Phillies Lose Rights to Drew

The Philadelphia Phillies, who gambled they could sign outfielder J.D. Drew when they drafted him second overall last year, failed to get a deal by Monday’s midnight deadline and lost his rights.

General Manager Ed Wade said the Phillies were “unwilling and unprepared” to meet Drew’s demands.

While the Phillies have the first pick in this year’s draft, which starts June 2, they can’t draft Drew without his permission. Oakland has the No. 2 pick, followed by the Chicago Cubs, Kansas City, St. Louis, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Toronto, San Diego and Texas.

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Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Jeff Tabaka sustained a broken jaw and will go on the disabled list after being punched during a hotel lobby fight, apparently in a dispute over a card game.

According to witnesses, Tabaka and reliever Marc Wilkins fought in the lobby of the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee several hours after the team arrived Sunday night from Miami. Before the players could be separated, Tabaka was struck in the jaw. He required surgery on Monday and will be out indefinitely.