Baseball Capsules: Rivera adds to legacy as elite closer

NEW YORK - Mariano Rivera has seen all the histrionics by some closers. It's fine, he said, because it's part of their personalities.

Rivera has his own way of celebrating a big save for the Yankees.

"I go home," he said. "Simple as that. As quick as I finish, I go home."

Rivera went home Sunday night with his 500th save, getting four outs in a 4-2 victory over the Mets to become the second major leaguer to reach the milestone. He also got his first career RBI with a bases-loaded walk against Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth.

"I don't know if we'll ever see another Mariano Rivera," manager Joe Girardi said. "I really don't believe we will."

The 39-year-old reliever's landmark save featured some of the mettle that has made him so reliable over the years. He threw a called third strike past Omir Santos with runners on first and third to end the eighth, bending his cutter to the inside corner.

Daniel Murphy blooped a two-out single in the ninth, but Rivera retired Alex Cora on a bouncer to second.

"He makes everything so easy," Rodriguez said, "and I know as a closer it's not easy, at all."

Rivera got the ball and a hug from first baseman Mark Teixeira after the final out. Other Yankees soon made their way to the infield near first to congratulate the backbone of four World Series championship teams and 10 division title winners.

"As far as I'm concerned, the success that this organization has had over the last 14 years, he's probably the biggest reason," Andy Pettitte said. "I don't think anybody gives enough credit to how hard it is to close games out."

Rivera has saved 59 of Pettitte's 222 wins, a major league record for a closer-starter combo and just one in a slew of staggering numbers from the right-hander's career. It was his 110th save of four outs or more - an unheard of total with today's closers rarely required to pitch more than an inning. He has blown just 13 regular-season save chances since 2005 and 61 in 15 major league seasons.

Rivera also has proven himself on baseball's biggest stage, going 8-1 with a 0.77 ERA and a major league-record 34 saves in the postseason.

"It's very, very difficult to be consistent year in and year out," Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. "He's been consistent every year."

Rivera, Jeter, Pettitte and Jorge Posada came up through the minors together. Rivera was a starter when he made it to the majors in 1995 and went 5-3 with a 5.51 ERA in 19 games, 10 starts, in his first season with New York.

Girardi was traded to the Yankees in November 1995 and first saw Rivera pitch when he caught him early in spring training.

"I remember asking myself, 'Who's this guy?' because I was like 'Wow, he's got great stuff,'" the manager said. "He burst on the scene in '96 and was as dominant as any reliever I've ever seen."

Rivera teamed with John Wetteland to give the Yankees a dominant presence at the back end of games as New York won its first World Series title in 18 years. He was 8-3 with a 2.09 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 107 2-3 innings, helping Wetteland finish with an AL-best 43 saves.

Rivera earned his first big league save that year, too. He finished Pettitte's 8-5 victory over the California Angels on May 17, 1996, getting Garret Anderson to ground into a game-ending double play. Girardi and Jeter each had two hits and an RBI in the game.

"I was just happy to be in the big leagues," Rivera said. "I wasn't thinking to achieve anything, just be in the big leagues and do the best that I could for my team and everything (else), just blessings from above. I didn't expect any of this."

Wetteland was the World Series MVP but the Yankees let him leave as a free agent, handing the job to an untested Rivera. He responded with 43 saves and a 1.88 ERA before stumbling in the postseason, when he surrendered Sandy Alomar Jr.'s tying homer in Game 4 of New York's first-round loss to Cleveland.

He didn't blow another postseason save opportunity until Luis Gonzalez's game-ending single in the ninth inning of 2001 World Series Game 7.

"It's pretty amazing what he's been able to do with pretty much a fastball," Posada said. "It just tells you how well he locates his pitches and his demeanor never changes, going good or bad. He's always the same, very competitive. Best in the business."

The Yankees gave Rivera a $45 million, three-year contract after the 2007 season. He had shoulder surgery Oct. 7 but has showed no signs of slowing down, lowering his ERA to 2.93 with the 1 1-3 scoreless innings against the Mets. He is 1-0 with six saves and a 1.23 ERA in his last seven games.

Brewers closer Trevor Hoffman, who entered Monday night's game against the Mets with 571 saves, was hoping to congratulate Rivera.

