LDN - Sports

Major League Baseball roundup

[June 20, 2016] June 19 (The Sports Xchange) - The Boston Red Sox placed high-priced outfielder Rusney Castillo on outright waivers Sunday.

Castillo, 28, was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday and waived on Saturday. Teams have until Monday to claim on Castillo. If he is not claimed, he will be taken off Boston's 40-man roster and outrighted to the minor leagues.

It is unlikely another team will place a claim on Castillo, because he signed a seven-year, $72.5 million contract in 2014 after defecting from Cuba. He is due $10.5 million this year, and he could make up to $46 million if his player option is exercised following the 2018 through the 2020 seasons.

Since being signed by the Red Sox in 2014, Castillo is hitting .262 with seven home runs and 36 RBIs over 99 games.

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Atlanta Braves rookie left fielder Mallex Smith fractured his left thumb during Sunday's victory over the New York Mets.

Smith was hit by a pitch from New York Mets reliever Antonio Bastardo in the seventh inning. Smith remained in the game to run the bases before being removed from the game.

X-rays revealed the fracture. Smith will be evaluated further on Monday to determine how long we will be sidelined.

Smith, 23, is batting .237 with three homers and a team-best 14 stolen bases.

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Oakland Athletics right-hander Henderson Alvarez experienced a setback with his injured shoulder and has been shut down by the club.

Alvarez departed Saturday's rehab start at Triple-A Nashville in the fourth inning after experiencing shoulder pain. He is expected to be examined by Dr. James Andrews sometime this week.

The 26-year-old Alvarez underwent season-ending shoulder surgery last July and has been working his way toward a return. He was limited to just four starts in 2015 with the Miami Marlins due to the shoulder woes. He was a National League All-Star in 2014 when he went 12-7 with a 2.65 ERA.

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The Colorado Rockies placed right-hander Tyler Chatwood on the 15-day disabled list due to a mid-back strain.

Chatwood was pulled in the second inning of Colorado's game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday. His final pitch of the contest was a wild pitch to the backstop and he then had issues standing upright and was removed from the game.

Chatwood, 26, has been Colorado's most dependable starting pitcher this season. He is 8-4 with a 3.15 ERA in 14 starts. He missed all of last season and most of 2014 due to his second Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery.

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New York Yankees left-handed reliever Chasen Shreve was returned from rehab, reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Shreve had been on the disabled list with an AC joint sprain in the left shoulder since May 26.

In 19 games this season, the 25-year-old Shreve has a 5.21 ERA over 19 innings.

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The St. Louis Cardinals activated right-hander Seth Maness (right elbow inflammation) from the 15-day DL and optioned left-hander Dean Kiekhefer to Triple-A Memphis.

Maness pitched five games on a rehab assignment between Memphis and Springfield, allowing one run in five innings. (Editing by Andrew Both)

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