ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals' Mark DeRosa has a strained tendon in his left wrist and expects to miss three or four games.
St. Louis also said third baseman Troy Glaus will report to its spring training complex to continue therapy in an often troubled rehab from right shoulder surgery in January. The 32-year-old could begin a rehab assignment in a few weeks.
DeRosa was hurt in the fourth inning Tuesday and was removed for a pinch hitter in the sixth when the wrist worsened. He had been concerned the injury was serious, but X-rays and an exam revealed no break and no serious issues.
St. Louis recalled infielder Jarret Hoffpauir from Triple-A Memphis. Right-hander Clayton Mortensen, who worked three innings of relief in his major league debut on Monday, was optioned back to Memphis.
"Day to day is optimistic to me," La Russa said. "The fact we didn't DL him is optimistic."
DeRosa is off to a stuttering start with the Cardinals, who acquired him Saturday from the Indians for potential closer Chris Perez and a player to be named. DeRosa is 0 for 9 in three games after batting .270 with 13 homers and 50 RBI with Cleveland. Full story
Royals' Aviles to have Tommy John surgery
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Shortstop Mike Aviles, Kansas City's player of the year last season, will undergo Tommy John surgery and be sidelined for up to 12 months.
Manager Trey Hillman said that Aviles will have ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow on July 8, another blow to a team that has been hit hard by injuries.
After struggling through the minor leagues for seven years, Aviles was brought up from Triple-A last season and hit .325, tops among major league rookies.
He struggled this year and went on the disabled list May 23 with what was described as right forearm strain. A seventh-round draft selection in 2003, Aviles was Kansas City's feel-good story of the year last season. He joined the team when the Royals were on a 12-game losing streak but sparked a turnaround, helping them to a 52-50 record the rest of the way. He was tied for fourth in rookie of the year balloting after becoming the starting shortstop.
SS Wilson apologizes for criticizing Pirates' trades
PITTSBURGH -- Shortstop Jack Wilson apologized to the Pittsburgh Pirates for criticizing the team's latest trades, saying his frustration at losing three more teammates made it seem as if he were angry at his own club.
Wilson was clearly upset after the Pirates traded outfielder Nyjer Morgan plus two other players on Tuesday, saying he was "beyond tired of such moves" -- including last month's deal that sent All-Star outfielder Nate McLouth to Atlanta.
"It's tough for the guys who've been here and have seen these trades happen and absolutely do nothing," Wilson said several hours after the deals were made. "I've seen these trades two or three times a year and we still haven't had a winning season."
Wilson expressed disappointment before Wednesday's game against the Cubs that his remarks appeared to be overly critical of management.
Judge rejects Clemens' bid to revive declamation claims
HOUSTON -- A federal judge has rejected Roger Clemens' bid to revive some of his defamation claims against Brian McNamee, clearing the way for the former trainer to file his own suit against the seven-time Cy Young Award winner.
U.S. District Court Judge Keith Ellison on Tuesday reaffirmed his earlier ruling against Clemens.
If Clemens "believes that the federal investigators or the Mitchell Commission overstepped the bounds of the law, he is free to bring suit against those enemies, subject to possible immunity," the judge said.
"This is the final nail in Clemens' Texas coffin," said Richard Emery, a McNamee attorney. He said McNamee intends to sue Clemens for defamation.
Francisco reclaims Rangers' closer role
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Frank Francisco is back in the role he prefers: closer.
Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington made the move before his club played the Los Angeles Angels.
Francisco has spent two stints on the DL this season, and has been used mostly as a setup man since he was activated on June 20.
"This is where I feel comfortable," Francisco said.
Francisco was on the 15-day disabled list from May 7-21 with right biceps tendinitis and was back on the DL from June 4-20 with right shoulder tendinitis.
O's pitcher Uehara (elbow) out two months
BALTIMORE -- Baltimore Orioles pitcher Koji Uehara will be sidelined for roughly two months after an examination of his ailing right elbow revealed a partial tear of the flexor tendon.
Uehara, the first Japanese-born player in Orioles history, was placed on the 15-day disabled list last Sunday. The injury was initially believed to be a strained elbow, but tests revealed the injury to be much worse.
Now it appears Uehara won't return until late August or early September.
The 34-year-old Uehara hasn't picked up a baseball since his last start, on June 23 against the Florida Marlins. He threw 76 pitches in that game before leaving with elbow soreness.
Phils call up RHP Lopez to open weekend series
ATLANTA -- The Phillies have picked a surprise starting pitcher -- right-hander Rodrigo Lopez -- to open their weekend series against the New York Mets.
