Torn rotator cuff sidelines Orioles’ Benson
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kris Benson has a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder and will almost certainly miss the 2007 season.
A recent MRI exam revealed a partial tear, Benson’s agent, Gregg Clifton, said Monday. The injury will require surgery, but the procedure has not yet been scheduled.
“We’d like to get it done as soon as possible so we can start the recovery process,” Clifton said.
After coming to Baltimore in a January 2006 trade with the New York Mets, Benson went 11-12 with a 4.82 ERA in 30 starts. This season he was supposed to provide experience in a young starting rotation that includes Erik Bedard, Daniel Cabrera and Adam Loewen.
“We’re disappointed,” Orioles executive vice president Mike Flanagan said. “We’ll look at the free-agent market and the trade market, but getting another starter from inside the organization is still a possibility.”
Rotator cuff tears usually require between eight to 12 months of rehabilitation for pitchers.
•The Orioles wasted no time, signing free agent right-handed pitcher Steve Trachsel to a one-year, $3.1 million deal.
Could Rivera be next?
As the New York Yankees prepared to start spring training without Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera talked about the possibility of not being with the team a year from now.
Rivera will get $10.5 million this season, the option year of a contract paying him $31.5 million over three seasons. He is eligible to become a free agent after the World Series.
“If they want to talk, we’re willing to listen,” Rivera said. “But I’m going to bring nothing to the table. I’m just going to focus on what I have to do and see what happens. I have a contract for this year. That’s what matters. All I have to do is focus on this season.”
Atlanta Braves sold
Time Warner Inc. reached a deal to sell the Atlanta Braves to Liberty Media Corp. after more than a year of negotiations, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The agreement, which must still be approved by Major League Baseball owners, would involve Time Warner transferring the Braves, a group of craft magazines and $1 billion in cash to Liberty in exchange for about 60 million shares of Time Warner.
Clearing the bases
Right-handed pitcher Matt Herges agreed to a minor-league contract with the Colorado Rockies, who invited him to their spring training camp. … Infielder Eduardo Perez agreed to a minor-league contract with the Chicago White Sox and was invited to the team’s spring training camp. … Pitcher Pete Walker agreed to a minor-league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. … Major league teams will be able to change their postseason rosters if their series opener is postponed. When their NLCS opener against the Cardinals was rained out last year, the Mets said that if given the chance they might have carried 12 pitchers instead of 11.