Steinbrenner Says He Has a Successor

With his 75th birthday approaching next week, New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner made it official Tuesday: Son-in-law Steve Swindal will follow him as head of baseball’s most storied team.

Steinbrenner did not say when Swindal would take over.

“Yes, Steve will be my successor,� Steinbrenner said through spokesman Howard Rubenstein in an e-mail response to questions from Associated Press. “I also have other sons, daughters, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law coming along and they will remain involved. As I have said many times, ‘You must let the young elephants into the tent.’ �

Swindal, 50, is married to Steinbrenner’s daughter Jennifer. He said there was no way he would be as hands-on as his father-in-law.

“I think that’s impossible. My inherent style is more delegation,� Swindal said. “I don’t think there could ever be another George Steinbrenner. He is Mr. Yankee and has represented them for 32 years. I could only hope to surround myself with the best, brightest baseball minds and do a lot of listening.�

In his responses, Steinbrenner wouldn’t say how long he will remain in charge of the Yankees. He headed a group that bought the team in 1973.

“I love what I am doing, so I will not speculate,� he said.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates put pitcher Oliver Perez on the 15-day disabled list two days after he broke his toe while kicking a laundry cart in the clubhouse in St. Louis.

Perez is 6-5 but has struggled with his control. He has a 6.16 earned-run average and has given up 20 home runs.

Outfielder Nate McLouth was called up from triple-A Indianapolis to fill Perez’s roster spot.

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Kenny Rogers avoided the disabled list and may miss only one start for the Texas Rangers because of a broken bone in his non-pitching hand.

Rogers missed his turn Tuesday night against the Angels because of the small broken bone at the base of his right pinkie. He sustained the break in a fit of anger after coming out of his last home start, June 17 against Washington.

When the Rangers made a move to clear a roster spot for right-hander Joaquin Benoit, they optioned catcher Gerald Laird to triple-A Oklahoma rather than put Rogers on the disabled list. Manager Buck Showalter said Rogers could start this weekend at Seattle.

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Cleveland Indian minor league pitcher Kyle Denney was released from the hospital two days after sustaining a fractured skull when he was struck in the head by a line drive.

The triple-A Buffalo Bisons announced that Denney is resting comfortably at his home in Buffalo, N.Y. There’s no timetable for his return.