Forbes ranks Yankees most valuable franchise

New York — The New York Yankees are baseball’s most valuable franchise, Forbes magazine’s estimates, but the worth has declined because of the sport’s revenue-sharing system and luxury tax.

The Yankees are estimated to be worth $832 million, the magazine said Thursday in its April 26 issue, down from an $849 million estimate last year. Boston moved into second place at $533 million, with the New York Mets third at $442 million.

Los Angeles was valued fourth at $399 million, even though the team just sold for $430 million.

The Kansas City Royals were ranked 26th among 30 teams with a value of $171 million.

The two teams moving into new ballparks had large increases, with Philadelphia rising 18 percent to $281 million and San Diego going up 17 percent to $265 million. Montreal, owned by the other 29 teams, is last at $145 million.

Twins catcher Mauer undergoes knee surgery

Detroit — If there is such a thing as good news about knee surgery on your best young player, the Twins got it Thursday when they learned rookie catcher Joe Mauer underwent the procedure more likely to return him to the lineup quicker.

Mauer had the piece of damaged cartilage in his left knee removed instead of sutured, which requires less healing time and puts him on track for a possible return to the lineup within a month.

“That’s better (than the alternative),” general manager Terry Ryan said. “It’s a shorter recovery time.”

Mauer, who suffered the medial meniscus tear Tuesday trying to make a sliding catch on the foul warning track at the Metrodome, is expected to begin range-of-motion exercises as soon as the swelling from the arthroscopic surgery subsides.

That typically takes three to four days, Twins trainer Jim Kahmann said. Strength exercises are then added to the rehabilitation program, followed closely by baseball work.

The stress on the knees required by Mauer’s position could lengthen the typical process. Ryan said any decisions regarding a possible minor-league rehabilitation assignment will depend on Mauer’s progress.

Meanwhile, with backup catcher Matt LeCroy also on the disabled list because of a rib-cage muscle pull, Henry Blanco is the Twins’ starting catcher, manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Mets’ Erickson shelved by strained hamstring

Atlanta — New York Mets right-hander Scott Erickson missed the first NL start of his career Thursday night after he strained a hamstring 11 minutes into his warmup.

Reliever Dan Wheeler took the mound in Erickson’s place against the Atlanta Braves.

Erickson signed a minor league contract with New York as a free agent in the offseason and won a spot in the rotation with 3.75 ERA in three starts during spring training. He missed all of 2003 after he had surgery to repair a torn labrum.

In 11 seasons in the AL, Erickson was 140-128 with Minnesota and Baltimore.