Detroit Tigers star Gary Sheffield was fined an undisclosed amount Wednesday by Major League Baseball for recently criticizing umpires.
“Our highly professional umpires protect the integrity of the game on the field. Attacks on their professionalism and character will not be tolerated,” commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement.
The often-outspoken Sheffield declined to comment following batting practice before Detroit’s game at Minnesota.
This punishment stemmed from remarks he made in June regarding a suspension he received for allegedly throwing a piece of his broken bat at home plate umpire Greg Gibson in a May game at Cleveland.
Sheffield and manager Jim Leyland disputed Gibson’s claim.
When the suspension was reduced from three games to two last month, Sheffield still wasn’t happy and lashed out at the umpires.
“It just goes to show you it wasn’t true and how corrupt the umpiring system is,” he said then. “They can make a statement, and that means it’s true.”
Mariners: Seattle will be paying Ichiro Suzuki for at least a quarter century.
The all-star outfielder’s new contract extension calls for the team to defer $25 million of the $90 million he is owed, money that the team will not have to fully pay until at least 2032.
Suzuki, MVP of last week’s All-Star Game, gets a $5 million signing bonus and annual salaries of $17 million from 2008-12 under the terms of last Friday’s deal.
Seattle will pay $12 million in salary each year and defer $5 million per season at 5.5 percent interest. Suzuki will receive the money in annual installments each Jan. 30 starting with the year after his retirement.
Cardinals: Third baseman Scott Rolen flew back to St. Louis from Miami to have his sore shoulder examined by the team’s doctor.
Manager Tony La Russa said he did not know the severity of the injury, but expects Rolen to meet the team today in Atlanta for the Cardinals’ four-game series against the Braves.
“I think he’s fatigued,” La Russa said.
Twins: All-star center fielder Torii Hunter left in the fourth inning of Minnesota’s game against Detroit on Wednesday with a strained left hamstring.
Hunter, 32, hit a groundball to shortstop, but grimaced slightly in beating the throw to first.
Orioles: Starter Erik Bedard was scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday night against Seattle.
The Orioles said Bedard (8-4) awoke with a stiff neck Tuesday morning and is being pushed back to Friday.
Devil Rays: Tampa Bay reinstated closer Al Reyes from the 15-day disabled list.
Reyes had been out since July 3 because of a rotator cuff strain.
Mets: Infielder Damion Easley has been placed on the bereavement list while he spends time with his ailing father, Raymond, in Riverside, Calif.
