Fryman Won’t Need Right Elbow Surgery

Cleveland Indian third baseman Travis Fryman will avoid surgery on his right elbow, but he will not be able to throw for three or four weeks.

“I’m disappointed, but at least there won’t be surgery and that’s a relief,” he said.

Fryman left spring training camp for Cleveland on Friday for an MRI, which showed a strained ligament. He has complained of discomfort since spring training started.

He will be reexamined March 26 by Dr. Louis Keppler, who will fly to Florida from Cleveland to check on Fryman. Rest and anti-inflammatory medicine were prescribed.

“I’ve been cleared to hit, but not without a brace that should arrive here Monday,” Fryman said. “I’m not all that willing to accept that I can’t throw for four weeks. Hopefully I’ll show enough improvement when I’m reexamined to go from there.”

Fryman, who hit a career-high .321 with 22 homers and 106 runs batted in and won a gold glove last season, most likely will miss the season opener at Jacobs Field on April 2 against the Chicago White Sox.

“I won’t say that,” Fryman said. “Who knows? I think once we get the inflammation down, everything should be pretty good.”

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Third baseman Joe Randa, who has hit higher than .300 in four of the last five seasons, signed a two-year contract extension through the 2003 season with the Kansas City Royals.

Randa, who hit .304 with 15 home runs and a career-high 106 RBIs in 2000, was eligible for free agency after this season.

“This was definitely a family decision,” Randa said. “I have two boys and knowing that my wife is comfortable while I’m gone is very important. If my family isn’t happy, then I’m not happy--and that’s the most important thing.”

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Mike Mussina and Orlando Hernandez could return to the New York Yankee starting rotation by late in the week.

Mussina will not throw for a couple of days after being bruised on the side of his left knee by a batted ball Thursday night. Mussina is expected to miss his scheduled start Tuesday.

Hernandez played catch Saturday and was to throw off a mound today. He might pitch Tuesday in what would be his first appearance since experiencing right forearm stiffness March 9.

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Pedro Martinez was hit at the base of the thumb on his glove hand by a line drive off Wilton Guerrero’s bat in the fifth inning of the Boston Red Sox’s game against the Cincinnati Reds.

“I’m not injured,” said Martinez, who completed the inning and then came out. “The glove is the right hand to be hit. Nothing really scary.”

The three-time Cy Young Award winner had X-rays of his left hand, but they were negative.

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Cal Ripken’s injured rib passed another stress test and the Baltimore Oriole third baseman said he will take live batting practice for the first time this spring within two days.

Ripken fractured his upper right ribcage during a workout in his Baltimore home the week before spring training began. His spring workouts were limited until earlier this week, when he began hitting off a tee and taking part in team drills.

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San Diego Padre General Manager Kevin Towers will meet with 42-year-old Rickey Henderson today as the club is prepared to bring him into camp as a non-roster invitee only, with no promises. . . . With no chance Jim Leyritz would make the team, the New York Mets released the postseason star, who is best remembered for his three-run homer off Mark Wohlers in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series and also helped the Padres make it to the 1998 World Series. . . . Philadelphia Phillie pitcher Robert Person was scratched from his scheduled start against Cleveland because of a stiff shoulder.