Source: MLB probing Cosart for gambling ties

MAJOR LEAGUE Baseball is looking into possible sports-related gambling ties involving Miami Marlins pitcher Jarred Cosart, a league official confirmed to ESPN.com and the

Miami New Times

yesterday.

The 24-year-old righthander, whom the Phillies traded to Houston in the 2011 Hunter Pence trade, allegedly exchanged multiple direct messages with a gambling authority on his Twitter account. The interaction became public and created a social-media storm when it was shared on the site by a third party. Cosart deleted his official Twitter account after screen shots of the exchange began appearing on the Internet on Tuesday night.

Cosart said yesterday that his initial Twitter account had been hacked to create direct-message conversations about his alleged gambling. MLB spokesman Pat Courtney confirmed that the commissioner's office is investigating the matter, which was first reported by the Miami New Times.

It's unclear whether the allegations involving Cosart revolve around baseball betting or sports betting in general. MLB Rule 21 prohibits gambling on baseball.

Courtney confirmed that it is not against MLB rules for players to legally gamble on sports other than baseball.

The Marlins acquired Cosart from Houston in a seven-player trade in July and have plugged him into their starting rotation this spring. He is 0-2 with an 8.49 ERA in four exhibition games.

* Andrew McCutchen's trademark dreadlocks won't be heading north with the rest of the Pirates star. The 2013 National League MVP spent a portion of his team's off day yesterday at the mercy of his barber, who clipped off McCutchen's long locks. McCutchen posted a video on YouTube saying "it was time for a new change" before showing the process. McCutchen says he will auction off the dreadlocks through mlb.com, with all proceeds going to Pirates charities.

* New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says Alex Rodriguez is making a case to be the team's full-time designated hitter and Adam Warren has taken a big lead to become the fifth starter.

Rodriguez, who turns 40 in July, is returning from a 1-year drug suspension. A-Rod entered yesterday hitting .286 (8 for 28) with two homers. "He's done well," Cashman said. "A lot of life in his bat."

Warren made 69 appearances out of the bullpen last season, going 3-6 with 2.97 ERA.

* Third baseman Anthony Rendon may miss Washington's opener against the New York Mets on April 6 because of a sprained left knee. Rendon hasn't played since March 9. The problem has lingered, and Rendon underwent a second MRI Tuesday on his medial collateral ligament. Manager Matt Williams said Rendon's knee has improved but still is sore. Rendon hit .287 with 21 homers last year, when he led the NL with 111 runs and finished fifth in MVP voting. Ian Stewart has been the primary third baseman in his absence.

* Tigers star Miguel Cabrera played the field for the first time this spring, doing fine at first base as Detroit beat the Miami Marlins, 8-4. Cabrera had been limited to designated-hitter duty while recovering from ankle surgery.

* New York Mets righthander Zack Wheeler had Tommy John surgery, which likely will sideline him until late next spring.

* Linebacker/outfielder Brandon Magee told the Tampa Bay Times he was on his way to the Boston Red Sox camp in Fort Myers, Fla., after being released by the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers yesterday morning.