Yankees place RHP Bruney on 15-day DL

Apr 25, 2008 - 11:19 PM CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees placed righthander Brian Bruney on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right foot prior to their contest against the Cleveland Indians on Friday.

In other moves, the Yankees designated catcher Chad Moeller for assignment and recalled righthanders Jonathan Albaladejo and Chris Britton from Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre of the International League.

Bruney, 26, who is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in nine appearances - one start - this season, suffered the injury while attempting to cover first base in Tuesday's 9-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The reliever broke from the pitcher's mound but slipped on the grass on his way to first.

The five-year veteran, who was sent for a MRI on Thursday in Chicago after treatment yielded only incremental progress, is 9-10 with a 4.69 ERA in 163 career games with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Yankees.

A report by the YES Network on Friday stated that Bruney has a torn ligament in his right foot and could be out a significant amount of time.

Moeller, 33, who hit .350 (7-for-20) with one home run and three RBI in six games for New York, was recalled on April 14 to serve as the team's backup catcher after Jose Molina injured his left hamstring the previous night against the Boston Red Sox. Starter Jorge Posada had an ailing throwing shoulder and was unable to catch.

Albaladejo, 25, made two appearances for New York in 2008 before being sent to the minors, while the 25-year-old Britton went 0-1 with a 3.55 ERA in 11 games with the Yankees last season.