The 33-year-old Lopez hasn't pitched in the majors since 2007, when he was 5-4 with Colorado. Lopez is 5-4 with a 3.91 ERA at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Lopez will be called up to start Friday night against the Mets in Philadelphia.
Lopez spent five seasons with Baltimore and had 15-win seasons in 2002 and 2005.
Wright brushes off ex-Met Franco's criticism
MILWAUKEE -- The New York Mets already are riddled with injuries and struggling to win. Now former teammate John Franco is piling on -- but Mets third baseman David Wright said that's the least of the team's problems.
"With all due respect to Johnny, he doesn't know what's going on in this clubhouse," Wright said Wednesday, after the Mets beat the Milwaukee Brewers 1-0 to stop a five-game losing streak. "I don't feel the need to have to defend myself as a leader. If these guys in here respect me and think of me as a leader, that's what I need."
In an interview with Sirius XM Radio, Franco said the Mets have "almost no" leadership and suggested that Wright isn't willing to do his part.
Wright said he wasn't worried about criticism from Franco, who played for the Mets from 1990-04.
Reds add infield depth, recall Sutton
CINCINNATI -- The Reds added depth to their depleted infield, recalling Drew Sutton from Triple-A Louisville.
To make room for Sutton, Cincinnati optioned right-hander Jared Burton to Louisville before the Reds played Arizona.
Sutton started at all four infield positions for Louisville, batting .254 in 38 games with five homers and 19 RBI. Burton made 29 appearances and had no record with a 4.81 ERA.
The Reds are short-handed in the infield with third baseman Edwin Encarnacion sidelined by a broken wrist and shortstop Alex Gonzalez recovering from elbow surgery. Infielder Wilkin Castillo had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, sustained when he slid headfirst on June 20.
Yanks make room for Hinske, option INF Pena
NEW YORK -- The Yankees have optioned infielder Ramiro Pena to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room for Eric Hinske, acquired from Pittsburgh in a trade the day before.
The Yankees sent two minor leaguers to the Pirates: right-hander Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer. New York also received cash from the Pirates in the deal.
Hinske's contract pays him $1.5 million this season.
The 2002 AL Rookie of the Year with Toronto was in the Yankees' clubhouse before they played the Seattle Mariners, joining his fourth AL East team. He played for Tampa Bay last season and Boston the year before that, playing in two consecutive World Series.
Bucs acquire Salazar one day after trade
PITTSBURGH -- Jeff Salazar was in uniform for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Then he wasn't. Finally, he was told to get ready to play again.
Salazar's contract was acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates from Triple-A Indianapolis, and he showed up hours before their game against the Cubs. A procedural problem temporarily held up the transaction, prompting the Pirates to tell Salazar to get out of uniform.
About an hour before game time, he was cleared to play -- the numerical replacement for Nyjer Morgan, who was dealt Tuesday to the Washington Nationals as part of a four-player trade.
Salazar, 28, hit .265 with 10 home runs and 36 RBI in 76 games with Indianapolis. He had 10 hits in 17 at-bats in his final four games.
Pirates release OF Monroe
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have released outfielder Craig Monroe, who was designated for assignment last month after not hustling during a June 16 loss to Minnesota.
Monroe, an occasional starter, was hitting .215 with 3 homers and 16 RBI in 79 at-bats.
While they didn't specifically cite the play for their decision to cut Monroe, the Pirates were unhappy when he jogged to first on a third strike that eluded Twins catcher Joe Mauer. Monroe was safe, but only after Mauer made an errant throw. The Pirates went on to lose 8-2.
Monroe did not play in the final two games of the series, and the Pirates then took him off their roster.
Joba's mother pleads not guilty to felony drug charge
LINCOLN, Neb. -- The mother of New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain has pleaded not guilty in a Nebraska court to a felony drug charge.
The Lancaster County District Court clerk's office said 44-year-old Jacqueline Standley entered the plea to a felony charge of delivery of a controlled substance.
Standley was arrested in May on suspicion of selling methamphetamine to an undercover officer earlier this year at her Lincoln apartment. If convicted, she faces up to 50 years in prison.
Astros claim infielder Duran off waivers
SAN DIEGO -- The Houston Astros have claimed infielder German Duran off waivers from the Texas Rangers.
Duran, who had an appendectomy on June 11 and was placed on the disabled list, was claimed by the Astros. He is scheduled to be examined in Houston on Thursday by team physician Jim Muntz.
Once he is cleared for baseball activities, the Astros said he will be sent to their minor-league facility at Kissimmee, Fla., to begin working out.
