Notes

ROYALS Chen has bulging disk

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Royals placed left-hander Bruce Chen on the disabled list Friday with a bulging disk in his back and recalled right-hander Aaron Brooks from Class AAA Omaha.

Chen was supposed to start today against Detroit, but he struggled with the pain in a side session on Thursday, even after receiving an epidural that was supposed to alleviate it.

Afterward, Royals Manager Ned Yost acknowledged that a DL stint was likely.

Left-hander Danny Duffy will slide from the bullpen into Chen’s spot in the rotation.

Brooks, who was 0-1 with a 4.80 ERA at Omaha, provides some bullpen depth. He spent five days with the Royals in early April but did not appear in a game.

BRAVES Johnson gets 3-year deal

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves and third baseman Chris Johnson have agreed to a $23.5 million, three-year contract covering 2015-2017.

Johnson is making $4.75 million this season under a one-year deal. The agreement announced Friday includes salaries of $6 million next year, $7.5 million in 2016 and $9 million in 2017. Atlanta has a $10 million option for 2018 with a $1 million buyout.

Johnson, 29, would have been eligible for free agency after the 2016 season.

INDIANS Kipnis strains muscle

CLEVELAND - The Indians have placed All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis on the 15-day disabled list with a strained side muscle.

Kipnis injured his oblique during an at-bat in the fourth inning of Tuesday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Angels. The Indians announced the move before Friday’s series opener against the White Sox.

Kipnis, 27, is hitting .234 with 3 home runs and 12 RBI after signing a six-year, $52.5 million contract at the start of this season.

The Indians recalled infielder Jose Ramirez from Class AAA Columbus. Ramirez has a .319 average with 4 home runs and 17 RBI in 23 games for the Clippers.

TWINS Hicks lands on DL

MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Twins have placed center fielder Aaron Hicks on the seven-day disabled list with concussion-like symptoms.

The move was made before Friday’s game against Baltimore. Left-handed pitcher Logan Darnell was recalled from Class AAA Rochester to fill the roster spot.

Hicks left the second game of Minnesota’s doubleheader Thursday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers after banging his head against the wall while reaching for Scott Van Slyke’s fly ball in the sixth inning.

Darnell was drafted by the Twins in the sixth round in 2010. In four starts for Rochester, he posted a 1.69 ERA in 21 1/3 innings with 21 strikeouts and 7 walks.

Sports, Pages 22 on 05/03/2014

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