Braves Continue Outfielder Yard Sale

Two days after Atlanta’s blockbuster deal for Kenny Lofton, the Braves sent outfielder Jermaine Dye and reliever Jamie Walker to Kansas City for outfielder Michael Tucker and infielder Keith Lockhart.

“It’s our young, upcoming star for their young, upcoming star,” Royal Manager Bob Boone said. “Dye’s right-handedness fits better on our club and Tuck’s left-handedness fits better on their club. Hopefully, it’s going to be something that works out well for both teams.”

The deal means Andruw Jones will start in the outfield for the Braves.

“I think at the beginning of spring training, they weren’t so sure I was ready to play in the league,” Jones said. “The last week or so, I started picking up. I think then they wanted to give me a chance to play every day.”

Tucker batted .260 for the Royals in 108 games last year with 12 homers and 53 RBIs. His season ended in August when he dislocated his left ring finger in a slide.

The Royals had been overloaded with lefty-hitting outfielders. Dye, 23, bats with power from the right side, hitting .281 last season with 12 homers and 37 RBIs, getting a lot of playing time after David Justice got hurt.

Dye, who hit a home run for the Braves in last year’s World Series, admitted he was somewhat disappointed to leave the NL champions for a team that finished last in the AL Central.

“It’s going to be tough,” he said. “But I’ve been on the up end and the down end. In the minor leagues I was on the down end. This team has a lot of young talent and great pitching. It’s just a matter of time for them to get to the top.”

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Brady Anderson has a cracked rib, an injury that has caused him breathing problems and could jeopardize his status as the Baltimore Orioles’ starting center fielder on opening day.

A bone scan revealed a crack in the fifth rib on Anderson’s left side. The injury occurred Sunday when he dived back to first base on a pickoff throw in the Orioles’ exhibition game against the Braves.

He tried to play the following day, but had difficulty swinging a bat and was scratched from the lineup. He has not played since.

The Orioles are considering putting him on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 23. The move would keep him sidelined for the first six days of the regular season, including Tuesday’s opener against the Royals at Camden Yards.

Meanwhile, Roberto Alomar got into a game for the first time this spring, going hitless in three innings in the Orioles’ 5-0 loss to Montreal.

Alomar, who had been sidelined because of a sprained left ankle, grounded out to second in the third inning.

“That was a good test. I had to run hard on that one, and I didn’t feel any pain,” he said.

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The Cleveland Indians asked second baseman Robby Thompson to accept a minor league assignment to determine if he’s healthy enough to continue his career.

“I hope he does take it,” Manager Mike Hargrove said. “Everybody comes to a point in their career when they’ve got a decision to make.”

Cleveland wants Thompson to work out in Florida for 10-14 days and then report to the minors.

Thompson, 34, played 11 years with the San Francisco Giants but was limited to 63 games last season due to injuries.

After signing a minor league contract with Cleveland, Thompson developed tendinitis in his left elbow and right shoulder and strained his right hip.

Thompson is a .257 career hitter who had his best year in 1993, when he batted .312 with 19 homers and 65 RBIs and made his second all-star team.

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Kevin Tapani, signed by the Chicago Cubs to be the team’s No. 2 starter, will start the season on the 15-day disabled list.

Tapani has a chronic sprain of a ligament in his right index finger.

Surgery is one option after Tapani gets another medical opinion.

“We’ll have all the information Friday,” Tapani said. “I don’t want to say, ‘Let’s operate.’ That may not be the answer.”

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Five days before their season opener, the Philadelphia Phillies set their pitching rotation by recalling rookie right-hander Calvin Maduro from triple-A Scranton-Wilkes-Barre.

Maduro, 22, will take the spot opened in the rotation when Mike Grace was injured. Maduro will start the second game of the season, on April 2 against the Dodgers.

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Oakland first baseman Mark McGwire received a cortisone shot to treat the lower back pain that has bothered him for much of the spring.

McGwire has sat out six exhibition games because of the soreness.

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The Royals purchased the contract of catcher Tim Spehr from the Boston Red Sox.