"I'm a fan of the game and I've been a bit in awe of what he's been able to do." Hoffman said. "I've admired a lot of his career, admired it from afar."

Speculation about Rivera's future runs rampant at the end of each season, but the Panamanian isn't interested in retirement speculation or overtaking Hoffman for the saves lead.

Rivera has said repeatedly he's all about helping the Yankees win another World Series.

"To become the greatest closer of all-time in the largest city in the world, under the most pressure and scrutiny that you can have - with one pitch, to boot - it's just amazing," general manager Brian Cashman said.

And it almost didn't happen. There was some debate before the 1996 season about whether Jeter was ready to become the everyday shortstop and the Yankees considered trading Rivera to the Seattle Mariners for Felix Fermin. They concluded Jeter was ready.

"We thought we didn't need a shortstop," Cashman said. "We did not know we were sitting on a Hall of Famer."

Indians add Perez, Barfield sent to minors

CLEVELAND - Chris Perez jumped leagues and went backward in the standings. In three days, the reliever went from first place to last.

Acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals to help Cleveland's dreadful bullpen, Perez, a right-hander with a fastball in the mid-90s, was added to the roster on Monday as the last-place Indians opened a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox.

"This is a great opportunity for me," said Perez, dealt to Cleveland on Saturday for third baseman Mark DeRosa and a player to be named. "Hopefully, I can help turn things around here a little bit."

The Indians entered the week 12 games out in the AL Central, a hole they fell into in part because of a bullpen that has blown 13 of 26 save chances. Last week, they acquired Jose Veras from the New York Yankees and have now added Perez, who had one save for the Cardinals and aspires to be a major league closer.

"That's my goal and that's what keeps me working hard," he said. "But we have Kerry Wood and by no means am I here to take his job. I'm here to try and help him."

Perez was 1-1 with one save and a 4.18 ERA in 29 relief appearances for St. Louis. He allowed only two of 15 inherited runners to score. But as the Cardinals attempted to trade him, Perez's appearances became increasingly sporadic in recent weeks.

He said rumors about him going to Cleveland had been swirling for weeks, but the Cardinals never told him he was on the trading block. Perez said his father, Tim, kept him up to date on trade rumblings.

Perez anticipated a possible move, but that didn't soften the blow when he was told to pack his things.

"It was kind of a surprise," said Perez, drafted by the Cardinals in 2006 - one pick after the New York Yankees selected Joba Chamberlain. "I thought I might be going to Oakland."

To make roster room for Perez, the Indians optioned infielder Josh Barfield to Triple-A Columbus. Barfield began the season on the 25-man roster but has been optioned three times.

Perez was brought up by the Cardinals late last season when St. Louis' bullpen was going through problems similar to the ones the Indians are experiencing. Perez, who will turn 24 on Wednesday, took over the closer's role during the final 2½ months of the season and saved seven games.

Indians manager Eric Wedge plans to ease Perez into the relief mix - if possible. The Indians need to string some wins together before a season with modest expectations is written off completely.

Wedge said the DeRosa trade does not signal the club's intent to look to the future. The Indians have been ravaged by injuries to key players such as All-Stars Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez, designated hitter Travis Hafner and infielder Asdrubal Cabrera. Also, starter Fausto Carmona and reliever Rafael Perez, two mainstays on the 2007 club that came within one win of the World Series, have struggled.

The Indians are getting healthier, and Wedge is optimistic his team can improve.

He thinks the moves to get Veras and Perez will help.

"We're trying to put the pieces together that are going to help solve our bullpen," he said. "We've got to get it figured out. It starts with our starting pitching. We know that they have to do a better job of getting us deeper in a game, but when you're in position to win games you've got to win those games. That's your bullpen.

"There is so much season left. We still have a long way to go. Everybody has to look forward. We got our guys back and we're trying to get our bullpen figured out and we're going to get some starting pitching back soon, too. We've got to take all that for a spin and see if we can make a run at this thing."

-- Tom Withers

Red Sox 3B Lowell has fluid drained, hip injection

BALTIMORE - Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell had fluid drained from his ailing right hip Monday in Boston, and received an injection that might relieve inflammation in his surgically repaired joint.

The Red Sox will wait at least a couple of days to determine whether the treatment was successful or whether Lowell needs to be placed on the disabled list, manager Terry Francona said before Monday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles.

