Yankees’ Rivera Might Be Out Until Late April

The New York Yankees aren’t counting on having closer Mariano Rivera back from his groin injury until late April.

“There’s no way, even if he was jumping up and down saying ‘I am [ready],’ ” Manager Joe Torre said Wednesday. “I can’t do that. I’m not even going to think about him until the latter part of April in my mind.”

Rivera hurt himself while throwing a pitch Monday. He underwent an MRI on Wednesday.

“It’s feeling better,” Rivera said. “A lot of treatment. I can’t tell you much. I haven’t talked with the doctor today.”

Juan Acevedo will get most of the save situations until Rivera returns.

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The Chicago Cubs optioned second baseman Bobby Hill to triple-A Iowa and named former Dodger Mark Grudzielanek their starting second baseman and leadoff hitter.

Hill’s strong finish last year had the Cubs thinking he’d be their starting second baseman this season. But after batting .154 and committing five errors this spring, the Cubs sent him to the minors.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates put Matt Herges on waivers after trading two pitching prospects to Montreal to acquire the reliever in December.

The right-handed Herges won 20 games in relief for the Dodgers in 2000 and 2001 and was expected to give the Pirates another strong arm in middle relief. He was 2-1 with a 1.93 earned-run average this spring, striking out seven and allowing three hits in 9 1/3 innings.

But only two days after Manager Lloyd McClendon praised him, the Pirates let him go -- apparently to keep right-hander Salomon Torres around in case he is needed to move into the starting rotation.

“I was in complete shock when they told me,” Herges said. “I don’t see any reason why I’m not on the team.”

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Kansas City outfielder Carlos Beltran will sit out the Royal opener and probably start the season on the disabled list because of a strained oblique muscle.

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The San Diego Padres released right-hander Francisco Cordova and added lefty Mike Matthews, claiming him off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers. The Padres also put left-hander Kevin Walker and right-handers Jay Witasick and Kevin Jarvis on the 15-day disabled list.

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The Texas Rangers put right-handed pitcher Danny Kolb on waivers.... The Cleveland Indians sold the contract of pitcher Jason Beverlin to the Yakult Swallows of the Japanese Central League.... The Atlanta Braves put left-handed reliever Mike Venafro on waivers.... The Boston Red Sox put pitcher Frank Castillo on waivers and offered Rule V draft pick Adrian Brown back to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.