AL Wire Notes | Fan has ball; A-Rod wants to negotiate

Walter "Sonny" Kowalczyk awoke Sunday with an interesting and lucrative question to ponder: What should he do with the valuable baseball that Alex Rodriguez hit for his 500th career home run?

The 29-year-old Rutgers graduate student, who emerged from a scrum with that ball Saturday at Yankee Stadium, could sell it to a memorabilia collector. Or he could work out a deal with the New York Yankees on behalf of Rodriguez.

And A-Rod has made it clear he wants the ball.

"We'll see what happens," Rodriguez said, speaking with a straight face and in a serious tone Sunday. "We have time. It's his ball. I think it's obvious I would love to have the ball."

Kowalczyk, 29, didn't return phone messages or e-mails Sunday. On Saturday, he told the Yankees he didn't want to be identified, although that was inevitable.

Television cameras caught security officials whisking the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Kowalczyk away just minutes after he came up with the ball.

Jason Zillo, the Yankees' media relations director, is negotiating on behalf of Rodriguez.

Zillo said he made it clear the team can offer Kowalczyk a boatload of autographed memorabilia by several high-profile Yankees. "We have a lot of future Hall of Famers," Zillo said.

Baltimore: 3B Melvin Mora, out since July 13 with a sprained foot, was activated from the disabled list.

Chicago: Closer Bobby Jenks has retired 32 consecutive batters.

Cleveland: OF Grady Sizemore went 0 for 3, snapping his 12-game hitting streak.

Detroit: Manager Jim Leyland said he doesn't know when DH Gary Sheffield (sore right shoulder) can return. He has been out since last Wednesday.

Kansas City: 1B Ross Gload went 2 for 4 and is batting .565 (13 for 23) against the Yankees this season.

Los Angeles: OF Vladimir Guerrero, despite going hitless with three walks Sunday, hit .429 (6 for 14) with four home runs and seven RBI in the series in Oakland.

Minnesota: C Joe Mauer threw out two runners attempting to steal, bringing his season total to 14 of 28.

New York: Jason Giambi, rehabbing in the minors, said he will join his teammates today, but isn't sure when he will be activated from the DL.

Oakland: SS J.J. Furmaniak made his first start in the majors since Oct. 1, 2005 for the Pirates, replacing Donnie Murphy (stiff back).

Tampa Bay: 3B Akinori Iwamura struck out four times against Orioles LHP Erik Bedard, but singled in the ninth off Danys Baez to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

Texas: Jarrod Saltalamacchia, acquired in a trade with Atlanta last week, made his debut behind the plate for the Rangers and went 2 for 4 to snap an 0-for-18 slump.

Toronto: Jeremy Accardo, 25, became the third-youngest pitcher this season to reach 20 saves.

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