THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CLEVELAND — Vernon Wells will go from leading the Toronto Blue Jays in home runs and RBIs to leading the team in cheers.
The two-time all-star outfielder was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a broken left wrist and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. He was injured while making a diving catch Friday night.
"I want to stay with the team and give my support," Wells said before the Blue Jays played the Cleveland Indians. "I’m a part of this team, though for a while it’s going to be as a cheerleader."
The Blue Jays, hit by a rash of injuries, also placed reliever Jeremy Accardo on the 15-day DL with tightness in his right forearm. Toronto recalled infielder Joe Inglett and purchased the contract of right-hander Armando Benitez from triple-A Syracuse.
To make room for Benitez on the 40-man roster, right-hander Tracy Thorpe was designated for assignment.
On Thursday, infielders David Eckstein and John McDonald went on the DL with a strained right hip flexor and sprained right ankle, respectively.
"There’s no use complaining because that won’t help," manager John Gibbons said. "We’ll try to play our best with the players we have. That’s all we can do.
"If this job was easy, it wouldn’t be any fun."
The loss of Wells, batting .281 with five homers and 24 RBIs, is the latest blow to a club that has averaged only 3.1 runs and scored more than five just once in its last 23 games.
"It’s frustrating," Wells said. "We go and get two experienced outfielders and now this. At least we’re fortunate we got those guys."
On Friday, the Blue Jays signed Brad Wilkerson and acquired Kevin Mench from Texas to try to bolster their sagging offence. Now, both will probably get even more playing time.
Alex Rios will move from right field to replace Wells in centre. Wilkerson will play mostly in right, with Mench splitting time in left field with Shannon Stewart and possibly at DH with Matt Stairs.
Wells was hurt in the sixth inning Friday night. He robbed Franklin Gutierrez of a hit, then rolled over in agony as his wrist bent backward.
."It didn’t feel good then and as the night went on it gradually got worse," Wells said. "I felt something grab in my right hamstring just before the catch. I guess that will be healed in plenty of time before I’m ready now."
Accardo had allowed nine runs over his last 8 2-3 innings. In 16 games overall, he was 0-3 with four saves and a 6.57 ERA.
The 35-year-old Benitez has a career record of 40-46 with a 3.11 ERA and 289 saves. Signed to a minor league contract during spring training, he went 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA at class-A Dunedin and pitched one scoreless inning at Syracuse.
Inglett was recalled one day after being optioned to Syracuse. In 13 games for Toronto, the 29-year-old hit .303 with four RBIs.
