MLB Roundup: Dodgers designate Abreu, Rays cut Matsui
The Dodgers designated veteran outfielder Bobby Abreu for assignment on Wednesday.
Abreu, 38, was signed May 4 after he was released by the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels released Abreu to make room for American League MVP candidate Mike Trout.
The Dodgers have 10 days to trade or release Abreu. They needed to create a roster spot Wednesday to add outfielder Shane Victorino, acquired Tuesday from the Phillies.
Abreu hit .178 in 37 games with the Dodgers.
Victorino replaced Abreu as the Phillies' regular right fielder in 2006 following the trade that sent Abreu to the New York Yankees.
Abreu first played in the big leagues in 1996 as a 22-year-old outfielder with the Houston Astros. In 17 seasons, he also played for the Phillies, Yankees, Angels and Dodgers and has a career .292 batting average and .396 on-base percentage.
-- Hideki Matsui, known as the best slugger to come to Major League Baseball from Japan, was released Wednesday by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Last week, Matsui was designated for assignment after infielder Ryan Roberts was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Matsui, 38, signed April 30 and was added to the major league roster May 29. He hit two home runs in his first three games with the club but none since in a total of 34 games, including 23 starts.
Matsui spent nine seasons in the majors with the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics following a 10-year career with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League. He hit 175 home runs and drove in 760 runs in 1,236 games.
With the A's in 2011, Matsui batted .251 with 12 home runs.
--Cincinnati Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco has been suspended three games by Major League Baseball for bumping an umpire Monday night.
Mesoraco, who made contact with home plate umpire Chad Fairchild during the third inning of the game against the San Diego Padres, will be fined an undisclosed amount, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.
He was active for Wednesday night's game because he was appealing the suspension. He is expected to receive a hearing in two weeks.
"I was frustrated," Mesoraco told the Enquirer. "I let my emotions out. But at the end of the day, I was doing it for my team."
The Punxsutawney, Pa., native made contact with Fairchild while he was arguing whether a pitch was a ball or a strike.
--The Cubs recalled right-handed pitchers Alberto Cabrera and Chris Volstad from Triple-A Iowa and optioned right-handed pitcher Casey Coleman.
Cabrera has never appeared in the big leagues. He has a combined 4-1 with five saves and a 3.11 ERA in 36 appearances between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa this season.
Cabrera originally signed with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent on July 7, 2005.
Volstad returns to the Cubs for the third time this season. He was optioned to Iowa on May 18 after beginning the season in the starting rotation. Volstad is 0-7 with a 7.94 ERA in nine starts with the Cubs. He was acquired from the Miami Marlins on January 5 for right-handed pitcher Carlos Zambrano.
Coleman is 0-2 with a 7.40 ERA in 17 appearances, including one start, with the Cubs this season. He returns to Iowa, where he has a 2-4 record with a 5.01 ERA in 11 appearances.
--The White Sox optioned third baseman Brent Morel to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday.
Morel has been on the disabled list with a back injury since May 18 and was replaced when the White Sox traded for Kevin Youkilis, who became the team's everyday third baseman.
Morel began a rehab assignment with Class-A Winston-Salem earlier this month and was transferred to Charlotte after seven games.
--The Tampa Rays recalled right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke and optioned infielder Brooks Conrad to Triple-A Durham.
Lueke was 1-3 with a 4.73 ERA for the Bulls.
After using every pitcher in the bullpen in Monday's 15-inning loss at Oakland, the Rays needed a reliever on the roster.
