MLB roundup: Yankees officials say team is not for sale
The New York Yankees aren't for sale.
Managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said Thursday that his family has no intention of selling the historic franchise.
Steinbrenner's comments come in response to a New York Daily News report, which said that rumors are swirling that Steinbrenner's family is looking into the possibility of selling the team.
"I just learned of the Daily News story. It is pure fiction," Steinbrenner said in a statement. "The Yankees are not for sale. I expect that the Yankees will be in my family for many years to come."
Yankees president Randy Levine also denied the suggestion to the Daily News, telling the paper: "I can say to you there is absolutely, positively nothing to this. The Steinbrenners are not selling the team."
Citing anonymous sources, the paper suggested that the April sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers for a record price of $2.175 billion signaled a good time for the Steinbrenners to sell. The Yankees were purchased by a group headed by George M. Steinbrenner in 1973 for $8.8 million.
---Former Major League player David Segui testified in Washington on Thursday that Roger Clemens' personal trainer told him he had saved needles he said he had used to inject Clemens with performance-enhancing drugs, Reuters reported.
Segui was testifying on behalf of the prosecution in Clemens' perjury trial, and he said Brian McNamee, Clemens trainer, told him in a telephone conversation in 2001 that McNamee had saved the needles as evidence to satisfy his wife, who was leery of McNamee's relationship with Clemens.
Testimony from Segui is an attempt to boost the credibility of McNamee, who is being painted as a liar by defense attorneys. Clemens, 49, is being tried on federal charges that he lied in 2008 to the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Oversight and Government Reform when he said he did not use performance-enhancing drugs.
---St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Lance Berkman's right knee surgery has been pushed to Friday due to a scheduling conflict.
Berkman will receive a scope to determine the severity of his knee injury. An MRI showed a meniscus tear, but a possibility exists that the ACL might also be damaged.
---The Baltimore Orioles have interest in right-hander Roy Oswalt, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Oswalt had hoped to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals or Texas Rangers, but those discussions never gained much traction. The free agent veteran is apparently beginning to consider other teams.
The Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies are also reported to have some level of interest.
---Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Marco Estrada was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right quad strain.
The right-hander suffered the injury running the bases in Wednesday's 8-5 defeat of the San Francisco Giants. Lefty Manny Parra is a candidate to fill in.
---The Miami Marlins placed outfielder Austin Kearns on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a right hamstring strain.
Kearns was hurt Tuesday night, and hadn't progressed enough by Thursday. He was batting .375 with three homers in 48 at-bats this season.
The team recalled outfielder Kevin Mattison from Triple-A New Orleans to take Kearns' spot.
---The San Francisco Giants activated infielder Ryan Theriot from the 15-day disabled list on Thursday. Theriot was out with inflammation in his right elbow.
The 32-year-old is expected to share time at second base with Emmanuel Burriss.
---The Baltimore Orioles signed lefty J.C. Romero to a minor-league contract, and assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk. Romero was released by the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this month after allowing 14 hits and nine runs in eight innings.
---Former big-league closer Armando Benitez agreed to a contract with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League. The 39-year-old last appeared in the big leagues in 2008, when he posted a 5.68 ERA in 6 1/3 innings for the Toronto Blue Jays.
--- The Seattle Mariners have activated catcher Miguel Olivo from the 15-day disabled list. He was sidelined with a groin injury and has gone through a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Tacoma. Outfielder Casper Wells has been optioned to Tacoma to make room on the roster.
---While several other teams have jockeyed with the closer position this season, the Diamondbacks plan to stick with J.J. Putz despite early-season inconsistencies.
"Oh, yeah; no question," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "I just think he's the guy. He's our closer and nothing's changed. It's as simple as that."
Putz has converted 9-of-12 save chances this season.
