Indians’ Gonzalez Sidelined

Juan Gonzalez couldn’t even make it to opening day with the Cleveland Indians.

The 35-year-old slugger was put on the 15-day disabled list Thursday by the Indians, who left the oft-injured outfielder behind in Florida to rehabilitate his strained right hamstring.

Gonzalez has sat out 301 of a possible 486 games the last three seasons because of a variety of injuries, primarily to his back.

“He’s frustrated with his body,” Indian Manager Eric Wedge said. “But he understands this is the right thing to do.”

To replace Gonzalez on the roster, the Indians recalled outfielder Grady Sizemore. The 22-year-old was optioned to triple-A Buffalo on Sunday when Wedge announced that Gonzalez would be his starting right fielder.

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The Baltimore Orioles and Major League Baseball reached agreement on a deal that will allow games involving the new Washington Nationals to be televised.

The Orioles and Nationals will form a joint venture, backed by MLB, to allow fans in the Baltimore-Washington market to watch both teams.

The lack of a deal with the Orioles had prevented Nationals games from being televised during spring training, aside from those shown on either the Orioles’ network or ESPN. Washington plays its season opener Monday at Philadelphia.

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Dave Roberts, the San Diego Padres’ new center fielder and leadoff hitter, probably will start the season on the 15-day disabled list because of a lingering groin injury.

Manager Bruce Bochy said Roberts will be re-evaluated today when the Padres have a full-squad workout at Petco Park.

Roberts hurt his groin March 12 against Arizona and sat out almost a week. He has been in and out of the lineup since.

“It’s not responded the way I’d hoped, and I hoped to obviously be back by opening day,” Roberts said.

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X-rays taken of Bobby Crosby’s left hand were negative and the shortstop hopes to make the opening-day start for the Oakland Athletics.

Crosby was undergoing an MRI exam Thursday night in San Ramon, Calif., just to be sure of that there was no further damage to the hand. He was hit on the hand by a pitch in an exhibition game Wednesday.

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Marlon Byrd, the opening day center fielder for the Philadelphia Phillies the last two seasons, was sent to triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre, clearing the way for veteran Jose Offerman to make the team.... The Atlanta Braves traded backup second baseman Nick Green to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for reliever Jorge Sosa. The Devil Rays also claimed outfielder Michael Restovich off waivers from Minnesota.... The New York Mets signed catcher Mike DiFelice to a minor league contract, four days after he was released by the Florida Marlins.... The Seattle Mariners put first baseman Bucky Jacobsen on the 60-day disabled list and claimed outfielder Abraham Nunez off waivers from Kansas City.