Associated Press
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic ó Pedro Martinez could be back on a major league mound soon.
The right-hander said on Wednesday that he has had talks with the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays and hopes to sign a contract in the near future.
“There’s a good chance I’ll be signing soon, but there still isn’t anything firm,” Martinez told The Associated Press.
Martinez, 37, has been training in his native Dominican Republic in hopes of returning to the majors. His four-year deal with the New York Mets ended after last season, making Martinez a free agent.
Martinez has a 214-99 record with an ERA of 2.91 in 17 seasons.
BLUE JAYS
PHILADELPHIA ó Toronto ace Roy Halladay is headed to the disabled list.
The Blue Jays plan to put Halladay and closer Scott Downs on the DL today, further depleting their injury-riddled pitching staff.
Right-hander Casey Janssen was placed on the 15-day DL before Wednesday night’s game. Left-hander Brad Mills was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas to take Janssen’s spot, and he is slated to make his major league debut at Philadelphia today.
The rash of injuries leaves the Blue Jays without their top five starters. Dustin McGowan, Shaun Marcum and Jesse Litsch also are on the DL.
Halladay strained his right groin last Friday. Downs strained his big left toe Tuesday.
MARINERS
SAN DIEGO ó Seattle left-hander Erik Bedard was placed on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation.
RANGERS
ARLINGTON, Texas ó Texas shortstop Omar Vizquel has matched Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio for the most hits by a player from Venezuela.
Vizquel got his 2,677th career hit with a single in the fifth inning Wednesday. It was the 2,706th career game for the 41-year-old Vizquel, who is in his 21st major league season.
Aparicio had 2,677 hits in 2,601 games from 1956-73 for the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore and Boston.
Now a utility player and mentor to 20-year-old rookie Elvis Andrus, who is also from Venezuela, Vizquel made only his 12th start at shortstop.
* The owner’s suite at Rangers Ballpark is being renamed in honor of former President George W. Bush.
Bush is also the former managing general partner of the Rangers, a position he held from 1989-94 before being elected governor of Texas and later as the 43rd U.S. president.
YANKEES
NEW YORK ó Yankees manager Joe Girardi held firm Wednesday, leaving Derek Jeter out of the starting lineup despite the shortstop’s insistence that his sore left ankle was fine.
ASTROS
ARLINGTON, Texas ó Houston placed left-hander Mike Hampton on the 15-day disabled list with a left groin strain. It’s the 12th time in his 15-year career that Hampton has been on the DL.
CARDINALSST. LOUIS ó Cardinals infielder Khalil Greene, on the 15-day disabled list while dealing with social anxiety problems, worked out with the team Wednesday and could be activated soon.
Greene has been playing third base during a rehab stint at Triple-A Memphis and likely would return to the lineup at that position.
CUBS
OMAHA, Neb. ó A spokesman for Tom Ricketts, who heads his family’s nearly $900 million bid to buy the Chicago Cubs from Tribune Co., says the deal is still on.
Dennis Culloton, who represents Ricketts, said Wednesday that media reports suggesting otherwise are untrue.
SENTENCING
FORT WORTH, Texas ó Former major league outfielder Mel Hall was sentenced to 45 years in prison after being convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl he coached on an elite basketball team.
STEROIDS
NEW YORK ó Jose Canseco plans to file a class-action lawsuit against Major League Baseball and the players’ association, saying he’s been ostracized for going public with tales of steroids use in the sport.
Canseco said he has discussed the suit with lawyers and intends to enlist Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro to join in the suit.
Canseco said the basis of the suit would be “lost wages ó in some cases, defamation of character.”