Garcia on DL; Laffey claimed off waivers

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Yankees placed a perplexed Freddy Garcia on the disabled list Friday afternoon, making the announcement while the pitcher was throwing a bullpen session, one in which he was finally able to throw his splitter.

The move to the DL was retroactive to Aug. 8.

"I don't think Freddy wanted to go on the DL; he wanted to pitch Sunday," Joe Girardi said. "We thought it was the safer route. He hasn't pitched in two weeks and we thought it made sense to see how he feels after today's bullpen, have him throw Monday to test the finger, and just to get sharp again."

Garcia wasn't thrilled about the DL. "I could go Sunday, I could go Monday, whatever," he said. "That's the choice they make. I don't know."

The move, which Girardi said likely wouldn't have been made had the Yankees not been working with six starters, freed up a roster spot for lefthander Aaron Laffey (1-1, 4.01 ERA). He was claimed Friday off waivers from the Mariners and will be in uniform Saturday. Laffey's ERA was 1.82 as recently as July 19 but he has struggled in recent weeks.

Catcher Gustavo Molina was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

Garcia will start Monday for Triple-A Scranton, then be recalled in time to start one of the doubleheader games next Saturday in Baltimore.

A-Rod not ready

Alex Rodriguez went through an even more intense pregame workout than Thursday, though neither the third baseman nor his manager sounded as if he'd be activated Saturday. Sunday remains a possibility -- "I'm not counting this weekend out," Rodriguez said -- but Tuesday is looking more likely.

"I think everything was better," said Rodriguez, most encouraged by the running he did from first to third, something he didn't do Thursday.