Times wires
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Responding to reports that Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez and his cousin Yuri Sucart have been spotted together at the team hotel multiple times dating to last season, Major League Baseball and the Yankees offered mostly a shrug Thursday.
Sucart, who reportedly supplied the then-Rangers shortstop with performance-enhancers from 2001-03, is prohibited from restricted areas and banned from having contact with the team.
"Our position is, we told the Yankees, they agreed, that (Sucart) should not be allowed in any nonpublic areas: clubhouses, any team charters, buses. And it's our understanding that that prohibition has been respected," MLB executive vice president Rob Manfred told ESPN.com.
"I understand people wanting to ask, but us legislating who he can associate with in public, that's not going to happen," GM Brian Cashman told New York's Newsday.
Mauer Plays D: Twins C Joe Mauer caught three innings in an extended spring training game in Fort Myers, his first action on defense since he was sent to the 15-day disabled list nearly two months ago with weakness and soreness in his legs. He went 0-for-5 with two flyouts and three groundouts. Afterward he said he was out of breath and "a little fatigued" but otherwise fine. "There's a lot of pain gone, which is good," said Mauer, who added he remains committed to catching.
More Twins: DH Jim Thome (left quadriceps) and OF Jason Kubel (sprained left foot) became the seventh and eighth players on the DL. The team has used the DL 13 times this season. "I don't even count any more," manager Ron Gardenhire said. RF Ben Revere and INF Luke Hughes were recalled from Triple-A Rochester.
Cardinals: RHP Maikel Cleto, who began the season at Class A Palm Beach, was recalled to take the roster spot of OF Matt Holliday, who went on the DL with a left quadriceps strain.
Giants: 3B Pablo Sandoval (right wrist surgery) begins a rehabilitation assignment today, and LHP Barry Zito (sprained right foot) is to start his minor-league stint early next week.
Royals: LHP John Lamb, one of the club's top prospects, is expected to have ligament-replacement surgery on his left elbow today.
World Baseball Classic: The WBC will expand by 12 countries in 2013, bringing the field to 28 teams.