UPDATE: Red Sox place Jed Lowrie on disabled list with shoulder injury

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UPDATE: Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports that the Red Sox have placed Lowrie on the disabled list. Drew Sutton has been called up from Triple-A Pawtucket.

9:08 AM: Jed Lowrie, who has been bothered by a left shoulder injury since colliding with teammate Carl Crawford on May 29, could be headed for the disabled list after leaving last night’s game in the first inning.

According to Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald, Lowrie told Red Sox manager Terry Francona that he feared the joint “slipped out” of his shoulder when he struck out against Rays lefty David Price with the bases loaded.

“I don’t really know what’s going on,” Lowrie said. “I just know what I felt. I certainly wasn’t this sore (previously).”

Lowrie underwent an MRI last week which revealed no structural damage in the shoulder. He is expected to undergo further testing today to determine why he continues to have discomfort.

While Lowrie was the best thing since sliced bread in April, he is batting just .128 since the collision with Crawford. He is hitless over his last 15 at-bats, which has pulled his batting average down to .270 for the year.

Drew Sutton was pulled after seven innings in last night’s game with Triple-A Pawtucket, which could be an indication that a roster move is on the way.

Orioles sign OF Aaron Hicks, put Cedric Mullins on 10-day IL with groin strain

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
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BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles signed outfielder Aaron Hicks less than 24 hours after Cedric Mullins went down with a strained right groin.

Mullins went on the 10-day injured list, but the Orioles are hoping Hicks can help defensively in the spacious outfield at Camden Yards. Hicks was released last week by the New York Yankees with more than 2 1/2 seasons left on his contract.

“We had noticed that he was a free agent even before the injury,” Orioles general manager Mike Elias said. “When the injury occurred and it became pretty clear this was going to be an IL, it seemed like a good fit even more so at that time.”

The Orioles are responsible for paying Hicks just $483,871, a prorated share of the $720,000 minimum salary. The Yankees owe him the rest of his $10.5 million salary this year, plus $9.5 million in each of the next two seasons and a $1 million buyout of a 2026 team option.

The 33-year-old Hicks hit just .188 in 28 games for the Yankees this year.

“We have stuff that we look at from a scouting and evaluation perspective,” Elias said. “It’s very different from just looking at the back of a baseball card, and we hope that we get a bounceback from anyone we bring here.”

Hicks batted .216 last season.

“Hopefully that’s a good thing for him,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of the Baltimore deal. “A lot of time here and a lot of good things happened for him here. I know the last couple of years have been a struggle. But hopefully it’s a good opportunity for him and certainly wish him well. Not too well being in our division and a team we’re chasing, but hopefully it’s a really good fit for him.”

Mullins left a loss to Cleveland after he pulled up while running out an infield grounder. Outfielder Colton Cowser – the fifth pick in the draft two years ago – is hitting .331 at Triple-A Norfolk, but he went on the IL in the past couple weeks.

“Certainly he was building a case towards promotion consideration prior to his injury and prior to Cedric’s injury,” Elias said. “We’ll just see where we’re at.”

Hicks was active for the game but not in the starting lineup. Austin Hays, normally Baltimore’s left field, was in Mullins’ usual spot in center.

When the wall in left at Camden Yards was pushed significantly back before last season, it made left field a bigger challenge defensively.

“In this park … you really need two center fielders,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Aaron’s got a lot of center-field experience. Played left field here before also. Brings the defensive aspect and then the switch-hitting.”