News & Notes: Mets’ Maine to DL; Pirates-Blue Jays trade completed; Crede’s return highlights Monday’s White Sox moves

Posted by Brian Joseph on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 6:27 am

The New York Mets placed starting pitcher John Maine on the 15-day disabled list on Monday.  Maine’s injury — a bone spur in his right shoulder — is expected to sideline him for at least three weeks.  The Mets filled the roster spot with the activation of second baseman Luis Castillo and will make an additional move to add a starter prior to Maine’s next turn in the rotation.

Maine is 10-8 with a 4.18 ERA in 25 starts with the Mets this season but is 2-3 with a 5.09 ERA in his last nine starts and has not made it through the sixth inning since June 25.

The corresponding move to fill the rotation spot should be between Jon Niese, Bobby Parnell, Nelson Figueroa and Brian Stokes.  The move is not necessary until next Tuesday when the Mets face the Brewers in Milwaukee.  The starts comes one day after the expansion of rosters.

Out since July 2, Castillo returns to resume his role as the team’s starting second baseman.  While he was out, Damion Easley and Argenis Reyes filled in at second.  Castillo is hitting .261 with three home runs and 26 RBI in 68 games.

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On August 21, the Pittsburgh Pirates sent Jose Bautista to the Toronto Blue Jays.  On Monday, the two teams completed the trade with Toronto sending catcher Robinzon Diaz to Pittsburgh. 

Diaz, 24, has one game of Major League experience under his belt — he went 0-for-4 on April 23 — and played in the Futures Game in 2004.  The Dominican-born Diaz joined the Blue Jays’ organization as an 18-year-old prospect in 2002 and is a former South Atlantic League (Class A) All-Star.  In an injury-filled 2008 season, Diaz is hitting .244 with a home run and 13 RBI in 36 games at Triple-A Syracuse.  Diaz also had two successful rehab stints with Toronto’s Gulf Coast team and Class A Dunedin.

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Third baseman Joe Crede returned for the Chicago White Sox on Monday just in time to re-enter the completion of an Orioles-White Sox game from four months ago.  The Sox also promoted right-handed pitcher Lance Broadway.  To clear room for the two players, the White Sox placed Dewayne Wise on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin and sent down infielder Chris Getz to Triple-A Charlotte.

Crede, out since July 21, is hitting .255 with 17 homers and 54 RBI and immediately re-entered the lineup as the team’s starting third baseman.

Broadway, 25, returns for his second stint in August.  He made two appearances including one start and is 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA.  The former first round Draft choice is 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA in six career games.

Wise hit .288 in 35 games before being sidelined with the groin injury and Getz hit .286 in seven games.