MLB Suspends Padres GM Preller 30 Days Over Pomeranz Trade
BOSTON (AP) — Major League Baseball suspended San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller for 30 days without pay, an unprecedented punishment for what an official said was a failure to disclose medical information when pitcher Drew Pomeranz was traded to the Red Sox in July.
The official, who had been briefed on the decision to suspend Preller, spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the matter.
The commissioner's office announced the discipline on Thursday but did not elaborate on what Preller did wrong. Red Sox owner John Henry had confirmed to the Boston Herald that the commissioner's office was investigating whether all medical records were provided before the trade; the team declined to comment on Thursday.
It's not the first time Preller has run afoul of the commissioner's office: As an assistant with the Texas Rangers, he was suspended for a month for violating baseball's international signing rules.
While baseball has suspended owners, including George Steinbrenner of the Yankees and Marge Schott of the Reds, for transgressions ranging from racism to gambling and other skullduggery deemed not in the best interest of baseball, it was believed to be the first time a general manager had been benched for hiding medical information from a trade partner.
It's not the only instance this summer a trade by Preller has been affected by a medical issue: A deadline deal that sent pitcher Colin Rea to Miami was effectively reversed after Rea was unable to make it through his first start with the Marlins because of an elbow injury.
After Rea was sent back to San Diego, Marlins president of baseball operations Mike Hill said that the teams exchanged medical records before the trade.
"When we made the trade there was no concerns," he said.
The Padres traded Pomeranz to Boston on July 14 for right-handed prospect Anderson Espinoza. An All-Star in San Diego, Pomeranz has been inconsistent in Boston with a 2-5 record and 4.60 ERA in 13 starts since the July 14 trade.
MLB said it conducted an investigation into the deal, interviewing individuals from both clubs, and submitted the findings to Commissioner Rob Manfred.
AP Sports Writer Howie Rumberg contributed to this story from New York and AP Sports Writer Bernie Wilson contributed from San Diego.
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