Johnson has a herniated disk

Randy Johnson has a herniated disk in his surgically repaired back, making the timing of his return to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ rotation unclear.

The 43-year-old Johnson seemed upbeat after the club revealed the diagnosis Tuesday. Johnson went on the 15-day disabled list June 11.

“I won’t back away,” said Johnson, who also had a back operation 11 years ago. “I’m eager to still pitch. I’ve tackled this twice before.”

Johnson said the disk is the same one repaired in an operation last October.

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Red Sox starter Curt Schilling was sent back to Boston to get an MRI exam on his right shoulder.

Schilling was hit hard Monday night by the Atlanta Braves, who said Schilling lacked his usual velocity in a 9-4 loss.

“The ball didn’t come out of his hand too well,” Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said.

“He didn’t complain of pain or anything. The ball just wasn’t coming out.”

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Right-hander A.J. Burnett was put on the 15-day disabled list by Toronto because of pain in his right shoulder, and the Blue Jays recalled right-hander Ty Taubenheim from triple-A Syracuse.

Burnett is 5-6 with a 4.00 earned-run average in 14 starts this season.

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Texas Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels was given a one-year contract extension despite a 26-43 start that left Texas with the worst record in the major leagues.

Daniels, 29, now has a contract through the 2009 season.