"The worst case scenario: He goes on the DL just to buy us a couple of weeks and get him for the second part of the season," Francona said. "We can also wait a few day ... We're just kind of in a waiting mode."

Francona said Lowell had an injection of Synvisc - a gel-like substance that sometimes provides relief for inflamed tissue. He said Lowell will undergo therapy there Tuesday before the team decides how to proceed.

"(Lowell) had 15 CCs of fluid taken out, which for a hip, I think, is pretty extensive. I think that's going to really help," Francona said.

Lowell had successful arthroscopic surgery on the hip last October. He is hitting .282 with 10 home runs and 41 RBIs, but has not played since appearing as a pinch-hitter Saturday.

Francona suggested it was unlikely Lowell would rejoin the Red Sox in Baltimore, where the teams play a day game Wednesday. The Red Sox are off Thursday before opening a three-game home series against Seattle on Friday.

Santana could return to Angels rotation by weekend

ARLINGTON - Ervin Santana could be back in the rotation for the Los Angeles Angels by the weekend.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said the right-hander had no problems during a 45-pitch rehab assignment Sunday night in the Arizona Summer League.

"He's excited," Scioscia said Monday before the AL West-leading Angels opened a three-game series in Texas. "He threw all his pitches, no pain, maintained his velocity ... had plenty of fastball. It's positive. We'll see how he comes out of the next couple days and add him to the rotation."

An All-Star last season, Santana is 1-3 with a 7.47 ERA in six starts this year. He missed the first six weeks of the season with a sprained ligament in his right elbow and has been out since June 12 due to an inflamed right triceps.

Santana was with the Angels on Monday and will throw a bullpen session Wednesday. If that goes well, Scioscia said Santana could be activated from the 15-day disabled list and pitch as soon as Friday.

During his latest rehab start Sunday night, Santana's fastball was clocked from 91-93 mph, just short of midseason form.

Santana went 16-7 with a 3.49 ERA in 32 starts last season. His return could be a major boost for the Angels.

"It's important to us," Scioscia said. "Not only do we need him back, we need him active and that's what hopefully we're moving toward. Your rotation is vital to any team, and having such a big piece out for so long has been tough."

A's starter Outman to have elbow surgery Tuesday

OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland Athletics rookie left-hander Josh Outman will have surgery on his pitching elbow Tuesday.

The Athletics didn't immediately announce the severity of the surgery or a timetable for Outman's return.

Outman visited with Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Monday. Outman was transferred to the 60-day disabled list a day earlier, signaling the club expects a lengthy recovery period.

Outman was a rare bright spot for the last-place A's this season, going 4-1 with a 3.48 ERA. He left his last start in San Diego on June 19 in the second inning with what the team called a sprained elbow.

Before the A's opened a three-game series against Detroit, the club recalled outfielder Travis Buck from Triple-A Sacramento and optioned infielder Jack Hannahan.

Buck, who wasn't expected to arrive in time for Monday's game, made the A's opening day roster before going on the disabled list May 30 with a strained left oblique muscle. He was batting .350 during his rehab assignment, and the A's are near the bottom of the AL in several offensive categories.

Twins Gardenhire ejected against Royals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has been ejected in the sixth inning for arguing whether a ball hit Jason Kubel's foot in Monday night's game against Kansas City.

With one out in the sixth, Kubel hit a grounder that appeared to hit his foot. Home plate umpire Larry Vanover ruled the ball fair and Royals first baseman Mike Jacobs made the put out at first.

Gardenhire argued calmly for about a minute, then pulled off his hat and became heated when Vanover wouldn't check with third base ump Charlie Reliford to see if the ball hit Kubel's foot.

Gardenhire threw his hat down after being ejected and argued some more before leaving the field. It was his sixth ejection this season, 44th overall.

Guillen scratched against Twins

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Royals right fielder Jose Guillen was out of the lineup Monday against Minnesota and could miss another game with a stiff left side.

Royals manager Trey Hillman says the stiffness starts in Guillen's lower back and runs up his entire left side. Guillen has been playing through the off-and-on problem, but Hillman decided to give him some time off with the team set to play 15 straight days.

Guillen is hitting .257 with eight homers and 33 RBIs.

