Blood clot could shelve Rogers until July

Kenny Rogers had surgery yesterday to remove a blood clot from his left shoulder and repair arteries, and the Detroit Tigers pitcher likely will be sidelined for the first half of the season.

The 42-year-old lefthander had the operation in Dallas. He is expected to start throwing in 6-8 weeks, and Tigers president Dave Dombrowski said the earliest Rogers would return to the rotation is July.

Detroit placed Rogers on the 15-day disabled list Thursday, his first trip to the DL since 2001. Chad Durbin, who made the team as a reliever, will move into the rotation.

Rogers was 2-0 with a 2.05 ERA in five exhibition starts, throwing six scoreless innings against Atlanta last Saturday. He reported arm fatigue to trainers late Wednesday and received treatment at a hospital in Lakeland, Fla. Tigers officials said at first that he would miss only one start, but the pitcher was put on the DL after doctors found an irregular pulse.

Carl Pavano's first appearance on a mound in the majors since June 2005 will be a big one -- Opening Day at Yankee Stadium.

"It's going to be pretty exciting," said a smiling Pavano, who has been out almost two years because of a variety of injuries. "Who wouldn't be excited at this opportunity? It's a good day."

Pavano will be followed in the rotation by Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, and Kei Igawa. With Chien-Ming Wang sidelined by a strained right hamstring, Darrell Rasner will be the Yankees' fifth starter for now.

Indians lefthander C.C. Sabathia threw 50 pitches in a bullpen session in Winter Haven, Fla., and pronounced himself fit to keep his starting assignment on Opening Day after being hit on the left forearm Wednesday by a line drive. The Indians said he will be limited to 110 pitches . . . Shortstop Carlos Guillen and the Tigers agreed to a $48 million, four-year contract extension through the 2011 season . . . The Rockies purchased the contract of Steve Finley, meaning the 42-year-old outfielder, who signed a minor league contract in February, will get a $1 million salary this season . . . Infielder Todd Walker agreed to a minor league contract with the Athletics . . . Devil Rays outfielder Rocco Baldelli remains day to day with a tight right hamstring . . . Orioles outfielder Jay Payton probably will start the season on the DL because of a strained left hamstring suffered while running the bases Monday.