News briefs: Jones hopes to rejoin Braves' lineup Friday

ATLANTA -- Chipper Jones hopes to rejoin the Braves' lineup Friday after playing one game in the minors to test his right hamstring.

Jones, on the disabled list for the first time since 1996, ran on the basepaths before Wednesday night's game against the San Diego Padres and reported no problems.

"I was anxious to see how it would react coming out of the box, making turns, going first to third, second to home, stuff like that," the outfielder said. "It felt fine. I really pushed it, tried to extend it as much as I could."

If Jones feels OK on Thursday, he will play a game with the Braves' Class A affiliate in Rome, about an hour's drive north of Atlanta.

"Obviously, there's no substitute for a game situation," Jones said. "You can come out here and try and simulate it as much as you can, but you never will." Full story

Yanks option Contreras to minors

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Jose Contreras was optioned to Single-A Tampa by the New York Yankees on Wednesday, a day after the shortest outing of his career.

The Yankees want the right-hander to work on his mechanics under pitching guru Billy Connors, the Yankees' vice president of player personnel.

New York recalled right-hander Bret Prinz from Triple-A Columbus to fill Contreras' roster spot.

Brewers extend Podsednik's deal

MILWAUKEE -- This time last season, Scott Podsednik was still trying to prove he belonged in the Brewers' lineup.

Now, he'll be sticking around for a while.

The Brewers extended Podsednik's contract for two years Wednesday, locking in the outfielder through the 2006 season and giving him a shot of confidence in his second year in the major leagues.

Mets' protest of game at San Diego denied

NEW YORK -- The Mets' protest of a game against the San Diego Padres because of a pitcher's delivery was denied by Major League Baseball.

The Mets played Saturday's game at San Diego under protest after Padres reliever Akinori Otsuka threw one pitch in the eighth inning. The Mets said that Otsuka balks with each pitch.

Otsuka has an unusual motion, bringing his hands back together after he starts his delivery to the plate in a sort of double-tapping action.

"This has never been a problem in Japan," Otsuka said through an interpreter Saturday. "I need to check with Major League Baseball to see if I need to change."

San Diego won the game 3-1.

Burnett targeting June return

MIAMI -- Marlins right-hander A.J. Burnett threw batting practice for the first time since undergoing elbow surgery and said he hopes to rejoin the rotation in early June.

"I'm close," he said. "It was fun. It was a big step."

Burnett threw 25 pitches, all fastballs, to Marlins teammates. He said he plans to throw batting practice again Saturday and Wednesday, and then he hopes to begin a rehabilitation assignment.

Burnett pitched off the Pro Player Stadium mound for the first time since April 2003, shortly before he went on the disabled list with a sore elbow that required reconstructive surgery. He was 0-2 in four starts last season.

His return would bolster a rotation that is already the strength of the World Series champions.

"It's something nice to look forward to," manager Jack McKeon said.

Burnett threw a no-hitter at San Diego in 2001, and his five shutouts in 2002 led the major leagues.

Pirates allowed to pay Mondesi

HOUSTON -- A Dominican court order opposing payment to Raul Mondesi was lifted, allowing the Pittsburgh Pirates to finally pay their star outfielder.

Mondesi was playing without pay since April following a Dominican court's ruling that he owed former major leaguer Mario Guerrero about $640,000 for helping him improve his baseball skills.

Mondesi had appealed the ruling but said the court ordered his bank accounts frozen and the Pirates decided to withhold his pay. His contract this year is for $1.15 million.

The Pirates said Wednesday that it would release Mondesi's wages from an interest-bearing escrow account.

"Basically, the court issue that had restricted us from paying Mondesi his salary ... there was a change in that," general manager Dave Littlefield said. "Therefore we're able to pay Mondesi."

Mondesi was preparing for a game against the Houston Astros on Wednesday and wasn't immediately available for comment.

Guerrero sued Mondesi and a handful of other players in 1998, saying they promised Guerrero 1 percent of future salaries for teaching them baseball skills that would prepare them for the majors.

Some players settled with Guerrero, while others have cases pending. Mondesi, the 1994 NL Rookie of the Year with Los Angeles, has always denied Guerrero's claim.

Mondesi is hitting .304 with two homers and 14 RBI this season. He has batted .276 with 264 homers during his 11-year major league career.

Devil Rays demote Rolls, call up Cummings

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays sent slumping infielder-outfielder Damian Rolls to Triple-A Durham and called up veteran outfielder Midre Cummings, who last played in the majors in 2001.

The 32-year-old Cummings was hitting .349 with nine doubles, two triples, five home runs and 20 RBI in 22 games for Durham. He previously played 436 major league games for the Pirates, Phillies, Red Sox, Twins and Diamondbacks. A first-round pick of Minnesota in 1990, Cummings spent last season with the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate in Iowa.

Rolls was hitting .128 with no homers and one RBI in 14 games. He hit .255 with seven homers and 46 RBI in 107 games for the Devil Rays last season.

Man charged with interference at Mets game

NEW YORK -- A New Jersey man who stepped onto the field during a Mets game is the first charged under a new law prohibiting interference with professional sporting events.

John McCarthy, 38, of Totowa, N.J., came out of the stands and ran onto the field at Shea Stadium on Tuesday night as the Mets played the San Francisco Giants. McCarthy was quickly apprehended and taken into custody while play was stopped, District Attorney Richard Brown said Wednesday.

Under a law passed last fall, a conviction of interference with a professional sporting event carries a minimum fine of $1,000.

McCarthy also faces a charge of criminal trespass. He was expected to be arraigned Wednesday night.

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