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Giants CEO Baer takes leave of absence

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco Giants President and CEO Larry Baer was granted a leave of absence from the team on Monday following the release last week of a video showing him in a physical altercation with his wife.

The Giants board of directors released a statement that said Baer had made a request that was accepted to take personal time away from the team in response to the video released by TMZ showing the altercation in a San Francisco park between Baer and his wife, Pam.

“Mr. Baer has acknowledged that his behavior was unacceptable, apologized to the organization and is committed to taking steps to make sure that this never happens again,” the statement said.

The Giants executive team, including president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, will manage the day-to-day operations. The other members of that team are executive vice president of business operations Mario Alioto, executive vice president and general counsel Jack Bair, executive vice president of administration Alfonso Felder, and executive vice president of communications Staci Slaughter.

The team didn’t designate one point person to be in charge of the organization during Baer’s absence.

Kershaw makes progress

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says Clayton Kershaw is making steady progress in his recovery from left shoulder inflammation, but the ace may not be ready to start opening day.

Kershaw threw on flat ground Monday. The three-time Cy Young Award winner hasn’t thrown off a mound since he felt discomfort in his throwing shoulder nearly two weeks ago. He’s taking anti-inflammatory medication.

The Dodgers open the season on March 28 at home against Arizona. Kershaw has started a franchise-record eight consecutive times on opening day.

Roberts conceded that Kershaw’s shoulder issues and the 24 days until the season starts might have set him back too far to be ready.

Twins tab Berrios

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Jose Berrios will be Minnesota’s opening day starter, the first such assignment for the 24-year-old right-hander.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli announced the decision to reporters on Monday, a natural honor for the team’s only All-Star last season. Berrios posted a career-best 3.84 ERA last year, his third in the major leagues, with 202 strikeouts in 192 • innings.

When the Twins host Cleveland to start the season on March 28, Berrios will be the youngest opening day starter for the team since 24-year-old Brad Radke in 1997. Jake Odorizzi started on opening day in 2018, with Ervin Santana taking the honor in 2016 and 2017.

Elsewhere in MLB:

n The Texas Rangers acquired outfielder Zack Granite from Minnesota for right-hander Xavier Moore and $50,000, and the Twins dealt Moore to the Baltimore Orioles for $750,000 in 2019-20 international signing bonus pool allocation.

Granite was designated for assignment last week to clear a roster spot when Minnesota signed Marwin Gonzalez. Granite hit .237 in 40 games for the Twins in 2018, then batted .211 in 68 games for Triple-A Rochester in a season cut short because of a torn rotator cuff.

Moore, 20, had a 5.30 ERA last year in 13 relief appearances for the Arizona League Rangers and Spokane Indians.

n Retired pitchers Al Leiter and John Franco have been hired as baseball operations advisers by the New York Mets.

Leiter, a broadcaster since his last season in 2005, will be involved with scouting, player development and pitchers’ mental preparation.

Franco will scout and assist pitchers. The Mets said he will also continue in the club ambassador role he has held since 2010.

n With Mike Foltynewicz slowed by a sore right elbow, Julio Teheran could make his sixth straight opening-day start for the Atlanta Braves.

Teheran made his 2019 exhibition debut Monday, pitching three innings in a 4-3 loss to Houston.

The 28-year-old right-hander allowed three runs — two earned — and three hits. His fastball reached 94 mph, and he struck out four, including three on sliders.

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