BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Ailing Rijo May Be Out for the Season

Cincinnati Red right-hander Jose Rijo, who left Tuesday night’s game at San Diego in the third inning because of severe pain in his throwing elbow, could be finished for the season.

Rijo will be examined Monday by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.

“We’ll find out Monday, and if he has to be operated on, it would probably be at that time,” Manager Davey Johnson said.

Rijo was on the disabled list June 2-16 because of his elbow.

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Power-hitting outfielder Phil Plantier, traded back home for the second time, rejoined the San Diego Padres from Houston in exchange for minor league pitchers Jeff Tabaka and Rich Loiselle.

“Hello, again,” Plantier said to the media upon returning seven months after being dealt to the Astros in a 12-player deal.

Plantier, of whom health is always a big factor, has played in only 22 games this year because of a torn hamstring and a broken right hand. He is hitting .250 with four home runs and 15 RBIs.

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New York Yankee pitcher Jack McDowell, who obscenely thrust his middle finger high into the air after a brutal outing Tuesday night, may incur further discipline from the league after being fined $5,000 by the Yankees. “In this year of all years, it shouldn’t happen,” American League spokeswoman Phyllis Merhige said in New York. “Obviously, we’re not happy, and we’ll look into further discipline later this week.” . . . The Tampa Bay Devil Rays ended their search for a general manager, hiring Chuck LaMar, 38, formerly director of minor league operations for the Pittsburgh Pirates and currently assistant general manager for player personnel for the Atlanta Braves. . . . The trial of baseball owners on unfair-labor-practice charges was postponed for the fourth time in New York until Aug. 28.