Royals Put Sweeney on the Disabled List

All-Star first baseman Mike Sweeney was put on the 15-day disabled list Thursday by the Kansas City Royals.

The move was made retroactive to June 19, one day after Sweeney left a game against Minnesota because of tightness in his upper back.

“Mike was examined this morning and the diagnosis is he has nerve irritation where the neck and upper back come together,” Royal trainer Nick Swartz said.

Swartz said it would be at least a week before Sweeney could get back to on-field activities.

Sweeney tops the AL Central-leading Royals in most offensive categories, including homers (12), runs batted in (50) and batting average (.321).

To replace Sweeney on the 25-man roster, the Royals recalled second baseman Brent Abernathy from the minors. They also recalled left-hander Les Walrond from triple-A Omaha and optioned right-hander Ryan Bukvich to Omaha.

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Texas slugger Juan Gonzalez will take until the last minute before deciding whether to accept a trade to the Montreal Expos, he said.

“I’m calm and I’m in control,” he said before the Rangers played Oakland. “I will probably wait until Saturday.”

Gonzalez, in the last year of his $24-million, two-year deal with Texas, has until Saturday morning to invoke a no-trade clause.

If he accepts the deal, the two-time AL MVP will move from the last-place Rangers to Montreal and into the thick of the NL wild-card race.

The Expos reached an agreement with Texas on Tuesday to acquire Gonzalez. The Rangers were expected to receive prospects, possibly three of them.

Also Thursday, the Rangers put left-hander Aaron Fultz on the 15-day disabled list because of a bruised shoulder and purchased the contract of left-hander Ron Mahay from triple-A Oklahoma.

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Toronto activated third baseman Eric Hinske, last year’s AL rookie of the year, from the 15-day disabled list and optioned infielder Howie Clark to triple-A Syracuse.... Indian reliever Jason Boyd was suspended for three games and fined an undisclosed amount for bumping umpire Dana DeMuth during an argument last weekend.... The Tampa Bay Devil Rays designated left-handed reliever Mike Venafro for assignment and recalled right-hander Carlos Reyes from triple-A Durham.... Catcher Josh Paul, who was designated for assignment earlier this week by the Chicago White Sox, has refused a return to triple-A Charlotte and will become a free agent.... The Chicago Cubs recalled right-hander Juan Cruz from triple-A Iowa and sent infielder Bobby Hill to Iowa. Also, Cub pitcher Kyle Farnsworth had his suspension reduced from three games to two for his brawl with Paul Wilson last week in Cincinnati.... Red outfielder Jose Guillen was suspended for two games for bumping an umpire during Wednesday’s 9-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals and first baseman Sean Casey was suspended for three games for charging the Phillies’ Carlos Silva on June 13.... Pitcher Aaron Heilman was called up by the New York Mets from triple-A Norfolk and left-hander Mike Bacsik was optioned to Norfolk.