Strawberry’s Return Put on Hold

Darryl Strawberry’s return to the New York Yankees from cancer was put on hold Monday, when Manager Joe Torre told the slugger he would not make the opening-day roster.

“It’s just another mountain that I have to climb. I’ll get over it,” said Strawberry, who had colon cancer surgery last October. “It’s a relief to me not to sit through the last few days of spring training with a dark cloud over my head, not knowing what my situation is.”

The 37-year-old outfielder will remain at extended spring training when the Yankees open the season next week. He will go to triple-A Columbus after he completes his chemotherapy.

Treatments are scheduled to continue through at least April.

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Kerry Ligtenberg, who took over the Atlanta Brave closer’s job last season when Mark Wohlers had control problems, will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn elbow ligament.

Ligtenberg, 27, converted 30 of 34 save chances in his rookie season, going 3-2 with a 2.71 earned-run average.

While Ligtenberg is out, Wohlers appears to be coming back. He pitched a perfect ninth inning Monday--throwing 10 of 12 pitches for strikes--for his first save of the spring.

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Padre left-hander Mark Langston, who finally made it to the World Series last year after 15 big league seasons and 432 appearances, retired. Langston, 38, was in camp as a nonroster player after signing a minor-league contract in the off-season to remain with the Padres.

Langston was 178-156 with a 3.88 ERA for the Seattle Mariners, Montreal Expos, Angels and Padres. He ranked 27th on the all-time list with 2,421 strikeouts.

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Right-hander Jason Johnson, 25, was traded from the Tampa Bay Devils to the Baltimore Orioles for outfielder Danny Clyburn and a player to be named. Johnson went 2-5 with a 5.70 ERA in 13 starts with the Devil Rays last season. . . . The Mariners released veteran right-hander Bill Swift. Swift, 37, had a 7.20 ERA in four exhibitions, giving up eight earned runs and 13 hits in 10 innings. . . . The Florida Marlins traded outfielder Pat Watkins to the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named. Watkins, 26, hit .271 this spring. . . . The Houston Astros made room in their bullpen for promising starter Scott Elarton by putting pitcher Xavier Hernandez on unconditional release waivers.