Bonds’ trainer won’t testify, goes to prison
Barry Bonds’ personal trainer was held in contempt of court and ordered to prison Wednesday for refusing to testify to the federal grand jury investigating the San Francisco Giants’ slugger for perjury.
Greg Anderson, who served three months in prison after pleading guilty last year for his role in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative steroid scandal, was led out of U.S. District Judge William Alsup’s courtroom by two deputy U.S. marshals.
Jeff Weaver traded to Cardinals
The Los Angeles Angels traded disappointing right-hander Jeff Weaver to the St. Louis Cardinals for minor league outfielder Terry Evans. Weaver, 29, was designated for assignment by the Angels last Friday after going 6-10 with a 6.29 ERA in 16 starts this season. He signed an one-year, $8.3 million contract with Los Angeles as a free agent during the off-season.
The Angels called up Weaver’s 23-year-old brother, Jered, from Triple-A Salt Lake last Friday to replace him in the rotation and on the roster. The rookie right-hander is 5-0 in his first five starts for Los Angeles, including a 7-1 victory over the Mariners on Monday night.
Millwood to miss Friday start
Texas Rangers right-hander Kevin Millwood won’t make his scheduled start against the Minnesota Twins because of concern over the strained biceps in his pitching arm.
Rangers manager Buck Showalter said Wednesday that Millwood won’t pitch in a game until after the All-Star break, giving Texas’ top starter at least 10 days to rest.
Chipper returns, Reitsma out
Third baseman Chipper Jones returned to the Atlanta lineup but reliever Chris Reitsma learned he will need season-ending surgery.
Jones and the team’s medical staff were encouraged after his visit with an Atlanta foot specialist who worked with the third baseman last season.
Earlier reads of Jones’ MRI showed he had a partial tear of the plantar plate of his right second toe and an inflamed ligament. Gleason found inflammation but no tear, according to trainer Jeff Porter.
Bonser sent to Triple-A
Boof! He’s gone. The Minnesota Twins optioned right-handed starter Boof Bonser to Triple-A Rochester, less than 24 hours after he was roughed up in a loss to the Kansas City Royals that ended the Twins’ 11-game winning streak.
Devil Ray victim of hit-and-run
Tampa Bay catcher Dioner Navarro was not in the lineup for a game against the Boston Red Sox after escaping serious injury when his sport utility vehicle flipped twice in a traffic accident.
Navarro said he, his wife and 9-month-old son were riding in his sport utility vehicle late Tuesday when the driver of another vehicle clipped his rear end. That caused Navarro’s truck to strike another vehicle and flip twice before coming to a rest upside down. Navarro said the driver of the other car fled the scene. The catcher’s injuries were limited to a scratch on the wrist and a cut that required two stitches just above one of his ankles. He said his wife had a bump on the back of her head and his son was uninjured.
Walker to have elbow surgery
Tampa Bay’s injury-depleted bullpen received more bad news when the Devil Rays learned closer Tyler Walker will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The bullpen lost off-season acquisition Shinji Mori for the year during spring training and relievers Dan Miceli and Rudy Lugo are on the DL.
Baker feels secure with Cubs
Chicago Cubs manager Dusty Baker met with general manager Jim Hendry and felt “comfortable” about his job status amid reports Hendry was considering staff changes during the All-Star break. The Cubs were 30-53 heading into the finale of a three-game series in Houston but Baker was confident he would be given the chance to rescue the season.