Tejada might return Friday

Injured Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada has been cleared to play again and could be activated from the 15-day disabled list when Baltimore plays host to the New York Yankees on Friday.

Tejada was put on the DL on June 22 with a broken bone near his left wrist. The injury was supposed to keep him sidelined well into August.

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After a 20-year career in which he stayed with one franchise, played multiple positions at an All-Star level and joined the elite 3,000-hit club, Houston Astros infielder Craig Biggio said Tuesday that he would retire at the end of this season.

“There are a lot of guys that have the game taken away from them by injury,” he said.

“For me to be able to walk away now, on top, on my own accord, I’m very happy with that. I’m in a good place. I think I’ve done everything that I was supposed to do on a baseball field. I have nothing to be disappointed about.”

During a news conference in which he reminisced about his accomplished career, Biggio said his favorite baseball memory always will be from this June 28.

“The 3,000th-hit night was the best. I’ll never forget that,” he said. “I just can’t believe it’s over. It’s gone by fast. I have no regrets. I played the game the right way.”

Biggio is the only player in major league history with 600 doubles, 250 homers, 3,000 hits and 400 steals.

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St. Louis Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter had reconstructive elbow surgery, an operation likely to sideline him for at least a year.

The 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner, out since opening day, had surgery in early May to remove bone spurs and was on a rehab assignment for Class-A Palm Beach when he developed swelling and stiffness on July 8.

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Moises Alou’s expected return from the disabled list was pushed back to the end of the week after an exam showed tendinitis in the New York Mets outfielder’s right shoulder.

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San Diego catcher Michael Barrett was suspended for one game and fined $1,500 two days after he was ejected from a game against Philadelphia. He has appealed.

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Outfielder Scott Podsednik was activated from the 15-day disabled list and the Chicago White Sox put outfielder Luis Terrero on the DL because of a strained left groin. Chicago also called up right-hander Gavin Floyd from triple-A Charlotte and sent right-handed reliever Dewon Day to Charlotte.

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Milwaukee Brewers catching prospect Angel Salome was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance under baseball’s minor league drug program.