Mets release Castillo

Yankees' Gardner leaves game

•METS: Three-time All-Star 2B Luis Castillo was released despite being owed $6 million this season. Castillo, 35, averaged only 105 games in three full seasons with the Mets and hit .235 last year. … RF Carlos Beltran received a cortisone shot in his left knee in response to lingering discomfort. He has played in only one spring training game, at DH.

 

•DODGERS: 3B Casey Blake might start the season on the disabled list after hurting his back last weekend trying to beat out a bunt. Manager Don Mattingly said if Blake ends up on the DL, Juan Uribe might move from 2B to 3B. … RHP Vicente Padilla threw a 30-pitch bullpen session, his first time on the mound since Feb. 24 elbow surgery.

 

•YANKEES: LF Brett Gardner left the game against the Blue Jays after being thrown out trying to score from second. Gardner fouled a ball off his right shin and bruised it Thursday night and was not running at full speed Friday. … Injured pitchers Joba Chamberlain (sore left side) and Pedro Feliciano (discomfort in left upper arm) are scheduled to throw off a bullpen mound Saturday.

 

•EXTRA INNINGS: Indians CF Grady Sizemore is scheduled to appear in his first game Sunday at DH. Sizemore, coming back from left knee surgery in June, is likely to start the season on the DL. … The Pirates claimed LHP Garrett Olson off waivers from the Mariners. He was 0-3 with a 4.54 ERA last year. … Pirates RHP Brad Lincoln left in the third inning against the Phillies after a Jimmy Rollins liner hit him on his pitching arm. … RHP Scot Shields, 35, announced his retirement after 10 seasons in which he became the Angels' all-time leader in relief wins (46) and helped them to their only World Series title in 2002.Tribune news services