Friday’s Sports in Brief – Washington Times

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) – Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred expects to have a decision within a few days on two of the first three cases covered by the sport’s new domestic violence policy.

Major League Baseball has been investigating New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig.

Any discipline under the policy must be for “just cause.”

Manfred says “The standards of proof in a labor arbitration and a criminal case are very different.”

He did not specify which cases he hopes to decide soon.

MIAMI (AP) – A Florida-based sports agent who has worked for a company in a joint venture with entertainer Marc Antony’s firm was arrested on federal charges involving illegal smuggling of Cuban baseball players from the communist island to the U.S.

Homeland Security Investigations spokesman Nestor Iglesias in Miami confirmed Bart Hernandez was arrested in a joint operation with the FBI. A grand jury indictment charges Hernandez with two conspiracy counts that revolve around current Seattle Mariners outfielder Leonys Martin, who previously played for the Texas Rangers.

In addition to the criminal charges, federal prosecutors seek forfeiture from Hernandez of $1.5 million plus any interest he has in the contracts of Martin and other ballplayers, as well as an arbitration proceeding involving Martin, according to the indictment. Prosecutors also want to seize a 2001 Honda motorcycle.

Hernandez has worked for Praver Shapiro Sports Management, which in November announced a joint venture with Antony’s Magnus Media.

NFL

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Los Angeles Rams released veterans James Laurinaitis and Chris Long, and also cut tight end Jared Cook.

In what appears a salary-cap purge as the team relocates from St. Louis, the Rams parted with star linebacker Laurinaitis and defensive end Long. Laurinaitis has been one of the NFL’s leading tacklers throughout his seven-year pro career. Long, the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long, has been their top pass rusher for most of his eight seasons.

Cook joined the Rams as a free agent before the 2013 season and set franchise records for most receiving yards by a tight end both in a single season (671 in 2013) and in a single game (141 on Sept. 8, 2013 vs. Arizona).

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller retired after an 11-year career with the franchise that included a pair of Super Bowl titles.

The 33-year-old Miller had one year left on his current contract. The 30th overall pick in the 2005 draft caught 60 passes for 535 yards and two touchdowns in 2015. His 592 career receptions, 6,569 yards receiving and 45 touchdowns are all franchise marks for a tight end.

Story Continues →