MLB Capsules - Teams: Jeter lined up to rejoin Yankees on Monday
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Derek Jeter is set to rejoin the Yankees on Monday in his return from a calf injury. The shortstop said Thursday he will play minor league rehab games Saturday and Sunday at Double-A Trenton and be with the Yankees for a series in Cleveland.
"I feel good now," Jeter said after working out at the Yankees' minor league complex. "I feel a lot better. I'm ready to get out of here."
The team captain is six hits shy of 3,000. A return next week could put him on track to reach the milestone at Yankee Stadium during a four-game series against Tampa Bay from July 7-10. Then comes the All-Star break, and New York opens the second half with an eight-game road trip.
Jeter had been eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list Wednesday but wasn't ready. His bid to become the 28th major leaguer — and first with the Yankees — to get 3,000 hits has been on hold since he strained his right calf June 13 against the Indians.
"I hadn't done anything for a couple weeks, so it takes a little while to get loose and get in baseball shape," Jeter said.
Jeter, who turned 37 on Sunday, is batting .260 with two homers and 20 RBIs. He has 12 extra-base hits in 262 at-bats and a .324 on-base percentage.
Jeter increased his intensity in Thursday's workout, running from home to first after hitting a ball and also turning double plays. He had 60 swings in batting practice, took grounders and ran from first to third.
"Things have gone well," said Jeter, who is scheduled to workout Friday in Florida before departing for Trenton.
Also, converted reliever Mark Prior, on the DL at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre because of a strained groin, could throw batting practice Saturday.
Right-hander Rafael Soriano, out with right elbow inflammation, has started long toss sessions.
Red Sox designate OF Cameron for assignment
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Boston Red Sox designated outfielder Mike Cameron for assignment and recalled infielder Yamaico Navarro from Triple-A Pawtucket.
Navarro was active for Thursday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Also, Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis was out of the lineup with a sore left foot. Youkilis fouled a ball off it in Wednesday night's game. General manager Theo Epstein said Youkilis' X-rays were negative.
Youkilis said he woke up feeling worse this morning than after the initial hit.
"I didn't think it'd be anywhere near what it is today," he said.
Cameron played in 33 games with the Red Sox this year, and was batting only .149 with three home runs and nine RBIs. Cameron is a .249 career hitter with 272 homers, 950 RBIs and 296 stolen bases over 17 seasons with the White Sox (1995-98), Reds (1999), Mariners (2000-03), Mets (2004-05), Padres (2006-07), Brewers (2008-09) and Red Sox (2010-11).
Boston has 10 days to trade or release Cameron.
"We've been scratching our heads with Mike for a little while," Epstein said. "And I'll take the hit on this one. He was still a productive player when we got him, but maybe with age, he just didn't recover from injury as well. It was tough for him to overcome the injuries and then with the reduced role, it was a bit of a double whammy for him with us. He's used to playing everyday."
The 23-year-old Navarro hit .258 with five home runs and 13 RBIs in 34 games with the PawSox this year. He made his major league debut with Boston last August and played in 20 games. He hit .143 with five RBIs.
"It's not ideal," Epstein said. "We would have liked him to have some more seasoning, but given the state we're in, we think he can help us right now."
Cameron is a one-time All-Star, and a three-time Gold Glove winner, who tied a major league record on May 2, 2002 when he hit four home runs in one game, becoming only the 15th player in history to do so.
"There are reasons to still believe in Mike Cameron. He has a great frame and is in remarkable shape. It just didn't work out," Epstein said. "We still think very highly of him as a person and a player. And we really felt good about him coming into the year. But it didn't work out, and now we're just trying to find a way to make it work out."
Epstein said that he talked to some teams regarding a trade before the designation, and will continue to do so.
"He took it like you'd expect," Epstein said. "He's a real professional and he knows we were in a tough spot."
Tigers' Coke moving back to bullpen
DETROIT (AP) — Tigers left-hander Phil Coke is moving back to the bullpen after struggling during his first half-season in the starting rotation.
Manager Jim Leyland announced the move Thursday. Charlie Furbush will start in Coke's place, part of a small shake-up for a staff that had allowed 30 runs in two games against the New York Mets.
