SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Second baseman Marco Scutaro was designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday as he recovers from back surgery.

The Giants said they plan to retain Scutaro and continue working with him through his rehabilitation following back surgery that could end his career. Dr. Michael Wang performed a fusion last month in Miami to alleviate the troublesome area at level L-2/L-3 of Scutaro’s spine. It will be four-to-six months before doctors determine whether Scutaro can play baseball again.

Assistant general manager Bobby Evans said Scutaro is he’s “not yet pain-free, which isn’t uncommon after surgery.”

The defending World Series champions owe Scutaro $6 million for 2015, the final season of a $20 million, three-year contract signed in December 2012. San Francisco needed to clear room on the 40-man roster for outfielder Nori Aoki, who received a $4.7 million, one-year deal this week.

The 39-year-old Scutaro, a journeyman infielder who became the surprising 2012 NL Championship Series MVP, played in only five games last season — all in July — because of recurring back problems that landed him on the disabled list for good July 25. He is now resting at home and will soon begin the long rehabilitation program post-surgery.

Scutaro had known he might need the operation in order to give him a quality of life even just in his day-to-day schedule off the baseball field.

In parts of 13 major league seasons with the Giants, Oakland, New York Mets, Boston, Toronto and Colorado, Scutaro is a career .277 hitter with 77 home runs and 509 RBIs with 269 doubles and 21 triples.



Rodriguez getting hitting advice from Bonds, Martinez

NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Rodriguez is getting hitting tips from Barry Bonds as the New York Yankees third baseman prepares to return from a season-long suspension.

Rodriguez spokesman Ron Berkowitz confirmed the workouts, which the San Francisco Chronicle reported Wednesday took place at the Future Prospects batting cages in San Rafael, California.

“Alex has consulted numerous former players and coaches as he continues to work towards spring training including most recently Edgar Martinez who worked with him last week in Miami,” Berkowitz said in an email.

Rodriguez, who turns 40 in July, is sixth on the career list with 654 homers. Bonds leads with 762.

A-Rod admitted six years ago he used banned steroids while with Texas from 2001-03, and he was suspended for last season for violations of baseball’s drug agreement and labor contract.

Bonds testified in 2003 that he was not aware substances given to him by personal trainer Greg Anderson were banned performance-enhancing drugs.

New York says it plans to shift Rodriguez from third base to designated hitter. A-Rod is owed $61 million in the final three seasons of his contract with the Yankees.