Thursday, May 31, 2007

Twins C Joe Mauer's return from the disabled list has been delayed.

The reigning AL batting champion, who was hitting .353 when he strained his left quadriceps earlier this month, showed up sore yesterday for the second straight day.

"I'm pretty frustrated with the whole thing," Mauer said. "I want to be back out there as soon as I can. It obviously helps that we're winning, but I want to make sure it's right before I get back out there. I don't want to get back out there and do it all over again."

The team still hopes to activate Mauer for tomorrow's game at Oakland, but team trainers wanted to limit his activities with his leg still sore.

· MORE WOES FOR HUGHES: The Yankees are adding RHP Roger Clemens to their rotation Monday. They won't be getting RHP Phil Hughes back anytime soon, however.

Hughes, who has been on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring since May 3, rolled his left ankle last week. He has a Grade III ankle sprain, according to General Manager Brian Cashman, and is expected to need four to six weeks of rehabilitation. A Grade III sprain involves a completely torn ligament.

Hughes will be out until at least the all-star break.

· HALLADAY RETURNS: The Blue Jays activated RHP Roy Halladay from the 15-day disabled list after last night's game and optioned RHP Jesse Litsch to Class AA New Hampshire.

Halladay (4-2) has been out since undergoing an appendectomy on May 11. He underwent the surgery one day after he was hit hard in an 8-0 loss to the Red Sox on May 10. Halladay initially was expected to miss four to six weeks, and has a 4.37 ERA in eight starts this season.

-- From News Services