News briefs: Yankees' Nady might have season-ending surgery

NEW YORK -- Xavier Nady has reinjured his elbow and appears headed for season-ending surgery.

Nady felt pain when making a throw during a rehab assignment at Triple-A Scranton on Thursday night. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Nady walked off the field in the fifth inning, two innings after feeling pain.

"I'm more disappointed for him than myself. Obviously, as a club you would like to have him back. He was very good for us last year," Girardi said Friday.

The outfielder, acquired from Pittsburgh last July, has been sidelined since hurting the elbow on April 14 at Tampa Bay. He may be re-examined next week by Los Angeles Angels medical director Dr. Lewis Yocum, who replaced Nady's elbow ligament in September 2001. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Nady may need the ligament replaced again.

Nady said in April that he had a partial ligament tear in his right elbow and originally was told that he'd likely need a season-ending operation. Following tests and exams, doctors recommended rest and strengthening exercises.

Nady played two games at extended spring training on June 19-20, then started the rehab assignment at Scranton on Wednesday. Girardi had been hoping he would be activated soon.

"He's put a lot of time into this. And if it comes to where there's something that needs to be repaired, you know, it's 2½ months that he spent trying to rehab it and being a team guy," Girardi said. "I know how bad he wants to play." Full story

IBF: Ponson tests positive for stimulant at WBC

NEW YORK -- Netherlands pitcher Sidney Ponson tested positive for a stimulant during the World Baseball Classic and has been banned from international competition for two years.

Major League Baseball will not suspend Ponson, who plays for the Kansas City Royals. Under the drug rules, he will be treated as a first-time offender and is subject to a medical review and fine.

The International Baseball Federation said that Ponson tested positive for Phentermine, a weight-loss drug that is similar in chemical structure to an amphetamine.

"It was a prescribed medication, dietary supplement," Royals manager Trey Hillman said Friday night in Pittsburgh, before the Royals played the Pirates. "He informed all interested parties that he was taking it and still got flagged."

Rangers' Byrd not hiding connection to Conte

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Rangers outfielder Marlon Byrd says he has nothing to hide and no problem with people knowing he takes supplements provided by Victor Conte.

Byrd confirmed Friday that this is the second season he has taken supplements from Conte, the founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.

BALCO was at the center of a wide-ranging scandal that enveloped several top-level athletes, including Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery and Barry Bonds.

The supplements for Byrd come from the Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning company that Conte operates. Byrd says he searched for a long time trying to find the right supplements and the right company.

BoSox hitting coach Magadan suspended after ejection

NEW YORK -- Boston Red Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan has been suspended for Boston's game at Atlanta and fined following his ejection against Washington this week.

Magadan was thrown out by plate umpire Bob Davidson in the fourth inning of Boston's 6-4 win Wednesday after disputing a low-and-away strike to Kevin Youkilis.

Bob Watson, Major League Baseball's vice president in charge of discipline, cited Magadan for "inappropriate actions." It was Magadan's fifth career ejection, his second as a coach.

Mets minor leaguer suspended 50 games

NEW YORK -- Mets pitcher Johan Romero has been suspended for 50 games under baseball's minor league drug program after a positive test for metabolites of Stanozolol.

The suspension of Romero, who is with the Mets' Venezuelan Summer League team, began Friday. The 19-year-old right-hander is 0-3 with a 3.16 ERA in five starts.

Twenty-four players have been suspended this year under the minor league program in addition to four under the major league program.

Chicago writers: No new guidelines needed for HOF voting

CHICAGO -- When it comes to the electing players to the Baseball Hall of Fame, no new guidelines are needed to deal with the so-called Steroid Era because voters are already asked to consider a player's integrity and character.

That's what the Chicago chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America decided.

The chapter will not forward any measures or recommendations to the national chapter of the baseball writers group, which will meet at next month's All-Star Game in St. Louis. While some Chicago writers said Friday they're frustrated at the idea of voting for people who may or may not have cheated, the majority said common sense is enough to guide their votes.

Rangers' Eyre comes off DL

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Rangers have activated right-hander Willie Eyre from the 60-day disabled list to bolster a depleted bullpen.

Eyre began the season on the DL with a right groin strain, then made three appearances before having a recurrence of the injury April 22. He allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings in those appearances.

He was available to pitch, a day after the Rangers won 9-8 in 12 innings at Arizona and used six relievers.

To make room on the 25-man roster, the Rangers optioned outfielder Brandon Boggs to Triple-A Oklahoma. They also had to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, so infielder German Duran was placed on release waivers to give him his unconditional release.

Mariners activate catcher Johjima

LOS ANGELES -- Seattle Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima has returned to the team after missing 26 games with a broken toe.

The Mariners activated the 33-year-old from the disabled list before Friday night's game at Los Angeles against the Dodgers.

Johjima was batting .250 with three home runs and 10 RBI in 25 games before he broke his left big toe on May 25 when Oakland's Adam Kennedy slid into his foot.

It was Johjima's second trip to the DL this season. He missed two weeks in April with a strained hamstring.