Jeter Strains Muscle

Derek Jeter is expected to sit out at least three games with a rib cage injury sustained in the New York Yankees’ 8-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.

Jeter said the injury didn’t seem as serious as similar ones in 1998 and 2000 that put him on the disabled list. He said he’d have to wait a day or two to see how severe it is.

General Manager Brian Cashman said the shortstop won’t go on the disabled list, but probably wouldn’t play before Friday when the Red Sox begin a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.

Jeter suffered a slight muscle strain in his rib cage on the left side when he reached for a pitch in the fifth inning. He singled in that at-bat and stayed in the game. He said he felt fine swinging in the on-deck circle before his at-bat in the seventh.

He singled, but Manager Joe Torre took him out, and Alfonso Soriano came in to pinch-run.

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The Baltimore Orioles traded Jeff Conine to the Florida Marlins for minor league pitchers Denny Bautista and Don Levinski.

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The Seattle Mariners optioned 14-game winner Gil Meche to triple-A Tacoma in order to prepare their postseason roster. Meche won’t go to Tacoma. He left with the Mariners for Tampa Bay, where they open a trip Tuesday night. He’ll start against the Orioles on Friday night in Baltimore. The Mariners also recalled catcher Pat Borders and right-hander Rett Johnson from Tacoma. Johnson will go on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder, and Meche will replace Johnson on the postseason eligibility list.

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Bobby Crosby, the Oakland Athletics’ first-round draft pick in 2001 and their heir apparent to Miguel Tejada at shortstop, was recalled from triple-A Sacramento. The A’s optioned right-hander Mike Wood to double-A Midland (Texas) to make room for Crosby, who will be eligible for the playoff roster.