Dye cleared to begin Triple-A assignment

Oakland, Calif. Jermaine Dye will begin a rehabilitation assignment today with the Oakland Athletics’ Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento.

He is expected to be in the River Cats’ lineup when they play host to Las Vegas tonight.

Dye hasn’t played since breaking his left leg with a foul ball in Game Four of last season’s AL division series against the New York Yankees. His recovery has been somewhat slower than expected, and he began the season on Oakland’s disabled list.

Dye, acquired from Kansas City last July 25, hit .297 with 13 homers and 59 RBIs in 61 games with the A’s last season. In January, he signed a $32 million, three-year.

Pirates claim infielder

Pittsburgh The Pirates claimed Tomas De La Rosa off minor league waivers from Montreal on Monday and optioned the 24-year-old infielder to Triple-A Nashville. In 33 games with the Expos over two seasons, De La Rosa hit .284.

Twins sign Trombley to minor league deal

Minneapolis Veteran right-hander Mike Trombley signed a minor-league contract with Minnesota on Monday.

Trombley, 35, split time between Baltimore and Los Angeles last season, going 3-8 with a 4.38 earned-run average and six saves in 69 games.

He spent his first eight seasons with the Twins, posting a 30-33 record with a 4.46 ERA and 34 saves.

Trombley reported to the Twins’ extended spring training program in Fort Myers, Fla., and will be sent to Triple-A Edmonton.

Astros’ Miller on DL

Houston Houston right-hander Wade Miller was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday after team doctors diagnosed him with a pinched nerve in his neck area that also caused arm pain. Miller, 0-2 in three starts, gave up six runs and seven hits over five innings in a 7-3 loss Friday. He was 16-8 with a 3.40 ERA last year but hasn’t won since Sept. 7. Since then, he is 0-3 with four no-decisions.

Rebuilding Tigers name assistant GM

Detroit The Detroit Tigers pushed forward with their staff overhaul Monday, hiring Al Avila as vice president and assistant general manager.

Avila, who spent nine years as an executive with Florida under current Detroit president and GM Dave Dombrowski, had been a special assistant to Pittsburgh GM Dave Littlefield since January.

The Tigers, 0-11, fired manager Phil Garner and GM Randy Smith last week.

Luis Pujols was hire to succeed Garner as manager, former Montreal manager Felipe Alou became bench coach and Dombrowski assumed Smith’s GM duties.

Brown to miss start

Denver Los Angeles ace Kevin Brown will miss his next start because of swelling in his pitching elbow caused by the dislodging of scar tissue. Brown left Saturday’s game against San Diego because of elbow pain. He had surgery on Sept. 27 to repair a torn flexor muscle. Omar Daal will start Thursday in Brown’s place.