Strawberry Could Return in August

Darryl Strawberry’s suspension from baseball will run through Aug. 11, Commissioner Bud Selig said Friday in a decision that allows the outfielder to return for the season’s final 7 1/2 weeks.

Strawberry’s suspension will total 120 days, retroactive to his April 14 arrest in Tampa, Fla. Selig had suspended Strawberry indefinitely on April 24.

“I’m just happy there may be a light at the end of the tunnel for Darryl,” said New York Yankee Manager Joe Torre.

The 37-year-old Strawberry, who has repeatedly found himself in alcohol, drug and tax trouble since 1987, could return slightly sooner, with Selig saying he will review the situation July 22 because of “mitigating health factors.”

Selig did not elaborate.

“A lot of people had second, third chances. Why not him?” Yankee designated hitter Chili Davis said. “Steve Howe had 29,000 chances.”

Because of his ailing left knee, Strawberry will need several weeks in the minor leagues to rehabilitate, meaning the best-case scenario is probably a return to the majors sometime around Sept. 1, when active rosters expand from 25 to 40.

“Whether we come together again remains to be seen,” Torre said. “We’re not going to know anything until he’s ready and we see what our situation is.”

Strawberry, who served a 90-day suspension in 1995 after testing positive for cocaine, was slated to be a left-field candidate before his arrest.