MLB reviewing deleted tweets by Marlins' Cosart
The league is searching for gambling-related tweets on Jarred Cosart's Twitter account.
MIAMI MARLINS pitcher Jarred Cosart said Major League Baseball is reviewing his deleted Twitter account as part of an investigation into gambling-related tweets posted there and he is cooperating with the investigation.
"Obviously, I was caught off guard by the whole situation," Cosart said yesterday. "All I'm really saying to everyone is I'm following the MLB protocol and just talking with MLB security, and they are taking care of the rest."
The 24-year-old Cosart, whom the Phillies traded to Houston in the 2011 trade for Hunter Pence, deleted his Twitter account Tuesday after screen shots of comments he purportedly made appeared on the website of Miami New Times.
MLB rules prohibit players and other employees from betting on baseball games. A player who bets on a game not involving his team faces a one-year suspension and a player who bets on or against his own team faces a lifetime ban. The commissioner, at his discretion, can discipline a player for placing other types of bets with an illegal bookmaker.
Michael Hill, Marlins president of baseball operations, said the club first learned about the tweets from media.
"We're fully aware of the investigation," Hill said. "We are cooperating with Major League Baseball, and until it comes to a conclusion, we'll have no further comment."
Cosart deleted his Twitter account following the initial Miami New Times report.
"Anything else that happened after that is not me," he said. "My other one is completely deleted and being looked at by Major League Baseball, and all of the new ones, that's not me."
He said MLB is reviewing other accounts claiming to be his.
Cosart was 4-4 with a 2.39 ERA in 10 starts last year for the Marlins, who acquired him from Houston on July 31.
Noteworthy
* The Cincinnati Reds acquired first baseman Dan Johnson from the Houston Astros for a player to be named or cash.
Johnson played in 15 games for the Toronto Blue Jays last season, batting .211 with a homer and seven RBI. He left as a free agent after the season and signed with Houston in December. He'll report to the Reds' minor league camp.
The 35-year-old infielder also has played for Oakland, Tampa Bay, the White Sox and Baltimore.
* New York Yankees third baseman/designated hitter Alex Rodriguez is subject to increased drug-testing by MLB as a result of his 162-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, commissioner Rob Manfred said.