Report: Piniella Won’t Be Back as Manager

Lou Piniella will not return as manager of the Tampa Bay Devils Rays, two sources told the Tampa Tribune on Wednesday.

According to the Tribune, the Devil Rays will buy out the remaining year of Piniella’s four-year deal. Piniella will receive $2.2 million of the $4.4 million he was to have received in 2006. The team will also pay $1.25 million in salary deferred from Piniella’s first season in 2003.

Piniella, 62, will be free to take another managerial job next season but has hinted he may take the season off, the Tribune reported.

When asked about his future by the Tribune, Piniella said only, “I can’t talk about it.”

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Brian Roberts has ligament and tendon damage in his left arm and will need surgery that usually requires a recovery time of about six months.

Baltimore’s All-Star second baseman and leadoff hitter remained hospitalized at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, a day after a collision with the New York Yankees’ Bubba Crosby. Roberts was being given painkillers and will return to Baltimore today, Oriole trainer Richie Bancells said.

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Detroit Tiger right-hander Jeremy Bonderman will sit out the rest of the season because of a sore elbow.

Bonderman, 1-7 in his last eight starts, missed two September outings with a tender elbow before starting Monday at Kansas City.