Baseball notebook: Marlins’ Stanton has knee inury – STLtoday.com

Stanton hobbled by knee injury

Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton missed Monday’s exhibition game against Washington in Viera, Fla., because of a sore right knee and visited team physician Dr. Lee Kaplan.

Marlins executive Mike Hill said the team first became aware of Stanton’s knee soreness when he came in for his workout Sunday. Hill said there are no plans for Stanton to have an MRI, though that would change if the soreness persists.

Manfred waiting on Reyes decision • Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred won’t decide on discipline for Jose Reyes until after the domestic violence case involving the Colorado shortstop plays out in court.

Speaking Monday during the Rockies’ exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs, Manfred also said he met with the players’ association last week to begin collective bargaining for an agreement to replace the one that expires Dec. 1. He also said the decision to rescind Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Chase Utley’s two-game suspension stemmed from the new sliding rules announced last week.

Braun still sidelined • Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun won’t make his spring training debut until the third week of games as he recovers from back surgery in October. Braun is still expected to be ready for opening day.

Manager Craig Counsell had said the team was targeting the second week of spring games for Braun. But he told the Brewers’ television crew an in-game interview Monday that while he is responding well to his activities, he won’t play quite that soon.

Utley happy suspension is rescinded • Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Chase Utley says he is relieved Major League Baseball rescinded his two-game suspension for a slide in last year’s NL playoffs that left New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada with a broken leg.

Utley said Joe Torre, MLB’s chief baseball officer, told him a few weeks ago that the penalty had been withdrawn.

“I think it’s a relief for everybody,” Utley said Monday. “We can put this behind us and focus on baseball.”

Torre imposed the penalty Oct. 11, a day after Tejada was injured by the takeout slide at second base.

According to Utley, Torre told him the slide was similar to others he reviewed.

“There were no penalties then,” Utley said, “so, they rescinded the suspension.”

MLB recently changed the rule on such rolling block slides.

Utley expressed regret that Tejada was hurt.

“I can’t say enough about how terrible I feel at what happened to Ruben,” he said “I had no intent to hurt him whatsoever. Anybody who thinks I did, they’re completely wrong. I’m happy to hear he’s healthy and in camp. Nobody is happier about that than me.”

Rockies reliever out for season • Colorado Rockies reliever Jairo Diaz needs Tommy John elbow surgery and will be sidelined for the 2016 season. Diaz said Monday that he felt something in his right arm while facing the last couple of hitters during Saturday’s game against San Diego, when he struggled with his control. Diaz then glanced down at his elbow wrapped in ice and said, “Then this happened.”

Heyward goes deep • Jason Heyward hit a solo home run for his first hit with the Cubs in the Colorado Rockies’ 4-2 victory over a Chicago split squad on Monday in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Heyward, who left the Cardinals in December for a $184 million, eight-year deal with the Cubs, pulled Jon Gray’s 96 mph fastball onto the grassy hill over the right-field wall in the first inning. He had been 0 for 4 in two games. Anthony Rizzo also hit a 452-foot solo homer to straightaway center off Gray, who walked three while getting eight outs in his second outing.

Associated Press