Major League Baseball shelves political donations
Major League Baseball is suspending all political contributions in the wake of last week’s invasion of the U.S. Capitol by a mob loyal to President Donald Trump, joining a wave of major corporations rethinking their efforts to lobby Washington.
“In light of the unprecedented events last week at the U.S. Capitol, MLB is suspending contributions from its Political Action Committee pending a review of our political contribution policy going forward,” the league said in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Following the insurrection last week by Trump supporters while Congress attempted to certify the results of the presidential election, many companies have said they will avoid making donations to members of the House and Senate who voted to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s victory over Trump. Others, like MLB, have postponed political giving to both political parties altogether.
MLB is the first of the major professional sports leagues to say it would alter its lobbying strategy in the wake of the deadly Capitol riots.
The Office of The Commissioner of Major League Baseball Political Action Committee has donated $669,375 to Senate and House candidates since the 2016 election cycle, with 52.4% of that money going to Republican candidates, according to The Center for Responsive Politics.
Among its lobbying successes was a bill in 2018 that exempted minor league baseball players making as little as $5,500 per season from federal minimum wage laws, preempting a lawsuit from three players filed four years earlier. The “Save America’s Pastime Act” appeared on page 1,967 of a $1.3 trillion spending bill.
Since the 2016 election cycle, MLB has made contributions to two senators and nine representatives who were among those opposing certification of Biden’s victory.
The Senate Republicans are Ted Cruz (Texas) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (Miss.), and the House Republicans are Roger Williams (Texas), Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), David Schweikert (Ariz.), Steve Chabot (Ohio), Markwayne Mullin (Okla.), Adrian Smith (Neb.), Michael Burgess (Texas), Rick Crawford (Ark.) and Elise Stefanik (N.Y).
• The Dodgers have spent the offseason reinforcing their bullpen with a series of acquisitions. One stalwart member of that bullpen won’t be back, however.
Free agent right-hander Pedro Baez agreed to a two-year contract with the Houston Astros. Baez made a $4 million salary in 2020 (prorated for the shortened season) after winning his arbitration case against the Dodgers. His two-year deal with the Astros will reportedly pay him at least $12 million with bonuses that could take it higher.
Originally a third baseman who converted to pitching after six seasons in the minors, Baez made his big league debut with the Dodgers in 2014. Since then, only Kenley Jansen made more appearances out of the Dodgers bullpen or pitched more innings in relief for them than Baez. In franchise history, only Jansen and Clayton Kershaw have made more postseason appearances for the Dodgers than Baez (31).
Baez finishes his Dodgers career with a 3.03 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 369 strikeouts in 356 innings, though he was often the object of fan discontent for failures in high-leverage situations.
Of the Dodgers’ eight free agents this winter, Baez, 32, is the first to leave for another team. Pitchers Blake Treinen and Jimmy Nelson have re-signed with the Dodgers. Third baseman Justin Turner, outfielder Joc Pederson, pitcher Alex Wood, infielder/outfielder Kiké Hernandez and relief pitcher Jake McGee remain unsigned.
— Bill Plunkett • Mark Shapiro was given a five-year contract extension as the Toronto Blue Jays’ president and chief executive officer.
JURISPRUDENCE
U.S. Olympian Keller charged in Capitol riot
Five-time Olympic swimming medalist Klete Keller was charged with participating in a deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol after video emerged that appeared to show him among those storming the building last week.
An FBI complaint, citing screenshots from the video, asked that a warrant be issued charging Keller with knowingly entering a restricted building without lawful authority and attempting to impede an official government function.
Thousands of supporters of President Trump stormed the Capitol during a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6 while lawmakers met to formalize the victory of Presidentelect Joe Biden.
Keller, 38, competed in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. He captured two golds and a silver as a member of the 4x200meter freestyle relay, as well as a pair of individual bronzes in the 400 free.
Messages seeing comment left with Keller and his sister, former Olympic swimmer Kalyn Keller, were not immediately returned to the AP.
SOCCER
Macario gets OK to play with U.S. women
Brazilian-born midfielder Catarina Macario received permission from FIFA to play for the U.S. national team.
The governing body’s approval means she could appear in a pair of national team exhibition games in Florida against Colombia later this month.
“Now that I’m approved to play, it’s up to me to show the coaches I deserve to be on rosters and get playing time,” Macario said in a statement. “Nothing is guaranteed, and everything needs to be earned, so it’s up to me to get my fitness to the level needed and keep learning every day. Just to be in the position is a dream come true and I’ll never take any of it for granted.”
Macario, who came to the United States when she was 12 and played for Stanford, is currently in camp with the national team. She became an American citizen in October but hadn’t been able to play for the team while awaiting FIFA’s permission.
She announced last week that she is going to forgo her senior year and embark on a professional career. She has signed her first pro contract with seven-time European champion Lyon.
The two-time winner of the MAC Hermann Trophy as the nation’s best college player, Macario set a Stanford single-season record of 32 goals and 23 assists in 2019, when the Cardinal won the College Cup. She finishes her career at Stanford with 63 goals and 47 assists in 68 matches.
• FIFA released details of its investigation into systematic sexual abuse of female soccer players in
Haiti, saying there were 14 alleged victims of the national federation’s president.
The FIFA ethics committee said Yves JeanBart, the president of Haiti’s soccer federation for 20 years, allegedly raped girls as young as 14 and took “habitual mistresses” among players. The details were included in a newly published verdict that explained why Jean-Bart was banned from soccer for life in November.
• Neymar scored a late penalty as Paris Saint-Germain beat Marseille 2-1 in Lens, France, to win the Champions Trophy and give new coach Mauricio Pochettino his first piece of silverware.
TENNIS Sabalenka, Hurkacz win tournaments
Aryna Sabalenka won her third straight tour title and 15th straight match by beating Veronika Kudermetova 6-2, 6-2 in the Abu Dhabi Open final in the United Arab Emirates.
• Hubert Hurkacz won his second career ATP Tour title by beating American Sebastian Korda 6-3, 6-3 in the Delray Beach (Fla.) Open.
MISCELLANY Peterhansel near 14th win in Dakar Rally
Stephane Peterhansel looks set to win a recordextending eighth Dakar Rally car title after holding off main rival Nasser AlAttiyah again on the 10th stage in the Saudi Arabia desert.
The 55-year-old Frenchman conceded only 49 seconds to Al-Attiyah and remained 17 minutes ahead overall after the rally left Neom on the Red Sea and headed inland southeast to AlUla towards the finish on Friday in Jeddah.
Peterhansel is the most successful racer in Dakar history with 13 wins, six on a motorbike.
To win his first car title since 2017, he recruited co-driver Edouard Boulanger, a navigation expert and former rider, and the two compatriots have hardly made a mistake. They have led for 10 straight days despite only one stage victory.
• The United States men’s handball team was forced to withdraw from the world championships in Egypt after a coronavirus outbreak.
The U.S. team said late Tuesday night that “a majority of our players and staff members tested positive for the virus” before the squad planned to travel to Egypt.