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Burnett ready for comeback

Florida Marlins pitcher A.J. Burnett, who hasn't pitched for more than a year, says he is ready for a return. Florida Marlins pitcher A.J. Burnett, who hasn't pitched for more than a year, says he is ready for a return. (Associated PressAssociated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
Florida Marlins pitcher A.J. Burnett, who hasn't pitched for more than a year, says he is ready for a return. Florida Marlins pitcher A.J. Burnett, who hasn't pitched for more than a year, says he is ready for a return. (Associated PressAssociated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

A.J. Burnett says he’s ready to return to the major leagues. The Florida Marlins might not be completely convinced.

Burnett, a right-hander who hasn’t pitched for the Marlins since April 2003 following elbow reconstruction surgery, walked into the team’s clubhouse Saturday and said he wants to start against Cincinnati next week.

“I’m ready to rock and roll,” Burnett said. “Hopefully, Wednesday, June 2, that’s the date. . . . I’m getting kind of anxious.”

But manager Jack McKeon sounded cautious when he said the team still hasn’t made a decision about Burnett’s availability, and indicated another rehab start is a possibility.

“We want him back for the long haul,” McKeon said. “We want to get him sharp. He doesn’t want to be disappointing his first time out. And when the adrenaline flows like it will, you want to try to get him to keep himself under control and not get too excited.”

Burnett threw 92 pitches for Triple-A Albuquerque in its 7-6 win over Memphis on Friday night. He allowed four earned runs and seven hits, struck out six and walked two. He also gave up one home run, threw one wild pitch and hit one batter.

The runs he allowed Friday were the first he had been charged with during three rehab outings this spring.

“I didn’t get ahead. I was pitching behind,” Burnett said. “I was fighting my delivery. One out of every three pitches I felt like I was clicking real good, really letting it go. I wasn’t really fighting myself out there, but I was inconsistent.”

Burnett was 12-9 with a 3.30 ERA, 203 strikeouts and five shutouts in 2002, yet was shut down after only four starts in 2003. He threw a no-hitter at San Diego in 2001.

Angels finalize contract with Mondesi

The Anaheim Angels finalized their contract with outfielder Raul Mondesi, who is scheduled to join the team today for the series finale against the White Sox.

Mondesi, a former All-Star and Gold Glove winner, said Friday he agreed to a contract that will pay him $1.75 million for the rest of the season.

Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia said there was a chance Mondesi could play today if he’s in condition.

“Hopefully, we are going to get a chance to talk to him to see exactly what he’s been doing and how he feels,” Scioscia said after the Angels beat the White Sox 5-1 Saturday.

“If he’s not at a (injury risk), we will feel very comfortable getting him in the lineup and playing him. If he is not there, then we will go to Plan B, which will be to work him out.”

Garciaparra to play today – at Triple-A

Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, who hasn’t played all season because of a sore Achilles tendon, is to begin a rehabilitation assignment in Triple-A today.

Garciaparra plans to play two games with Pawtucket at Louisville, then return to Boston to work with a therapist for a couple of days. He is expected to rejoin the farm team in Toledo after an off-day Wednesday.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said Garciaparra will play four or five innings and bat leadoff, to maximize his at-bats.

Leiter throws pitches in workout session

Al Leiter threw 25 game-simulated pitches in a workout session Saturday, and could be back in the New York Mets’ rotation as early as Tuesday.

Leiter hasn’t pitched since May 11 because of tendinitis in his left shoulder.

“He had a nice warmup routine in the bullpen,” Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson said. “We had scheduled between 20 and 25 pitches and because he felt so good, we went to 25.”

The Mets hope Leiter can start against Philadelphia on Tuesday, but Peterson said no final decisions would be made before today.

Clearing the bases

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Paul Wilson will skip his scheduled start today against Montreal because of a strained right groin. . . . Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Vicente Padilla was placed on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his elbow. . . . Blue Jays first baseman Carlos Delgado left the game against Texas after the fifth inning with an irritated right rib cage. He was taken to a hospital for further evaluation, but manager Carlos Tosca didn’t know the results of the examination.