Cardinals dismiss scouting director
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals have terminated the contract of their scouting director, Chris Correa, after an “imposed leave of absence,” a Cardinals lawyer said Thursday.
James G. Martin declined to comment on the reasons for the separation or any details of an investigation into the hacking of a Houston Astros database.
Martin said the Cardinals were continuing to investigate. He declined to comment when asked whether any employee has admitted hacking the Astros, citing an ongoing investigation.
Correa declined to comment.
Correa has admitted hacking into the Astros baseball operations database but said it was only to verify whether the Astros had stolen proprietary data, according to a source. The source said Correa did not leak any Astros data and is not responsible for additional hacks that the FBI has alleged occurred.
Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow has denied misappropriating proprietary Cardinals’ information. Luhnow left the Cardinals for the Astros in 2011.
DEVELOPMENTS
Braves’ Freeman out: Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman says he likely won’t return from a wrist injury until after the All Star break.
The two-time All-Star still has severe tendon and ligament inflammation. He said he continues to feel significant pain after a platelet-rich plasma injection last week.
Atlanta placed him on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 18, with a right wrist contusion.
Freeman leads Atlanta with 12 homers, 41 RBIs and 132 total bases.
Briefly: After a year and a spinal fusion surgery, left-hander Matt Harrison will return to the Texas Rangers’ rotation. Harrison, who finished a 30-day rehab assignment Wednesday, is scheduled to start Tuesday or Wednesday against Arizona, Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. ... The Rangers have agreed to terms on a $2.1 million deal with switch-hitting teenager Leodys Taveras, an international free agent. ... The Toronto Blue Jays have signed international free agent Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 16-year-old son of nine-time All-Star and 2004 AL MVP Vladimir Guerrero. Guerrero Jr. was born in Montreal during his father’s career with the Expos, and is a Canadian citizen.