Catcher Lopez calls it a career

Three-time All-Star Javy Lopez retired Saturday after being assigned to the Atlanta Braves’ minor league camp, ending his bid to return to the majors as a backup catcher.

Lopez, who sat out all of last season, decided against trying to extend his 15-year career in the minors. He batted only .188 this spring in an effort to become Brian McCann’s backup.

Lopez, 37, was cut by Colorado last spring and didn’t play in 2007. He signed a minor league deal in December with Atlanta, where he played from from 1992 to 2003.

“It didn’t happen in spring training,” Lopez said. “This is the only chance I get. . . . I had the chance and didn’t do what I’m supposed to do, or at least not good enough.”

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Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Freddy Sanchez will see a specialist Monday to try to determine the cause of shoulder pain that has limited the two-time All-Star to only two appearances in the field this spring.

Sanchez, who has a combined .323 average over the last two seasons, complained of pain and discomfort after the Pirates’ 5-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. He had not played defensively this spring until a Wednesday night game against the New York Yankees.

After being examined by team doctors Friday and Saturday, Sanchez was diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinitis, or the inflammation of a tendon that can cause pain and tenderness in the shoulder.

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Mark Hendrickson was chosen by Manager Fredi Gonzalez to start the Florida Marlins’ season opener March 31 against the New York Mets at Dolphin Stadium.

“He pitched terrific in spring training and he’s our veteran guy,” Gonzalez said. “The way he’s pitched in spring training, he deserves it.”

The former Dodgers left-hander has a 1.69 earned-run average. He has yielded 15 hits, two earned runs, walked two and struck out nine in 16 innings.

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Former Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles will undergo surgery for prostate cancer early next month.

“They told me they got it early,” Nettles said. “It’s curable. It’s treatable. So I’ve got to think positive.”