SAN DIEGO — Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said this week at baseball’s winter meetings that red flags in a potential free agent or trade acquisition’s background, depending on their degree, could be disqualifying.

With the Orioles’ middle infield needs as significant as they are, there’s been speculation that former Chicago Cubs All-Star shortstop Addison Russell could be an option on a short-term deal. Russell was suspended for part of 2018 and 2019 under Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy for allegations made by his wife.

“We’re always looking at case-by-case aspects about players’ backgrounds and reputations and makeup, and we would generally speaking weigh that into the evaluation,” Elias said. “But that said, I do think there are certain degrees of background issues that can and would rule out players for us in any market.”

While players in similar circumstances have been given chances to continue their career — Houston Astros closer Roberto Osuna was acquired in 2018 while suspended under the same policy — Elias seemed to indicate the relative low stakes of the 2020 Orioles season wouldn’t sway a decision on such a player one way or another.

In that sense, the fact the Orioles won’t be contending could be interpreted as a signal that they can take a risk on such a player, or that a player with any kind of red flags wouldn’t be worth the risk for a team with such modest ambitions anyway.

Baltimore as a sports town is no stranger to such questions after the charges against Ravens running back Ray Rice for domestic violence in 2014, an episode that brought violence against women to the forefront in sports locally and nationally.

MLB announcements

on drugs, draft

MLB announced Thursday that minor-league players would no longer be subject to testing for marijuana, effective at the beginning of spring training.

The decision to remove marijuana from the drug of abuse category in drug testing puts the minor-league system on the same level as the major-league system, while all players going forward will be tested for opioids, fentanyl, cocaine and synthetic THC. Those testing positive will only face discipline if they fail to cooperate with an evaluation and treatment program.

Additionally, Commissioner Rob Manfred announced this week that the MLB draft will be held in Omaha, Nebraska, in concert with the College World Series in June.

Instead of beginning Monday, June 8, it will begin Wednesday, June 10, to accommodate players who are still competing in their collegiate seasons.