Mets outfielder Willie Harris has been put on the bereavement list after his wife went into premature labor and their baby died, according to an ESPN.com report. Manager Terry Collins offered his condolences to Harris and his wife, Trey, before Thursday's game at Detroit. Harris had gone on the paternity list Wednesday when his wife went into labor.

Tigers left-hander Phil Coke is moving back to the bullpen after struggling in his first half-season as a regular starter. Coke is 1-8 with a 4.91 ERA after allowing seven earned runs in four-plus innings against the Mets on Wednesday night.

Michelle Obama will join the Nationals next Tuesday for a salute to military families when the team takes on the Cubs, according to an ESPN.com report. The White House says the Nationals have dedicated July 5 to a nationwide effort by the first lady and Jill Biden to rally the country to support military families. The effort is known as Joining Forces.

Mike Cameron was designated for assignment Thursday, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein announced just before Thursday afternoon's game against the Phillies. Epstein said the timing of the move was forced by the unavailability of third baseman Kevin Youkilis, who fouled a ball off his left foot during Wednesday night's loss. X-rays on Youkilis' foot taken Thursday morning were negative, the team said.

Rangers president and CEO Nolan Ryan said he would be in favor of realignment, including any plans that involve moving the Houston Astros into the AL with the Rangers. "I wouldn't be opposed to that," Ryan said Wednesday before the Rangers' 3-2 win over the Astros at Minute Maid Park. "I would be in favor of adding somebody, and I think it would be good if you had the Rangers and the Astros in a pennant race. I think it would add a lot of interest in the state and I think it would be good."

Actor Charlie Sheen tells Sports Illustrated in its latest issue that he took steroids "for like six or eight weeks" while filming the 1989 movie "Major League." He adds that the performance-enhancing drugs helped his fastball go from 79 mph to 85 mph, according to an ESPN.com report.

The Cardinals finally ran out of patience with reliever Ryan Franklin, cutting the closer Wednesday after he failed to regain his touch. Franklin was 1-4 with an 8.46 ERA and one save in 16 games. On Tuesday night against the Orioles, the righty gave up two runs and three hits, including a homer, while getting only one out. His inability to be effective, even in a mop-up role, led to the Cardinals giving him his unconditional release.

The Red Sox will play David Ortiz at first base on Wednesday night in Philadelphia, while Adrian Gonzalez moves to the outfield. After Tuesday night's game, Ortiz said he would be playing first and joked that the club would be losing little defensively with him there instead of Gonzalez. Gonzalez will play in right field. Ortiz has not played in the field at all this season. He played first just four times last season and six times in 2009.

Mets left-hander Jon Niese passed a battery of heart-related tests at Henry Ford Hospital on Tuesday. Niese experienced a rapid heartbeat on the mound during the sixth inning of a game Saturday at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. He wore a Holter monitor while stretching with teammates during batting practice on Tuesday. Doctors will evaluate those readings on Wednesday to make sure his heart rate is not abnormal.

Adam Dunn is struggling mightily, but White Sox general manager Ken Williams has defended the decision to sign the slugger this past winter. Williams told the Chicago Tribune he "would make the same move tomorrow." Dunn is hitting just .173 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs. "If you look at his timeline since he's been in the big leagues, it's a pretty damn good body of work," Williams said. "What he's going through now, when it is said and done, will be a little blip on that line." Dunn averaged 40 home runs over the last seven seasons, which prompted Williams to sign him to a four-year, $56 million deal. "I believe we needed him, I believed it when we got him and I still believe he will play the major part we thought he was going to," Williams added. "It just hasn't turned out to this point."