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.