Minor Leaguer Gets 50-Game Ban

Former major league outfielder Abraham Nunez, who is playing for Fresno, San Francisco’s triple-A affiliate in the Pacific Coast League, was suspended 50 games Thursday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

Nunez, 29, played in 136 games for Florida and Kansas City, batting .209 with six home runs and 35 RBIs. He last played in the majors in 2004.

Nunez was batting .223 with six homers and 29 RBIs for Fresno this season.

*

The New York Mets traded for their second pitcher in as many days, acquiring left-hander Dave Williams from the Cincinnati Reds for a minor leaguer.

The Reds, who designated Williams for assignment Saturday, also sent an undisclosed amount of cash to the Mets. Cincinnati got right-hander Robert Manuel in the deal and assigned him to Class-A Dayton.

The Mets, trying to upgrade the back end of their rotation, sent reliever Jorge Julio to the Diamondbacks for Orlando Hernandez on Wednesday.

*

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Gustavo Chacin yielded four runs in 2 1/3 innings in a rehabilitation start for the Syracuse SkyChiefs against the Norfolk Tides.

Chacin gave up six hits and threw 36 of his 54 pitches for strikes. He has been on the 15-day disabled list since May 10, when he strained his elbow and forearm in a game against the Oakland A’s.

Chacin is scheduled to return to the Toronto rotation Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox.

*

The Blue Jays signed infielder Edgardo Alfonzo to a minor league contract. The 32-year-old was released by the Angels earlier this month after batting .100 in 18 games.

*

New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada has a torn tendon in his left knee and will be sidelined at least a few days.

Posada wasn’t put on the disabled list after the MRI exam that revealed the injury, but the club said that it planned to call up a catcher from the minor leagues today.

The Yankees also announced that pitcher Carl Pavano underwent arthroscopic surgery to have a bone chip removed from his right elbow. The operation was done by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.

*

The Kansas City Royals optioned right-hander Leo Nunez to triple-A Omaha and purchased the contract of right-hander Bobby Keppel from Omaha. Keppel signed a minor league free-agent contract in August.