Third And Wrong: Yanks Send Sax Back To Second

BALTIMORE - In what appears to be an abrupt reversal of infield, the New York Yankees returned Steve Sax to second base yesterday and shuttled rookie Pat Kelly to third.

The Yankees said the experiment of moving Sax to third to make room the much-ballyhooed Kelly had failed. So after five games and three errors, the five-time All-Star is back at second.

Many believe the real reason for the latest switch is that New York wants to trade Sax.

"It's hard enough to trade this guy with the contract he has (a three-year, $12.4 million extension starting next season)," one source said. "By him messing up at third and having that possibly affect his hitting, nobody is gonna want him. This move had to be made. It had to."

MCDONALD'S ASSIGNMENT: GET FIT -- BALTIMORE - Ben McDonald will be put on a scrutinized rehabilitation program, and he will not return to the Baltimore Orioles' rotation until he is in near-perfect health, Manager Johnny Oates said.

McDonald, put on the 15-day disabled list Friday, has stiffness in his right elbow, and the Orioles want to make sure he has enough time to fully recover.

"We're going to handle him with kid gloves, but at the same time we're going to push him a little bit when he comes back," Oates said.

NOTES -- The Montreal Expos placed first baseman Andres Galarraga (hamstring) on the 15-day disabled list and took catcher Mike Fitzgerald off the disabled list. -- Reds pitcher Norm Charlton, who left Saturday's game against L.A. in the second inning, has been placed on the 15-day disabled list because of tendinitis in his left shoulder. The Reds called up right-hander Kip Gross . -- The Texas Rangers announced they have purchased the contracts of pitchers Joe Bitker and Eric Nolte from Class AAA Oklahoma City. To make room, Texas put pitcher Scott Chiamparino on the 15-day disabled list and designated pitcher Jim Poole for assignment.