NL | Outfield help: Cubs near deal with Edmonds

The Chicago Cubs were on the verge Wednesday of signing free-agent outfielder Jim Edmonds, who was released last week by the San Diego Padres.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said before Wednesday night's game that Edmonds was on his way to Chicago and must pass a physical before he can join the team.

An eight-time Gold Glove winner and four-time All-Star, the 37-year-old Edmonds strained his right calf in a spring training game March 6 and started the season on the disabled list. He was activated on April 5 and batted .178 in 26 games with one homer and six runs batted in — well below his .286 career average.

"I think just in general most people feel he's still got something left in the tank. I think he's going to be a motivated player," Hendry said. "Obviously we're not going to ask him to have to go out there every single day."

Cincinnati: SS Jeff Keppinger will be sidelined for four to six weeks with a broken left kneecap, leaving Reds without their best clutch hitter and their most consistent hitter so far. Keppinger fouled a pitch off his knee during a 5-3 win over Florida on Tuesday night. He stayed in the game for two innings, but took himself out when the pain and swelling in the knee started limiting his range. He went for a medical test on Wednesday to judge the severity of the fracture, and doctors gave the estimate for his return.

New York: Pedro Martinez threw 55 pitches during a simulated game in Florida, the latest step in his recuperation from a hamstring injury. The New York Mets' right-hander tossed four innings against minor leaguers and fielded his position at the team's complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The club won't reveal a timetable for Martinez's return, but general manager Omar Minaya did say he hopes Martinez is weeks away, not months. "When you're dealing with hamstrings, all areas of movement are a concern," Minaya said.

Pittsburgh: C Ryan Doumit will be sidelined at least a month after breaking his left thumb on a passed ball. Doumit was placed on the 15-day disabled list after an examination in Pittsburgh, confirmed the break. Surgery will not be necessary for the team's top offensive player in the early part of the season. The injury was not a big shock to manager John Russell, a former catcher who considers such injuries an occupational hazard at that position. "It happens," Russell said. "You don't know why it happens. It's just one of those freak things that happens."

St. Louis: Reliever Tyler Johnson will miss the rest of the season after arthroscopic surgery Wednesday to remove scar tissue in his left shoulder. "My impression is it's something that we can expect him back, 100 percent, ready to go," manager Tony La Russa said.

Washington: Nationals 1B Nick Johnson was sent back to Washington for more tests on his sore right wrist. Johnson was not in the lineup against the Mets and was expected to miss today's series finale, as well. He strained a tendon in his wrist on a swing late Tuesday and had an MRI exam afterward.

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