CAMP FOR FREE AGENTS OPENS
As teams started spring training workouts across Florida and Arizona, the players’ association had a Kansas City Royals scout escorted out of the union’s opening training session for unsigned free agents. About 15 players attended the first day of workouts on Wednesday at the union’s camp in Bradenton, Fla. Media were barred from the IMG Academy. The scout was told he wasn’t welcome, but could set up a session with an individual player at the player’s discretion, several people familiar with the situation said. More than 90 players remain without agreements among the 166 who exercised their free agency rights in November, the most sluggish market since the final off-season of collusion in 1987-88. Unsigned stars include pitcher Jake Arrieta and sluggers J.D. Martinez, Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer, all represented by agent Scott Boras.