Baseball: No payrolls in danger next week

New York A day after baseball commissioner Bud Selig said a team was in danger of not making payroll next week, his top aide insisted any financial problems had passed.

Selig did not identify the team during a Wednesday interview with several newspapers, and also said a second unidentified club had so much debt it might not be able to finish the season.

A top official of a major league team, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Thursday the Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Devil Rays had cash-flow problems earlier this year, but both teams denied any financial difficulties.

“There are teams that are continuing to work very hard to meet all of their expenses that come due,” Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer, said Thursday. “Whatever immediate issues there were with one or two clubs have been resolved in the short term.”

Rangers promote Rivera, place Rocker on DL

Minneapolis Ruben Rivera, cut in spring training after stealing Derek Jeter’s glove, returned to the majors Thursday night and was in Texas’ starting lineup against Minnesota.

The Rangers began the second half of the season by reshaping their roster. They promoted Rivera from Triple-A Oklahoma, activating outfielder Rusty Greer from the disabled list and placing left-hander John Rocker on the DL.

The Rangers also designated infielder Donnie Sadler for assignment, activated left-hander Rich Rodriguez from the 60-day disabled list and outrighted catcher Todd Greene to Oklahoma after he cleared waivers.

Outfielder Gabe Kapler, on the 15-day disabled list with an injured left wrist since June 24, was sent to Oklahoma to begin a rehabilitation assignment.

Wilpon sues Doubleday for 50 percent of Mets

New York Fred Wilpon sued Nelson Doubleday, his longtime co-owner of the New York Mets, on Thursday to force him to sell him 50 percent of the team at the $195.5 million price set by an appraiser.

Under a 1986 agreement between Wilpon and Doubleday, who each own half of the team, if either party wants to sell his shares he must first offer them to his co-owner at a price set by an independent appraiser.

After Doubleday exercised his right to sell on Oct. 5, Wilpon and Doubleday agreed to let the team be appraised by Bob Starkey, a former Arthur Andersen accountant who has done extensive work for baseball commissioner Bud Selig and the Minnesota Twins.

On April 12, Starkey appraised the team at $391 million $269 million less than was paid earlier this year for the Boston Red Sox, who also own Fenway Park and 80 percent of the New England Sports Network. Doubleday called Starkey’s evaluation “artificially low.”

Doubleday said last month he intended to challenge the appraisal, and Wilpon sued Thursday in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn.

Diamondbacks activate Matt Williams from DL

Los Angeles The Arizona Diamondbacks activated third baseman Matt Williams from the disabled list Thursday and optioned infielder Alex Cintron to Triple-A Tucson.

Williams had been sidelined since February 25, when he broke his leg and dislocated his left ankle while fielding grounders during spring training. The 16-year veteran has not played since Game 7 of last year’s World Series.

Williams, a five-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, was limited to 202 games over the previous two seasons because of injuries. He missed 47 games during the first half of last season because of a hamstring injury and a left hip flexor.