METS’ ALDERSON: CANCER IS BACK
Choking back tears at a surprise news conference, Sandy Alderson revealed what he had just told his team moments before.
His cancer has returned, he’s taking a leave of absence — and his up-and-down tenure as Mets general manager is essentially over.
With the team in a massive tailspin, chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and the 70-year-old Alderson made the announcement before Tuesday night’s game against Pittsburgh.
“With respect to the future, I would say two things: One is, notwithstanding the good prognosis, my health is an uncertainty going forward,” said Alderson, who agreed to a contract extension in December. “And secondly, if I were to look at it on the merits, I’m not sure coming back is warranted.”
Asked whether he would like Alderson to resume his GM duties if his health eventually allowed that, Wilpon answered the same way twice: “I think his health and his family are first and foremost.”
Assistant general manager John Ricco and special assistants J.P. Ricciardi and Omar Minaya will run the club’s baseball operations in Alderson’s absence. Minaya preceded Alderson as Mets general manager, and Ricciardi was GM of the Blue Jays from 2001-09.
Alderson was hired by the Mets after the 2010 season. He was diagnosed with cancer at the end of the 2015 season and had surgery but stayed on the job. He reduced his work schedule at times but remained in a full-time role while undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
Rangers put Guzman on DL.
TEXAS» The Rangers ARLINGTON, placed first baseman Ronald Guzman on the seven-day concussion disabled list and recalled utilityman Ryan Rua from Triple-A Round Rock.
The Rangers made the move Tuesday, a day after Guzman left in the sixth inning of a 7-4 win over San Diego after his head struck the knee of third baseman Christian Villanueva when the rookie was diving back on an attempted pickoff.
Guzman was called up to become the regular first baseman early in the season after injuries forced the Rangers to juggle their lineup. The 23-year-old is hitting .227 with seven homers and 30 RBIs.
Orioles’ Bundy placed on DL.
BALTIMORE» Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy was placed on the 10-day disabled list after spraining his ankle running the bases in an interleague game.
Manager Buck Showalter expects Bundy to spend the minimum time on the DL and return for a July 6 game in Minnesota.
Bundy is 6-7 with a 3.75 ERA in 16 starts. He leads the team in wins and strikeouts with 108.
Bundy hurt his left ankle rounding third base Saturday in a win over Atlanta. Bundy tested the ankle on flat ground Tuesday, but experienced pain in his landing foot.
Brewers call up Broxton.
The Brewers placed center fielder Lorenzo Cain on the 10-day disabled with a left groin strain and recalled outfielder Keon Broxton from Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Cain, who left Saturday’s game against St. Louis and did not play Sunday, was hitting .291 with eight homers and 26 RBIs before going on the DL on Tuesday.
Signed as a free agent after hitting .300 with 15 homers and 49 RBIs last season with Kansas City, Cain appeared in 72 of Milwaukee’s first 77 games, batting in the leadoff spot 59 times.
Broxton appeared in 143 games with the Brewers last season, including 113 starts in center field. He hit .220 with 20 home runs, 49 RBIs and 21 stolen bases.
At Colorado Springs, Broxton was hitting .263 with nine homers, 35 RBIs and 24 stolen bases.