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ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Toronto Blue Jays added some experience to their outfield Friday, acquiring Kevin Mench in a trade with the Texas Rangers and signing free agent Brad Wilkerson.
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The Blue Jays gave the Rangers cash for Mench, who was with Triple-A Oklahoma after failing to make the club as a non-roster invitee in spring training. Mench was hitting .282 with three home runs and 18 RBI in 29 games for Oklahoma.
"I'm working on three hours sleep," Mench said before the start of a four-game series against the Indians. "It's been a whirlwind last 24 hours."
He was in Oklahoma City and got the called with the news of the deal at 3 a.m.
He is now a teammate of Toronto right-hander Roy Halladay, who he hit with a line drive on July 8, 2005. Halladay, 12-4 with an AL-leading 2.41 ERA at the time, missed the rest of the season with a broken left tibia.
"We've talked about it," Mench said.
Mench was drafted by the Rangers in 1999 and hit at least 25 home runs in consecutive seasons in 2004-05 before getting traded to Milwaukee in a deadline deal for Carlos Lee in 2006. Earlier that year, he became the fifth player in major league history to homer in seven consecutive games. Full story
Giants' Vizquel set to debut
SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco shortstop Omar Vizquel is pain-free and ready to finally get back to playing the sparkling defense that has made him an 11-time Gold Glover.
The 41-year-old Vizquel is set to make his season debut for the Giants on Saturday in the middle game against the Philadelphia Phillies, kicking off his 20th major league season. He has been sidelined all season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Feb. 27.
He played in five rehab games without problems, but said he will continue to wear a special adjustable brace on his knee for about a month as a precaution.
"I feel good," Vizquel said after going through pregame warmups with his teammates. "I'm trying to play long stretches without any pain. I think that was the main concern. I played five games with no pain. I hope I can continue with the same improvement."
Neshek's season in jeopardy
MINNEAPOLIS -- Pat Neshek was bracing for bad news about his right elbow, and that's what he got.
The Minnesota Twins placed their right-handed setup man on the 15-day disabled list, after an MRI test revealed an acute partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in the sidearmer's elbow.
Neshek will not be allowed to throw for a minimum of three months, which means the injury has effectively ended his season. But he said he won't need surgery. The ulnar collateral ligament is the same ligament that pitchers have repaired when they undergo Tommy John replacement surgery.
"Obviously it's really bad, but it's good I can come back and rehab this and not have to go through surgery and sit out for a good year," Neshek said after Friday's game, his arm fully wrapped.
Dukes back with Nats
WASHINGTON -- Elijah Dukes' first spin with the Washington Nationals lasted all of one day. He was in the starting lineup on opening night when he injured his right hamstring, forcing a stint on the disabled list.
Dukes returned as the Nationals made several roster moves. A pair of catchers, Paul Lo Duca (broken right hand) and Johnny Estrada (right elbow injury) were placed on the 15-day disabled list, making room for Dukes and catcher Jesus Flores.
Dukes went a combined 8-for-38 with five RBI, seven walks and two stolen basis during rehabilitation assignments with Class A Potomac and Triple-A Columbus. He essentially returns as Washington's fourth outfielder, behind Austin Kearns, Wily Mo Pena and Lastings Milledge.
"I was feeling good down there," Dukes said. "Everything was clicking. It was going well running. I had no troubles running. That was the most important thing -- was to be able to run and run hard and not think about it."
Turnbow goes to minors
MILWAUKEE -- Former All-Star closer Derrick Turnbow accepted a minor league assignment from the Milwaukee Brewers and will report to Triple-A Nashville on Monday.
"It's good," general manager Doug Melvin said. "He can go down and work on things he can't do at the big league level. Every time you're a reliever in most instances, you're brought in here with the game on the line, a small margin of error. He can go down there and relax and try to have some positive outings and regain his confidence, throw the ball we think he's capable of."
Melvin said Turnbow would be the closer in Nashville.
"He needed to go into a less pressured situation and work some things out. He's a great kid. I would have liked to see him stay in the big leagues," manager Ned Yost said. "I think it'll be real beneficial to him and us to see if he can't smooth things out."
Judge lets lawsuit go forward
MIAMI -- Auto magnate Norman Braman's lawsuit challenging a huge Miami project that includes a new stadium for the Florida Marlins will go to trial in July.
A judge in Miami-Dade Circuit Court decided Thursday to let the lawsuit go forward. Braman claims the $3 billion plan is unconstitutional because of the way it is financed. Besides the 37,000-seat ballpark and parking garage, the plan calls for construction of a tunnel to Miami's port, a new downtown trolley line and money for the arts.
The judge did toss out the lawsuit's claims that the agreement was reached in secret in violation of state law. A key legal issue for the trial beginning July 1 is whether the projects serve a "paramount public purpose."
The Marlins hope to begin play in the new stadium in 2011.
