MLB Capsules: McCourts' divorce looms over Dodgers on the field

LOS ANGELES — The local headlines blare almost daily with new details about their impending split. Court documents are rife with he said, she said disagreements and details of lavish personal spending. Yet around the Los Angeles Dodgers’ clubhouse, the ugly split of Frank and Jamie McCourt barely registers a blip.

“It doesn’t exist to me,” said catcher Russell Martin, whose season ended earlier this month because of a hip injury.

“I don’t think anybody in here even thinks about it unless the question’s asked. It’s not like a direct impact on our team and how we play or what we do. Frank’s not going to help us throw strikes or make a nice play on defense.”

The McCourts filed for divorce last October. They haven’t agreed on much of anything during several months of expensive, high-profile legal wrangling.

The trial to decide ownership of the Dodgers is set to begin Monday in Los Angeles, with Frank McCourt claiming he’s the sole owner and Jamie arguing she owns half of the team.

Instead of Dodger baseball, the courtroom drama is likely to dominate the local headlines during the final weeks of the regular season.

“I don’t resent it,” manager Joe Torre said. “I worked for George Steinbrenner. I worked for Ted Turner. Those people didn’t necessarily pick an off day to say things.”

Maybe the team will make some news on the field, too.

The Dodgers have clawed their way back into the NL wild-card race. Their playoff hopes could be decided next week when they host contenders Philadelphia and San Francisco.

Under Frank McCourt, they’ve reached the postseason four of the last six years and played within one step of the World Series each of the past two, falling to Philadelphia in the NL championship series both times.

“That’s not easy to do,” general manager Ned Colletti said.

Outside of celebrating postseason wins, neither McCourt has had a presence in the clubhouse, leaving Torre and his coaches, along with Colletti, to run the team.

“They just handled the business side of it,” outfielder Andre Ethier said of Frank and his soon-to-be ex-wife. “It hasn’t been any of our business all year. That’s the way we’ve tried to keep it.”

Fox Corp. ran the Dodgers for six years, and the team never made the playoffs. The team hadn’t won a playoff game since the 1988 World Series before McCourt took over in 2004.

But this season has been a whiplash ride of injuries and inconsistency with the starting rotation, bullpen and defense.

Top players like Manny Ramirez, Ethier, Rafael Furcal, and pitchers Chad Billingsley, Hong-Chih Kuo and Vicente Padilla have all been sidelined during various stretches. Reliever Ronald Belisario spent two months on the restricted list.

Outfielder Matt Kemp has made more headlines for dating Rihanna than trying to match his offensive performance of last season, and Ethier has struggled as well since breaking a pinky three months ago.

“Sometimes you just have bad years and things don’t come together the right way,” Ethier said. “I wouldn’t say you could blame it on the fact that the ownership’s going through what they’re going through. They have given us the people to go out and do it, and it’s up to the players to execute and make it happen.”

The Dodgers’ opening-day payroll of $94.9 million was down by more than $36.5 million from last year’s total. Frank McCourt declined to comment on the public perception that payroll has been slashed, and Colletti sidestepped the question when asked whether he feels hamstrung by the budget he operates under.

“It’s more important how you spend than what you spend,” Colletti said. “You could have a payroll of $150 (million), $175 (million) or $200 (million), but if you don’t spend it on the right people, it doesn’t make any difference.”

The Dodgers didn’t get the big bat or ace pitcher to put them over the top in the NL West by the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

Colletti denied that the marquee names weren’t available to the team because of a perceived lack of spending money. Rather, he said the Dodgers didn’t have any tantalizing minor league prospects to offer in return.

“We are relatively thin, so we didn’t have that type of player (to trade),” he said. “Most deals that involve those marquee types, they’ve got someone (in exchange) that has almost some immediate impact on the big league club.”

But they did make some moves, with Colletti hailed for pulling off deals despite the team’s lessened investment in its minor league system.

The team picked up starter Ted Lilly and second baseman Ryan Theriot from the Cubs, who sent along $2.5 million to cover half of their remaining salaries this season. After struggling in Chicago, Lilly is 5-0 with a 1.83 ERA in Los Angeles.

The Dodgers acquired setup man Octavio Dotel from Pittsburgh, along with $3 million to seal the deal. They also got outfielder and leadoff hitter Scott Podsednik from Kansas City, and purchased the contract of outfielder-first baseman Jay Gibbons from Triple-A Albuquerque.

“I wouldn’t have acquired four players at the deadline and continued to look for some more relatively smaller pieces to fortify us the last quarter of the year if I had decided that this (season) was not salvageable,” Colletti said.

They also recently signed their top draft pick, pitcher Zach Lee, and gave him a franchise-record $5.25 million bonus.

But when it comes to high-priced free agents, the Dodgers haven’t added any since Ramirez two years ago. Now, it’s believed they’re looking to unload him and his bloated salary. He was placed on waivers and claimed by the Chicago White Sox this week.

