Buhner Likely Back In A Week

Seattle Mariners right fielder Jay Buhner’s drive for his first Major League all-star game selection will likely be sidelined just a week or so.

Buhner, who injured his right thumb sliding into third base Tuesday in Minnesota, had the hand examined Thursday afternoon by Mariners team physician Dr. Larry Pedegena and no break or torn ligaments were detectable.

For now, it is being called a bad sprain.

The thumb, on his throwing hand, was still swollen Thursday and will be re-examined today before a final decision is made on Buhner’s return.

The possibility that he could go on the disabled list has not been ruled out. If he does, it would be retroactive to Tuesday.

Buhner injured the thumb while advancing from first to third on a Paul Sorrento single in the first inning of Tuesday’s 18-8 win at Minnesota. He bent the thumb the wrong direction while grabbing the bag on a hard slide.

Buhner is having the best season of his eight-year career, hitting .300 with 21 home runs and 61 runs batted in. His home run and RBI totals each rank fourth in the American League.

He has made five trips to the disabled list in his career. Seattle has eight players on the disabled list.

After 62 games in the 1996 season, the Mariners’ owners are paying more money to players who cannot play today than they are to those who can.

More than $20 million is being paid to injured Mariners. That’s more than half the projected payroll for the team ($36 million).