Third baseman Mike Lowell, who already has set a career high for homers, was rumored to be heading to a contending team.
By Times Wires
Published July 2, 2003
MIAMI - Mike Lowell apparently won't be leaving his hometown team anytime soon.
Florida's third baseman, who grew up in Miami and attended Florida International and whose Cuban roots add to his local popularity, was told by team officials Tuesday that he will not be traded this season.
General manager Larry Beinfest's announcement ended weeks of speculation and rumors that Lowell, 29, would be shipped out by the low-budget Marlins, especially as he is eligible for salary arbitration this offseason.
"It relieves a lot of uncertainty," Lowell said. "I'm glad. I can focus on this year and I hope we can win. We're playing good ball and we'll see what happens from there."
Lowell entered Tuesday tied for the National League lead in home runs with 25, one more than the career high he set last season.
KIM TO CLOSE: Red Sox manager Grady Little said right-hander Byung-Hyun Kim will be moved from the rotation into the closer's role.
"We feel like this move will give us a better chance to win," Little said. "He wants to win. He wants to do whatever the ballclub asks."
Boston this spring announced it would go with more traditional bullpen roles, using its best reliever at any crucial point in a game and not just save situations. Misinterpreted as a "closer by committee," the plan has come under fire as the bullpen has posted a 5.52 ERA, second-worst in the AL.
BUBBA SAGA: Yankees manager Joe Torre said missing outfielder Bubba Trammell may have played his last game in pinstripes.
"That would be my guess," Torre said. "But who knows?"
Trammell, a former Devil Ray, was placed on the restricted list Monday, one day after he unexpectedly left the club for unspecified personal reasons.
"I wish I could tell you something, but I know nothing more than I did the first day," Torre said.
Yankees centerfielder Bernie Williams ran the bases, increasing his rehabilitation program for his injured left knee. He could rejoin New York around the All-Star break.
HEARINGS POSTPONED: Disciplinary hearings for the Reds' Sean Casey and Jose Guillen and the Pirates' Jason Kendall were postponed at Major League Baseball's request. New dates have not been scheduled.
ALL-STAR ADS: The Fox network says it has sold almost all of its commercials for the July 15 game, a week ahead of last year's pace.
D'BACKS: Right-hander Curt Schilling plans to make his first rehabilitation start today with Triple-A Tucson. Schilling has been on the DL since May 31 with a broken right hand.
MARINERS: First baseman John Olerud was out of the lineup because of a strained right hamstring.
REDS: MRI exams showed that outfielder Austin Kearns apparently did not seriously injure his right shoulder in a home-plate collision with Atlanta's Ray King on May 21.
ROYALS: Right-hander Kyle Snyder was scheduled for an MRI exam on his pitching shoulder. He left Monday's game after the fourth with tightness.
WHITE SOX: The sons of general manager Ken Williams have received community service and probation on charges stemming from two car break-ins in May. The charges against Dedrick Quinn Williams, 21, and Kenny Royal, 16, will be dropped if they complete 150 hours of community service, remain on unsupervised probation for 12 months and don't get into trouble during that time.
