Giambi might be off to minors

Around the horn

With Jason Giambi’s batting average down to .195, New York Yankees manager Joe Torre and general manager Brian Cashman planned to meet with the slugger Tuesday night. While Torre didn’t specify what the Yankees hoped would happen, it sounded as if New York planned to ask Giambi to consider accepting a minor league assignment.

“I’d like to come out with a plan,” Torre said before New York’s game against Seattle. “There’s no arm-twisting here. We’re trying to find out how to reach where we want to reach.”

Because Giambi is a veteran player, he can’t be sent to the minor leagues without his consent.

Dodgers want cop patrol

The Dodgers want uniformed Los Angeles Police Department officers to patrol the stands at Dodger Stadium in the wake of fan misbehavior last week.

The Dodgers said a series of “enhancements to their security and stadium operations” would be in place Friday when the team begins its next homestand. The Police Commission must approve the plan.

Clearing the bases

Sammy Sosa was placed on the 15-day disabled list by Baltimore after he failed to respond to treatment for a nagging foot injury. … Houston first baseman Jeff Bagwell went on the 15-day DL for the first time in seven seasons. Bagwell has a degenerative shoulder condition. … Oakland put right-hander Kiko Calero on the DL with tendinitis in his pitching elbow. … San Francisco placed ace right-hander Jason Schmidt on the 15-day DL with a strained right shoulder. … Tampa Bay activated reliever Jesus Colome from the 15-day DL. … Texas reliever Ryan Bukvich, who formerly pitched for the Spokane Indians, will have ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow Friday and will be lost for the remainder of the season. … Cincinnati utility player Ryan Freel pleaded guilty in Campbell (Ky.) County District Court to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Associated Press