HOUSTON — New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez has a torn thumb ligament in his pitching hand sustained during a fight with his girlfriend’s father at Citi Field and will need surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the season.

“Obviously I’m disappointed, discouraged, frustrated,” Mets Manager Jerry Manuel said. “When you get this kind of news it’s … we’ve just been through a lot. We seem to continue to have difficulties keeping things from – having these type of injuries or these type of setbacks. Every year it seems like we get a little something here or there.”

Rodriguez was suspended for two days without pay following the fight outside a family room at the ballpark last Wednesday.

The 28-year-old reliever was arrested and charged with third-degree assault and second-degree harassment. He was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court Sept. 14.

When asked whether the injury occurred during the altercation, Manuel responded: “I was told during that time frame, yes.” He said he does not think Rodriguez is contesting when it happened.

Rodriguez was examined Monday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, and the Mets said an MRI revealed the injury in his right hand.

“It’s a very tough one,” Manuel said. “It’s not a baseball-related thing so that even probably adds to it a bit.”

 

NATIONALS: Top overall draft pick Bryce Harper and Washington reached an agreement on a $9.9 million, five-year contract shortly before the deadline of midnight Monday night.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Harper is a 17-year-old power-hitting junior college catcher who the Nationals plan to convert to an outfielder. He hit .443 with 31 homers and 98 RBI in his first season at the College of Southern Nevada, which plays in a league that uses wood bats. He skipped his final two years of high school and got his GED, making him eligible for the 2010 draft.

 

RANGERS: Right fielder Nelson Cruz is on the disabled list for the third time this season because of hamstring issues.

The Rangers placed Cruz on the 15-day DL, two days after he left a game against Boston with a tight left hamstring. An MRI revealed inflammation but no tear.

Texas also activated infielder Joaquin Arias. He had been out since July 31 with a muscle strain in his back.

 

ATHLETICS: Oakland activated outfielder Conor Jackson from the 15-day disabled list and recalled outfielder Travis Buck from Triple-A Sacramento.

The A’s cleared roster room by optioning infielder Jeff Larish and outfielder Chris Carter to Sacramento.

 

RAYS: Tampa Bay reinstated first baseman Carlos Pena from the 15-day disabled list and placed outfielder Gabe Kapler on the DL because of a sprained right ankle.

Pena had been out since Aug. 1 because of a sore right foot.

 

ORIOLES: Reliever Jason Berken is probably done for the season after an MRI determined the right-hander has a torn labrum and inflammation in his pitching shoulder.

 

TIGERS: Detroit recalled left-handed reliever Daniel Schlereth from Triple-A Toledo.