Yankees partner with CUNY to increase diverse hiring

NEW YORK — The New York Yankees are partnering with the City University of New York to identify students and alumni for career and business opportunities with the team.

The Yankees said Tuesday they began a diversity and inclusion committee in September that includes Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, retired pitcher CC Sabathia and film director Spike Lee. Also involved are staff hitting coach Marcus Thames, bullpen coach Mike Harkey and senior director of player development Kevin Reese.

CUNY students will have access to the Yankees’ sport management mentoring program.

The committee, in concert with an array of community groups, wants to promote team diversity and knock down barriers in education, economic development and health and wellness.

Yankees executives involved in the program include chairman Hal Steinbrenner, president Randy Levine and general manager Brian Cashman.

Mets: Right-hander Corey Oswalt cleared waivers and was assigned outright to Triple-A Syracuse by the New York Mets, who also released right-hander Brad Brach.

Brach, a 34-year-old who was designated for assignment last week, is guaranteed a $2,075,000 salary under the player option he exercised after last season.

Oswalt, 27, will attend major league spring training as a non-roster player.

The two moves created roster spots for infielder Jonathan Villar, who finalized a $3.55 million, oneyear contract Thursday, and outfielder Albert Almora, who completed a $1.25 million, one-year contract Wednesday.

New York will have to make another move when it finalizes a pending one-year deal with outfielder Kevin Pillar, a deal subject to a successful physical.

Angels: Bullpen coach Matt Wise will serve as the Los Angeles Angels’ interim pitching coach, replacing the suspended Mickey Callaway.

Manager Joe Maddon announced his plan as the Angels reported to spring training in Arizona.

New Angels executive Dom Chiti will fill in as Maddon’s bullpen coach while the investigation of Callaway is concluded.

Callaway, the former New York Mets manager and Cleveland pitching coach, is being investigated by Major League Baseball over allegations of inappropriate behavior toward several women who work in sports media.

Indians: Cleveland could be adding another veteran arm to their bullpen after signing Blake Parker to a minor-league contract.

Parker’s deal includes an invitation to training camp in Arizona, where Cleveland will try to upgrade its relief corps to complement a solid starting staff.

The 35-year-old Parker spent the past two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 14 games last season, the right-hander went 3-0 with a 2.81 ERA. He has also pitched for the Cubs, Mariners, Yankees, Angels and Twins in eight majorleague seasons.

Phillies: Former AllStar center fielder Odubel Herrera was among 31 non-roster players the Philadelphia Phillies have invited to spring training.

Herrera, who will earn $10 million this season, hasn’t played for the Phillies since 2019 when he was suspended under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy.

The charges against Herrera were dismissed but he was removed from the team’s 40-man roster last year and wasn’t part of the 60-player pool for the shortened season.

Catcher Jeff Mathis signed a minor-league deal with the Phillies and will join the major-league camp. Mathis batted .161 in 24 games for Texas last season.

Red Sox: Billy Conigliaro, the first-ever Red Sox draft pick who started out in the Boston outfield with star-crossed brother Tony and later spent years taking care of him after a heart attack, died Wednesday. He was 73.

Conigliaro’s family told the team he died at home in Beverly, Massachusetts. The club didn’t provide a cause of death.