Mariners’ Cano is ready to start rehab

SEATTLE – Robinson Cano is beginning a rehab assignment with the Seattle Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate on Monday night as he prepares for his return from his 80-game suspension for violating baseball’s joint drug agreement.

The Mariners said Cano is expected to play two games with Tacoma against Colorado Springs on Monday and Tuesday. He may play in some games for Single-A Everett later in the week. Cano is eligible to rejoin the Mariners on Aug. 14 while the team is in Oakland.

Cano is expected to play first, second and third base during his rehab assignment, Seattle manager Scott Servais said. Cano has played second base throughout his career but will be moved around the infield when he rejoins Seattle with Dee Gordon as the primary second baseman.

“It’s one thing hitting a guy groundballs, it’s another thing seeing them live off the bat in game situations and reacting to things,” Servais said. “And at first base, it’s getting over to the bag, it’s picking balls in the dirt, it’s handling the bunt plays, it’s being in the right spots on cutoffs. … A few games down there playing those different positions, I think will help.”

Cano has not played since fracturing the fifth metacarpal on his right hand after being hit by a pitch on May 13. He was suspended on May 15.

Cano worked out on his own in the Dominican Republic to get ready for his return. He was hitting .287 with 23 RBIs in 39 games prior to his injury.

Trout gets cortisone injection in sore wrist, sits out again: Mike Trout has received a cortisone injection in his sore right wrist, and the Los Angeles Angels are hopeful their superstar center fielder can return to their lineup soon.

The two-time AL MVP wasn’t in the Angels’ starting lineup Monday for the fifth consecutive game.

Trout hasn’t played since Aug. 1, when he hurt his wrist on a slide in Tampa Bay. He skipped the last four games of the Angels’ road trip, and he had an injection upon the team’s return to Orange County.

Ohtani’s elbow recovery is encouraging to Scioscia, Angels: Shohei Ohtani is making progress more quickly than expected in his quest to return to the mound for the Los Angeles Angels.

The two-way rookie sensation has incurred no setbacks while throwing regularly in the outfield in recent days, manager Mike Scioscia said Monday. He is currently throwing from 120 feet.

Scioscia says Ohtani is “probably closer to getting on the mound than we thought last week.”

The Angels have put no timeline on the recovery of Ohtani, who hasn’t pitched since June after spraining an elbow ligament.

Happ set to return for Yankees after illness: New York Yankees lefthander J.A. Happ is on track to start Thursday against Texas after being sidelined by hand, foot and mouth disease.

Manager Aaron Boone says Happ is no longer contagious. Assuming everything goes well over the next couple of days, Boone says Happ will be in line to start against the Rangers in the opener of an 11-game homestand.

Oakland acquires pitcher Mike Fiers from Tigers: The Oakland Athletics have acquired right-hander Mike Fiers from the Detroit Tigers for two players to be named or cash.

The Tigers announced the move Monday.

The 33-year-old Fiers is 7-6 with a 3.48 ERA this season. The rebuilding Tigers picked him up before the season on a $6 million, one-year contract , and he pitched well enough that he became a candidate to be traded to a contender.

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