Mar 27, 2016 5 min read

The Milwaukee Brewers will start the season without reliever Will Smith, who tore a ligament in his right knee while taking his spikes off after a game.

Smith, who was set to share closer duties with Jeremy Jeffress, received the diagnosis Friday night and was awaiting test results to determine if surgery is necessary.

Smith said he was getting ready to shower after pitching in a minor league game on Thursday and was standing on one leg to take off his other shoe when he lost his balance and twisted the knee.

“I pulled hard (on the shoe) and it stayed on,” he said. “My knee just went up and popped. Everyone tells you there is nothing you can do about it, but you still feel like you are letting people down.”

Smith tore his lateral collateral ligament, which is on the outside of the knee and connects the femur to the lower leg. The right leg is the plant leg for the left-hander and absorbs the most impact.

Manager Craig Counsell said Smith will miss “significant time,” and the Brewers are expected to find out exactly how long when he is examined by team physician Dr. William Raasch in the coming days.

“The recovery is a little longer with surgery,” said Counsell, who said it is not a season-ending injury. “It’s tough for us, it’s tough for Will. There is going to be somebody in (the clubhouse) that takes this opportunity and makes a lot of it.”

Smith, who was 7-2 with a 2.70 ERA in 76 appearances last season, was having an outstanding spring. He had allowed only two hits in seven innings, striking out five. Counsell named Smith and Jeffress, good friends and roommates this spring, as the co-closers last week.

Pirates trade reliever to Braves: The Atlanta Braves have acquired left-handed reliever Eric O’Flaherty from the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations.

The 31-year-old O’Flaherty, who pitched for the Braves from 2009-13, was on his way to join the team Sunday.

Atlanta general manager John Coppolella says “We’ve been trying to find a left-hander all spring. He’s somebody we know. When our scouts saw him and when our field staff saw him, we felt like he was somebody who could help us out.

“Obviously, we know this guy’s great off the field. He was great on it with us. We’re hoping he can fill a need a help us get better.”

O’Flaherty, who had Tommy John surgery in 2013, had signed a minor league deal with Pittsburgh last month. He has a 3.24 career ERA in 435 appearances with four teams.

Reds sign former Pirates pitcher: The Cincinnati Reds and veteran right-handed pitcher Ross Ohlendorf have agreed to a one-year, $800,000 major league contract.

Ohlendorf was released by Kansas City on Wednesday after making eight appearances. He pitched nine innings, allowing six runs on nine hits and three walks. Ohlendorf had 10 strikeouts.

The 33-year-old has played nine full seasons in the majors. He has 80 career starts and 65 relief appearances.

The deal is laden with incentives. He can earn $75,000 each for 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 games pitched. There’s a $50,000 bonus for 25 games finished, $100,000 for 30 and 35 games finished. Often injured, he would get $50,000 for spending 50 days on the active roster, and $75,000 each for 75 and 100 days.

Oquendo takes medical leave: The St. Louis Cardinals say third base coach Jose Oquendo is taking a medical leave of absence for “the foreseeable future.”

Oquendo missed several days earlier this spring when he traveled to St. Louis for knee surgery. He returned to camp on March 20, walking with the aid of crutches. He hasn’t returned to the third base coach’s box since the surgery.

First base coach Bill Maloney handled third base coaching duties while Oquendo recovered and will continue to do so.

Assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller will coach first base and assume Oquendo’s infield instruction duties.

Derrick May, the Cardinals’ minor league hitting coordinator, will serve as St. Louis’ assistant hitting coach.

Brantley won’t go on opening day: The Cleveland Indians say All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley is still recovering from shoulder surgery and will not begin the season as a starter.

Brantley has played in two exhibition games and reported residual soreness. He will continue to rest without baseball activities for the time being.

Brantley had surgery in November. He was examined Saturday, and manager Terry Francona said Sunday that Brantley won’t be in left field on opening day.

There was no timetable for when Brantley will be able to start.

The Indians also released outfielder Will Venable and reliever Joe Thatcher.