YANKS WON’T PUSH FOR A-ROD SURGERY
TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez will attempt to play this season with an injured right hip, hoping to avoid surgery and a four-month rehabilitation period.
A cyst in the hip was drained Wednesday, and the Yankees’ third baseman will skip playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Still, he has a torn labrum that might require an operation.
“There’s two courses of action concerning what he has,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Thursday. “There is treat it conservatively, which would imply rest, exercise and treatment. Or you can treat it aggressively, which is by surgery. At this point in time, we are going to go the conservative route.”
reported Rodriguez’s brother, Joe Dunand, said the slugger was going to have surgery, with a projected 10-week recovery time. Rodriguez is scheduled to undergo additional tests in Vail today.
• Mariano Rivera threw off a mound for the first time since offseason shoulder surgery, and the closer said he expects to be ready for opening day.
Dodgers get their Man-ny
PHOENIX — One day after agreeing to a $45 million, two-year contract, Manny Ramirez arrived at the Dodgers’ spring training headquarters and declared he was looking forward to his first full season in Los Angeles.
Asked when he might make his first spring training appearance, Ramirez replied: “I’m going to take it slow. . . . I’ve got to get my Gold Glove ready, I’m pretty sure you know that. I’ve got to save my cannon for the season.”
When the news conference ended, Ramirez posed for photos with former Journey member Steve Perry — a lifelong San Francisco Giants fan who nevertheless said he’d cheer for Ramirez.
Giants release outfielder Roberts
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Giants released veteran outfielder Dave Roberts in a surprise move that could cost them $6.5 million this season.
Roberts, 36, signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Giants in 2007, but played only 166 games in his first two seasons because of elbow and knee injuries. He entered camp as the fifth outfielder behind starters Fred Lewis, Aaron Rowand and Randy Winn, and prospect Nate Schierholtz.
Footnotes.
Tom Glavine threw batting practice for the first time since re-signing with the Braves, and manager Bobby Cox said the 42-year-old left-hander is on track to join the rotation after season-ending surgery in 2008.
• Padres third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff played his first game in the field since shoulder surgery Nov. 15. He threw across the diamond on consecutive plays to end the third with no apparent issues.
• Left-hander Dennys Reyes and the Cardinals agreed to a $3 million, two-year contract.
• Nationals right-hander Shawn Hill was scratched from his scheduled start against the Tigers because of right forearm tightness.
• Mike Lowell’s desire to play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic will not materialize because the Red Sox third baseman has not sufficiently healed from hip surgery in October.
• Mariners right-hander Brandon Morrow will miss his next scheduled start after complaining of stiffness in his pitching forearm. The Associated Press
