SURPRISE, Ariz. — RANGERS
Young leaves camp
Michael Young is leaving the Texas Rangers - for a couple of days, anyway.
The team said Wednesday that the veteran infielder will leave spring training camp to attend to unspecified “family matters.” He is scheduled to return to camp on Saturday.
“He’s got a family thing he’s got to attend to,” Manager Ron Washington said. “He’s ready to go. He’ll take care of that, come back and play some baseball.”
Young, who practiced Wednesday morning, wouldn’t discuss details with reporters, saying only: “Everything’s great.”
Young requested a trade last month after the team signed Adrian Beltre to a six-year, $96 million free-agent contract. The team did not make any other major trades and he reported to camp on time, saying he was focused on the upcoming season.
Young is the longest-tenured Ranger, going into his 11th season, as well as the team’s career hits leader and a six-time All-Star - five times at shortstop, once at third base.
He moved to shortstop before the 2004 season after Alex Rodriguez was traded, then was switched to third base two years ago when the Rangers decided to promote Elvis Andrus from the minors.
He is now expected to be the team’s primary designated hitter and utility infielder with Beltre taking over at third.
YANKEES Rivera throws
TAMPA, Fla. - Yankees closer Mariano Rivera threw 30 pitches Wednesday in his first bullpen session at spring training this year.
“I survived,” a smiling Rivera said.
The 41-year-old closer has taken a slower approach to preparing for the season in recent years.
Yankees bullpen coach Mike Harkey stood in the batter’s box for part of the session and joked afterward that Rivera will now “take another two months off.”
Rivera also played catch in the outfield and made six warmup throws on the mound.
Rivera was 3-3 with a 1.80 ERA and 33 saves in 38 chances last season. The 11-time All-Star has 559 regular-season career saves, second to Trevor Hoffman’s 601, and a record 42 in the postseason.
Rivera agreed to a two-year, $30 million contract in December.
ORIOLES Roberts injured
SARASOTA, Fla. - Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts left spring training camp Wednesday morning after waking up with a sore neck, and he underwent testing to determine the extent of the injury.
He returned in the afternoon and downplayed the issue.
“Just a stiff neck,” Roberts said. “We’ve probably all had a stiff neck at some point in our life, right? I’m not overly concerned.”
Roberts did not participate in the team’s third full-squad workout. He will continue to receive treatment and will be re-evaluated today.
This is the latest health issue for Roberts, who appeared in only 59 games during the 2010 season. He reported to camp last year with a herniated disk in his back, and went on the disabled list after four games with a strained abdominal muscle.
The Orioles transferred him to the 60-day DL on May 12.
Roberts dismissed the idea that his neck stiffness was associated with his back.
TWINS Pavano to start opener
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Minnesota Twins just completed their first full workout of spring training, and Manager Ron Gardenhire has already decided who will be his starting pitcher on opening day.
Gardenhire told reporters on Wednesday that veteran Carl Pavano will get the ball on April 1 in Toronto. Pavano went 17-11 with a 3.75 ERA for the Twins last season. He signed a two-year, $16.5 million deal in January.
Pavano is getting the nod over lefty Francisco Liriano, who started Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees last year.
Liriano has been bothered by some soreness in his shoulder. He will throw a bullpen session today and could pitch to hitters by the end of the week.
DODGERS Surgery for Padilla
GLENDALE, Ariz. - Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Vicente Padilla, who can both start and relieve, will undergo surgery on his right elbow today and could be out anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
Team officials said Wednesday that the timetable is uncertain because the injury is somewhat unusual. The surgery involves an incision to free up a nerve that’s trapped by a muscle.
“I don’t want to talk about it until we get more medical information,” Manager Don Mattingly said.
He said the team hopes Padilla can return this season.
“It flared up when he tried to increase his velocity,” general manager Ned Colletti said. “This was the best course of action, especially considering we’ve got the month of March and a week in February.
Padilla will undergo the surgery in Los Angeles, and is expected to return to Camelback Ranch on Friday.
Padilla made 16 starts last season and finished 6-5 with a 4.07 ERA. He also spent 68 games on the disabled list with elbow soreness and a neck injury.
This year, he was projected as a reliever but also as a safety-valve starter in case anybody in the projected rotation went down with an injury.
MLB
Three umpires retiring
NEW YORK - Major League Baseball says Jerry Crawford, Mike Reilly and Chuck Meriwether are retiring, the second consecutive year a significant number of veteran umpires are leaving work.
Crawford, head of the former umpires’ union, joined the major league staff in 1977 and had been the senior umpire since Ed Montague retired last year after 34 seasons. Crawford worked the World Series in 1988, 1992, 1998, 2000 and 2002.
Reilly had been on the major league staff since 1983 and Meriwether since 1993. Meriwether was on disability and missed last season.
In 2010, Randy Marsh, Rick Reed and Charlie Reliford retired in addition to Montague.
MLB said Wednesday that Scott Barry and Brian Knight have been hired as additions to the big league umpire staff. They follow the hirings last year of Rob Drake, Chad Fairchild, James Hoye and Adrian Johnson.
Sports, Pages 21 on 02/24/2011