Rays place Yarbrough on COVID-19 IL, activate Arozarena

Associated PressAug 10, 2021, 10:15 PM EDT
Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
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BOSTON – The Tampa Bay Rays placed left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough on the COVID-19 injured list on Tuesday.

Manager Kevin Cash said Yarbrough, who was with the Rays over the weekend during a three-game sweep at Baltimore, did not join the club in Boston for a three-game series that opened Tuesday night at Fenway Park.

“He’s fine. Probably best not to go any deeper than that,” Cash said before Tuesday’s game. “We probably should just wait for more updates in the coming days and we’ll go from there.”

Cash said he was hopeful that the Rays could get Yarbrough (6-4, 4.76 ERA) back soon.

“I’d like to think that if we get through this turn and get through the rotation, that we should be talking having Yarbs back at that time, but still there’s a lot to be learned here in the next few days,” Cash said.

Yarbrough last pitched Friday, when he allowed five runs on nine hits in five innings before the Rays beat the Orioles 10-6.

With Yarbrough temporarily out of the rotation, Cash wasn’t certain who would start Wednesday night in the second game at Boston. He said the Rays could go with an “opener” to pitch the first couple of innings, then turn it over to the bullpen, or possibly start lefty Josh Fleming.

The Rays also activated outfielder Randy Arozarena from the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday and had him batting leadoff. Tampa Bay also recalled RHP Louis Head from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday and placed right-handed reliever DJ Johnson on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Monday.

The team described Johnson’s injury as a right shoulder sprain but Cash indicated it could be worse. Johnson was added in a trade with Cleveland on July 30.

“I think it’s pretty severe. We’re getting some second opinions. He’s going to miss some time – substantial time,” Cash said. “We’ll wait for other doctors to look at it, but he’s not going to be throwing a baseball any time soon.”

Johnson spent most of the season at Triple-A Columbus, going 1-2 with six saves and a 3.32 ERA in 21 relief appearances.

New bill to build Athletics stadium on Las Vegas Strip caps Nevada’s cost at $380 million

Associated PressMay 27, 2023, 12:14 PM EDT
D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
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CARSON CITY, Nev. — A bill introduced in the Nevada Legislature would give the Oakland Athletics up to $380 million for a potential 30,000 seat, $1.5 billion retractable roof stadium on the Las Vegas Strip.

The bulk of the public funding would come from $180 million in transferable tax credits from the state and $120 million in county bonds, which can vary based on interest rate returns. Clark County also would contribute $25 million in credit toward infrastructure costs.

The A’s have been looking for a home to replace Oakland Coliseum, where the team has played since arriving from Kansas City for the 1968 season. The team had sought to build a stadium in Fremont, San Jose and finally the Oakland waterfront, all ideas that never materialized.

The plan in the Nevada Legislature won’t directly raise taxes. It can move forward with a simply majority vote in the Senate and Assembly. Lawmakers have a little more than a week to consider the proposal before they adjourn June 5, though it could be voted on if a special session is called.

The Athletics have agreed to use land on the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip, where the Tropicana Las Vegas casino resort sits. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao has said he is disappointed the team didn’t negotiate with Oakland as a “true partner.”

Las Vegas would be the fourth home for a franchise that started as the Philadelphia Athletics from 1901-54. It would become the smallest TV market in Major League Baseball and the smallest market to be home to three major professional sports franchises.

The team and Las Vegas are hoping to draw from the nearly 40 million tourists who visit the city annually to help fill the stadium. The 30,000-seat capacity would make it the smallest MLB stadium.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said a vote on the Oakland Athletics’ prospective move to Las Vegas could take place when owners meet June 13-15 in New York.

The plan faces an uncertain path in the Nevada Legislature. Democratic leaders said financing bills, including for the A’s, may not go through if Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoes the five budget bills, which he has threatened to do as many of his priorities have stalled or faded in the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

Under the bill, the Clark County Board of Commissioners would create a homelessness prevention and assistance fund along the stadium’s area in coordination with MLB and the Nevada Resort Association. There, they would manage funds for services, including emergency rental and utility assistance, job training, rehabilitation and counseling services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The lease agreement with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority would be up for renewal after 30 years.

Nevada’s legislative leadership is reviewing the proposal, Democratic state Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager said in a statement.

“No commitment will be made until we have both evaluated the official proposal and received input from interested parties, including impacted community members,” Yeager said.