Valenzuela Still Sees Himself in Majors

Former Dodger pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, waived by the St. Louis Cardinals last month, wants to continue his major league career.

Valenzuela’s agent, Tony DeMarco, said Tuesday that while the left-hander is done for this season, “retirement is not in the picture.”

DeMarco said the Arizona Diamondbacks, who will start play next season, have expressed interested in Valenzuela. The pitcher was born in the Mexican state of Sonora, which borders Arizona. Diamondback officials couldn’t be reached for comment.

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Pitcher Jason Isringhausen of the New York Mets, who has missed 11 months after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder and elbow, will make his first start of the season today against the San Francisco Giants at New York.

Isringhausen, who began the season on the disabled list, suffered a broken right wrist punching a trash can in frustration after a poor minor league start April 11. A few weeks later, doctors were checking him for signs of cancer. His condition later was diagnosed as tuberculosis.

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Atlanta Brave right-hander Mike Bielecki was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 17 because of a torn right rotator cuff.

Bielecki was 3-7 with a 4.08 earned-run average in 50 games. An MRI on Monday revealed the injury.

Reliever Brad Clontz was recalled from triple-A Richmond. Clontz was 4-1 with a 4.08 ERA with the Braves in 37 games before being optioned to Richmond on July 12.