Royals may lose another pitcher to Tommy John surgery

Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost has been around baseball his entire life, and he has a hard time recalling a season in which two pitchers needed Tommy John surgery.

Let alone four.

Felipe Paulino tore a ligament in his right elbow and likely will join Danny Duffy, Joakim Soria and Blake Wood in having reconstructive elbow surgery, putting a damper on the long-awaited return of catcher Salvador Perez from the disabled list.

The Royals said Friday that Paulino will get a second opinion from Los Angeles Angels medical director Dr. Lewis Yocum, but the right-hander said surgery is a certainty.

Yocum also performed Tommy John surgery on Duffy, Soria and Wood.

All told, Kansas City has used 10 starting pitchers this year.

Perez thinks pine tar use is widespread

Outspoken Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez said he believes there are pitchers on every team who use pine tar and other substances to manipulate the ball.

Clarifying comments he made earlier on a satellite radio show, Perez, a former Cardinal, said he wasn’t specifically calling out St. Louis for doing it. Instead he was saying that he’s only been with two teams and “more guys did it on the Cardinals than here.”

Tampa Bay reliever Joel Peralta was suspended for eight games on Thursday for having pine tar on his glove.

Perez said he only uses rosin, but that he’s seen players use pine tar, sunscreen, rosin, dirt and a mixture of those things.

Clearing the bases

The Texas Rangers placed first baseman Mitch Moreland on the 15-day disabled list and designated pitcher Mark Hamburger for assignment to clear roster space for Roy Oswalt. … The Milwaukee Brewers signed veteran right-hander Livan Hernandez to a one-year contract. … The Chicago White Sox placed pitcher Philip Humber on the 15-day disabled list because of a right elbow flexor strain and designated outfielder Kosuke Fukudome for assignment. Humber pitched a perfect game against Seattle this season. … Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold will have surgery on his neck Monday, a procedure that probably will end his season. … Cardinals outfielder Jon Jay and first baseman Matt Carpenter were activated from the disabled list; right-hander Chris Carpenter threw to batters for the first time since March 18.