Braun drug test leak isolated case

The Major League Baseball players’ association believes the leak of National League MVP Ryan Braun’s drug test was an isolated occurrence.

ESPN reported in December that Braun tested positive for elevated testosterone. Representatives of the Milwaukee outfielder argued during a grievance hearing that specified procedures for handling the sample were not followed, and arbitrator Shyam Das last month overturned the 50-game suspension Braun faced.

“Everybody associated with the case is extremely disappointed that it leaked out,” union head Michael Weiner said Sunday at the Milwaukee Brewers’ training camp. “The leak was specific to this case. It does not threaten the confidentiality of the program. As I have said to players who have asked about that, confidentiality is important as any aspect of this program. The program has a bunch of different goals, but confidentiality is critical. If we felt that there was any systemwide problem with respect to confidentiality, we really would have a problem. And, that’s not the case.”

A day after Das issued his decision on Feb. 23, Major League Baseball executive vice president Rob Manfred said “we are convinced that the leak did not come from the commissioner’s office” and Weiner said “we are confident that it was not caused by the commissioner’s office, the MLBPA or anyone associated in any way with the program.”

A-Rod sparks Yanks

Alex Rodriguez homered on the first pitch he saw from Roy Halladay and later added an RBI double and single Sunday that sent the New York Yankees past the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 in Tampa, Fla.

Rodriguez, whose power numbers dropped last year during an injury-interrupted season, hit a solo home run to right in the first inning. He did not play Saturday in the Yankees’ exhibition opener.

Halladay allowed one run on two hits in two innings of work.

Cespedes joins A’s

Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes (Yo-EHN-ees SES-peh-des) worked out with the Oakland Athletics for the first time Sunday, taking batting practice with Manny Ramirez in Phoenix.

Cespedes’ signed a $36 million, four-year deal, the highest for a Cuban defector. The signing is a big splash for a low-budget franchise that outbid some big spenders for the slugging outfielder who starred for Cuba in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Clearing the bases

Oft-injured reliever Joel Zumaya has told the Minnesota Twins he’ll have reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in his latest comeback attempt. … Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Corey Hart needs surgery for a tear in his right knee that will sideline him for up to a month. … Former Seattle Mariners lefthander Erik Bedard struggled with his control in his debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He gave up two runs in two innings in an 8-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.