Bell to Start Season on DL

Jay Bell, the leading candidate to replace injured Matt Williams at third base for the Arizona Diamondbacks, will start the season on the 15-day disabled list because of a slight tear in his right calf muscle.

Bell was one of five players put on the 15-day DL Saturday as the defending World Series champions announced their season-opening 25-man roster.

The others on the injured list are pinch hitter-first baseman Greg Colbrunn, first baseman Erubiel Durazo and pitchers Todd Stottlemyre and Greg Swindell.

Williams and pitchers Matt Mantei and Armando Reynoso were put on the 60-day disabled list.

Bell last played Wednesday, when he came out of the game against the Chicago Cubs in Mesa because of pain in the calf.

“It was a no-brainer,” Manager Bob Brenly said of the decision to put the 36-year-old Bell on the disabled list. “He needs to let that thing heal up. He wasn’t going to be able to do that playing every day, playing part-time or pinch-hitting or anything. It’s something that needs to be shut down and treated.”

Brenly said he believes Bell will be ready to play at the end of the 15 days, which are retroactive to Thursday.

Craig Counsell will shift from second to third for the season opener on Monday against San Diego, with Junior Spivey starting at second.

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San Diego Padre rookie third baseman Sean Burroughs is expected to miss the season opener at Arizona because of a sprained right thumb.

Burroughs was held out of the lineup against the Seattle Mariners in Saturday’s exhibition game. The Mariners won, 6-1.

“Very doubtful,” Padre Manager Bruce Bochy said after the game about Burroughs’ status. “It looks like a couple days.”

Burroughs was injured when he fell while running the bases Friday in a game against the Mariners at Portland, Ore. He had to leave the game. He has hit .407 with one home run and 11 runs batted in in 19 games this spring.

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New York Yankee first baseman Jason Giambi left Saturday’s game against Philadelphia because of cramping in his left calf.

Giambi is expected to be ready for Monday’s regular-season opener at Baltimore.

“He’s in the lineup,” said Manager Joe Torre after the Yankees defeated the Phillies, 8-5. “It’s a matter of DH or first base. He didn’t think it was serious.”

Giambi flied out in the first inning as the designated hitter, then was replaced by Juan Rivera.

“It’s no big deal,” Giambi said. “It feels tight, but no pain.”

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Oakland Athletic outfielder Jermaine Dye, still recovering from a foul ball off his leg last year, will begin the season on the 15-day disabled list.

Dye broke his left leg with a foul ball Oct. 14 in the fourth game of the American League division series against the New York Yankees.

“Basically, he’s improving every day,” Manager Art Howe said. “But he still hasn’t run the bases full out or made a slide. In his mind he’s almost ready, but we think it will take some more time.”

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Third baseman Dean Palmer, who had season-ending shoulder surgery last July, will start the season on the 15-day disabled list for the Detroit Tigers.

Craig Paquette will open the season as the Tiger third baseman.

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As expected, the Pittsburgh Pirates released outfielder Derek Bell, who had one year left on a $9.75-million, two-year contract.

Reached by phone, Bell said, “I’m sorry it didn’t work out with the Pirates.” He also said he wasn’t sure if he would stay in baseball.

Another of the Pirates’ free-agent disappointments, infielder Pat Meares, was put on the 15-day disabled list. He will have his damaged left hand examined next week by a specialist.

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Right-hander Satoru Komiyama, a seven-time All-Star in Japan, will be a 36-year-old rookie for the New York Mets.

Komiyama was 1-1 with a 3.44 earned-run average in nine games.

Komiyama, a 12-year veteran in the Japan, will be the fifth Japanese player to play for the Mets.