BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Dopson Put on DL, May Face Surgery

Reliever John Dopson, who has been pitching with a bone spur in his right shoulder, was put on the 15-day disabled list. He will undergo a magnetic resonance imaging test Sunday to determine if he needs season-ending surgery.

Dopson was replaced on the roster by starter Phil Leftwich, who pitched six shutout innings Thursday for Class-A Lake Elsinore, and was reinstated from the disabled list. He will start Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics.

Russ Springer (1-1, 7.16 ERA) will be moved to the bullpen, prompting him to say, “I anticipated it. I was really the only one they could move here. (Manager Marcel Lachemann) told me I won’t be a mop-up guy, so I’ll be perfectly happy pitching the eighth inning and handing the ball over to Joe Grahe in the ninth.”

“It’s been bothering me off and on, but not to the point where it bothers me now,” said Dopson, who is 1-4 with a 6.14 ERA.

Dopson, who opened the season in the Angel rotation, was told by Dr. Lewis Yocum that surgery would sideline him at least six months.

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The Houston Astros, according to a source, have joined the Seattle Mariners in their attempt to acquire Angel catcher Greg Myers. The Angels, however, say that no deal is imminent with any team.