REYES ON PAID LEAVE

COLORADO ROCKIES shortstop Jose Reyes was placed on paid leave Tuesday under Major League Baseball's new domestic-violence policy pending completion of criminal proceedings. He will not report to spring training.

The 32-year-old Reyes, a four-time All-Star, was arrested in Hawaii at a Maui resort on Oct. 31 following an argument with his wife and pleaded not guilty to a charge of abuse of a family or household member. He was released after posting $1,000 bail and is scheduled for a trial starting April 4, the day the Rockies open the season at Arizona.

Reyes became the first player impacted by the policy, agreed to in August by MLB and the players' association following a series of high-profile domestic-violence cases involving NFL players. New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig also are under investigation.

MLB said commissioner Rob Manfred will not decide on possible discipline for Reyes until after the criminal proceedings and an MLB investigation. Discipline is not dependent on a criminal conviction.

* The Los Angeles Angels medical staff may suggest Albert Pujols won't be ready for the start of the regular season, but the slugger thinks otherwise. Smiling, pain free and eager to get the Angels back to the playoffs, Pujols arrived at spring training optimistic in his recovery from offseason surgery on his right foot.

"My target is Opening Day," Pujols said. "I'm going to do whatever I have to do in spring training to get ready for Opening Day and see how it goes from there."

Pujols has been swinging a bat for about a month. He's done some running, but hasn't done any fielding. And while the three-time NL MVP said that's not unusual for any offseason, he acknowledged he's open to spending more time at designated hitter instead of first base if that means he'll stay healthy.

Pujols has had plantar fasciitis issues throughout his career.

In another matter, lefthander C.J. Wilson will be shut down for a few days with tendinitis in his throwing shoulder, a setback in his return from elbow surgery.

* San Diego Padres bench coach Mark McGwire is absent from spring training while he takes care of family matters in Southern California.