National League

Bumbling Diamondbacks lead the majors in errors 

PHOENIX - When Arizona manager A.J. Hinch recently ordered extra fielding practice before games, he stressed that it was "maintenance," not punishment.

Maybe it's time for punishment.

Even with the extra work, the only thing the Diamondbacks have maintained is their knack for kicking and throwing the ball all over the field. Arizona entered Monday, a day off, with 71 errors, most in the major leagues.

The Diamondbacks' woes afield were revealed again in an ugly 12-8 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon in Chase Field. Arizona committed four errors, including three in the fifth inning to match a franchise record.

"We imploded," Hinch said.

The errors led to six unearned runs as the AL West-leading Angels cashed in on Arizona's incompetence.

In a five-run fifth, Arizona first baseman Mark Reynolds dropped a throw, right fielder Justin Upton dropped a line drive and second baseman Felipe Lopez let a grounder go through his legs as the Chase Field crowd of 25,684 erupted into boos.

"I don't have a lot of explanations for how that stuff happens at this level," Hinch said.

Sunday's blunders were a frustratingly familiar refrain for the NL West cellar-dwellers, who are on pace for 95 losses. It seems as if the Diamondbacks can't catch a break - or anything else for that matter.

"Over this last two or three weeks in particular, we've had an inning or two where seemingly the wheels have fallen off the bus," first baseman Tony Clark said.

In Saturday's 2-1 loss to Los Angeles, the Angels' first run came on a play typically seen on Little League diamonds. Pitcher Doug Davis fielded Erick Aybar's bunt but had to double-clutch the throw while waiting for Lopez to cover first. Davis fired the ball behind Lopez and into foul territory behind first base.

Upton fielded the ball and then overthrew Reynolds at third base, and Aybar came around to score as the ball rolled into foul territory behind third.

"So much happened on that play it is hard to pick on one thing or another. It was just a horrible baseball play," Hinch said.

On June 21 at Seattle, the Mariners completed a three-game sweep when first baseman Clark dropped a routine two-out throw with the score tied in the ninth, allowing the winning run to score.

The mistakes have left the Diamondbacks groping for answers. They reject suggestions that players have given up as a team that expected to contend has nosedived in the standings.

"I don't think it's a lack of effort," Clark said. "You hang around the game long enough, unfortunately, you're going to end up seeing some things you haven't seen before."

This much seems certain: the Diamondbacks have paid a price for not re-signing second baseman Orlando Hudson, who won two of his three Gold Gloves with Arizona.

The Diamondbacks replaced Hudson with Lopez, who has committed nine errors in 69 games - a pace that would give him 19 errors this season. Hudson entered Monday with four errors in 75 games for the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.

Hudson was a strong clubhouse presence as well as a gifted fielder. On Sunday, Lopez and Upton both declined to speak to reporters after the game.

Augie Ojeda, who also had an error on Sunday, was one of the few players in the clubhouse when the media was allowed in. Ojeda urged his teammates to "take some pride."

"We just have to go out there and do it for ourselves," Ojeda said. "We're professionals. We get paid a lot of money. We have to go out there and produce."

Lopez and Upton aren't the only Diamondbacks who have struggled defensively. Reynolds, the team's leading home run hitter, has proved to be as dangerous in the field as he is at the plate.

Injuries have forced Hinch to move Reynolds between third and first base, and Reynolds seems uncomfortable in both places, with eight errors at third base and five at first base. A year ago, Reynolds had a team-high 35 errors, all but one at third base.

Hinch said he senses that players have been pressing, and that they try to atone for a mistake and end up compounding it. He hopes his team will relax when it opens a six-game road trip at Cincinnati on Tuesday night.

"I think the mistakes start to pile up on us at times," Hinch said. "But regardless of what the source is, at this level, those mistakes get exposed. They can cause you to lose, and we're finding those ways too often."

-- Andrew Bagnato 

Wellemeyer to make next start

ST. LOUIS - It's been a horrible June for Todd Wellemeyer. He'll get at least one more chance to turn things around.

The right-hander lasted only 2 1/3 innings Saturday against the Twins, requiring a major bailout effort from the bullpen, and is 1-3 with a 6.82 ERA in six starts this month. Pitching coach Dave Duncan said Wellemeyer is battling mechanical problems, and the pitcher said he's been thinking too much lately.