Ramirez returned Aug. 21 from his third stint on the disabled list this season, missing 59 games because of injuries after sitting out a 50-game drug suspension last season. The 38-year-old outfielder is in the final year of the two-year, $45 million deal he signed after the 2008 season.

Another looming issue is Torre’s future. He’s in the final year of his three-year contract and is expected to announce soon whether he’ll return next year.

“I don’t think the ownership really has anything to do with my decision,” Torre said. “I’m content that Frank McCourt didn’t object to my asking for an extra year, and I think he wants me here. So I have to say he’s the only one that I know for sure — ownership-wise — that would want me back for another year.”

Reds move RHP Edinson Volquez to bullpen

CINCINNATI — Edinson Volquez has lost his spot in the Cincinnati Reds’ rotation.

The right-hander was moved into the bullpen Saturday, giving him a chance to try to fix problems in his delivery. He retired only two batters in his last start, an 11-2 loss in San Francisco on Monday.

The Reds’ rotation and middle infield are in flux heading into a pivotal week of their playoff push. They finish a weekend series against the Cubs, play three at home against Milwaukee, then head to St. Louis for their last three games this season against the second-place Cardinals.

Cincinnati led the Cardinals by four games heading into Saturday.

“That’s an important series,” injured shortstop Orlando Cabrera said. “We can put them away in that series.”

First, they have to get their rotation and infield in order.

Volquez had reconstructive elbow surgery last August and made it back ahead of schedule, returning to the mound last month. His arm is fine and his fastball is back to top speed, but his control has been inconsistent.

“That happens when you don’t pitch for nine months,” Volquez said Saturday.

He was scheduled to start the final game of a series against the Cubs on Sunday. Instead, rookie Travis Wood will take his place. Reds manager Dusty Baker said Volquez will work on his delivery in the bullpen and be available in relief.

How long Volquez stays in the bullpen will be decided by how quickly he regains his control and how right-hander Aaron Harang performs when he returns to the rotation next week. Harang has been on the disabled list since July 6 with back spasms. He’s tentatively scheduled to start against the Brewers on Tuesday.

“It depends on how (Volquez) looks and when Harang comes back, it kind of depends on who’s pitching the best, who can help us the most down the stretch,” Baker said.

The move came one day after the Reds put rookie starter Mike Leake on the 15-day disabled list with a tired shoulder. He’s expected back in September. At the moment, the rotation includes Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto and Wood.

The Reds have stayed in first place for the last 13 days despite injuries to Cabrera and second baseman Brandon Phillips, their two most frequent leadoff hitters this season. Phillips has a bruised right hand, hit by a pitch on Wednesday. He didn’t play Friday night in a 7-1 win over the Cubs and was out of the lineup again Saturday. He’s expected back within a few days.

“I know he’s just getting a lot of treatment,” Baker said.

Cabrera has been on the disabled list since Aug. 2 with strained muscles on the left side of his abdomen. Cabrera said Saturday that his recovery has hit a snag.

“It seems like I hit a plateau,” he said. “I’m stuck in the same place. There’s some pain in there. I don’t want to go out and aggravate it.”

Cabrera was told to stop working out.

“They just want to give me rest for four or five days, do nothing and see what happens after that,” he said. “I’ve been hitting every day, running every day. Throwing? Every time I push it to the place I need to be, I feel a pinch.”

-- Joe Kay

Cabrera joins Padres in time for bobblehead day

Reyes out of Mets lineup again with oblique injury

NEW YORK — Shortstop Jose Reyes is out of the New York Mets’ lineup for the second night in a row against the Houston Astros because of the right oblique strain he aggravated on Thursday.

Reyes says the injury is not as bad as it was when he initially hurt the muscle in his side during batting practice before a game June 30 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He did not take batting practice on Saturday.

Reyes was out until July 6, and the injury caused him to miss the All-Star game.

Ruben Tejada started in his place Saturday night. He went 1 for 2 Friday night with a walk that brought in a run, but is batting just .169 on the year.

American League

Fuentes looks forward to new role with Twins

SEATTLE (AP) — Brian Fuentes says he won't mind being a setup man in Minnesota after closing for the Los Angeles Angels.

"I love to close. That's what I do," Fuentes said Saturday before the Twins played the Seattle Mariners. "But I love winning even more, so as long we're winning it's all good."

The 35-year-old reliever joined his new team after flying into Seattle from Southern California. The first-place Twins acquired the four-time All-Star from the Angels on Friday for a player to be named.

"I think it's good for both parties," Fuentes said. "The way things were going over there I wasn't throwing a whole bunch. They had an opportunity to do some things to make their club better and Minnesota did also. An opportunity came up and it wasn't really any of my decision, but I'm happy with where I ended up."

Fuentes knows he will need to approach the game differently as a setup man for Minnesota closer Matt Capps. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire chatted with the left-hander before the game about his new role.

