Blue Jays
Manager John Gibbons said he doesn’t believe there’s anything wrong with closer Casey Janssen, who’s 0-1 with two blown saves and a 6.59 ERA since the All-Star break. Janssen missed the first 37 games of the season with a back injury.
Orioles
3B Manny Machado had season-ending knee surgery Wednesday and will rehab at the team complex in Sarasota, Florida. He hopes to cheer on the team at home games in October. … RHP Miguel Gonzalez was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to replace struggling RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (4-9, 4.74 ERA) in the rotation. Gonzalez is 6-6 with a 3.80 ERA in 20 games and 19 starts for Baltimore this season. INF Cord Phelps was designated for assignment. He went 0 for 3 in three games with the Orioles. After hitting .258 with 49 RBIs in 97 games at Triple-A. He has played 56 games over four major-league seasons with the Orioles and Cleveland Indians.
Rays
Sensing SS Yunel Escobar was bothered by speculation about a possible waiver claim trade to Oakland, manager Joe Maddon took the unusual step of assuring the emotional infielder he would not be dealt. After discussing the situation with executive vice president Andrew Friedman, Maddon summoned Escobar, and bilingual bench coach Dave Martinez, to a closed door meeting in his office. “I was able to tell him that we’re very, very pleased with what he’s doing, we can see him continuing to get better with us, to not be worried about anything happening over the next day,” Maddon said. “That’s what I got from Andrew.” Maddon said Escobar was relieved at the news, but Maddon remained concerned about lingering effects of word getting out that Escobar had been claimed by the A’s. The waiver process is supposed to be confidential, and most moves don’t get reported as teams routinely put many players on waivers, especially in August.
Red Sox
With SS Xander Bogaerts on the 7-day concussion disabled list, Manager John Farrell said versatile rookie Brock Holt will handle the position until Bogaerts is able to return. Holt has played all four infield positions and all three outfield spots this season. Boston selected INF Carlos Rivero from Triple-A Pawtucket to replace Bogaerts. …. Since joining the Red Sox, after Sunday’s game, Yoenis Cespedes had driven in 18 of Boston’s 79 runs (23 percent).
Yankees
The Yankees homered at least three times in a game last week for the seventh time this season, but it was the first time they had done it since July 9 at Cleveland. … RHP Michael Pineda’s fastball was sitting in the 94-97-mph range according to the stadium radar gun. In his third outing since returning from the disabled list, Pineda allowed one run, five hits and no walks with five strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. It was Pineda’s first victory since April 16 and marked his longest outing since going eight innings for the Mariners on Sept. 10, 2011.
Compiled by Rick Crotts from wire reports.
