Union against radical speed-up

Major league players are against many of the radical changes introduced during the Arizona Fall League to speed up games. Baseball players’ association head Tony Clark is encouraging his membership to make slight adjustments that will improve the pace of games without completely altering the way they do their jobs.

A former All-Star first baseman and the first player to head the union, Clark said Wednesday on the first stop of his Arizona spring training tour that extreme methods aren’t feasible at the sport’s highest level.

“With this particular discussion, having an opportunity to see if we can address some concerns that some have, while creating some new habits without jeopardizing the integrity of the play on the field, this was the hope here,” Clark said.

Angels: Outfielder Josh Hamilton is meeting with MLB officials about a disciplinary issue. Angels spokesman Tim Mead confirmed the Los Angeles Times’ initial report Wednesday that Hamilton went to New York for the meeting. The team declined to give any more specific information.

The 2010 AL MVP has a well-chronicled history of drug addiction and alcohol abuse, leading to previous suspensions.

MLB declined comment on Hamilton.

PEDs: A chemist working out of his suburban South Florida garage has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for supplying banned performance-enhancing substances to a clinic whose customers included professional baseball players and other athletes.

A Miami federal judge imposed the sentence Wednesday on Paulo Berejuk, who pleaded guilty in December to conspiracy to distribute testosterone. Investigators said Berejuk was the key drug source for Anthony Bosch, who ran the now-closed Biogenesis of America clinic.

Reds: Pitcher Homer Bailey doesn’t expect to be ready for the start of the season as he recovers from surgery in September to repair a flexor tendon tear near his elbow.

Orioles: Former AllStar infielder Everth Cabrera and the club finalized their $2.4 million, one-year contract.