MIAMI -- Right-hander Brett Myers rejoined the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday after starting four games in the minor leagues trying to shake a season-long slump.
"I had to get my swagger back," Myers said. "I felt like I accomplished that."
Myers has not been activated, but he's expected to start one of the Phillies' games next week against the Mets in New York.
He made his final minor league start Friday, allowing two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings for Single-A Clearwater. He then came to Miami, where the Phillies are playing a three-game series against Florida.
Myers started twice for Triple-A Lehigh Valley and once for Double-A Reading, and he went 1-3 in the minors with an ERA of 3.00 and 28 strikeouts in 27 innings. He said the encouragement he received from the Phillies' minor league organization boosted his confidence.
"Everybody in this organization had seen me pitch and been a part in me getting to the big leagues," he said. "It's good to see old faces you hadn't seen in a while, and they tell you what's wrong with you and how you used to be. It opens your eyes a little bit, and you say, `What the heck have I become?"' Full story
Carpenter to begin rehab assignment
ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter, sidelined since opening day in 2007 because of an elbow injury, will begin a rehab assignment on Sunday with hopes of joining the rotation in August.
Carpenter, the 2005 NL Cy Young winner, will begin his rehab stint with Double-A Springfield. The team is hopeful he won't need the full month before joining the staff and anticipate him joining the rotation immediately, rather than working out of the bullpen at first.
Carpenter is starting his rehab at Double-A instead of at a lower level because the organization feels hitters at lower classifications are too free-swinging.
"They swing at anything you throw up there, so you can hardly throw a strike," La Russa said. "At least at Double-A they start playing the game a little bit.
Mets will skip Martinez
CINCINNATI -- The Philadelphia Phillies won't see Pedro Martinez.
The New York Mets decided to wait until next weekend to let their 36-year-old pitcher take the mound again, giving him more time to recover from a groin injury. That means he won't pitch during a three-game series against the Phillies that starts at Shea Stadium on Tuesday.
Martinez strained his groin while running the bases on July 7. Five days later, he left his start against Colorado after only four innings because of tightness in his shoulder -- he assumed he had changed his delivery to compensate for the groin injury.
He got a cortisone shot on Thursday in New York to help the groin heal. He flew to Cincinnati and threw in the Mets' bullpen during the sixth inning of a 7-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, seeing how the shoulder and groin reacted.
Orioles acquire Castro
BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles addressed their shaky shortstop situation by acquiring Juan Castro from the Colorado Rockies in a trade of minor league infielders.
Castro was batting .300 in 18 games with Triple-A Colorado Springs. The 36-year-old has more than 11 years of major league experience and played in seven games with Cincinnati this season before being released in April.
He has also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins.
"I haven't seen him play so it is too early to say what role he has," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "The last time I saw Juan Castro play was in the Texas League in 1993 and he was playing for the Dodgers in that league. He just got here. He's been on an All-Star break. I'd like to get a feel for what he can do and this and that and we'll go from there."
Larkin might return to Reds
CINCINNATI -- Barry Larkin left open the possibility of returning to the Cincinnati Reds in some capacity, shortly before his induction with three others into the team's Hall of Fame.
The former Reds shortstop is a special assistant to Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden. Larkin has hoped for a chance to work with the Reds' front office in some capacity since he retired as a player after the 2004 season.
"There's been a lot of thought about it," Larkin said. "It's just that the opportunity hasn't presented itself yet. My contract (with Washington) is up at the end of the year, so I'll be a free agent."
Larkin was the Reds' captain during his 19-year career with the Reds, which included a World Series championship in 1990. A Cincinnati native, he retired after the Reds declined to offer him another contract. Larkin considered playing for another team, but decided he couldn't wear any other uniform.
D-Backs put Slaten on DL
PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks placed left-handed reliever Doug Slaten on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right knee.
Slaten was the losing pitcher in Friday's 8-7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing three hits over 1 1/3 innings including James Loney's solo home run leading off the 11th. Slaten faced two more batters before leaving the game with the knee injury.
Slaten is 0-3 with a 4.55 ERA. In 36 appearances, he has walked 11 and struck out 15 in 27 2/3 innings.
To replace Slaten, Arizona recalled right-hander Billy Buckner from Triple-A Tucson. Buckner was 1-0 in a brief two-game stint with the Diamondbacks in June.
Rockies option Nix
DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies optioned infielder Jayson Nix to Triple-A Colorado Springs so he'd be eligible to play in the Olympics.The team recalled infielder Ian Stewart from Colorado Springs to take Nix's place.
Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said Nix has been asked to be on the U.S. Olympic baseball team and had to be on an active minor league roster by Monday.
"He has to clear waivers by Monday to be available to play in the Olympics," Hurdle said. "To get an opportunity to play in the Olypmics, it adds tremendous value to someone's career."
This is Stewart's second call-up this year. He was brought up May 24, and in 18 games he hit .218 with three home runs and five RBI. He was sent down on June 22.
Nix, the Rockies' opening-day second baseman, was hitting .164 in 22 games for Colorado.
Reds' Burton on DL
CINCINNATI -- Jared Burton, who developed into one of the Cincinnati Reds' most dependable setup relievers, went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained muscle in his right side.
The Reds called up right-hander Todd Coffey to take Burton's spot in the bullpen.
The right-handed Burton was 4-1 with a 2.23 earned run average in 43 games, often as the setup man for closer Francisco Cordero. He pulled a muscle in his side on a pitch July 6, and has been bothered by it since then. The Reds gave him a few days off before the All-Star break, and he felt much better when he returned.
Manager Dusty Baker said Burton was bothered by the injury when he threw on Friday night.