Hamilton Gets Wish as Mets Release Him

The New York Mets designated outfielder Darryl Hamilton for assignment Saturday, one day after he asked for his release following an argument with Manager Bobby Valentine.

New York purchased the contract of catcher Vance Wilson from triple-A Norfolk to provide insurance because Mike Piazza is out seven to 10 days because of a broken toe on his left foot.

With Piazza hurt, Todd Pratt had been the only healthy catcher on the Met roster.

Hamilton was hitting .214 in 52 games with one home run and five runs batted in in 126 at-bats. He was not at the park Saturday and his locker was empty.

During a pregame meeting in the manager’s office Friday, Valentine and Hamilton argued about the outfielder’s role, an issue that has festered since spring training. Their dispute carried into the clubhouse.

Barry Bonds’ bruised right wrist kept him out of the San Francisco Giants’ starting lineup for Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Though his wrist was sore and a bit numb, Bonds said he would be back in the lineup today to continue chasing Mark McGwire’s home run record.

“I’m alive and breathing,” Bonds said. “The circulation is still going. I’ll be out there [today], end of story.”

Meanwhile, outfielder Armando Rios felt a pop in his surgically repaired left arm making a throw in the eighth inning, but the Giants hope the injury is nothing more than a pinched nerve.

The New York Yankees acquired reliever Mark Wohlers from Cincinnati, bolstering their bullpen with a hard thrower who has overcome control problems and major surgery.

The Reds got minor league pitching prospect Ricardo Aramboles in the deal and saved more than $1 million, a big consideration for the budget-strapped club.

The 31-year-old Wohlers, a right-hander, was one of the majors’ top closers in the mid-1990s, getting the final out in Atlanta’s World Series victory over Cleveland in 1995.

Also, the Yankees activated David Justice from the 15-day disabled list and sent Clay Bellinger to triple-A Columbus. Justice had been on the disabled list because of a strained left groin.

Designated hitter John Jaha of the Oakland Athletics announced his retirement before Saturday’s game against the Texas Rangers.

Jaha, 35, played parts of 10 seasons for Milwaukee and Oakland, but a series of injuries limited him to 12 games this season. Jaha was in a one-for-27 slump and was hitless in his last 23 at-bats.

Cal Eldred isn’t ready to call it a career yet, but the Chicago White Sox right-hander says he is considering retirement.

“I don’t want to use the ‘R’ word, but things don’t look real good,” said Eldred, who has had various elbow problems since 1995. “Kenny [Williams, White Sox general manager] said I was done for the year, and . . . as I said, it doesn’t look real good.”

The 33-year-old pitcher, on the disabled list since April because of a chronically sore right elbow, visited teammates in the Comiskey Park clubhouse.

White Sox pitcher David Wells could be forced to go on the disabled list if his aching back doesn’t improve soon.

“That’s always a possibility,” Chicago Manager Jerry Manuel said. “Again, we’ll wait and see. If his turn comes around and he’s not able to function or he’s functioning the way he is now, I’m pretty sure the DL will be a possibility for him.”

Wells was forced out of his last start Thursday at Minnesota after pitching only two innings.

Texas right-hander Francisco Cordero is out for the season because of a stress fracture in his right side. Cordero, put on the 15-day disabled list Thursday because of recurring pain and tightness in the area of his lower back, was examined Saturday by team back specialist Dr. Drew Dossett. Dossett diagnosed the stress fracture and said Cordero will not be allowed to throw a baseball for at least six weeks.