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As Gabe Gross’s reward for scoring the winning run to end today’s game against the Cardinals in the 12th inning, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right handed pitching prospect Josh Butler.

Gross was traded to create some space in what will be a crowded outfield in the near future.  Tony Gwynn, Jr. will be activated from the disabled list on Wednesday after getting seven hits in 13 at-bats at Triple-A on a rehab assignment.  In addition to Gwynn, the Brewers will get Mike Cameron back after his 25-game suspension end next week.

“It was a little bit out of the blue,” said Gross. “Something had to give (in the outfield).”

Filed under: Gabe Gross, Josh Butler, Mike Cameron, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays, Tony Gwynn Jr. | No Comments »

Astros centerfielder Michael Bourn will be out for at least a few days after suffering a groin injury in last night’s game against the Padres.

Bourn, the major league leader in stolen bases, hopes to return to the lineup by the end of the week.

“I don’t think it’s that severe,” Bourn said. “I’m not going to try and rush back.”

Kaz Matsui will move into the leadoff spot for the Astros while Bourn is out. Darin Erstad will start in centerfield in place of Bourn.

Filed under: Darin Erstad, Houston Astros, Kaz Matsui, Michael Bourn | No Comments »

The Nationals worst fears are just a day away from coming to fruition. The arm problems that have plagued Chad Cordero have gotten to the point that the team is going to send him to Birmingham tomorrow to have his shoulder examined by Dr. James Andrews.

Cordero appeared in a game last night in Atlanta and threw a scoreless inning, but when he got back to the team’s hotel, he felt a “clicking” in his sore shoulder.

“Just clicking. That’s all it was. No pain, nothing like that when I was throwing last night,” said Cordero. “When I got back in the room last night, I was moving my arm around, I had some clicking in the shoulder. I wasn’t really sure what it was.”

Obviously, having one of your key pitchers visiting Dr. Andrews is never a good thing. There will be more to come with this tomorrow afternoon.

Jon Rauch will continue to get the save chances while Cordero is out.

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The initial timetable of Mark Mulder being able to return to the Cardinals after three minor league starts has been adjusted a little bit. The Cardinals no longer have a hard timetable on his return, saying he may stay on rehab for the maximum 30 days.

The Cardinals are concerned with the velocity of his fastball fluctuating the way it has and wants to make sure he’s at full strength when he returns to the majors.

The Cardinals are probably being more cautious with Mulder because Joel Pineiro has been terribly ineffective since being called up after just one rehab start.

Filed under: Mark Mulder, St. Louis Cardinals | No Comments »

Instead of pushing him back just one day, the Brewers have opted to skip Sheets’ next start completely to give him more time to work out the tightness in his triceps.

He would have started on Wednesday, but Dave Bush will now make that start in Sheets place. Sheets next start will come next Tuesday in Chicago.

“My first thought was to push him back one day,” said manager Ned Yost. “But I don’t know if one day would alleviate it. We want to see if we can get it gone completely.”

Filed under: Ben Sheets, Dave Bush, Milwaukee Brewers | No Comments »

The Cincinnati Reds purchased the contract of Jerry Hairston today, giving them another option in the outfield in place of the slumping Corey Patterson.

Hairston was batting .421/.450/.772 at Triple-A Louisville with three homers and 15 RBIs in 57 at-bats at the time of his call up. He has played all both center and right field, along with getting time at second, short and third base for the Bats.

To make room for Hairston on the roster, the Reds designated Juan Castro for assignment.

Filed under: Cincinnati Reds, Jerry Hairston, Juan Castro | No Comments »

Moises Alou may beat his timetable of May 1 for his return. If he doesn’t suffer any setback, Alou could return to the Mets on Friday.

Alou officially began his come back yesterday, going 3-for-3 with a double in five innings in his first rehab game. Alou is expected to take today off before joining the Mets Florida State League team for three days and then return to the Mets.

When Alou returns, it may mean that Carlos Delgado shifts even further down in the order and bats sixth for the time being. Delgado is 1-for his last-24 but has been locked into the fifth spot in the order because they have had no one else to hit there. With Alou’s return, manager Willy Randolph could pencil Alou in the lineup in front of Delgado.

Filed under: Carlos Delgado, Moises Alou, New York Mets | No Comments »

Dontrelle Willis threw off the mound for the first time since hyperextending his knee earlier this morning. Willis had been throwing off flat ground, but he reported no problems with throwing, and pushing off the rubber, for the first time.

Willis says that he has regained most of the strength in his knee is it is now just a matter of time before he’s back in the Tigers rotation.

He will throw one more bullpen session to test the knee before the Tigers put him through fielding drills. After he passes those tests, the Tigers hope to send Willis out for a rehab start or two before he comes back.

Filed under: Detroit Tigers, Dontrelle Willis | No Comments »

It took them a while, but the Phillies finally placed Jimmy Rollins on the disabled list. Chris Snelling will also go to the disabled list for the Phillies with T.J. Bohn and Brad Harman coming up to take their place.

Rollins last started on April 8 when he left the game with a sprained ankle, but thanks to four pinch hitting appearances, including one yesterday, the Phillies have cost themselves 11 days they could have retroactively dated the DL stint for Rollins. Instead of being able to make the stay on the disabled list retroactive to April 9, Rollins will now be out for at least two more weeks, despite the fact he feels his ankle has gotten better each day.

Harman was batting .222 (12-for-54) through 16 games at Double-A Redding after batting .281 in 122 games last season in Class-A ball. Bohn will take the place of Snelling in the outfield. Bohn was batting .190 (8-for-42) through 13 games at Triple-A.

Filed under: Brad Harman, Chris Snelling, Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies, T.J. Bohn | No Comments »

To make room for Matt Belisle’s start tomorrow, the Reds placed David Weathers on the disabled list with a sore elbow.

Weathers was removed from yesterday’s game with the injury, though an MRI revealed nothing to be concerned over.

“We’re going to put Weathers on the DL,” general manager Wayne Krivsky said. “With (Matt) Belisle being active tomorrow…whether there’s something else, we’ll see. But right now, Weathers will go on the DL starting today.”

They made no other moves today, just opened the spot for Belisle to make tomorrow’s start.

Filed under: Cincinnati Reds, David Weathers, Matt Belisle | No Comments »