MESA, Ariz. — Alfonso Soriano came to spring training Monday with his typical big smile and offered up a question mark about his surgically repaired left knee.
Soriano underwent arthroscopic surgery on the knee Sept. 15.
Four months later, he said he isn’t sure when he’ll be able to go full speed on it — not what fans were hoping to hear from a guy who played in only 117 games with the Cubs in 2009, batting .241 with 20 homers and 55 RBIs in the third season of an eight-year, $136 million contract.
Soriano said he’s probably at about 80 percent or 85 percent but hasn’t completely tested the knee by running the bases or chasing flyballs. He’s been taking batting practice with no pain, and acknowledges that some of his concern is mental.
“I don’t know what I will feel tomorrow when I put on my uniform and start running,” he said.
Peavy hands over ball
GLENDALE, Ariz. — White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen announced Mark Buehrle would be his opening-day starter — a decision made easy when Jake Peavy turned down the assignment.
“I had talked to Jake at SoxFest about him being the opening day guy,” pitching coach Don Cooper said. “He called me up two or three days after SoxFest and said: ‘Dude, I don’t want to start. I don’t want it. This is Buehrle’s team.’ “
Peavy and the White Sox know Buehrle needs one opening day start to set the franchise record of eight.
“Certainly we all knew that Buehrle had a chance to have the record, but my thought was we would be running out our best guy on Day One and we would then be able to give Buehrle a few days extra,” Cooper said. “But the point is Jake’s unselfishness was a very, very refreshing thing to see.”
Greene won’t join Texas after all
SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Rangers said utility infielder Khalil Greene will not be joining the team because of an undisclosed private matter.
General manager Jon Daniels said the Rangers fully support Greene’s decision, and would not comment on his “medical situation.” The Rangers have not put a timetable on Greene’s possible return to the club.
Greene signed a one-year, $750,000 deal with Texas on Jan. 21.
Footnotes.
The Yankees signed right-hander Chan Ho Park to a one-year, $1.2 million contract with incentives that could add $300,000.
• Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts has a back problem, but expects to be OK for opening day.
• Free-agent slugger Carlos Delgado said his latest hip surgery went well and he is looking forward to getting back onto the field.
• The Reds signed free-agent outfielder Jonny Gomes to an $800,000, one-year deal and put right-hander Edinson Volquez (elbow) on the 60-day disabled list to create room on the roster.
• Free-agent outfielder Johnny Damon, who hit .282 with 24 homers for the Yankees last season, and the Tigers finalized an $8 million, one- year contract.
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