Baseball notes: Dice-K headed to Florida for strengthening program

Dice-K to start a strengthening program

BOSTON - Boston Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka will head to Florida on Monday to begin a spring training-like strengthening program that the Red Sox hope will get him back to the big leagues later this season.

Matsuzaka was 1-5 with an 8.23 ERA and an opponents' batting average of .378 before going on the disabled list June 21. He's been out with a shoulder strain, and the Red Sox have said he hasn't been right since helping Japan win the World Baseball Classic.

The Japanese star was 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA and a major league-best .211 batting average by opponents last season, but his velocity off and his control erratic at times this season.

In March, Matsuzaka repeated as MVP in the second WBC, but missed much of Boston's spring training. He was sidelined with a mild right shoulder strain from April 15 to May 22.

BRAVES: Struggling second baseman Kelly Johnson has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with right wrist tendinitis.

Braves manager Bobby Cox said Johnson's recent slump could be traced to the wrist problem. He's on a 9-for-74 skid that has dropped his batting average to .214.

To take Johnson's place on the roster, the Braves purchased the contract of infielder Brooks Conrad from Triple-A Gwinnett. Conrad was hitting .259 with nine home runs and 38 RBI. His 46 runs scored ranked fifth in the International League.

PHILLIES: The Phillies have purchased the contract of right-hander Rodrigo Lopez from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and cleared a roster spot by designating reliever Jack Taschner for assignment.

Lopez, a two-time 15-game winner with Baltimore, started against the New York Mets last night in place of injured rookie Antonio Bastardo. Lopez hadn't pitched in the majors since 2007 with Colorado because of elbow surgery.

TWINS: Target Field has a target date. Outdoor baseball is tentatively set to return to Minneapolis on April 12 when the Minnesota Twins play their 2010 home opener against the Boston Red Sox.

BLUE JAYS: Toronoto has purchased the contract of outfielder Dave Dellucci from Triple-A Las Vegas and cleared a roster spot by designating utilityman Russ Adams for assignment.

The 35-year-old Dellucci hit .275 with one RBI in 14 games this year for Cleveland, which released him June 1. Toronto signed him to a minor league contract nine days later. He batted .317 in 16 games at Las Vegas with three homers and nine RBI.

MARINERS: Seattle has activated right-handed reliever Shawn Kelley from the 15-day disabled list and optioned infielder Mike Carp to Triple-A Tacoma.

REDS: The Reds activated third baseman Edwin Encarnacion from the 60-day disabled list to replace infielder Danny Richar, who went on the 15-day disabled list with a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

WHITE SOX: Outfielder Carlos Quentin, on the disabled list since May 29, will begin a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Charlotte.

Quentin, who had 36 home runs and 100 RBI last season in his first year with Chicago, has been sidelined with plantar fasciitis, a painful foot condition. He hasn't played since May 25.

- From Wire Reports