Bonds Gets $5,000 Slap on Wrists

Major League Baseball fined Barry Bonds $5,000 for wearing wristbands that violated baseball’s apparel rules because of their size and logo design.

Bonds has appealed the ruling. MLB.com first reported the fine. Bonds said the logo on his wristbands complied with earlier specifications issued by MLB.

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Pittsburgh Pirate General Manager Dave Littlefield will attend an arbitrator’s hearing today on outfielder Jody Gerut’s injury grievance.

The Pirates put Gerut on the minor league suspended list last week after he declined to report to triple-A Indianapolis, citing a right knee injury.

As a result, the Pirates aren’t paying him his $875,000 salary and are declining to pay any travel expenses involved with the surgery he plans to have. The team claims Gerut is healthy enough to play and he said nothing about being hurt until after being demoted late in spring training.

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The Baltimore Orioles shuffled outfielders, optioning Val Majewski to triple-A Ottawa, putting outfielder Luis Matos on the 15-day disabled list and purchasing the contract of outfielder Luis Terrero from Ottawa.

David Newhan was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.

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The Texas Rangers put second baseman Mark DeRosa on the 15-day disabled list and purchased the contract of Drew Meyer from triple-A Oklahoma.

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Struggling right-handed reliever Mike Burns was optioned to triple-A Louisville by Cincinnati, which plans to bring up left-hander Brian Shackelford from Louisville today.... Kansas City pitcher Zack Greinke, who left the team during spring training Feb. 25 and went to his home in Florida, has reported to the team’s extended spring training in Surprise, Ariz.