Nationals hire Davey Johnson as manager

Davey Johnson is poised to take over as manager of the Washington Nationals, replacing Jim Riggleman, who abruptly resigned Thursday.

General manager Mike Rizzo said Saturday that Johnson has agreed to a deal, but there are a few technical items to figure out before the team can make an official announcement today.

“It’s language and dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s kind of stuff,” Rizzo said, without elaborating.

Johnson, who has not managed in the majors since 2000, will join the team in Chicago today, fly with the Nationals to Los Angeles and take over Monday when they begin an interleague series against the Angels.

Choo likely to have surgery on thumb

Shin-Soo Choo was walking around the Cleveland Indians’ clubhouse with a soft cast on his left hand that covered three stitches on his bloodied, broken thumb.

The only thing that might hurt worse is the hole in Cleveland’s shattered lineup.

The Indians’ prize right fielder will likely be sidelined for the next six weeks and possibly more.

Choo’s thumb was smashed when it was hit by a pitch by San Francisco’s Jonathan Sanchez on Friday.

Yankees still have no timetable for Jeter

Yankees manager Joe Girardi won’t rush Derek Jeter back from a strained right calf, even though he’s eligible to come off the disabled list next week.

Girardi also doesn’t plan to take slugging third baseman Alex Rodriguez out of the lineup unless he asks for a day off to rest his ailing right knee.

Dodgers executive Soboroff resigns

Steve Soboroff, hired by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt to oversee improving the fan experience at the stadium, has resigned after two months on the job.

Team spokesman Josh Rawitch confirmed that Soboroff quit.

The Los Angeles civic leader resigned in a letter to McCourt, citing Major League Baseball’s oversight of the team as the reason for his resignation.

Phillies’ Oswalt out with bulging disc

Philadelphia pitcher Roy Oswalt rushed to return the first time his balky back put him on the disabled list.

He won’t make that mistake again.

He can’t – a mild bulging disc means it’s unlikely he’ll return before August.