Notes

LITTLE ROCK — MLB Byrd suspended 50 games

NEW YORK - Outfielder Marlon Byrd was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball on Monday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

Major League Baseball said Byrd, 34, tested positive for Tamoxifen, which can reduce side effects of steroid use and increase testosterone. It is often used to treat breast cancer patients.

“I made an inexcusable mistake,” Byrd said in a statement released by the players’ association. “Several years ago, I had surgery for a condition that was private and unrelated to baseball. Last winter, I suffered a recurrence of that condition and I was provided with a medication that resulted in my positive test. Although that medication is on the banned list,I absolutely did not use it for performance enhancement reasons.”

Byrd is a free agent and will be placed on the restricted list for the duration of his suspension, which began immediately. He started the season with the Chicago Cubs and was dealt to the Red Sox on April 21. He was designated for assignment by Boston on June 9 and released four days later.

He hit .210 in 47 games with the two teams, though he hit .270 with 1 home run and 7 RBI in 34 games with Boston. The Red Sox picked him up when they had a shortage in the outfield after several injuries. He has played for five teams in 11 major league seasons and is a career .278 hitter.

REDS Stubbs activated off DL

CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati Reds activated center fielder Drew Stubbs from the disabled list before the opening game of a series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, restoring their everyday lineup to full strength.

Stubbs went on the DL on June 15 after pulling muscles in his left side during a swing. He played a three-game rehab stint at Class A Dayton over the weekend. Stubbs said Monday that he still feels tightness in his side at times, but the pain is gone.

“It felt pretty good, for the most part,” Stubbs said. “Being 100 percent at any point in the season is kind of few and far between.”

The Reds sent outfielder Willie Harris to Class AAA Louisville to open a roster spot.Harris was called up when Stubbs got hurt and went 2 for 9 in 6 games. Stubbs leads the team with 13 stolen bases; no one else has more than four. Cincinnati is last in the National League with 32 steals.

“Stubbs is back,” Reds Manager Dusty Baker said. “Hopefully he’ll give us a spark and a jolt. He’s our No. 1 speed man. That’s the thing you’re losing without him in the lineup, and I love speed. There’s no substitution for it.” TWINS Closer Capps put on DL

MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Twins have placed closer Matt Capps on the disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder.

The team announced the move Monday, one day after Capps showed up in Cincinnati with more pain in his shoulder. The pain has bothered Capps for much of the summer. The veteran tried to pitch through the discomfort, but it was hampering his effectiveness.

Capps has 14 saves with a 3.42 ERA this season.

ORIOLES

Tejada released at his request

BALTIMORE - The Baltimore Orioles have released infielder Miguel Tejada from his minor league contract at his request.

Tejada signed with the Orioles last month and was assigned to Class AAA Norfolk, where he hit .259 with no home runs and 18 RBI in 36 games. The 38-year-old Tejada, who won the 2002 American League MVP award with Oakland, played twice before with the Orioles, from 2004-2007 and in 97 games in 2010.

Tejada has a career batting average of .285 with 304 home runs and 1,282 RBI.

CUBS Top prospect called up

CHICAGO - Cubs prospect Anthony Rizzo is Chicago-bound and could get his first start as early as today.

Manager Dale Sveum confirmed Monday night before the start of a three-game series against the New York Mets.

The 22-year-old rookie, acquired in a winter trade with San Diego, was reportedly pulled out of Monday’s game for Class AAA Iowa so he could travel to Chicago.

The 6-3 first baseman, who was drafted by the Red Sox in 2007 and traded to San Diego three years later, was hitting .342 with 23 home runs and 62 RBI for Iowa.