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NEW YORK — Major League Baseball removed references to “diversity” from its MLB careers home page following an executive order by President Donald Trump that could lead to possible federal action against organizations using DEI programs in violation of his administration’s interpretation of civil rights law.

“Our values on diversity remain unchanged,” MLB said in a statement Friday. “We are in the process of evaluating our programs for any modifications to eligibility criteria that are needed to ensure our programs are compliant with federal law as they continue forward.”

The removal of the references was first reported by Cup of Coffee.

Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, who launched a diversity pipeline program in 2016, said following an owners meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, last month that MLB was evaluating the interpretation of law coming from the federal government.

“Our values, particularly our values on diversity, remain unchanged, but another value that is pretty important to us is we always try to comply with what the law is,” he said. “There seems to be an evolution going on here. We’re following that very carefully. Obviously, when things get a little more settled, we’ll examine each of our programs and make sure that while the values remain the same that we’re also consistent with what the law requires.”

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Phillies’ Strahm injures fingernail while packing

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Phillies' Strahm injures fingernail while packing

Perhaps too eager to depart from spring training, Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Matt Strahm did not pitch in the team’s Grapefruit League finale as expected Monday because of a finger injury that occurred while packing.

Strahm reportedly tore the fingernail on his left middle finger while getting ready to depart from the team’s spring home in Clearwater, Florida.

The injury is not expected to jeopardize Strahm’s Opening Day roster spot after he struggled in two spring training appearances by giving up six runs in 1⅔ innings. He dealt with a shoulder injury earlier in the spring.

The Phillies open the regular season on the road Thursday against the Washington Nationals.

Strahm went 6-2 with a 1.87 ERA in 66 relief appearances for the Phillies last season when he was named an All-Star for the first time. In nine major league seasons, he is 32-35 with a 3.44 ERA and nine saves in 329 appearances (35 starts) for the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox and Phillies.

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Phils’ Suarez to open season on IL with sore back

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Phils' Suarez to open season on IL with sore back

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez will open the season on the injured list as he recovers from lower back soreness.

The left-hander could be ready to pitch at some point next month, barring any issues, Philadelphia president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Monday.

“I don’t think it will be long, long,” Dombrowski told reporters prior to the team’s exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Rays. “But we’re going to be slow. We’re not going to bring him back until he feels good. And he feels good now, but now, we’re in that stage where we have to build him up.”

Suarez, 29, underwent testing after feeling tightness March 17, one day after pitching in an intrasquad game. He missed his planned start Friday.

With Suarez out, Taijuan Walker will be the Phillies’ fifth starter.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Dombrowski said. “It’s good to have somebody like that. I hope he pitches like he did a couple years ago. I don’t see why he can’t with what he has now.”

Suarez went 12-8 with a 3.46 ERA in 2024 and is entering his eighth major league season.

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Lefty Yarbrough signs 1-year deal with Yankees

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Lefty Yarbrough signs 1-year deal with Yankees

TAMPA — The New York Yankees have signed left-hander Ryan Yarbrough to a one-year contract, the team announced on Monday.

The deal is worth $2 million guaranteed with another $250,000 in performance bonuses, a source told ESPN.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees placed right-hander Luis Gil on the 60-day injured list with a right lat strain.

Yarbrough, 33, had been with the Toronto Blue Jays in spring training before opting out of his contract Sunday because he was informed that he wouldn’t make the team’s Opening Day roster. Yarbrough said the agreement came together between Sunday night and Monday morning. He said he chose the Yankees over other clubs.

The Yankees have not yet announced the signing. They must create a spot on their 40-man roster to make room for Yarbrough.

Yarbrough said the plan is for him to pitch for the Yankees in their final exhibition game Tuesday against the Miami Marlins. Yarbrough last pitched Tuesday for the Blue Jays. He threw 42 pitches across 1 ⅓ innings.

“At this point, ready to rock and roll,” said Yarbrough, who reported to the Yankees’ clubhouse Monday morning.

Yarbrough spent his first five-plus seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays and has since bounced around; the Yankees are his fifth team since the start of the 2023 season. Yarbrough, who is entering his eighth major-league season, said he was not yet informed how he will be used, though the Yankees are expected to use him as a reliever.

Yarbrough has made 68 starts in his career, but he has been mostly a long reliever in the majors. Last season, he compiled a 3.19 ERA over 98 ⅔ innings in 44 games, all in relief, for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Blue Jays as he continued to flummox hitters with an arsenal that didn’t include high-octane velocity from a three-quarters arm slot.

Yarbrough’s fastball averaged 86.2 mph last season, which ranked third-slowest among qualified pitchers. His 16.3% strikeout rate ranked in the sixth percentile.

“I think it’s just a weird look, something they’re not used to seeing,” Yarbrough said, “Especially from my slot and from the left side. And then I think the biggest thing has just been keeping guys off balance, multiple pitches, being able to throw them at any time. Just keeping guys guessing up there. Attacking guys and staying ahead.”

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