Wellemeyer's spot could be in danger before long. Kyle Lohse could rejoin the rotation from the 15-day disabled list after a rehab start on Thursday at Double-A Springfield and Brad Thompson, the scheduled starter Monday night against the Giants, has pitched well in place of Lohse.

Wellemeyer, who was 13-9 with a 3.71 ERA in a breakout 2008, knows he has to start producing.

"I need to pitch well to stay in here," Wellemeyer said. "I've always felt that way. I'm just going to have to get my mechanics down and go out there next time and battle again."

Before the Cardinals turned him into a starter a little over two seasons ago, Wellemeyer was a journeyman reliever. If his form doesn't smooth out soon, Wellemeyer realizes he might have to go back to the bullpen.

"If we get to a point where we need to switch it up, then it could be something like that," he said. "I just want to keep battling and see if I can get through this."

Pitching coach Dave Duncan described Wellemeyer's predicament as fighting against himself.

"He's not making pitches, and when you're not making pitches you don't have the confidence you need," Duncan said. "It's just a matter of working to get the delivery straightened out so he can execute."

Manager Tony La Russa said Wellemeyer was "searching" for consistency.

"He pitches careful and gets upset," the manager said. "He knows he's struggling but also knows he has a lot of talent."

Wellemeyer has been struggling with his mechanics since spring training, feeling comfortable off and on with a handful of dominating starts outnumbered by the uneven outings. Lately, he said it's been an inning to inning proposition.

Sometimes, he's missing by a little and getting victimized by bad breaks. Other times he's way off and luck is no factor.

"There's some games I've felt decent," Wellemeyer said. "Then, I'll just try to get back and do it again and I might be pushing too hard to feel that same way instead of letting it come to me."

It's gotten to the point where he'll find himself thinking about keys to his delivery, where his front foot should land for instance, while making a pitch.

"I can't do that. There's times for mechanics and that's in-between starts," Wellemeyer said. "It's just getting over that hump now, that's all it's going to take."

Last year, Wellemeyer playing golf helped him deal with the pressure to perform every five days. He was considering trying that again to ease the frustration that goes with his woes.

"If the mechanics aren't there, you start pressing," he said. "You think 'Why am I not throwing a strike? What am I doing wrong?' You go once every five days and you want to make the best of it."

-- R.B. Fallstrom 

Cards' Greene goes back on DL with anxiety

ST. LOUIS - Even when Khalil Greene homered in his first three games after going on the 15-day disabled list with social anxiety disorder, St. Louis manager Tony La Russa held off celebrating.

"When he had success in Kansas City, that wasn't really the test," La Russa said. "The test is when you struggle and how you handle it."

Greene scuffled the next five games, going 1 for 17 with five strikeouts, and the anxiety resurfaced. The Cardinals placed him on the DL for a second time on Monday.

"We just felt it was a move we had to make to get him away from it again," La Russa said.

General manager John Mozeliak said Greene would not be with the team for perhaps two weeks.

"We're just going to give him a little time to figure out what's best," Mozeliak said. "We have to be patient."

The Cardinals purchased the contract of 24-year-old righty Clayton Mortensen from Triple-A Memphis. That move restores pitching staff to 13 after one day with a dozen following the acquisition of Mark DeRosa from the Indians.

Greene, acquired in the offseason from the Padres, is batting .200 with five home runs and 19 RBIs. His eight errors are one off the team high despite playing in only 47 games. He was activated from the DL on June 18 after missing 19 games.

La Russa didn't want to comment much on Greene's woes. Greene broke his left hand last July, ending his season prematurely, after he punched a wall near the dugout.

"It's delicate enough to where I think it's really not in good taste to talk about it," the manager said. "It's personal and it involves his profession but I'm not going to get into it.

"I don't think that does anybody any good."

La Russa did say that Greene was in agreement, adding, "He knows we're doing it in his best interests."

Mortensen is the 14th rookie with the Cardinals this season, and would be the eighth to make his major league debut. He was a supplemental first-round pick of the Cardinals in 2007 and is 7-4 with a 4.24 ERA at Memphis with 64 strikeouts in 85 innings.

His win total was second best in the Pacific Coast League and he was a good choice for the callup given this was his day to start.

"I always like when a young guy with talent can get his feet wet in the big leagues," La Russa said. "I told him don't get distracted by how long he stays here, just take every day and learn from it."

