BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Tigers Put Lemon, 35, on Waivers

Chet Lemon was placed on unconditional release waivers Friday by the Detroit Tigers, who claimed infielder Luis de los Santos from Kansas City Royals.

Lemon, 35, a 16-year veteran, received the news while the Tigers and Cincinnati Reds were playing to a 1-1 tie in an exhibition. He left before reporters were told.

It is the continuation of a frustrating time in Lemon’s life. He went through a divorce during the winter and has been injured much of the spring. He is in the final season of a four-year, $3.7-million contract and will receive $1.1 million in termination pay--$800,000 for this season a $300,000 buyout for 1992.

Rickey Henderson sat out Friday night’s opening game of the series between the Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants, and is questionable for opening day. Henderson, the American League’s most valuable player last year, is suffering from tendinitis in his left shoulder.

The Philadelphia Phillies released former Cy Young Award relief pitcher Guillermo Hernandez, 36, and kept Chuck McElroy, 23, as their left-handed reliever.

In other moves, the New York Yankees claimed outfielder Scott Lusader on waivers from Detroit, the Atlanta Braves signed Glenn Wilson to a minor league contract and the Houston Astros sent Eric Anthony and Gerald Young to the minors.

Cleveland first baseman Keith Hernandez, 37, was put on the 15-day disabled list and will undergo back surgery on Monday. He is in the second season of a two-year, $3.5-million contract and was limited to 43 games last season because of injuries.

The season will be two months old before Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens and his brother have their first court hearing on their January assault arrests at a Houston nightclub. Friday, State District Judge A.D. Azios postponed a hearing until June 7.

In a story in the Wisconsin State Journal, Gary Sheffield, the Milwaukee Brewer infielder who has been critical of the team’s management the past two years, said General Manager Harry Dalton doesn’t know baseball and is ruining the team.

“Harry knows how I feel,” Sheffield said. “Harry knows I don’t like him. I don’t care for him and never will. Like I told him before, my respect is done for him. I don’t really care what he does or says to me.”

Dalton, who has 25 years of front-office experience including 14 as Milwaukee general manager, said he has nothing against Sheffield.