TWINS’ BAKER HEADS TO DL, WILL MISS OPENING-DAY START
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Twins right-hander Scott Baker was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with shoulder stiffness and will miss his scheduled opening-day start.
Left-hander Francisco Liriano will instead take the mound for Minnesota on Monday against Seattle, but pitching coach Rick Anderson said the move — made retroactively to Saturday, making Baker eligible to return April 12 — was precautionary and would cause him to miss only the first turn in the rotation.
Baker developed soreness Wednesday after throwing in a minor-league game, but he said he wasn’t concerned.
“The decision technically wasn’t up to me. I could definitely have pitched,” said Baker, who signed a $15.25 million, four-year contract last month. “I’m an investment. They want to protect their investment.”
This would have been the first opening-day start of his career.
“It stinks,” Baker said. “The timing is just not great. I would love to pitch on opening day, but that’s not the best thing for our team. I’ll take a couple of days off from throwing and then pick it up from there.”
Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will replace Baker in the rotation, following Nick Blackburn, Kevin Slowey and Glen Perkins.
The Twins also put right-hander Boof Bonser and catcher Joe Mauer on the DL, as expected. Bonser had shoulder surgery and is expected to miss the season. Mauer is recovering from inflammation in his lower back, which will keep him out for at least the next few weeks.
Reds have interest in Sheffield
SARASOTA, Fla. — The Reds wrapped up training camp with an overture to Gary Sheffield and a lingering question about the last opening in their starting rotation.
Manager Dusty Baker said he’s interested in adding Sheffield — a friend for many years — to the roster. The trouble is that he can’t offer regular playing time to the 40-year-old free agent, who is hoping for a full-time job and a multiyear deal.
Baker got permission from general manager Walt Jocketty to call Sheffield and see if he would consider the Reds, who don’t have a starting job open. Sheffield, who was released by the Tigers on Tuesday, could start in left field when the Reds are facing a left-handed pitcher, fill in at first base on occasion and pinch hit.
“I don’t even know if we’re in the running or not,” Baker said. “He wants playing time.”
How much could Baker give him? “I don’t know,” he said, adding, “I wasn’t going to lie to him.”
Sheffield, who has 499 home runs, also has been contacted by the Phillies.
Nationals put Hernandez, Young on DL
VIERA, Fla. — Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young will start the season on the 15-day DL with hip and back injuries, while starting second baseman Anderson Hernandez was placed on the DL, retroactive to March 27, because of a strained left hamstring.
Former Rockies infielder Ronnie Belliard is expected to start at second in Hernandez’s absence.
Ichiro sits out
PEORIA, Ariz. — Seattle outfielder Ichiro Suzuki was sidelined for the third straight day with fatigue and was examined by a doctor while the Mariners routed the Padres 18-3.
Suzuki, who returned from the World Baseball Classic on March 26, was lightheaded earlier in the week.
“He said he’s tired,” manager Don Wakamatsu said. “He’s got some fatigue. We’re going to make sure that nothing’s wrong and have him checked out by the doctor.” The Associated Press
