FORT MYERS, Fla. — Twins catcher Joe Mauer is back in the batter’s box and crouching behind the plate, moving a step closer to returning from the lower-back inflammation that put him on the disabled list. Mauer took batting practice Wednesday night with a group of minor-leaguers and homered in the last round of his first BP action since September.
“That last one felt pretty good,” Mauer said.
Mauer also caught pitcher Scott Baker’s bullpen session, though he said there still isn’t a timetable for his return. He has yet to resume running, the activity that has caused him discomfort all spring.
Payrolls drop by $47 million
NEW YORK — Teams cut payrolls for their active rosters and disabled lists by $47 million from opening day in 2008 to the first day of this season. That comes out to a drop of 1.7 percent.
The drop is the first since 2004 and just the second since the 1994-95 strike. Among the 16 of the 30 teams cutting payroll were the Yankees, who trimmed salaries by $7.6 million but led the majors with a $201.4 million payroll. The Rockies, at $75.2 million, were 18th in the rankings after a payroll increase of $6.5 million.
Footnotes.
Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Webb will skip his next start — Saturday against the Dodgers — because of shoulder stiffness.
• Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki has been cleared to begin playing in his comeback from a bleeding ulcer that caused severe fatigue.
• Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels, the World Series and NLCS MVP who has been hampered by minor elbow problems, is expected to start Friday against the Rockies at Coors Field.
The Associated Press
