A’S: Oakland officially took third baseman Eric Chavez’s name off the roster of players going to Japan on Saturday.
The six-time Gold Glove winner will remain in Phoenix to work out at the A’s minor league facility to continue his recovery from offseason back surgery. The Athletics open the season with two games in Japan against the Red Sox on March 25-26.
“He’s just not ready to play,” A’s manager Bob Geren said. “He’ll stay here and continue his focus on getting ready.”
The 30-year-old Chavez also had offseason operations on both shoulders and hasn’t played in a game this spring. He was only recently cleared to resume scaled-down workouts less than two weeks after receiving an injection to help ease inflammation in his lower back.
YANKEES: Center fielder Melky Cabrera said he most likely will appeal a three-game suspension for his role in the spring-training fight between New York and the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays contend Cabrera punched third baseman Evan Longoria during Wednesday’s pileup.
“I didn’t hit nobody,” Cabrera said Saturday, speaking through a translator. “I don’t know what it’s coming from. I just come to play baseball.”
Yankees first baseman Shelley Duncan, also suspended three games, said he has not decided if he will appeal.
Bob Watson, baseball’s vice president for discipline, cited Duncan for “violent and reckless actions, which incited the bench-clearing incident.” He penalized Cabrera for “violent and aggressive actions.”
The suspensions, unless appealed, will start at the beginning of the regular season.
CARDINALS: St. Louis was awaiting results of an MRI on Juan Gonzalez’s strained abdomen on Saturday, an injury that has marred his comeback attempt.
The test was done on Friday and was being evaluated by a specialist, team spokesman Brian Bartow said.
The 38-year-old Gonzalez, who has only one at-bat the last three years, missed his fifth straight game and did not make the trip Saturday for a game against the Mets. He had been listed as day-to-day two days earlier. Manager Tony La Russa said there had been no improvement.
“I do not think he was better this morning, and he’s been resting and being treated,” La Russa said after the Cardinals’ 10-3 victory. “So that’s not a good sign.”
Gonzalez, a two-time AL MVP, is fast losing ground in competition for the fifth outfield spot to Rule 5 pickup Brian Barton due to his health.
RAYS: Tampa Bay left-hander Scott Kazmir won’t start on opening day after having his first scheduled spring training start today pushed back a few days.
Kazmir has been slowed by a left elbow strain, which he felt while warming up for an intrasquad game on Feb. 26.
“It will definitely knock out the opening day assignment,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said.
Associated Press
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