Major League Baseball roundup

[August 16, 2016]  Aug 15 (The Sports Xchange) - Alex Rodriguez will not be playing baseball for the rest of the season, his publicist confirmed on Monday.

"I want to put all this talk to rest about Alex playing for any team this season," publicist Ron Berkowitz wrote in a statement.

"It's not happening. Like he said Friday night, he is happy and he is going to take some time to relax and hang with his family and friends."

Rodriguez was released by the New York Yankees on Saturday, one day removed from playing his last game with the club at Yankee Stadium. The 41-year-old will move into a role as an adviser and instructor within the organization.

A three-time American League Most Valuable Player, Rodriguez's name had been linked to the Miami Marlins. He grew up in South Florida and still lives there.

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The Chicago Cubs issued a public apology for a song played by an employee as left-hander Aroldis Chapman walked off the mound during Sunday night's game at Wrigley Field.

Chapman worked a scoreless ninth inning in a 6-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals and exited to Prodigy's "Smack My (expletive) Up," drawing plenty of backlash on social media. The Cubs said that the employee has been fired.

"We apologize for the irresponsible music selection during our game last night," Cubs president of baseball operations Crane Kenney said in a statement.

"The selection of this track showed a lack of judgment and sensitivity to an important issue. We have terminated our relationship with the employee responsible for making the selection and will be implementing stronger controls to review and approve music before public broadcast during our games."

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The Seattle Mariners traded infielder Luis Sardinas to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Sardinas, 23, was designated for assignment by Seattle on Aug. 10.

Sardinas hit .181 with 12 runs, two home runs and five RBIs in 32 games during three stints with the Mariners this season. (Editing by Andrew Both)

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