Venezuelan players speak out on unrest
Amid three months of often-violent confrontations and economic turmoil in their country, an increasing number of Venezuelan players in Major League Baseball are speaking out against the government and showing solidarity with their compatriots protesting in the streets.
The protests have been fueled by widespread discontent over shortages of basic goods, runaway inflation and allegations that Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro is undermining democracy in the country. The unrest has also caused players to not want to go back to Venezuela during the offseason. The protests have left at least 90 people dead and hundreds injured.
Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera, the most famous baseball player from Venezuela, has rejected the violence in videos posted on social media. The two-time American League MVP appeared with other Venezuelan players from the Tigers and the Texas Rangers.
“We want a better country, we want a solution. We want to have someone that steps up and stop this because we cannot continue living like this, killing, and fighting for something not worth,” Cabrera said in Spanish during an ESPN Sunday Night Baseball broadcast.
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli posed while holding the Venezuelan flag upside-down alongside reliever Felipe Rivero, outfielder Jose Osuna and bullpen catcher
Heberto Andrade, all from Venezuela. One of the gestures of disapproval against President Nicolas Maduro’s government is the use of the upside-down flag, something that started with another wave of protests in 2014.
Venezuela is the second-biggest exporter of foreign players in the majors, behind the Dominican Republic. The 76 Venezuelan players on the 25-man rosters of the 30 MLB teams was a record at the start of the season.
■ Salaries: With spending on international amateurs capped,major League Baseball might not be the No. 1 choice for all Latin American prospects, who are shifting their focus towards teams in Japan and South Korea as more lucrative alternatives .
Under the labor contract agreed to by the players’ union during the offseason, 16 big league teams are limited to $4.75 million for international amateurs in the signing period that started July 2, six to $5.25 million and eight to $5.75 million — all not counting bonuses of up to $10,000. Clubs can trade their allocation, with the restriction a team can acquire only 75 percent more than originally assigned.
In addition, the definition of international amateur was raised from under 23 years old with fewer than five seasons of professional experience to under 25 with less than six years.
■ Indians: Jason Kipnis was placed on the DL again Sunday with a strained right hamstring he suffered during Saturday night’s game against Detroit. The injury isn’t believed to be serious, but it’s another setback for the struggling Kipnis, who has also been slowed by a stiff neck this season.
■ Pirates: Jameson Taillon was scratched Sunday due to intense flu-like symptoms. Taillon was sick when he arrived at Wrigley Field for his start against the Chicago Cubs, according to Pirates trainer Todd Tomczyk. He was visited by paramedics and felt better after a while, but the symptoms returned while he was warming up. Tomczyk said Taillon’s illness isn’t related to his cancer treatment.
■ Nationals: Joe Ross was removed from Sunday’s start against the Braves due to tenderness in his triceps. He’ll head for an MRI to see if there’s anything wrong structurally and could need a stay on the disabled list after the All-star break.
■ Mariners: The Mariners announced Sunday that bullpen coach Mike Hampton has resigned. No word on the reason for his resignation, but it’s effective immediately. A replacement has not yet been named.
■ Umpires: Home plate umpire Kerwin Danley left Sunday’s game after being hit in the mask by a foul tip off the bat of Dodgers rookie Cody Bellinger. Danley stumbled backward and Royals catcher Drew Butera tried to hold him up before the umpire went to the ground in the first inning Sunday at Dodger Stadium.