Calf injury sends Beltre to 10- day DL
Slugging third baseman Adrian Beltre will go on the disabled list to begin his 20th major- league season, Rangers manager Jeff Banister said Saturday.
Tightness in his right calf was too much for Beltre, 37, to overcome. The Rangers said he would go on the 10day disabled list Sunday, retroactive to Thursday.
“We felt, all parties involved, that it was best to start with him on the disabled list,” Banister said. “If he can do the work, I don’t think it will be long [ before] we could get him up to game speed. We want Adrian on the field as much as we can, trying to make the right decision for the long term.”
Banister said Joey Gallo will play third.
Bethancourt will do it all
Christian Bethancourt was named to the Padres’ Opening Day roster. He’s going to catch, play in the outfield and serve as a pinch hitter against lefties. But when asked for Bethancourt’s primary position, manager Andy Green didn’t hesitate.
“Pitcher,” Green said. “The eighth bullpen arm, which, when you look at our schedule, is incredibly necessary. He gives us a flexibility that no other bullpen arm can do, which is pinch- hit capabilities and cover- the- field capability.”
Green said Bethancourt is an option to pinch- hit Monday against Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw and then appear out of the bullpen the next inning. How he’d warm up to pitch was undetermined.
Extension for Gibbons
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons received a contract extension through the 2019 season after guiding the team to the playoffs the last two years.
The Blue Jays said there is a club option for the 2020 season. Gibbons’ contract had been restructured before the 2016 season.
Gibbons has spent parts of nine seasons as the Blue Jays’ manager. He helped the team end a 22- year postseason drought in 2015.