Friday's baseball: Tigers’ minor leaguer Gregory Soto suspended 20 games

Detroit — Tigers minor league pitcher Gregory Soto has been suspended 20 games without pay by Major League Baseball under a provision of the sport’s collective bargaining agreement allowing discipline for conduct detrimental or prejudicial to the sport.

The 23-year-old left-hander’s suspension resulted from an agreement with the players’ association, a person familiar with the discipline told the Associated Press on Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity because no statement was authorized. The person said the suspension was not related to gambling.

Soto’s discipline also could not be because of drugs or domestic violence, which are covered by other agreements between MLB and the union.

Soto’s agent, Willie Joe Ronda, did not have any comment on the suspension.

A member of the Tigers’ 40-man major league roster, Soto was Detroit’s minor league pitcher of the year in 2017, going 12-2 with a 2.25 ERA for West Michigan and Lakeland, two Class A teams. But last season he was only 8-8 with a 4.45 ERA for Lakeland.

Detroit signed Soto to a minor league contract in 2012.

Romine lands with Phillies

Former Tigers utilityman Andrew Romine has signed a minor-league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, according to reports.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today was the first to report the transaction.

Romine, 33, has appeared in 581 games over nine major league seasons, four of those with Tigers from 2014-17 where he batted .236 with 10 home runs and 68 RBIs while playing in all outfield and infield positions. He also pitched and made one appearance in a 2017 game behind the plate. He spent last season with Mariners, appearing in 72 games and hitting .210 (25-for-119).

Romine started his career with the Angels he played from 2010-13.