Strawberry Has Kidney Removed

Darryl Strawberry’s left kidney was removed during cancer surgery earlier this month, putting another hurdle in his possible return to baseball.

A friend of the former Yankee slugger confirmed a report in Tuesday’s Newsday that Strawberry’s surgery Aug. 7 was more serious than previously indicated.

It was not immediately known why the kidney had been removed. After the operation, doctors said they removed a tumor near his left kidney, and there was no obvious spread of cancer. The doctors were optimistic for an “uneventful recovery.”

After spending 11 days at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, Strawberry, 38, returned home to Tampa, Fla., last week.

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Yankee second baseman Chuck Knoblauch won’t return to New York’s lineup until September.

Knoblauch, out since Aug. 3 because of tendinitis in his right elbow, is feeling better but still can’t throw without pain.

Tests have shown no structural damage in the arm, and Manager Joe Torre speculated that Knoblauch, who is rehabbing at the team’s minor league complex in Tampa, Fla., might be able to play through the pain or with a cortisone shot.

Also Tuesday, pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre returned after cancer treatment to join the Yankees, but probably won’t finish the season with the team.

Stottlemyre left the team two weeks ago to undergo the first step of a stem-cell transplant to treat his multiple myeloma.

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Oakland put outfielder Jeremy Giambi, bothered by a strained rib-cage muscle, on the 15-day disabled list and recalled Eric Byrnes from triple-A Sacramento.

Giambi, who has gone 66 at-bats without an extra-base hit, left Monday night’s game in Detroit after seven innings.

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The Seattle Mariners put right fielder Jay Buhner on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained right wrist. The move is retroactive to Aug. 17.

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Arbitrator Shaym Das will hear arguments starting today on a grievance filed by the players’ association over the suspension of Kansas City outfielder Carlos Beltran.

The union filed a grievance Aug. 11, a day after Beltran was suspended indefinitely without pay for refusing to report to the Royals’ Florida training complex for rehabilitation.

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Boston left-hander Pete Schourek began a 30-day rehab assignment at triple-A Pawtucket, giving up one hit over three innings in a 2-1 victory over Ottawa.

Schourek has been on the disabled list since July 21 because of a frayed left rotator cuff and bone chips in his left elbow. He was 2-9 with a 5.05 ERA in 19 starts this season.

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Arizona first baseman Erubiel Durazo will undergo surgery today to remove a bone chip from his right wrist and will be out the rest of the season.