Ortiz’s Release to Cost Arizona $22 Million

The Arizona Diamondbacks decided Tuesday they would rather eat the remaining $22 million of Russ Ortiz’s contract than keep him on their roster.

The club designated the struggling right-hander for assignment, which means it has 10 days to trade, waive or release him.

The team is on the hook for the balance of the $33-million, four-year contract Ortiz signed in December 2004, a figure General Manager Josh Byrnes said was close to $22 million.

Ortiz, 32, was 0-5 with a 7.54 earned-run average in six starts for Arizona.

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An arrest warrant for Dmitri Young was issued after the Detroit Tigers’ designated hitter failed to appear for a pretrial hearing on a domestic violence charge in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Young is accused of choking a 21-year-old Toledo, Ohio, woman April 14 at a Birmingham, Mich., hotel.

If convicted of the misdemeanor charge, the 32-year-old Young could face up to 93 days in jail and a $500 fine.

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The Boston Red Sox put reliever Keith Foulke on the 15-day disabled list and activated Mike Timlin.

Foulke, who is 2-1 with a 5.63 ERA in 29 appearances with the Red Sox, went on the disabled list retroactive to Monday.

The team is calling Foulke’s injury elbow tendinitis.

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San Diego Padres minor league pitcher Jonathan Ellis was suspended 50 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.... New Kansas City Royals General Manager Dayton Moore selected Cincinnati Reds assistant general manager Dean Taylor as vice president of baseball operations. Muzzy Jackson, a longtime Kansas City executive, was hired as vice president of player personnel.