MLB roundup: Harper says he should have been put on DL sooner
Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was placed on the disabled list Saturday with a lingering knee problem, but he believes the team should have made the move sooner.
Harper hurt the knee after he crashed into an outfield wall on May 13. He also is bothered by bursitis. The move to the disabled list is retroactive to May 27.
"I think after I hit the wall, I think I should have went on the DL, just try to get better and came back 15 days later," Harper said, according to CSNWashington.com "With a lot of guys out, I wanted to stay in the lineup the way I was swinging it.
"Of course, I want to play every day. It's something that, maybe I'll learn more in my career to take off 15 days instead of lose the month or whatever it is."
Harper described the current condition of the knee as "swollen and crappy."
--Jayson Werth is expected to be back in the Nationals' lineup by Tuesday provided the outfielder avoids setbacks.
Werth is completing a rehab assignment Sunday by playing nine innings.
He played in 27 games before he landed on the disabled list with a hamstring injury.
--Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg has a Grade 1 lat strain and the 24-year-old pitcher remains optimistic he'll make his next scheduled start.
If he doesn't respond to treatment by Tuesday, it's likely the decision will be made to place him on the 15-day disabled list.
---Free agent outfielder Grady Sizemore is still recovering from microfracture knee surgery but has resumed baseball activities.
The Boston Globe reported Sizemore could sign with a team for the second half of the season.
---The Los Angeles Dodgers placed catcher A.J. Ellis on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique injury and scratched left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu from his start on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies because of a sore left foot.
---San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum would be open to moving to the bullpen in the future if the team needs him in a permanent relief role.
Lincecum, 28, was used in relief during the postseason last year. He worked 13 innings out of the bullpen and allowed one run, six hits and two walks with 17 strikeouts in 13 innings.
"If my career takes that turn, I'm definitely open to changes, especially if it's beneficial to the team I'm playing for," Lincecum told CSNBayArea.com.
---A strained right groin landed Colorado Rockies closer Rafael Betancourt on the 15-day disabled list.
Betancourt, 38, has not pitched since Friday night when he gave up two runs in one inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The move to the DL is retroactive to Saturday.
--Pete Rose is making at least $1 million annually signing baseball items sold for between $75 and $800 apiece.
The Wall Street Journal, which caught up with Rose at an autograph session in Las Vegas, reported he signs up to 25 days per month. He also makes private appearances and rarely turns down an invitation to sign at specialty shops and shows.
"I must say that what I do, and I don't mean to sound arrogant about this, but what I do, I think I'm the best at it," said Rose, 72. "Willie Mays is not going to do this, because he don't want to do it. Hank Aaron is not going to do it. Carl Yastrzemski is not going to do it. Some guys do shows. They do card shows. No one is going to try to do this 15 days a month."
