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 …

David Ortiz in Walkoff Situations  —  David Ortiz gets another game-winning hit at Fenway Park and we hear it everywhere — he did it again, it's more surprising when he doesn't win the game, is he human? — but is it true?  Does Ortiz excel over and above his usual performance in walk-off situations?

Getting shortstop a huge steal  —  Greg Maddux?  I hate to see him go.  More to the point, so does everyone in the Cubs organization and anyone in Chicago lucky enough to have encountered him.  —  The man's not an aging right-hander; he's a national treasure.

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 …

McClatchy: Savings from trades will go back into team  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  The Pirates' ownership will take the money saved by the four trades Monday and reallocate it to general manager Dave Littlefield's budget for 2007, managing general partner Kevin McClatchy said last night.

Liriano scratched from start with pain  —  Left-hander taking precautionary measures  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins are scratching pitcher Francisco Liriano from Wednesday's start against the Rangers because of discomfort in his left forearm.  The decision was made after Liriano threw …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

Astros-Padres Preview  —  The Houston Astros hope to get their pitching back on track and close the gap in the playoff race when they open a three-game set with the San Diego Padres on Tuesday.  —  The Astros (49-56) enter this series after dropping two of three to the Arizona Diamondbacks …