Vizquel requires knee surgery
San Francisco probably will be without Omar Vizquel’s sparkling defense at shortstop on opening day.
Vizquel will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee today and is expected to miss four to six weeks. The 11-time Gold Glove shortstop, who turns 41 in April, tested his knee Tuesday but said the pain was too much to handle.
“My knee was feeling good,” Vizquel said. “I wanted to give it a hard shot in order to make a decision. It didn’t work. I felt a little pop when I was running. That’s what I wanted to see – to see if I could sustain the pain, and I couldn’t.”
As for Vizquel’s return, athletic trainer Dave Groeschner said: “The goal is the first week of the season, but the knee will tell us.”
Martinez waits on Mets
Pedro Martinez will wait to see whether the New York Mets want him back in 2009.
Martinez is beginning the final season of his four-year, $53 million deal and eager to find out how his right shoulder holds up. He had major surgery on it in October 2006, spent most of last year recovering and went 3-1 with a 2.57 ERA in five starts.
The 36-year-old Martinez said it’s up to the Mets to talk to him about upping the deal.
Cubs expect DeRosa
Mark DeRosa visited a Chicago cardiologist, and manager Lou Piniella said he expects the Cubs infielder back in camp next week.
The Cubs issued no report on DeRosa’s medical tests.
Pena receives visa
Arizona reliever Tony Pena got his visa and the Diamondbacks said that he was en route to spring training.
The right-hander has had problems getting permission to return from his native Dominican Republic since it was discovered in 2004 that Pena was pitching in the Diamondbacks’ minor league system using the name and birth date of his younger cousin, Adriano Rosario.
Colon reports to camp
Bartolo Colon covered his ample torso with a Boston Red Sox T-shirt, took the field and played catch with his new pitching coach well after his teammates had finished practicing.
The former workhorse hadn’t thrown seriously in nearly three weeks. There’s still plenty of work to do before he can take the mound in a game.
But his workout partner said the right-hander’s primary need was to get back into playing shape rather than to overcome any elbow or shoulder injuries that cut short his last two seasons.
Rockies bring back Perez
Neifi Perez agreed to return to the Colorado Rockies on a minor league contract, a goodwill gesture for one of the more popular players in club history.
Perez could earn $1 million if he makes the 40-man roster and earns significant playing time.
Overbay waits for healing
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay expects to know soon whether his fractured right hand has fully healed.
“I think these next 2-3 weeks will tell,” Overbay said.
Clearing the bases
Shortstop Alex Gonzalez is expected to miss the Cincinnati Reds’ first few spring training games with a sore knee. … Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said that Brett Myers will start on opening day, opting for the right-hander over rising star Cole Hamels.