Casey and Mantei Put on Disabled List

First baseman Sean Casey of the Cincinnati Reds will be sidelined at least two weeks because of a broken thumb on his throwing hand.

Will Clark’s hard-hit grounder deflected off Casey’s right thumb Saturday during an 8-3 exhibition loss to Baltimore in Chattanooga, Tenn., causing an injury that was initially thought to be a bruise.

X-rays and other tests performed in Cincinnati early Sunday found that Casey had a chipped bone. Dr. Timothy Kremchek said there should be no lingering problem once it heals in a few weeks.

It’s the second time in three years that Casey has suffered a significant injury in the first days of April. On April 2, 1998, he was hit on the right side of his face by a thrown ball during infield practice, breaking bones around his eye.

That injury also affected his vision temporarily and wiped out half of his season.

“[The eye injury] was more life-changing,” Casey said. “I don’t think my right thumb is going to change my life too much. Things should be fine in a couple of weeks.”

The Reds put Casey on the 15-day disabled list and called up D.T. Cromer from triple-A Louisville. Hal Morris will start at first in place of Casey.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks, already without third baseman Matt Williams, will begin their season with closer Matt Mantei on the 15-day disabled list because of biceps tendinitis.

Mantei complained of soreness after an appearance in Arizona’s 12-8 victory over Boston Saturday. After an examination, doctors diagnosed the problem as tendinitis. An MRI was scheduled for today to make sure the problem isn’t more serious.

Mantei, who has struggled throughout the spring, came into Saturday’s game in the ninth inning and gave up three runs and two hits.

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Curt Schilling threw 40 pitches in a minor league game, starting for the first time in nearly eight months after being sidelined for shoulder surgery.

Pitching for triple-A Scranton Wilkes/Barre against double-A Reading, Schilling gave up one run and one hit. He walked two and struck out one.

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Left-hander Steve Kline signed a three-year contract with Montreal. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Kline was 7-4 with a 3.75 earned-run average while leading the NL with 82 appearances last season.

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Eduardo Perez was the final player cut as the St. Louis Cardinals got down to the 25-man roster limit.

The Cardinals also optioned pitcher Alan Benes to Memphis, where he’ll build stamina after missing more than two years because of shoulder injuries, and put pitchers Matt Morris (elbow) and Scott Radinsky (elbow) on the 15-day disabled list.