Selig Calls for Probe Into McKeon’s Hire

Commissioner Bud Selig told his staff to investigate whether the Florida Marlins followed minority-hiring guidelines when they replaced manager Jeff Torborg with Jack McKeon on Saturday.

In April 1999, Selig sent a letter to all big league clubs requiring them to notify him about certain job vacancies, including manager. Teams are to provide Selig with a list of minority candidates, and the commissioner’s office reviews the names before anyone is hired.

Florida General Manager Larry Beinfest has declined to say whether other candidates were considered before the Marlins hired McKeon, 72, a former major league manager with several teams.

The Marlins could be fined if it’s determined they failed to follow Selig’s guidelines. He has the power to fine teams up to $2 million.

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Houston Astro infielder Julio Lugo cleared waivers and was given his unconditional release.

Lugo was arrested April 30 and charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly attacking his wife.

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A federal judge in Miami ordered Major League Baseball to give her court 90 days’ notice of any attempt to move or sell the Montreal Expos.

The order was issued as part of a lawsuit by former limited partners of the Expos against former controlling owner Jeffrey Loria, Selig and several other baseball officials.

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Tampa Bay Devil Ray prospect Josh Hamilton will sit out the rest of the season after being granted permission to leave the organization to handle unspecified personal problems.

Hamilton, who received a $3.96-million signing bonus as the first overall pick in the 1999 amateur draft, said he took off six weeks during spring training to seek counseling for depression caused by a serious illness in his family.

The 21-year-old outfielder has yet to play a full season in the minor leagues because of injuries.

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Major League Baseball’s political action committee contributed $108,000 to 65 congressional candidates last year, much of it to incumbents who sit on committees of strategic interest to the sport.