Rothschild Out, McRae’s In for the Devil Rays

Larry Rothschild was fired Wednesday as manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after three consecutive last-place finishes and a 4-10 start this season.

He was replaced by Hal McRae, the Devil Rays’ bench coach who managed the Kansas City Royals from May 1991 through 1994, compiling a 286-277 mark. McRae was given a contract through the 2003 season, with terms not disclosed.

“We want to win as many games as possible and the way you do that is we have to play the game hard,” McRae said. “We have to play the game right and we have to play together as a group. Collectively, we have to beat the opposition.

“It’s important to me that everyone understands we have to do the little things to win games. We can’t play selfish baseball.”

Rothschild’s firing, the first of the 2 1/2-week-old season, came in the wake of the Devils Rays’ 10-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox in their 499th game. He had been the manager for every one, compiling a 205-294 record.

First base coach Jose Cardenal also was let go. Bullpen coach Terry Collins was shifted to third base coach; third base coach Billy Hatcher moved to bench coach; Lee May replaced Cardenal at first base; and Darren Daulton was promoted from catching instructor to bullpen coach.

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Toronto Blue Jay pitcher Mike Sirotka, acquired in a disputed trade with the Chicago White Sox, will undergo season-ending surgery on his left shoulder.

Sirotka, who never threw a pitch after being traded from Chicago in January in the David Wells deal, will be sidelined at least seven months.

“Obviously, this is not the outcome that any of us would have liked, especially me,” Sirotka said.

The surgery will be performed Tuesday.

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Mark McGwire, still recovering from surgery on his right knee, was put on the 15-day disabled list by the St. Louis Cardinals but could be sidelined a lot longer.

“The figure I’d pick out is longer than 15 days,” Manager Tony La Russa said. “It’s hard to believe in 15 days he would be ready for this.”

The Cardinals also optioned pitcher Chad Hutchinson to triple-A Memphis and called up outfielder Kerry Robinson and pitcher Jason Karnuth.

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Texas Ranger closer Tim Crabtree, who has converted all four save opportunities this season, was sent back to Arlington, Texas, to be examined by Ranger spine consultant Dr. Drew Dossett.

Crabtree, 31, a right-hander who has no history of back problems, hasn’t pitched since Saturday because of back spasms.

With Crabtree unavailable, Manager Johnny Oates said Jeff Zimmerman, Mike Venafro, Jeff Brantley and Mark Petkovsek will close games for the Rangers.

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Third baseman Dean Palmer was put on the 15-day disabled list by the Detroit Tigers because of inflammation in his right shoulder. The Tigers called up first baseman-outfielder Ryan Jackson from triple-A Toledo. . . . The New York Yankees called up outfielder Donzell McDonald from triple-A Columbus and sent left-hander Randy Keisler to Columbus.

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Joe Garagiola has stepped down as president emeritus of the Baseball Assistance Team, an organization he helped form to assist former players and other ex-baseball employees in financial need.