Coke is 1-8 with a 4.91 ERA after allowing seven earned runs in four-plus innings against New York on Wednesday night.
"I'm giving everything I've got, and I'm coming up short — period," Coke said.
Coke was a reliever for his first three seasons in the majors. Detroit moved the left-hander to the rotation this season.
He had tough luck at times. Coke threw 6 1-3 scoreless innings in a no-decision June 13 against Tampa Bay — but in his last three starts, he allowed 16 earned runs in 13 2-3 innings.
"We had hoped that it would work out better," manager Jim Leyland said. "We think the stuff's there."
Furbush, a rookie, has made 12 appearances, all in relief. The left-hander is 1-1 with a 2.49 ERA. Detroit lost 14-3 to the Mets on Tuesday and 16-9 on Wednesday. The Tigers sent Justin Verlander to the mound Thursday, hoping for a reprieve for a battered bullpen.
Reliever Daniel Schlereth, who allowed two grand slams in Tuesday's loss, was sent to the minors after Wednesday's game. Detroit brought up Brayan Villarreal.
Coke takes Furbush's spot in the bullpen.
"I'm ready to go today, if asked," Coke said Thursday. "I just had my job title taken from me, and given a different one. OK, so what? Give me the ball and get out of the way. Let's roll."
After going from relieving to starting and now back, Coke said he doesn't want to hear anything more about the transition between the two roles.
"Everything's been all about this transition," he said. "It's all you guys have harped on. I'm tired of hearing about it. I'm sick of it. Maybe I have to transition back to just walking out to the bullpen. Oh my god, that's going to be hard."
-- Noah Trister
Twins: Kubel leaves game with foot discomfort
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota outfielder Jason Kubel has had a setback in his recovery from the sprained left foot that has kept him out for the last month.
Twins general manager Bill Smith said Thursday that Kubel felt discomfort in his foot after making a play in the outfield for Class A Fort Myers and was removed from the game as a precaution. Smith said Kubel will be re-evaluated Friday.
Kubel, who was hurt on May 30, started his rehabilitation assignment this week.
Smith said right-hander Kevin Slowey threw 50 pitches for Fort Myers on Thursday with no problems. He is on a rehab assignment for a strained abdominal muscle.
Smith said first baseman Justin Morneau's surgery Wednesday afternoon to remove a piece of herniated disk in his neck went as planned.
National League
APNewsBreak: Marlins open stadium April 4 vs. Cards
NEW YORK (AP) — The Marlins will open their new $515 million ballpark against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 4, a person familiar with next season's draft schedule told The Associated Press
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because Major League Baseball does not plan to announce the schedule, which is still preliminary, until September.
"That's cool. It's the first I heard of it," Florida catcher John Buck said after a 5-4 win at Oakland. "It's fun to have an opening day in your home stadium, period. Then to have the excitement of a new stadium is only going to heighten it. I'm looking forward to it."
Florida's downtown ballpark, which has a retractable roof, will be the first to open in the majors since Minnesota's Target Field in 2010. The franchise is to be renamed the Miami Marlins next year.
"It will be quite a show," Marlins manager Jack McKeon said. "To open up a new stadium that Miami can call their own, a true baseball stadium, a beautiful facility. What else could you ask for? They're going to have to be happy."
Many teams prefer to open on the road in the years they move into a new ballpark, giving them extra time to get the stadium ready.
The game against St. Louis is a one-game homestand and is likely to be televised by ESPN.
"I think anytime you're a part of that, it's historic, it's a special treat, and that would be great," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said in Baltimore where the Cardinals played the Orioles. "It would be fun. I definitely would look forward to that.
"My roots are in Florida, and I've seen what the Marlins have gone through, and that's a major move for their franchise, so that would be a special moment for us to be a part of that opener."
Before then, the Marlins are planning an exhibition against the New York Yankees.
Since the Marlins began play in 1993, their home games have been at what now is called Sun Life Stadium, about 16 miles north.
The Marlins say they have had 191 rain delays during games in Miami coming into this year, an average of more than 10 per season — although no in-game delays this year.
