like a nightmare,” Pollock told reporters. When asked if he plans to return this season, the outfielder said, “That’s going to be my goal,” per Steve Gilbert of MLB.com

Pollock to Undergo Surgery

Friday, April 1

Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reported Pollock fractured his elbow and requires surgery. 

Pollock Has Become Outfield Staple for Diamondbacks 

Pollock had an MRI on his right elbow during spring training in March, but it came back negative, ensuring he’d be healthy in time for the start of the 2016 campaign. He appeared in 157 games last season and batted .315 with 20 home runs and 76 RBI.

The 28-year-old did only appear in 75 contests in 2014—mostly due to a freak injury, as he fractured his right hand when he was hit by a pitch. That required surgery, but Pollock showed no ill or lingering effects in 2015.

In addition to his prowess at the plate, Pollock is an exceptional defender, winning a Gold Glove Award last season as well. His all-around exceptional play can’t really be emulated by anyone else on the roster, so Arizona will have to hope he can return soon.

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