MLB expected to investigate David Ortiz for tampering
Did Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz break MLB’s tampering rules? MLB seems to think that he may have done so when discussing soon-to-be free agent Edwin Encarnacion at this week’s All-Star game festivities.
David Ortiz may have stepped in it a little bit this week after the All-Star game at San Diego. Since all eyes were on him during his last trip to the midsummer classic, he was asked a lot of questions after his final All-Star appearance, and when he revealed some of his answers, MLB had a bit of problem with what he said.
After the American League’s 4-2 victory over the National League on Tuesday, Ortiz spoke to reporters at a post-game press conference during which he lobbied for the Red Sox to trade for Jose Fernandez of the Miami Marlins and he also advocated the Red Sox signing Edwin Encarnacion, currently with the Toronto Blue Jays, in order to take over for him when he retires. Encarnacion will be a free agent after the season ends. Fernandez won’t be a free agent until 2019.
The exact quotes from Ortiz are courtesy of CBS Boston. First he discussed Encarnacion:
"“The Red Sox know that they need to reinforce the middle of the lineup. And sorry Blue Jays, but who better than Encarnacion to do that?”"
Then he spoke of Fernandez:
"“He has incredible stuff. I thought he was gonna end up playing with me this year. I mean, you never know. I want him in my starting rotation. I mean, we need a little bit of help and hopefully that happens at some point, who knows?”"
This isn’t the first controversy involving Ortiz and Fernandez. If you recall, earlier this week Fernandez told reporters before the All-Star game that he’d groove some pitches to the soon-to-be retired slugger so Ortiz could hit a home run. He didn’t end up doing it so it seems that maybe someone reminded Fernandez about that pesky “this time it counts” thing.
Ortiz laughed off being accused of tampering and told reporters at Yankee Stadium before Friday’s game, “I can say whatever I want. I’m not a GM or a team owner or whatever. I mean, if I say tomorrow that I want to play with LeBron James, is that tampering, too?”
And while Ortiz may be chuckling about it, Major League Baseball’s rules makes it pretty clear that tampering is a no no:
"“….there shall be no negotiations or dealings respecting employment, either present or prospective, between any player, coach or manager and any Major or Minor League Club other than the Club with which the player is under contract, or acceptance of terms, or by which the player is reserved or which has the player on its Negotiation List, or between any umpire and any baseball employer other than the baseball employer with which the umpire is under contract, or acceptance of terms, unless the Club or baseball employer with which the person is connected shall have, in writing, expressly authorized such negotiations or dealings prior to their commencement.”"
Jon Heyman tweeted on Friday afternoon that Ortiz should be on the lookout for a strongly worded letter from MLB warning him not to tamper.
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But fans of the Red Sox shouldn’t fret, the worst that could happen—if anything does actually happen–according to Mike Axisa of CBS Sports is a fine, not a suspension.