MLB roundup: Rodriguez cleared to start minor league rehab
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was medically cleared to start playing in minor-league rehab games beginning July 1, according to the New York Daily News.
General manager Brian Cashman said Rodriguez will start the rehab assignment in Tampa, Fla., but did not confirm the exact date.
"It sounds like it's on schedule," Cashman said. "He's been running, throwing, fielding, and I know it's approaching. It's coming."
Rodriguez will likely get 50-75 at-bats or 20 games among assignments in Tampa, Class AA Trenton and Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. If all goes to plan, Rodriguez will return to the Yankees shortly after the All-Star Break.
Rodriguez, 37, is recovering from offseason left hip surgery.
---Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira may need to have season-ending surgery for his ailing right wrist as he is still feeling pain, according to ESPN New York.
Teixeira is not much better a week after having a cortisone shot in the wrist, which he injured during the World Baseball Classic in March.
Cashman added that surgery is not being ruled out.
---The Baltimore Orioles designated veteran pitcher Freddy Garcia for assignment.
Garcia, 36, pitched pretty well at the beginning of the season, but things have not gone as well recently. He has allowed 20 runs in 17 2/3 innings this month. Overall this season, Garcia is 3-5 with a 5.77 ERA.
He has no plans to retire, according to MLB.com.
Garcia was replaced on the roster by Kevin Gausman.
---The San Francisco Giants activated Pablo Sandoval from the disabled list and optioned infielder Nick Noonan to Class AAA Fresno.
Sandoval has been out the past two weeks with a strained left foot. He is batting .289 with eight home runs and 37 RBI in 225 at-bats.
---The Miami Marlins are trying hard to trade right-handed starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco.
The New York Daily News quoted a National League official who said the Marlins are "being very aggressive, calling everybody about their pitchers."
In 100 1/3 innings pitched this year, Nolasco is 4-7 with a 3.68 ERA and has 77 strikeouts and 25 walks. He is a free agent at the end of the year.
---The Cleveland Indians recalled left-handed pitcher T.J. House from Class AAA Columbus and optioned right-hander Carlos Carrasco from Columbus.
House, 23, is a combined 3-8 with a 4.83 ERA in 15 starts between Class AA Akron and Columbus this year. He was a 16th-round draft pick of the Indians in 2009.
