MLB Player Updates

Indians rookie Jordan Brown has had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Brown tore the medial meniscus in the knee during outfield drills Friday before the Indians' first exhibition game. Surgery to repair it was done by Dr. Rick Parker at the Cleveland Clinic on Wednesday. Brown, a 26-year-old first baseman/outfielder, will need four to eight weeks of rehabilitation.

Outfielder Travis Buck was doing well a day after being scratched with dizziness.

Right-handed reliever Joey Devine is being shut down for about a week because of soreness in his surgically repaired elbow. He underwent Tommy John surgery last April and was considered ahead of schedule in his recovery.

New Athletics center fielder Coco Crisp has a strained left hamstring and it isn't clear how long he might be sidelined. Crisp, who is being listed as day-to-day, was underwent treatment Wednesday morning on the leg, which he had wrapped. The 30-year-old Crisp signed a $5.25 million, one-year contract in December and is among several big offseason acquisitions GM Billy Beane hopes will make the A's a contender again in the AL West.

The Cardinals scratched outfielder Matt Holliday from the lineup after he experienced soreness in his right rib cage following batting practice. A spokesman for the team said Holliday is day-to-day.

Albert Pujols was expected to rejoin the Cardinals' lineup Wednesday, but his return has been pushed back at least one more day. Pujols was originally slated to play first base, then was moved to DH before becoming a late scratch against the Nationals because of a sore back. The three-time National League MVP has missed the past three games as a precaution. "He says he's good to go, but if at any time during the workout he feels a twinge, we'll get him out," manager Tony La Russa said before batting practice. Pujols took his normal turn in batting practice before the decision was made to pull him.

Cubs GM Jim Hendry says Milton Bradley should stop blaming the team, manager and fans for his failure to produce during his tumultuous season in Chicago. "I think it's time maybe Milton looked himself in the mirror," an agitated Hendry said Wednesday in response to Bradley's latest charges he was mistreated by the Cubs. "He just didn't swing the bat," Hendry said. "He didn't get the job done. It's really unfortunate that you ... try to use the other areas for excuses." Hendry said signing Bradley to a three-year, $30 million contract before last season was "a mistake." He added the atmosphere of the organization has improved since the outfielder was traded to Seattle in December.

Mets' manager Jerry Manuel admits he sees prospect Jenrry Mejia through a prism because of the dire need for an eighth-inning guy, but said he probably wouldn't start him in that role right away. He'd like to ease him in, but then that leaves the setup spot still up in the air for opening day. Right-handed relievers Bobby Parnell and Ryota Igarashi, a Japanese pitcher signed to a major-league contract, are candidates, and former Marlins reliever Kiko Calero signed a minor-league deal last week to enter the mix. "I came in here to try to make the team first and then I can figure out sixth, seventh or eighth inning, whatever they say my job is," Calero said. Manuel virtually eliminated the idea of a setup man by committee early in camp and said the eighth-inning pitcher is the biggest hole that needs to be filled. "For me, that's something I have to make sure I get out of in spring training, is that I feel confident in that role," Manuel said.

Mets' manager Jerry Manuel admits he sees prospect Jenrry Mejia through a prism because of the dire need for an eighth-inning guy, but said he probably wouldn't start him in that role right away. He'd like to ease him in, but then that leaves the setup spot still up in the air for opening day. Right-handed relievers Bobby Parnell and Ryota Igarashi, a Japanese pitcher signed to a major-league contract, are candidates, and former Marlins reliever Kiko Calero signed a minor-league deal last week to enter the mix. Manuel virtually eliminated the idea of a setup man by committee early in camp and said the eighth-inning pitcher is the biggest hole that needs to be filled. "For me, that's something I have to make sure I get out of in spring training, is that I feel confident in that role," Manuel said.

Mets' manager Jerry Manuel admits he sees prospect Jenrry Mejia through a prism because of the dire need for an eighth-inning guy, but said he probably wouldn't start him in that role right away. He'd like to ease him in, but then that leaves the setup spot still up in the air for opening day. Right-handed relievers Bobby Parnell and Ryota Igarashi, a Japanese pitcher signed to a major-league contract, are candidates, and former Marlins reliever Kiko Calero signed a minor-league deal last week to enter the mix. Manuel virtually eliminated the idea of a setup man by committee early in camp and said the eighth-inning pitcher is the biggest hole that needs to be filled. "For me, that's something I have to make sure I get out of in spring training, is that I feel confident in that role," Manuel said. "I'd like to help the team any way I can, and if that's where they need me in the eighth inning, that's where I will be," Parnell said.

The eighth-inning setup role has been a big question for the Mets at spring training, and an answer doesn't appear to be coming any time soon. Veteran pitcher Kelvim Escobar has spent time in both the bullpen and starting rotation during his 12-year career and appeared to be the front-runner for the job entering camp. But Escobar arrived in Port St. Lucie with a weak shoulder and was shut down last week. Now, manager Jerry Manuel seems fixated on the organization's top prospect, right-hander Jenrry Mejia. While the club prefers to develop Mejia in the minors for a future starting role, Manuel can't help but be intrigued. "I like him a lot," Manuel said. "For me, when you are that dominant, you hope as you progress that you continue to see that consistency. What he has to do is prove he can throw consistent strikes. If he can do that, you've got somebody fighting for him."

The Tampa Tribune reports that Rays OF prospect Desmond Jennings sprained his left wrist while sliding Monday. He will wear a splint for 7-10 days.

Rays SP David Price, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, left Wednesday's game against the Boston Red Sox in the bottom of the second inning after being hit on the right hand by the barrel of a shattered bat. Price had an abrasion on his right thumb and will not need stitches.

The St. Louis Dispatch reports that Cardinals SP Josh Kinney had an MRI on his throwing shoulder Wednesday to investigate some impingement in the joint. The issue might not cause him to miss any time.

The Arizona Republic reports that Diamondbacks 2B Ryan Roberts will get some time at catcher this spring. “He moves fine,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “As far as an emergency catcher goes, you want him to catch one inning or an extra-inning situation. He handles himself fine. You’re not expecting Gold Glove-caliber defense in an emergency like that. I like having that comfort that he could go do it and survive and not get hurt, do the basic duties.”

Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun reports on Twitter that the Twins are interested in Blue Jays closer candidate Jason Frasor as a possible replacement for the injured Joe Nathan.

MLB.com reports that the Dodgers have been working Garret Anderson out at first base. The former Angel and Brave has never played the position in a major league game. How much time Anderson will get at first base during spring training games remains to be seen, as he is a week or more away from seeing in-game action.

RP Kerry Wood has been mentioned in trade rumors all offseason, with the Indians potentially looking to trim his $10.5 million salary from its payroll. Most recently, Wood has been cited as a possible replacement for the injured Joe Nathan in Minnesota.