Enquirer news services

PHOENIX - There are two sides to the story of how and why the Yankees traded Raul Mondesi.

Mondesi, whom the Yankees jettisoned to Arizona on July 29, said he wasn't dealt because he left a game early after being pinch-hit for. Mondesi said he was dealt because he had requested a trade.

The Dominican outfielder also indicated he felt the Yankees treat Dominicans differently.

"They said they traded me because I left the team. That's not true," Mondesi said. "They traded me because I told them to trade me."

Mondesi was dealt two days after a Yankees loss to Boston in which Mondesi left Fenway Park after Ruben Sierra pinch-hit for him in the eighth inning.

But Mondesi faults Joe Torre, who was near him in the dugout, for not telling him he was going to replace him.

"I said, 'You want me to respect you, then you have to respect me,' " Mondesi said. "I've played in this league for 10 years. If you want to pinch-hit for me, at least tell me."

Mondesi also said Dominicans aren't treated the same as other players on the Yankees. He cited as evidence how Alfonso Soriano was dropped in the batting order when he slumped but Jason Giambi wasn't.

"I'm sorry he feels that way," Torre said from Yankee Stadium Friday night. "That's really all I want to say."

Soriano rejected Mondesi's bias claim. "No, no different," the Yankee second baseman said.

DEVIL RAYS: Outfielder Carl Crawford was scratched from Saturday night's game against the Kansas City Royals after spraining his right ankle in batting practice.

X-rays were negative and the sprain was considered mild.

Crawford was hurt when he tried to avoid making contact with Charlie LaMar, the 11-year old son of Tampa Bay general manager Chuck LaMar, while running after a fly ball during batting practice.

SHORT HOPS: Indians rookie catcher Victor Martinez was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a badly sprained right ankle that could sideline him for more than three weeks.

• Angels outfielder Darin Erstad was placed on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right hamstring, the same injury that has been nagging him all season.

Erstad, who has been told he may eventually need surgery to fix his hamstring, said he has been unable to do anything without pain and that rest wasn't helping.

• Expos right-hander Claudio Vargas was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of tendinitis in his pitching shoulder. The team called up left-hander Scott Downs from Triple-A Edmonton.

• Rafael Palmeiro broke the Rangers' record for career at-bats Friday. His 5,658 at-bats surpassed Ivan Rodriguez's mark with 5,656.

• Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was 0-for-3 Saturday, ending his 12-game hitting streak.

• Cardinals outfielder Jim Edmonds is 1-for-16 since returning from a strained shoulder.