Chickenpox hits KC
Kansas City Royals All- Star pitcher Kelvin Herrera and right fielder Alex Rios have been diagnosed with chickenpox, raising concerns that others on the American League Central- leading team may have been exposed. Team officials said Tuesday that Herrera and Rios will likely miss a couple weeks.
Kansas City Royals All- Star pitcher Kelvin Herrera and right fielder Alex Rios have been diagnosed with chickenpox, raising concerns that others on the AL Central- leading team may have been exposed. Team officials said Tuesday that Herrera and Rios will likely miss a couple weeks as the season wraps up. Both players were sent home from Tampa Bay after experiencing symptoms over the weekend. The Royals have reached out to players, coaches and their families to determine whether anyone else has had chickenpox or may be at risk. The disease is highly contagious, spread through the air via coughing or sneezing and sometimes by touching. It causes a blister- like rash, fever and tiredness. It can be serious for people with weakened immune systems, and is generally more serious for adults than children.
Randy Flores said the St. Louis Cardinals surprised him when they asked if he’d be interested in being their new scouting director. General Manager John Mozeliak said Tuesday that the 40- year- old former lefty and member of St. Louis’ 2006 World Series championship team impressed the team with his post- baseball pursuits. Mozeliak said the hire late last week was unrelated to the FBI investigation of hacking in the organization of the Houston Astros’ database. The team is also conducting an internal investigation that Mozeliak said was ongoing. “It’s really quite independent,” Mozeliak said. “Clearly, we needed to bring somebody in and get some leadership on that side that was missing; we needed to move forward on that.” Flores replaces Chris Correa, who was fired in mid- June after admitting he had gained access to the Astros’ database. Jared Odom, who had been interim scouting director since the
firing, was not interviewed for the post.
With Mark Teixeira “not getting any better,” in General Manager Brian Cashman’s words, the New York Yankees sent the first baseman back for additional tests on his troublesome right leg. “We’re just going to run through all the tests again to make sure nothing more is going on,” Cashman said. “Because he’s not getting any better.” Teixeira left the Aug. 17 game against the Twins after fouling a ball off his right knee area. An X- ray, CT scan and MRI showed a severe bone bruise but not a fracture. The initial diagnosis, however, was for Teixeira to be out no more than seven to 10 days, a time frame that has come and gone. Although he started the Aug. 25 game and pinch hit Aug. 26, he still is unable to put significant pressure on the leg. Cashman said, “I have been told nothing that would lead me to believe” that Teixeira — who
leads the Yankees with 31 home runs and is second with 79 RBI — will miss the rest of the season. Cashman wouldn’t use the word “concerned” yet, either.
The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired outfielder Chris Heisey from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations in a minor league deal. Heisey started the season with the Dodgers, appearing in 17 games for Los Angeles before being designated for assignment on July 30. Heisey, 30, combined to hit .218 with 16 home runs and 39 RBI in 80 games with the Dodgers’ Class AAA Oklahoma City affiliate and Toronto’s Class AAA Buffalo. In six big league seasons, Heisey has a .246 batting average with 50 home runs and 147 RBI in 560 games for the Reds and Dodgers, while appearing at all three outfield positions. The deal was announced Tuesday.
The Washington Nationals have activated second baseman Dan
Uggla from the 15- day disabled list. Uggla, 35, missed 22 games with back spasms and played seven games on a rehab assignment, batting .217 ( 5 for 23) with a home run and six RBI. Uggla is batting .191 with a home run and 14 RBI this season. The Nationals also purchased the contract of catcher
Pedro Severino from Class AA Harrisburg and recalled left- hander
Sammy Solis from Class AAA Syracuse before Tuesday night’s game at St. Louis.