When the Marlins move out of Sun Life, where the Miami Dolphins and Miami Hurricanes play their home football games, Oakland's Coliseum will be the last stadium shared by MLB and NFL teams. In the early 1990s, about two-thirds of major league clubs shared ballparks with NFL teams.
With the opening of the new Miami stadium, Oakland and Tampa Bay will be the last big league teams hoping for new ballparks.
-- Ronald Blum
Dodgers staff checks bounced when accounts frozen
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers says paychecks for some part-time game day staffers bounced, but not because the team didn't have enough money to cover them.
Dodgers spokesman Josh Rawitch said Thursday that when the team filed for bankruptcy, its accounts were frozen for 48 hours.
Some security guards and ushers found their paychecks had bounced. Those who have direct deposit weren't affected. Rawitch says the checks were reissued Wednesday.
The team filed for bankruptcy on Monday. Owner Frank McCourt, who is in the middle of a high-stakes divorce, blames baseball Commissioner Bud Selig for refusing to approve a multibillion-dollar TV deal. On Tuesday, a bankruptcy judge in Delaware authorized the team to borrow $60 million to make payroll.
Zambrano leaves with back soreness
CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano left Thursday's start against San Francisco in the second inning because of soreness in his lower back and went for an MRI.
Zambrano had just thrown a ball to Eli Whiteside after an RBI single by Miguel Tejada when he began stretching his back. Trainer Mark O'Neal and pitching coach Mark Riggins rushed out and manager Mike Quade followed. Marcos Mateo then relieved with the Giants leading 1-0.
The Cubs went on to win 5-2 in 13 innings, with pinch-hitter Geovany Soto's three-run homer capping a four-run rally.
Zambrano has struggled at times this season but had been pitching well of late, going at least seven innings in his previous two starts against the White Sox and Kansas City.
Hamels leaves Red Sox game after liner
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels was forced out of his start against the Boston Red Sox after he was struck by a line drive on his glove hand. Adrian Gonzalez hit a liner at Hamels in the fourth inning of Thursday's game. The ball appeared to hit Hamels in the palm of his hand. His mitt fell off, but Hamels recovered to throw out Gonzalez at first. The Phillies said X-rays were negative and Hamels will make his next start.
Hamels grimaced as he looked at the sky and shook his hand several times. He threw a few warmup pitches and stayed in the game. Reliever David Herndon got loose in the bottom half of the inning and came in to start the fifth of a scoreless game.
Hamels entered with a 9-4 record. He gave up two hits, struck out two, walked none and now has a 2.41 ERA.
Mets OF Harris leaves team after baby's death
DETROIT (AP) — New York Mets outfielder Willie Harris has been put on the bereavement list after his wife went into premature labor and their baby died.
Manager Terry Collins offered his condolences to Harris and his wife, Trey, before Thursday's game at Detroit. Harris had gone on the paternity list Wednesday when his wife went into labor. The Mets provided no other details on the death.
Harris played Tuesday night at Detroit and left the club during Wednesday night's win. Collins said it's possible Harris will rejoin the Mets on Friday when they return to New York for a series against the Yankees. It wasn't yet clear if his wife would be able to leave the hospital by then.
Wood expects to come off DL on Friday
CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs reliever Kerry Wood expects to come off the 15-day disabled list in time for a weekend series against the White Sox. Wood has been sidelined by a blister on his right index finger.
He says Thursday that he "felt great" during a bullpen session Wednesday. Manager Mike Quade says the team's medical personnel will decide if the veteran is activated Friday.
Wood is 1-3 with a 2.25 ERA in 24 appearances Wood rejoined the Cubs in the offseason, signing a $1.5 million, one-year contract when he might have gotten more elsewhere.
Cardinals add RHP Dickson to fill out roster
BALTIMORE (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals filled out their 25-man roster by purchasing the contract of right-hander Brandon Dickson from Triple-A Memphis. Dickson replaces former All-Star closer Ryan Franklin, who was given his unconditional release on Wednesday.
Signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2006, the 26-year-old Dickson was 4-7 with a 3.86 ERA in 16 games with Memphis this season. When he gets into a game, he will become the eighth player to make his major league debut with the Cardinals this year.
