DENVER – Johnny Damon might be headed to the disabled list for the first time in his career.

The New York Yankees’ designated hitter and former center fielder has been bothered since last week by a strained abdominal muscle, which he aggravated Tuesday while taking cuts in the batting cage at Coors Field.

“Especially with this last incident yesterday, it’s something that we have to consider,” manager Joe Torre said after speaking with GM Brian Cashman on Wednesday. “I just said, let’s see how he feels these next couple of days and we’ll have to make a decision.”

Damon took batting practice before the Yankees’ game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night.

Clemens goes for 350th win tonight

DENVER – Yes, Roger Clemens said, 350 wins has a nice ring to it.

Then again, so does a third World Series ring.

The New York Yankees right-hander will take the mound at Colorado tonight looking to become the first major league pitcher to win 350 games since Warren Spahn did it in 1963.

“Everything’s a blessing for me since I tipped my cap three or four years ago, whenever it was, and I was real comfortable with (possible retirement),” Clemens said. “Since then, I’m glad I left that percentage point open and I’ve been very blessed. A lot of neat things have come my way since.”

One thing that hasn’t: another World Series title to go with the two he won in his first stint with the Yankees.

It’s the pursuit of that ring that’s really fueling the Rocket.

Ledezma dealt to Atlanta for McBride

ATLANTA – The Braves swapped left-handed relievers with Detroit on Wednesday, sending Macay McBride to the Tigers for Wilfredo Ledezma.

If nothing else, the deal was convenient. Ledezma will fly to Atlanta with his former team, which opens a three-game series against the Braves on Friday. McBride will hang out in his native Georgia until his new club arrives.

“It will make the transition easier,” McBride said. “I just have to walk over there” to the visiting clubhouse.

Ledezma is 3-1 with a 4.79 ERA in 23 games out of the bullpen this year. The 26-year-old went 15-18 with a 5.15 ERA in 33 starts and 73 relief appearances during five seasons with the Tigers.

Cubs trade Barrett to Padres

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs traded embattled catcher Michael Barrett and cash to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday for backup catcher Rob Bowen and minor league outfielder Kyler Burke.

Barrett, batting .256 with nine homers and 29 RBIs, has had problems defensively and also been involved in two dugout exchanges this month with Cubs pitchers.

He and Carlos Zambrano got into a skirmish in the dugout June 1 and it carried over into the clubhouse where Barrett got a black eye and needed stitches in his lip. The Atlanta Braves had scored five runs just before Zambrano and Barrett went at it in the dugout. Zambrano pointed at his head and screamed at Barrett, who allowed a run to score on a passed ball and throwing error.

Qualls suspended for three games

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Houston reliever Chad Qualls was suspended for three games and fined $3,000 by Major League Baseball on Wednesday – two days after throwing a baseball into the stands at Angel Stadium in frustration.

Qualls asked the players’ union to appeal the penalty, meaning he cannot disciplined until after a hearing is held and the appeal is decided.

The decision was made by Bob Watson, baseball’s vice president for discipline.

Qualls allowed five runs in the seventh inning Monday night as the Astros blew a 9-4 lead to the Los Angeles Angels, who rallied for a 10-9 victory. After Orlando Cabrera hit an inning-ending grounder in the seventh, Qualls made the putout at first base and then threw the ball into the stands.

Giambi-Mitchell meeting nears agreement

NEW YORK – Facing a Thursday deadline, lawyers neared an agreement that would lead to a meeting between Jason Giambi and steroids investigator George Mitchell.

Attorneys for Major League Baseball and the players’ union negotiated for a third straight day Wednesday to work out a deal that would lead to Giambi becoming the first active player known to speak with Mitchell’s staff, several people familiar with the talks said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized.

Several people said it was probable an agreement on rules for a Giambi-Mitchell meeting would be reached Thursday.

When he asked on June 6 for Giambi to meet with Mitchell, commissioner Bud Selig said he wanted the session to talk place within two weeks.

Giambi’s representatives later were told the deadline would be this Thursday and it would be only for an agreement to meet, not for the meeting itself.

Selig threatened Giambi with discipline, saying cooperation with Mitchell would be factored into his decision. Any penalty imposed by Selig would have a good chance of being overturned by an arbitrator, who would have to determine whether there was “just cause.”

Giambi was quoted last month by USA Today as seeming to admit to steroids use several years ago and met five days later with management lawyers to discuss those comments.

The New York Yankees’ designated hitter is on the disabled list with a foot injury and it is unclear when he’ll be able to play again.

AP-ES-06-20-07 2052EDT