Sheffield Not Punished for Scuffle

New York Yankee outfielder Gary Sheffield won’t be punished for his role in a scuffle with fans last Thursday night at Fenway Park.

Bob Watson, baseball’s vice president in charge of discipline, made the decision Wednesday, a day after meeting with Sheffield and the right fielder’s agent at Yankee Stadium.

“It just proves that I was right,” Sheffield said before Wednesday night’s game at Toronto. “I’m just glad I was an example of how to handle a situation without making it worse or hurting the Yankees or any organization for that matter, or any sport.”

The commissioner’s office said Watson concluded the fan reached over the barrier near the right-field corner during the April 14 game in Boston and “struck Sheffield on the head as he was attempting to field a ball in play.”

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Texas Ranger minor league pitcher Agustin Montero was suspended for 10 days, becoming the third player to test positive under Major League Baseball’s new policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Agustin, who has never appeared in a major league game, failed the drug test while he was on the Rangers’ 40-man roster during spring training.

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Oriole pitcher Sidney Ponson has encountered difficulty getting a work permit to get into Canada, which means Baltimore might not have him for his scheduled start Sunday in Toronto.

Ponson was arrested in January in Florida for driving under the influence of alcohol, a case that is pending.

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The struggling Yankees will be hit with a record luxury tax this season.

Initial projections by the commissioner’s office based on opening-day rosters have the Yankees owing $30,637,531, according to information obtained by Associated Press.

Under the luxury tax formula, the Yankee payroll is $204.6 million.

The only other team projected to owe a tax is the World Series champion Red Sox, who would pay $969,177.

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Major league umpire Paul Schrieber is under investigation for an alleged assault on a flight attendant during a trip last weekend to Denver, two sources told Associated Press.

U.S. attorney’s spokesman Jeff Dorschner confirmed federal prosecutors are investigating allegations that a flight attendant was assaulted by a passenger Sunday. He said no decision has been made on whether charges would be filed.

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Giant slugger Barry Bonds has been unable to begin any baseball-related activities since the second arthroscopic operation on his right knee and no timetable has been set for his return.... The Seattle Mariners put infielder Scott Spiezio on the 15-day disabled because of a strained left oblique muscle and recalled outfielder Shin-Soo Choo from triple-A Tacoma.... The Toronto Blue Jays demoted struggling right-hander Brandon League to triple-A Syracuse and purchased the contract of Matt Whiteside, who will return to the major leagues for the first time in four years.... The Washington Nationals put right-hander T.J. Tucker on the 15-day disabled list because of a right groin pull and purchased the contract of right-hander Hector Carrasco from triple-A New Orleans. Tucker could be out four to six weeks.... The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed utility infielder Alfredo Amezaga off waivers from the Colorado Rockies.... The Arizona Diamondbacks signed left-hander Armando Almanza to a minor league contract and sent him to double-A Tennessee.