National League Capsules: Shoulder injury sidelines Cubs reliever Guzman

MESA, Ariz. — Angel Guzman, who overcame years of injury problems to finally have the kind of season the Chicago Cubs had envisioned, is out indefinitely with a torn ligament in his pitching shoulder.

GM Jim Hendry said Saturday there was no timetable for Guzman's return.

"You just feel terrible for the kid," he said. "He's had such a history ... right when he's had success, something has gone wrong."

The 28-year-old Guzman appeared in 55 games last season, going 3-3 with a 2.95 ERA, and the Cubs were hoping he'd be the top right-handed setup man for closer Carlos Marmol this year.

Hendry has been looking for bullpen help but said there isn't much available now. Manager Lou Piniella has raved about Esmailin Caridad and also has spoken highly of some of the other young arms in camp, but there are few experienced options.

Two of the four pitchers (Jeff Samardzija, Carlos Silva, Sean Marshall, Tom Gorzelanny) vying for spots in the rotation likely will end up as late-inning relievers, Piniella said.

It's been a sad offseason for Guzman, whose brother, Daniel, died in his arms two months ago after being shot in their native Venezuela. Five days earlier, Guzman had sustained a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery.

He began to complain of shoulder pain last month. Every time he thought he was recovering, he had a setback, and he finally underwent an MRI on Friday.

"It's a shame," Piniella said. "It seems like the kid is jinxed."

Hendry said Guzman probably will work on strengthening his shoulder for the next four to six weeks. If that's successful, he could start throwing again. Surgery would be a last resort because the required procedure would be invasive and wouldn't guarantee a full recovery.

Guzman joined the organization as a 17-year-old in 1999, two years after the Cubs signed his countryman, Carlos Zambrano. While Zambrano has gone on to be a three-time All-Star with well over $100 million in career earnings, Guzman has been hurting.

In 2009, he struck out 47, walked 23 and allowed only 41 hits in 61 innings. He ended the season with an eight-outing scoreless streak but was shut down for the final two weeks with a muscle strain near his right armpit.

"At one time, this kid was as good a prospect as (Zambrano) on the way up in the system," Hendry said. "Your heart goes out to him."

McCourt: Divorce not affecting team

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt insisted divorce proceedings with his wife are not affecting the team’s finances.

"The vast majority of it has nothing to do with baseball," McCourt said Saturday while visiting with reporters for about 10 minutes during the fifth inning of the Dodgers’ game against the White Sox.

"The fans know, I believe, where I stand in terms of wanting to bring a world championship to Los Angeles. They know where I stand in terms of what has been accomplished since I have owned the club. They know where I stand in terms of investing in Dodger Stadium and their fan experience. And I’m going to continue to do those things."

McCourt was visiting his team for the first time this spring.

He has had only brief interaction with the media since the 2009 season ended and has made fewer public appearances. With reported allegations that he hasn’t paid any income tax in six years, McCourt declined to get into specifics.

"I firmly believe in taking the high road and the long view on things and my image and reputation will be fine," McCourt said. "I’ve lived my entire life that way. I’m not going to get into the back and forth of it. I’ll leave the (divorce) process to the lawyers to deal with."

He and his wife, Jamie, have been going through a messy divorce and there has been speculation that it is the reason the team made few offseason moves.

McCourt spent time signing autographs and said fans only were interested in talking about baseball.

"I think the fans want to focus on baseball," he said. "And they want us to win a world championship. I think that’s the same thing I’m focused on. I really think that’s what matters to them."

Joe Torre has expressed a desire to come back for one last season in 2011. His contract expires after this year. McCourt also said he wants the manager to return.

Yet the deal has not been completed and Torre has said the hang-up has been agreeing to financial terms.

"Those conversations are ongoing and I haven’t heard anything specific about that lately," McCourt said. "I know that Joe had an expressed an interest in that and I’m certainly all for that."

Parcells checks out Marlins prospect Stanton

Anderson happy to be in Dodgers camp

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Garret Anderson was about to set a deadline that could have ended his 16-year career when the Dodgers came calling.

Anderson signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers on Wednesday. He reported to camp Saturday, saying he stayed in shape this winter but did not face pitchers.

"I was getting close, getting to a point where I was like, 'OK, if I don't hear something by this point, it would be very hard to start the season with a team,'" Anderson said. "(The deadline) was right around this time."

Manager Joe Torre said Anderson will be kept out of games until the veteran deems himself ready to play.

"I'm not ready to play any games yet," Anderson said. "I at least need a week or so. I've been hitting (off a pitching machine), throwing and running, but even these guys took nine or 10 days to get into a game. From that standpoint, I need that grace period that they had."

An everyday starter for nearly all of his 16-year career, the 37-year-old Anderson will compete with Brian Giles and Doug Mientkiewicz to be the club's left-handed pinch-hit option. All three are in camp on minor league deals.

Valentine says he wasn’t offered Marlins’ job

JUPITER, Fla. — Bobby Valentine visited the Florida Marlins' camp Saturday in his role as a network analyst, which gave him a chance to address five-month-old rumors.

Valentine said he was never offered the Marlins' managerial job last October, contrary to speculation at the time.

"Was there any truth to me managing the team this year?" Valentine said. "No."

The Marlins' front office did little to discount the rumors at the end of last season. Owner Jeffrey Loria was disappointed the Marlins missed the playoffs, and team president David Samson would not endorse manager Fredi Gonzalez for guiding the team to 87 wins, third-best total in franchise history.

"It was an unnecessary nuisance for him (Gonzalez) and for me to have to answer questions," Valentine said.

Valentine has known Loria since their days together in the Texas Rangers organization. Valentine managed the Rangers from 1985-92, and Loria owned the team's Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City.

"We run into each other and we talk, and all of a sudden the only talk is I'm going to be managing this team," Valentine said.

Valentine, who managed the New York Mets to the National League pennant in 2000, had praise for Loria.

"Jeffrey is a passionate guy," Valentine said. "I like his passion."