Major League Baseball briefs

Yankees

Teixeira out until early May

TAMPA, Fla. — Mark Teixeira is going to be out at least until early May with a strained right wrist tendon, the latest major injury setback for the New York Yankees.

New York general manager Brian Cashman gave the news after the Yankees’ were beat 8-2 by the Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic team on Wednesday.

Teixeira was hurt swinging a bat Tuesday in an indoor cage during pregame warmups with the U.S. WBC team. Initially, Teixeira was expected to be out eight to 10 days, but Teixeira was examined by Yankees doctors in New York on Wednesday and a diagnosis of eight to 10 weeks was given.

Cashman says Teixeira will rest for four weeks before beginning rehabilitation.

It’s the second major injury for the Yankees during spring training this year. Outfielder Curtis Granderson broke his right forearm when he was hit by a pitch Feb. 24. He will also be sidelined until early May.

Right-hander Hughes nears session on mound

TAMPA, Fla. — Yankees right-hander Phil Hughes says he is scheduled to throw off a mound Saturday for the first time since being sidelined by a bulging disk in his upper back three weeks ago.

Hughes made 25 throws from 60 and 90 feet during his third level ground throwing session on Wednesday. He is set to add 10 pitches off a mound on Saturday and follow that with a 25-pitch bullpen session Sunday or Monday.

Hughes says he is experiencing “no problems,” and feels “good.”

Hughes was hurt Feb. 18 during a defensive drill in spring training. The right-hander went 16-13 with 4.23 ERA in 32 starts for the Yankees last season.

Cardinals

McGee added to staff

JUPITER, Fla. — The St. Louis Cardinals have hired former great Willie McGee as a special assistant to the general manager focusing on the minor leagues.

The 54-year-old McGee, added to the staff on Wednesday, served a special instructor at spring training last month. McGee is in the franchise top 10 in games played, triples, stolen bases and pinch hits and was a career .295 hitter over 18 seasons.

McGee was a member of the 1982 World Series championship team and was National League MVP in 1985 with a league-leading .353 average for a pennant-winning team. His batting average from 1985 and 216 hits are franchise bests for switch hitters.

MARLINS

Placido Polanco is

scratched from lineup

JUPITER, Fla. — Miami Marlins third baseman Placido Polanco was scratched from Wednesday’s lineup against the Cardinals.

Polanco last weekend sat out due to back spasms, but he anticipated being ready by Wednesday. He felt fine hitting. The problem was throwing.

“It might be more like an oblique,” said manager Mike Redmond, before the 7-2 loss to the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. “I don’t think it’s going to be an extended thing. We just want to make sure he’s 100 percent before we run him back out there. We need him for the long haul.”

Polanco’s durability has been an issue the last couple of seasons. In 2012, back issues limited him to 90 games.

-- The Associated Press