Report: Varitek to have surgery on injured knee  —  BOSTON — Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek will have arthroscopic surgery for cartilage damage in the left knee he injured in Monday night's game, The Boston Globe reported.  —  The club gave no indication Monday how long Varitek …

Limited trade opportunities in August … Baseball's non-waiver deadline has passed, and it's time for general managers Brian Cashman, Jon Daniels and Wayne Krivsky to put down their cell phones, enjoy a hot meal and re-introduce themselves to their families.  —  Pretty good theater, huh?

Sheffield willing to shift to first  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Gary Sheffield embraced Bobby Abreu's arrival with the New York Yankees, saying he would shift to first base if needed.  —  "I gave him a hug.  I wanted him to feel welcome," Sheffield said Tuesday after Abreu reported to the Yankees …

Walk and roll  —  Ortiz trots out oldie but goodie: game-ending HR  —  John W. Henry thought he'd said everything he wanted to say about David Ortiz once before, under similarly inspiring circumstances.  But on second thought . . .  ``So," Henry said on a Fenway Park elevator that could not muffle the chants of ``MVP!

Bucs miss target  —  TRIBUNE-REVIEW  —  Shortly after the Pirates traded their Opening Day starter, their third-leading hitter, their most experienced starting pitcher and their top bench player — not that any was having a particularly robust season — general manager Dave Littlefield somehow thought …

Red Meat  —  Jim Bowden looks like an absolute fool.  —  It's not that he let today's trading deadline elapse without trading Alfonso Soriano; that's the red herring that everyone will be screaming about tonight.  What I can't stomach is that after all the smugness and hot talk …

Duaner Sanchez's night of terror  —  Police say taxi was broadsided and bounced off a concrete barrier  —  Shortly after checking into his team's Florida hotel late Sunday night, Mets setup man Duaner Sanchez showered and told his younger brother that he was hungry.

Irked to still be an Oriole, J. Lopez asks for release … While the Orioles' biggest star was excited about not being dealt at yesterday's non-waiver trade deadline, another one of the club's most expensive players was far from thrilled.  —  Designated hitter Javy Lopez said he was hoping …

Jones: Reported racism not incorrect  —  Wearing the smile that has identified him as much as his No. 11 jersey, right fielder Jacque Jones stayed in his happy-go-lucky mode Tuesday night when asked about racist mail and phone calls he reportedly has received as a Cub.

Phillies strike out in Abreu deal … Would the Yankees have been able to trade for Abreu without their unparalleled five-tool check-writing talents?  Of course not.  But the people who think they're only about money are the same people who think everything in life is about money.

BRIAN CASHES IN YET AGAIN  —  RHODES BLASTS 'SCAB' LIDLE  —  New Yankee starter Cory Lidle saying there were some Phillies who didn't expect to win ticked off former teammate and fellow pitcher Arthur Rhodes, who unloaded on Lidle to The Post yesterday.  —  In a conference call …

Major League Baseball suspends seven minor leaguers for violating drug policy  —  NEW YORK (AP) -Major League Baseball suspended seven minor leaguers on Tuesday for violating the drug prevention and treatment program.  —  Cole Flowers of the Atlanta Braves and Kengshill Pujols …

Padres get Todd Walker to help out at third  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) — Todd Walker is about to find out how good of a third baseman he is.  —  And the San Diego Padres got through the non-waiver trade deadline Monday without parting with any relievers — specifically setup man Scott Linebrink …