TORONTO — CC Sabathia was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with inflammation and pain in his left elbow, the New York Yankees ace’s second trip to the DL this season. TORONTO — CC Sabathia was placed on the
TORONTO — CC Sabathia was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with inflammation and pain in his left elbow, the New York Yankees ace’s second trip to the DL this season.
Manager Joe Girardi announced the decision after New York beat the Blue Jays 5-2 for its fourth straight win. Neither a corresponding roster move, nor a starter for Monday’s game against Texas, has been announced. The move is retroactive to Aug. 9.
The Yankees have agreed to a contract with free agent Derek Lowe and are planning to finalize the deal and activate him Monday. The right-hander, recently cut by the Cleveland Indians, likely will pitch out of the bullpen. David Phelps is a candidate to take Sabathia’s spot in the rotation.
Rangers place
C Napoli on 15-day DL
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers placed All-Star catcher Mike Napoli on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained left quadriceps.
Napoli has been bothered by the injury for about a month, and manager Ron Washington had hoped extra rest would help his slumping catcher.
Napoli rested for three days earlier this week before he went 0 for 4 with a pair of strikeouts in a 6-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.
“It’s been there a long time,” Washington said. “It just never healed up.”
Napoli, who started his first All-Star game in July, broke through in 2011 with 30 home runs and a .320 batting average. He’s been inconsistent at the plate this season, hitting .223 with 17 home runs and 40 RBIs.
Since July 1, Napoli has a .180 batting average with five home runs and 10 RBIs.
Arizona places
Bloomquist on DL
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks have placed infielder Willie Bloomquist on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Thursday, because of a strained lower back.
The team also designated Mike Zagurski for assignment, a day after the left-hander gave up four runs in the ninth inning of Arizona’s 9-1 loss to Washington.
To fill the roster, the Diamondbacks brought up a pair of players from Triple-A Reno. The team recalled right-handed reliever Bryan Shaw and selected the contract of middle infielder Jake Elmore.
The 5-foot-9 Elmore, who played at Arizona State, is batting .344 with Reno and leads the PCL in walks (74). Selected by Arizona in the 34th round of the 2008 draft, Elmore is second in the PCL in stolen bases (32), runs (95) and hits (144).
Padres place closer
Street on 15-day DL
PITTSBURGH — San Diego Padres closer Huston Street has been placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Street, who has converted all 21 saves opportunities this season, was put on the DL before Saturday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Right-handed reliever Cory Burns was recalled from Triple-A Tucson.
Street was injured in the ninth inning of Friday night’s 9-8 win over the Padres when he went to cover first base on a game-ending groundout.
Street is 2-1 with a 0.75 ERA in 36 games. He has not allowed a run in his last 22 appearances and 21 1-3 innings.
Street was the Padres’ lone representative in the All-Star Game last month.
Cook removed
from A’s closer role
CHICAGO — Oakland A’s reliever Ryan Cook has been removed from the closer’s role, at least temporarily, by manager Bob Melvin.
Melvin said he wanted to get the rookie some work in lower-pressure situations.
Cook has converted just two of his last six save opportunities, and 12 of 19 for the season.
Melvin was reluctant to name a new closer, saying the team has “a couple different options,” including relievers who have helped close games this year.
Right-hander Grant Balfour is the only other Oakland pitcher with multiple saves. He went 7 for 9 in save opportunities before losing his job in May.
Boston’s Middlebrooks has broken right wrist
CLEVELAND — Will Middlebrooks is out, and Boston’s hopes for a stretch-run surge took another hit.
The Red Sox placed the hot-hitting rookie third baseman on the 15-day disabled list with a broken right wrist Saturday and called up Danny Valencia from Triple-A Pawtucket.
Middlebrooks, hitting .288 with 15 homers and 54 RBIs in 75 games, was hit by a pitch in the ninth inning Friday night. He held his wrist in agony after being nailed by a fastball from Esmil Rogers and left the game.
Middlebrooks is the 25th Red Sox player to go on the disabled list this season.
That’s a big reason why Boston entered play Saturday 11 games out in the AL East and 5½ back in the wild card race. The 23-year-old Middlebrooks was a bright spot in Boston’s inconsistent second half. He hit .300 over his last 18 games.
