Ramirez placed on bereavement

The Guardians placed All-Star third baseman José Ramírez on the bereavement list and recalled hot-hitting infielder Brayan Rocchio from Triple-A Columbus.

The team made the moves ahead of a threegame series against the White Sox.

Manager Terry Francona said Ramírez isn’t expected to rejoin the Guardians until they play the Mets in New York for a three-game set starting May 19. Ramírez, who is batting .285 with four homers and 22 RBI, traveled to the Dominican Republic following the death of his grandmother.

“She had a big hand in raising him,” Francona said. “So as much as we miss him, our thoughts and prayers are with him.”

Josh Naylor, who has been on a hitting tear lately, will take Ramírez’s No. 3 spot in the batting order, while Gabriel Arias will start at third in the series opener. Naylor has homered in three straight games — all goahead shots in the eighth inning.

This will be Rocchio’s second stint with Cleveland. However, the 22-year-old didn’t make his major-league debut when he was brought up in April.

Rocchio was batting .338 at Columbus with one homer, 21 RBI and 20 steals. The middle infielder hit safely in 16 straight games.

“He’s done good,” Francona said. “I’d like to play him one of these games that he’s here, just because I think it’d be fun.”

Francona said he’s open to trying Rocchio at third base.

“We’ll kind of see how the next couple of days go,” he said.

WNBA ACES COACH HAMMON

SUSPENDED; FIRST-ROUND PICK RESCINDED >> The WNBA suspended Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon, one of the league’s marquee figures, for two games after former Aces player Dearica Hamby said she had been bullied and manipulated for being pregnant.

Hammon, who in her first season last year led the Aces to the WNBA championship, was suspended without pay after a monthslong investigation into Hamby’s allegations.

The WNBA did not disclose details, but said Hammon violated league and team “respect in the workplace” policies.

The league also rescinded the Aces’ firstround pick in the 2025 draft for a different issue — a violation of league rules regarding impermissible player benefits involving Hamby, who was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks on Jan. 21.

That means Las Vegas may not have a first-round pick for two consecutive seasons. The Aces traded their 2024 pick.

“It is critical that we uphold the values of integrity and fairness, which create a level playing field for our teams,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “The Aces failed to adhere to league rules and regulations and have been disciplined accordingly. We are also disheartened by the violation of our Respect in the Workplace policies and remain committed to ensuring that enhanced training is conducted and standards are followed across all WNBA teams.”

The Aces issued a strongly worded statement that they are “deeply disappointed by the outcome of the WNBA investigation” and said they “stand behind Coach Hammon.”

NBA

KERR: GREEN RETURN CRUCIAL >> Coach Steve Kerr was frank about the lasting impact that Draymond Green punching Jordan Poole in a preseason practice had on the Warriors’ season.

He was just as forceful about how important it is that Green return to the Warriors next season if they’re to have any hope of getting back to the top of the NBA.

“If Draymond is not back, we’re not a championship contender,” Kerr said at his seasonending news conference. “We know that. He’s that important to winning and to who we are. I absolutely want him back.”

Green’s future is one of the many key questions facing the Warriors this offseason after they were knocked out of the playoffs by the Lakers in the second round. The 33-year-old Green has a $27.6 million player option for next season and could choose to opt out in order to get another lucrative long-term deal.