Baseball Briefs PLAYERS ATTEND FREE-AGENT TRAINING CAMP

As teams started spring training workouts across Florida and Arizona, the players’ association had a Royals scout escorted out of the union’s opening training session for unsigned free agents.

About 15 players attended the first day of workouts Wednesday at the union’s camp in Bradenton, Fla. Media were barred from the IMG Academy.

The scout was told he was not welcome but could set up a session with an individual player at the player’s discretion.

More than 90 players remain without agreements among the 166 who exercised their free-agency rights last November, the most sluggish market since the final offseason of collusion in 1987-88.

“When you have the type of numbers we’ve had of unsigned guys at this juncture, that’s cause for concern,” Clark said. “It’s cause for concern from our end and it’s cause for concern from an industry standpoint.”

Unsigned stars include pitcher Jake Arrieta and sluggers J.D. Martinez, Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer.

Loaiza pleads not guilty.

Prosecutors charged former all-star pitcher Esteban Loaiza, 46, with possession and transportation for sale of more than 22 pounds of cocaine, and using a compartment to smuggle drugs.

His defense attorney entered his not guilty plea on Wednesday.

Footnotes.

Injuryplagued left-hander WeiYin Chen, the Marlins’ highest-paid pitcher, isn’t expected to be ready for opening day, but the team hopes he can join the rotation sometime during the season. Chen is entering the third season of an $80 million, five-year contract. … Yankees slugger Aaron Judge took batting practice for the first time since left shoulder surgery and said he is on track to play on opening day. … Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, an alumnus of the South Florida high school where officials said at least 17 people died in a shooting attack, sent his condolences and encouragement on Twitter while saying, “This is out of control, and our country is in desperate need for change.”