Red Sox designate Alan Embree for assignment

Left-hander Alan Embree has been designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox, who needed to make room on their roster to bring Daisuke Matsuzaka off the disabled list on Saturday night.

Embree pitched for the 2004 Red Sox team that won the World Series but never threw a pitch for Boston in his second stint with the club.

He was signed to a minor league contract on March 20 and struggled during spring training. The 40-year-old veteran began the season at triple-A Pawtucket and was activated by the Red Sox on Wednesday, but didn’t pitch in the two games he was on the roster.

Etc.

Detroit Tigers Manager Jim Leyland plans to keep smoking, just not in the dugout anymore.

Leyland has smoked cigarettes while at the ballpark throughout his long career but will no longer be able to do so at Comerica Park. A Michigan law went into effect at 6 a.m. Saturday that bans smoking in most workplaces in the state.

The 65-year-old said he’s quit before but doesn’t plan to now.

Florida Marlins right-hander Clay Hensley will miss at least three games following the unexpected death of his father.

Hensley was put on the bereavement list, and left-hander Hunter Jones was recalled from triple-A New Orleans and joined the Marlins before Saturday’s game against Washington.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Chris Dickerson will have surgery to remove part of a bone in his right hand and repair his right wrist.

Dickerson went on the 15-day disabled list Friday because of a broken bone in the wrist and hand area. The club will have a better idea of how long he’ll be sidelined following the surgery Monday.