Yankee Closer Rivera Goes on Disabled List

The New York Yankees put closer Mariano Rivera on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right shoulder Friday.

The move came two days after Rivera experienced continued tightness in his shoulder after playing catch in the Yankees’ bullpen before Wednesday’s game at Cleveland. Rivera is eligible to come off the DL on Aug. 5. The Yankees recalled left-hander Randy Choate from triple-A Columbus.

With Rivera out, Torre is using Steve Karsay and Mike Stanton in closing situations.

Rivera, who received a cortisone shot Thursday, is 1-4 with a 3.06 earned run average and 24 saves in 28 chances this season. Rivera was on the disabled list from June 10-25 with a strained right groin. It was only his second trip to the DL, with the other coming in 1998 when he also had a groin strain.

The Yankees will decide, after a rehabilitation start tonight, if pitcher Roger Clemens will be ready to return from a strained groin by next week. Clemens is scheduled to throw 80-90 pitches for Class-A Tampa. It will be his first game action since going on the disabled list July 13.

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After a brief discussion of revenue sharing, baseball’s labor talks in New York broke until next week.

The sides met for five hours Thursday and management negotiators expressed optimism, but Friday’s session lasted for only an hour. The sides say they are available for meetings every day next week, when union head Donald Fehr hopes to conclude much of his tour of the 30 teams.

Players, fearful that owners will change work rules or lock them out following the postseason, are threatening to call the sport’s ninth work stoppage since 1972.

If players don’t see progress in the talks, their executive board is likely to set a strike date for August or September. Because there are five games scheduled that day, Aug. 12 has been mentioned as a possible date for the executive board to hold either its next meeting or a telephone conference call.

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Toronto Blue Jay catcher Darrin Fletcher, who played 14 seasons in the major leagues, abruptly announced his retirement. Fletcher, 35, notified General Manager J.P. Ricciardi of his decision by phone. Fletcher was not with the team in Minnesota.

Fletcher was hitting .220 with three homers and 22 RBIs in 45 games this season.

Fletcher broke into the majors with the Dodgers in 1989 and had his most productive season in 2000, when he hit .320 with 20 home runs in 122 games with the Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays recalled outfielder Pedro Swann from triple-A Syracuse to fill Fletcher’s spot.

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The Milwaukee Brewers fined reliever Mike DeJean and the right-hander apologized to his teammates and fans for his screaming match on the mound with Manager Jerry Royster on Wednesday.

DeJean initially apologized after the blowup on Wednesday night, and repeated it an interview before Friday’s game against Colorado.

“It happened. I can’t change it,” DeJean said. “All I can do is apologize for it and try to prove to everybody that I’m not the raving lunatic that I looked like the other night.”

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The Boston Red Sox activated infielder Carlos Baerga from the 15-day disabled list and designated right-hander Rich Garces for assignment.