Evidence Mounts Against Kent

San Francisco Giant second baseman Jeff Kent might have broken his wrist falling off a motorcycle, not while washing his truck as he claims, General Manager Brian Sabean said.

“There’s mounting evidence from all sorts of eyewitnesses that says he fell off a motorcycle popping wheelies,” Sabean said.

The guarantee language in Kent’s contract bans certain activities, including motorcycle riding, meaning the Giants could try to void the contract or fine him.

The former National League most valuable player is in the option year of the deal, which would pay him $6 million.

A report in Wednesday’s Arizona Republic, quoting police reports and eyewitness accounts, said Kent might have been injured on a road about a mile from the Giants’ minor league training facility.

“Unfortunately for me and Jeff Kent, this is part of my job,” Sabean said. “We’ll weigh all the information and all the options.”

Kent originally reported the injury to the Giants on March 2, a day after he said he was hurt washing his truck.

The Giants began investigating last Friday.

Kent declined comment Wednesday and was not available Thursday, when he had an off-day.

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Arizona first baseman Erubiel Durazo had surgery to remove a broken bone in his right wrist.

Durazo, baseball’s leading hitter this spring with a .535 average, is expected to be sidelined six weeks, according to specialist Dr. Don Sheridan.

The left-handed slugger was injured when he swung at and missed a pitch from Dave Lundquist in the sixth inning of Wednesday night’s game against San Diego.

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The Cleveland Indians acquired catcher Eddie Perez in a trade with the Atlanta Braves for a player to be named or cash.

The Indians had been looking for an experienced backup for Einar Diaz while Eddie Taubensee is sidelined for at least two months because of a bad back.

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New York Yankee pitcher Sterling Hitchcock will start the season on the disabled list after being shut down for seven to 10 days because of a strained ligament in his lower back.

Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman said Hitchcock would probably throw for two weeks before rejoining the team.

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Philadelphia Phillies’ Manager Larry Bowa was suspended for one game and fined because of his ejection from a game on March 9.

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Former Houston Astro and San Diego Padre third baseman Ken Caminiti pleaded guilty to cocaine possession and was sentenced to three years probation.