"I've been a closer for a long time, so it's going to take me a little bit to get back into that setup mentality," Fuentes said. "But I'm here to help this team win in different shapes and forms. Gardenhire said I'm going to see some lefties, see some setup roles and maybe even some closing if Capps needs a blow. But he was doing a fine job before I got here, so it's his job."

Fuentes didn't expect to end up with Minnesota.

"I was a little surprised the Twins picked me up," he said. "I thought there were maybe some other teams that needed more bullpen help than these guys."

Fuentes helped the Angels win their third straight AL West title last season, leading the majors with a career-high 48 saves after joining them as a free agent in December 2008. The AL Central-leading Twins will be his fourth team in 10 big league seasons. He began his career with Seattle in 2001, then spent seven seasons with the Colorado Rockies.

Fuentes was 4-1 with a 3.52 ERA for the slumping Angels this season, converting 23 of 27 save opportunities.

He was 1-5 with a 3.93 ERA and 48 saves in 55 chances last season, his first for Los Angeles after signing a $17.5 million, two-year contract in December 2008. He is likely to become a free agent again after this season.

Source: MLB investigating Yanks rookie about B-12

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball is investigating New York Yankees pitcher Ivan Nova and a former minor league teammate for allegedly injecting each other with B-12 shots, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Associated Press.

The person spoke Saturday on condition of anonymity because MLB is not discussing the matter publicly.

The New York Post first reported the investigation, saying that baseball was looking into whether Nova and pitcher Wilkin De La Rosa injected each other last season while they were teammates with Double-A Trenton.

B-12 is not on baseball’s list of banned substances, but the Post said MLB is focused on the issue of whether the players injected each other and wants to make certain the shots were in fact B-12.

The person who spoke to the AP confirmed those details.

Nova is scheduled to start Sunday for the Yankees against the Chicago White Sox.

“We talked to him about it. We are unaware of any investigation at this time,” New York manager Joe Girardi said Saturday. “We talked to him yesterday just to say you might be asked about it. I feel like his head will be in the right spot.”

The 23-year-old Nova was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last weekend and pitched well in his first major league start Monday at Toronto.

Asked on Saturday about the investigation, Nova said: “I have no comment on that.”

De La Rosa is still at Double-A Trenton, where he has been used primarily as a reliever this year.

-- Mike Fitzpatrick

Blue Jays place 3B Edwin Encarnacion on 15-day DL

TORONTO — Blue Jays third baseman Edwin Encarnacion sprained his left wrist swinging at a pitch in Saturday’s 5-4 win over Detroit and was placed on the 15-day disabled list after the game.

Toronto recalled infielder Mike McCoy from Triple-A Las Vegas.

Encarnacion had surgery to remove a bone spur from his wrist in the offseason and missed three games last week after aggravating the injury while diving for a ball on defense.

John McDonald took over at third base in the eighth inning Saturday and is expected to get the bulk of the playing time while Encarnacion is sidelined.

Major league home run leader Jose Bautista has made 35 appearances at third for Toronto this season, but manager Cito Gaston said he’d prefer to keep Bautista in right field.

Encarnacion is batting .246 with 13 homers and 36 RBIs in 80 games. He missed 30 games in April and May with a sore right shoulder.

White Sox place LHP Threets on DL

CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox placed reliever Erick Threets on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a torn ligament in his left elbow.

Threets, who will miss the remainder of the season, will visit Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles next week to determine if he needs surgery.

Threets was injured during the ninth inning of Friday night’s 9-4 victory over the Yankees. The left-hander did not allow an earned run in 11 appearances this season.

The injury is another blow to the White Sox bullpen, who also lost left-hander Matt Thornton and right-hander J.J. Putz to the disabled list on Wednesday. Thornton is out with left elbow inflammation and Putz is out with tendinitis in his right knee.

The White Sox recalled right-hander Carlos Torres from Triple-A Charlotte to take Threets’ spot. He was 9-9 with a 3.52 ERA in 26 games, 24 starts, for Chicago’s top farm club.

Torres started for the White Sox on Aug. 3 at Detroit. He allowed five runs and nine hits in six innings, getting the decision in a 7-1 loss.

Yankees 1B Teixeira leaves game against White Sox

CHICAGO — First baseman Mark Teixeira left the New York Yankees’ game against the Chicago White Sox after two innings Saturday because of a bruised right thumb.

Teixeira fielded Gordon Beckham’s routine grounder and slowly stepped on first base for the final out of the second. Curtis Granderson batted for Teixeira in the top of the third.

Teixeira, who went 0 for 2, came into the game hitting .258 with 28 homers and 91 RBIs in 126 games.

Red Sox activate reliever Hideki Okajima from DL

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox have activated reliever Hideki Okajima from the 15-day disabled list and optioned right-hander Michael Bowden to Triple-A Pawtucket.

The moves were announced before Boston’s game Saturday night at Tampa Bay.

Okajima had been out since Aug. 6 due to a strained right hamstring.

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