PHOENIX — Jay Bell, the leading candidate to replace injured Matt Williams at third base for the Arizona Diamondbacks, will start the season on the 15-day disabled list with a slight tear in his right calf muscle.

        Bell was one of five players placed on the 15-day DL Saturday as the defending World Series champions announced their season-opening 25-man roster.

        The others on the injured list are pinch hitter-first baseman Greg Colbrunn, first baseman Erubiel Durazo and pitchers Todd Stottlemyre and Greg Swindell.

        Williams and pitchers Matt Mantei and Armando Reynoso were placed on the 60-day disabled list.

        Craig Counsell will shift from second to third for the season opener Monday against San Diego, with Junior Spivey starting at second.

        BRAVES: Chris Hammond, 36, a former major-leaguer with Cincinnati, Florida and Boston, made the team.

        Hammond hadn't pitched in 2 1/2 years after undergoing elbow surgery. He came back last season and pitched in relief at Triple-A Buffalo (7-3, 3.31 ERA) and at Richmond (3-1, 2.35).

        “It's amazing. I pitched every (spring) outing like it was my last. Hopefully I'll stick here and help the club,” said Hammond, who had a 2.81 ERA in 16 spring innings.

        PIRATES: Derek Bell, one of the biggest free agent failures ever, was released by the Pirates with one year left on his $9.75million, two-year contract.

        Bell's departure was virtually assured two weeks ago when he threatened to go into “Operation Shutdown” if he wasn't made the starting right fielder. At the time, he was hitting .148.

        Bell finished with five home runs and 13 RBI in 156 at-bats last season while hitting .173. He is owed $4 million for this year, plus a $750,000 buyout for next season.

        YANKEES: Rondell White played in a major-league game for the first time this spring.

        White, who missed most of spring training after straining his left rib cage Feb.25, headed to Baltimore with the Yankees after the game for Monday's season opener.

        “I feel great,” White said.

        ATHLETICS: Outfielder Jermaine Dye, still recovering from a foul ball off his leg last year, will begin the season on the 15-day disabled list.

        Dye broke his left leg with a foul ball Oct.14 in the fourth game of the AL playoffs against the New York Yankees.

        “Basically, he's improving every day, A's manager Art Howe said Saturday. “But he still hasn't run the bases full out or made a slide. In his mind he's almost ready. But we think it will take some more time.”

        SHORT HOPS: The Royals purchased the contracts of infielder Donnie Sadler, pitcher Brian Shouse and catcher A.J. Hinch from Omaha. All three were in camp on minor-league contracts.

        • New York first baseman Jason Giambi left Saturday's game with cramping in his left calf. “He didn't think it was serious,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said. “He's in the lineup (for opening day). It's a matter of DH or first base.”

        • Tigers third baseman Dean Palmer, who had season-ending shoulder surgery in July, will start the season on the 15-day disabled list.

        • Milwaukee placed right-handers Curtis Leskanic, Chad Fox and Paul Rigdon on the 15-day disabled list.

        • San Diego rookie third baseman Sean Burroughs is expected to miss the season opener in Arizona on Monday because of a sprained right thumb.

        • Right-hander Satoru Komiyama, a seven-time All-Star in Japan, will be a 36-year-old rookie for the New York Mets.

        • Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell, who broadcast his final spring training game from Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla., threw out the first pitch to Tigers Hall of Famer Al Kaline.

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