Sports briefs
Wild Things sign second baseman
The Washington Wild Things announced Monday that they have signed second baseman John Sansone, a former WPIAL standout who played college baseball at Florida State and professionally for four years.
The 26-year-old Sansone played at Neshannock High School before playing second base for Florida State for four years, hitting better than .300 in his final two seasons with the Seminoles. He was drafted in the eighth round by the Cincinnati Reds in 2016 and played 248 games, the majority of them at third base, in the Reds’ system over three years before being released.
Last year, Sansone played for Lincoln in the independent American Association and batted .225 with six home runs in 47 games.
Washington alos announced that it has placed pitcher Nick Wegmann and infielder Stephen Lohr on the inactive list. Wegmann was 6-8 with a 3.93 ERA in 19 starts last season.
Jags waive Lee
The Jacksonville Jaguars waived oft-injured receiver Marqise Lee on Monday to create nearly $5 million in salary cap space.
The 28-year-old Lee had been due to make $6.25 million this season and would have counted $8.75 million against Jacksonville’s salary cap.
Jacksonville with take on $3.5 million in dead money in 2020 by cutting him. The team also waived running back Taj McGowan.
MLB can cut pay starting May 1
Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has made a move that allows teams to lay off or cut the pay of major and minor league managers, coaches, trainers and full-time scouts starting May 1.
Manfred has suspended uniform employee contracts that cover about 9,000 people, including general managers on some teams. Manfred cited the inability to play games due to the national emergency caused by the new coronavirus pandemic.
“Our clubs rely heavily on revenue from tickets/concessions, broadcasting/media, licensing and sponsorships to pay salaries,” Manfred wrote in an email Monday, a copy of which was obtained by the Associated Press. “In the absence of games, these revenue streams will be lost or substantially reduced, and clubs will not have sufficient funds to meet their financial obligations.”
“The impact of the suspension of the UEC on your personal employment situation will be determined by your club,” Manfred said.
No major hangups with NFL’s test draft
The NFL’s practice draft Monday to test technology and communications for the real thing beginning Thursday night had no major hangups.
There were some technical glitches at the outset, when the Cincinnati Bengals were making the first selection, and at various spots, several people involved in the virtual test told the Associated Press.
Commissioner Roger Goodell earlier this month warned team executives not to be critical of the process, nor of the league’s decision to go ahead with the draft as scheduled April 23-25.
But general managers John Lynch of the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers was satisfied with the proceedings.
“I think we used it as another opportunity to focus on internally,” Lynch said. “I think the chatter out and about that I understand is going on, that it really wasn’t in a good situation, I didn’t really see that. I think early there were a couple of hitches. That’s why we do practice trial runs.”
The challenges, as noted by several people involved, included too much background noise; team personnel talking over others; and timing issues.