Yanks’ Wells Ails

First, David Wells of the New York Yankees broke his left hand in a bar fight. Now, what originally was thought to be turf toe may be gout.

Wells, who was walking with a prounced limp at the Yankees’ camp in Tampa, Fla., has undergone medical exams that included a blood test.

Gout is ailment marked by painful inflammation and swelling of the joints. It is treatable by medication.

The Cincinnati Reds have placed pitcher Jose Rijo on the 60-day disabled list.

Rijo, at one time the ace of the Reds’ staff, has not pitched since July 18, 1995, and has had a series of three elbow operations since then.

By placing Rijo on the 60-day list, the Reds opened a roster spot, presumably to be filled by Deion Sanders.

Bobby Adams, a major-league infielder during the 1940s and ‘50s, has died at his home in Gig Harbor, Wash., at age 75. Adams died Thursday of natural causes.

Adams was born in Tuolumne, Calif., and broke into professional baseball in 1939 with Ogden, Utah, of the Pioneer League. From 1946 to 1959 he played the infield with the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs.

He ended his playing career with the Seattle Rainiers in 1959, then served as secretary of the Association of Professional Baseball Players in 1959 and 1960.