MLB Notes: Bryce Harper, Hunter Strickland handed suspensions for brawl

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SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Giants reliever Hunter Strickland has received a six-game suspension and Washington's Bryce Harper four games for their roles in a benches-clearing brawl at AT&T Park.

Each also has been fined an undisclosed amount, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday. Both players planned to appeal.

Strickland hit Harper in the hip with a pitch and the Washington slugger charged the mound, wildly firing his helmet and trading punches to the head with Strickland during the Nationals' 3-0 win Monday over the San Francisco Giants (see full story).

Marlins: Jeb Bush no longer interested in buying team
MIAMI -- Jeb Bush has dropped out of the race for the Miami Marlins.

The ex-presidential candidate and former Florida governor is no longer interested in buying the Marlins and has ended his pursuit of the team, two people close to the negotiations said Tuesday.

One of the people said former New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter, who had been part of Bush's group, is still exploring a bid with other investors. The two people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the parties involved aren't commenting publicly on the status of negotiations.

Jeter becomes the frontman for an investment group competing with a group led by businessman Tagg Romney, son of former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. The Romney group includes Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Glavine and former Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart.

Earlier this month, Commissioner Rob Manfred said the Romney and Bush-Jeter groups were relatively even in their price offers. Both bid about $1.3 billion to buy the team from Jeffrey Loria, who bought the Marlins for $158.5 million in 2002 from John Henry (see full story).

Red Sox: Pedroia to the DL, Sandoval activated
BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox have placed second baseman Dustin Pedroia on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained wrist and activated third baseman Pablo Sandoval from the DL.

Pedroia sprained his left wrist when he tumbled over White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu in Chicago on Monday. He returned to Boston for tests. He missed three games earlier this season after being spiked in the leg.

Sandoval was placed on the DL on April 25 with a sprained right knee and made seven rehab appearances at Triple-A Pawtucket. He was batting .213 with three homers in 17 games before then (see full story).

Blue Jays: Man accused of tossing beer at playoff game pleads guilty
TORONTO -- The man suspected of throwing a beer can at a Baltimore outfielder during a playoff game in Toronto last October has pleaded guilty to mischief.

In an agreed statement of facts presented in court on Tuesday, Ken Pagan admitted tossing a can of beer on the field as Orioles player Hyun Soo Kim was about to catch a fly ball during seventh inning of the playoff game on Oct. 4.

The can just missed him. The statement gave no indication as to why Pagan threw the can.

Pagan pleaded guilty to mischief and is to return to court on June 28.

The incident triggered a social media frenzy as many scanned photographs and video footage from the game to figure out where the can had come from.

White Sox: Robert's $26M signing bonus spread over 3 years
CHICAGO -- Cuban prospect Luis Robert's signing bonus will be spread out over three years.

Chicago finalized a minor league contract with the 19-year-old outfielder on Saturday, a deal that includes a $26 million signing bonus and will cost the White Sox an additional $25,243,200 in tax for exceeding their international bonus pool.

Robert receives $10 million within 30 days' approval of the commissioner's office and $2.5 million on Dec. 20. He gets $2 million each on July 1 in 2018 and 2019, and $2 million each on Dec. 20 in 2018 and 2019. A final $4.5 million payment is due on July 1, 2020.

Chicago must pay a 100 percent tax on the amount of bonuses exceeding $3,729,800, not including bonuses of $10,000 or under.

As part of baseball's new labor contract, in the signing period that starts July 2 Chicago's bonuses will be capped at $4.75 million, not including bonuses of $10,000 or less. In addition, the White Sox may not give an international amateur a signing bonus of more than $300,000 for the next two signing periods.

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