NL | Astros waive Shawn Chacon after confrontation

Shawn Chacon was put on waivers Thursday by the Houston Astros, a day after he got into a physical altercation with general manager Ed Wade.

If another team doesn't claim Chacon by Monday, the Astros say they will release the pitcher and terminate his contract for cause, which would set off a confrontation with the players' association over the nearly $1 million that would remain on Chacon's contract.

Houston says Chacon violated a provision in the uniform player contract that states the player may be terminated if he shall "fail, refuse, or neglect to conform his personal conduct to the standards of good citizenship and good sportsmanship or to keep himself in first-class physical condition or to obey to the club's training rules."

Chacon's agent, Dan Horwits, said he would wait to see if his client clear waivers before he addresses whether a grievance would be filed.

"As the process unfolds there will be more facts revealed which will shed more light on the situation," Horwits said. "By no means does that mean the physical confrontation was appropriate, and Shawn knows that."

Chicago: Manager Lou Piniella was selected to replace fired Mets manager Willie Randolph on the NL coaching staff for next month's All-Star Game.

Cincinnati: The Reds activated INF Jerry Hairston Jr. (thumb) from the 15-day disabled list and optioned INF Paul Janish to Class AAA Louisville. ... Joe Scherer, the Marlins fan who says he caught the baseball that Ken Griffey Jr. hit for his 600th career home run, plans to sell it in an Aug. 1 auction.

Pittsburgh: Thursday's game against the Yankees was rained out. It will be made up July 10 in Pittsburgh. ... RHP Ian Snell was placed on the 15-day DL with a muscle strain in his right elbow. With Snell and LHP Phil Dumatrait (left shoulder bursitis) on the DL, RHPs Jimmy Barthmaier and John Van Benschoten will be brought up from AAA Indianapolis to start during the weekend series against Tampa Bay.

St. Louis: The Cardinals activated 1B Albert Pujols from the DL and placed reliever Randy Flores on the 15-day disabled list with left ankle tendinitis. Flores' departure leaves the Cardinals with just one left-hander — Ron Villone — on the roster.

Washington: The Nationals placed RHP Shawn Hill on the 15-day DL because of a sore right forearm and activated LHP Odalis Perez from the DL.

Seattle Times news services