BALTIMORE – Joe Girardi was interviewed Tuesday by Baltimore Orioles executives, a day after the team fired manager Sam Perlozzo.

The interview took place in Chicago, a baseball official familiar with the talks said, speaking on condition of anonymity because no public statements were authorized.

Girardi was a first-time manager last season when he led Florida to a 78-84 record last year, keeping the youthful Marlins in contention until late September.

The former big league catcher was fired at the end of the season following a rift with owner Jeffrey Loria, then was voted NL Manager of the Year – the first to win the award with a losing record.

A former coach for Yankees manager Joe Torre, Girardi returned to New York this season as a broadcaster for the YES Network.

This year was a struggle from opening day, when the Orioles were forced to place starting catcher Ramon Hernandez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained muscle. The starting rotation eventually lost Jaret Wright and Adam Loewen; the bullpen struggled on a nightly basis after April; and the offense carried a .260 batting average and ranked last in the AL in home runs on the day Perlozzo was fired.

Blue Jays

TORONTO – Right-hander A.J. Burnett was put on the 15-day disabled list by Toronto, which recalled right-hander Ty Taubenheim from Triple-A Syracuse.

Burnett, 5-6 with a 4.00 ERA in 14 starts this season, left his last start in San Francisco on June 12 because of pain in his shoulder. He felt pain again during a throwing session Sunday but was still able to play catch with pitching coach Brad Arnsberg before Tuesday’s game against Los Angeles.

Yankees

DENVER – New York recalled infielder Andy Phillips from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday and designated first baseman Josh Phelps for assignment. Phelps, a Rule 5 draft selection, was offered back to the Baltimore Orioles.

Dodgers

TORONTO – Los Angeles right-hander Jason Schmidt will have shoulder surgery in Los Angeles on Wednesday and his return date is uncertain.

“It’s very discouraging,” Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said before Tuesday’s game in Toronto. Schmidt, who signed a $47 million, three-year contract as a free agent during the offseason, was placed on the disabled list in April with bursitis in his shoulder after going 1-2 with a 7.36 ERA in three starts.

Cardinals

ST. LOUIS – Tomo Ohka signed a minor league contract with pitching-strapped St. Louis, one day after being released by the Toronto Blue Jays. The 31-year-old right-hander was 2-5 with a 5.79 ERA in 10 starts with the Blue Jays, who designated him for assignment on June 7. He signed a $1.5 million, one-year deal during the offseason with Toronto. Ohka is scheduled to start on Wednesday for Triple-A Memphis.

D’backs

PHOENIX – Randy Johnson has a herniated disk in his surgically repaired back, raising questions about when he’ll return to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ rotation.

The club revealed the diagnosis Tuesday, one day after Johnson visited with Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles. Johnson went on the 15-day disabled list June 11 with a tight glute.

“He does have a bulge in there, a herniation,” manager Bob Melvin said before the Diamondbacks played Tampa Bay on Tuesday night. “Obviously not the news we want to hear, yet he thinks he is healthy enough to go ahead and prepare for his next start. When that is, we’re obviously not sure.”