Ex-A’s pitcher Loaiza charged with drug trafficking
Former A’s pitcher Esteban Loaiza has been arrested on suspicion of trafficking drugs after packages containing a white powder believed to be cocaine were found at a home he rented in Southern California, officials said Monday.
The 46-year-old was booked Friday on charges involving the possession, transport and sale of 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of suspected cocaine worth an estimated $500,000, according to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.
Loaiza, a right-hander, played for numerous teams between 1995 and 2008, starting with the Pittsburgh Pirates and concluding with his second stint with the Chicago White Sox. He was 21-9 with the White Sox in 2003 and started in the AllStar Game that year.
He pitched for the A’s in 2006 and part of 2007 before being waived, going 12-9 in 28 starts with Oakland.
He was being held Monday for lack of $200,000 bail pending a court appearance on Wednesday.
Officials said officers stopped Loaiza for a minor traffic infraction Friday after he left the home he started renting recently in the Pacific coast community of Imperial Beach, along the U.S.-Mexico border. Authorities had the vehicle under surveillance on suspicion it was used for smuggling drugs.
When they searched the vehicle, they found a sophisticated compartment used to conceal contraband, authorities said. That led them to obtain a search warrant for Loaiza’s renrtal home, where they found the packages of drugs, according to investigators.
MARLINS HIRE EX-WARRIORS EXEC >> Former NBA executive Chip Bowers has been hired as president of business operations for the Miami Marlins.
Bowers most recently spent five years as chief marketing officer for the Warriors.
MLB ROSTER MOVES >> The Washington Nationals acquired utility player Matt Reynolds, 27, from the New York Mets in exchange for cash, the Nats announced. ... Infielder Trevor Plouffe agreed to a minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers and will report to big-league spring training. MEDIA BANNED FROM CAMP >> The Players Association is keeping media out of its free-agent training camp at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., a union spokesman said. The camp opens Tuesday for about 100 unsigned players.
Media were allowed at the union’s previous freeagent training camp, in Homestead, Fla., in April 1995, following a sevenmonth strike.
JAYS TO HONOR HALLADAY >> Roy Halladay’s No. 32 will be retired by the Toronto Blue Jays before their opener against the New York Yankees on March 29, the team said.
Halladay, 40, died Nov. 7 when the small plane he was piloting crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. The Jays will also wear a No. 32 patch on their uniforms this season. WALLY MOON DEAD >> Former NL Rookie of the Year Wally Moon, who played on three World Series-winning teams with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has died at 87, a funeral director in Moon’s hometown of Bryan, Texas, said. Moon died at his home Friday.
Moon won NL Rookie of the Year in 1954 with the St. Louis Cardinals, batting .304 with 12 homers and 76 RBIs.
He played for the Dodgers from 1959-65. The Dodgers won the World Series in 1959, 1963 and 1965.
Colleges
SAN JOSE STATE BASEBALL COACH RESIGNS >> San Jose State baseball coach Jason Hawkins, who was placed on administrative leave last month, has submitted his resignation, effective immediately, athletic director Marie Tuite announced.
In a Jan. 9 Bay Area News Group story, the school confirmed that Hawkins was on leave. At the time, the school declined to comment on rumors of an ongoing investigation after Hawkins allegedly held illegal practices.
Hawkins, who had signed a four-year contract a year ago, went 19-35-1 in his first season as coach. Brad Sanfilippo, appointed interim coach when Hawkins was placed on leave, will continue in that position.
The Spartans open their season Friday against Northern Colorado.
PENN STATE ON SLATE >> San Jose State’s football team will play Penn State for the first time ever on Sept. 19, 2020, in State College, the Spartans announced.
The Spartans will play five games in the Eastern time zone from 2019-2021: at Army in 2019 and 2021, at Central Michigan and Penn State in 2020 and at Georgia in 2021. NORTHEASTERN CAPTURES BEANPOT >> Adam Gaudette had a hat trick and Cayden Primeau stopped 38 shots to lead Northeastern to a 5-2 victory over Boston University in the 66th Beanpot championship game in Boston — giving the Huskies the city’s college hockey bragging rights for the first time in 30 years.
The tournament pits the area’s four college hockey powers against each other. Harvard, the defending champion, beat Boston College 5-4 in overtime in the consolation game.
Golf
ST. ANDREWS GETS 2021 BRITISH OPEN >> The 150th British Open will be held at St. Andrews in 2021, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club announced. It will be the 30th time the world’s oldest major is played over the Old Course. The Open was last played there in 2015.
Basketball
WOMEN’S HOF CLASS ANNOUNCED >> Katie Smith, Tina Thompson and Chamique Holdsclaw headline the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame class for 2018, announced Monday.
The three former WNBA stars were eligible for the first time.
Joining them in the seven-member class are former Colorado coach Ceal Barry, longtime assistants Chris Dailey and Mickie DeMoss and longtime New Jersey high school and college coach Rose Marie Battaglia. Dailey and DeMoss are the first two assistant coaches to get into the Hall.
The group will be enshrined on June 9 at the Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn.
Football
CARDS EXTEND GM >> The Arizona Cardinals announced they have extended the contract of GM Steve Keim through 2022.
The Cardinals are 4930-1 in the regular season since he was named GM on Jan. 8, 2013. They went 8-8 this past season.
Soccer
DONOVAN TO VISIT >> Former Earthquakes star Landon Donovan will return to San Jose next month as a member of Liga MX’s Club Leon when the Quakes host an international friendly on Saturday, March 24.
The 35-year-old Donovan signed with the Mexican club in January.