NOTES: C Yadier Molina was out of the lineup for the second straight day with soreness from a home plate collision. La Russa said Molina was improved from Sunday, when he was unable to squat, and planned on having him in the lineup on Tuesday. ... Brendan Ryan started at SS after missing the three-game weekend series against the Twins following a cortisone shot for a sore right wrist. ... DeRosa batted second and played 3B in his second game with the Cardinals. He batted cleanup and played LF in his St. Louis debut.

-- R.B. Fallstrom

Mets' Beltran to get second opinion on ailing knee

MILWAUKEE - Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran was in Colorado on Monday to have a second opinion on his ailing right knee.

Beltran was consulting with noted knee specialist Dr. Richard Steadman at his Vail clinic. Beltran has an aching bone bruise in his knee and assistant general manager John Ricco says Beltran asked to have a second opinion.

Steadman primarily performs microfracture knee surgery on basketball players, but the Mets don't believe the injury has progressed to that point.

Beltran, a Gold Glove center fielder, had been playing through pain and hobbling on the bases for some time before going on the 15-day disabled list on June 22. He was hitting .336 with eight homers, 20 doubles, 40 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.

Braves try to end home skid against Phils

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves need their first home win over Philadelphia since 2007 to gain ground on the first-place Phillies.

The Phillies won each of their nine games at Turner Field in 2008. The Braves have won four of six in Philadelphia this year.

The three-game series which begins Tuesday night is the first in Atlanta between the teams this season.

The fourth-place Braves are five games behind the Phillies in the NL East entering Tuesday night's game.

The Braves ended a four-game losing streak when rookie Tommy Hanson beat Boston on Sunday.

Slumping shortstop Jimmy Rollins is expected back in the Phillies' lineup after missing the last four starts.

Ramirez drops to seventh in NL All-Star voting

NEW YORK - Manny Ramirez dropped one spot to seventh place in All-Star voting among NL outfielders with four days remaining in balloting for starters.

The Los Angeles Dodgers star, whose 50-game drug suspension is slated to end Friday, had 1,343,011 votes and trailed Philadelphia's Raul Ibanez (2,970,139), Milwaukee's Ryan Braun (2,654.061), the Mets' Carlos Beltran (2,085,028), the Cubs' Alfonso Soriano (1,916,598), Philadelphia's Shane Victorino (1,642,248) and Milwaukee's Mike Cameron (1,345,763). The top three outfielders are elected to start the July 14 game at St. Louis.

Others leading their positions in totals announced Monday were St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols (3,602,765), Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley (3,510,082), Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez (2,026,174), Mets third baseman David Wright (2,049,487) and St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina (1,846,629).

Balloting runs through Thursday, and starters and reserves for both leagues will be announced Sunday.

Padres follow Yankees with Internet broadcasts

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Padres are following the New York Yankees onto the Internet with live local-market video broadcasts.

The Padres, Cox Communications San Diego and MLB Advanced Media announced an agreement Monday that starts broadcasts July 16 for customers of Cox's high speed Internet service.

It will cost $49.95 for the rest of the season or $19.95 for any 30-day period, matching the price for Yankees games for Cablevision subscribers who get YES and Cablevision's Optimum online service.

MLBAM receives half the revenue from these deals, according to a June 19 memo from commissioner Bud Selig to the 30 teams.

The memo was first reported by SportsBusiness Journal.

Minor League

Brewers minor leaguer suspended 100 games

NEW YORK - Milwaukee Brewers prospect Jeremy Jeffress was suspended for 100 games Monday after his third violation of baseball's minor league program for a drug of abuse.

A 21-year-old right-hander, Jeffress also was suspended for 50 games on Aug. 30, 2007. He was Milwaukee's top pick in the 2006 amateur draft, the 16th selection overall, and received a $1.55 million signing bonus.

He was 2-1 with a 2.18 ERA in five starts and one relief appearance for Class-A Brevard County of the Florida State League when he was suspended Monday. He went 1-3 with a 7.57 ERA in eight starts for Double-A Huntsville of the Southern League earlier this season.

"We are obviously disappointed because Jeremy has such great major league potential, and this is a setback in his career," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said in a statement. "We will continue to assist Jeremy and help him with his problem as long as he wants to help himself."