Colon might not return this season

The season could be over for Los Angeles Angels righthander Bartolo Colon, who learned yesterday he has a rotator cuff problem -- the latest setback in an injury-plagued season for last year's AL Cy Young winner. An MRI revealed a partial thickness tear of the rotator cuff, an injury that will require an aggressive rehab program by the 33-year-old. Colon has made only 10 starts and is 1-5 with a 5.11 ERA . . . Detroit Tigers rookie Justin Verlander, who is 14-3 with a 2.79 ERA, will miss his start tomorrow because of fatigue in his right arm . . . The Yankees designated struggling outfielder Bubba Crosby for assignment and recalled righthander Jose Veras from Triple A Columbus to give their bullpen another fresh arm . . . The Oakland Athletics placed shortstop Bobby Crosby on the disabled list, believing rest is the best remedy for his strained lower back . . . Former Orioles and Dodgers pitcher Brian Holton is being held in Manchester, N.H., on charges he owes nearly $43,000 in child support, according to police . . . Chris Smith, a fourth-round draft pick by the Red Sox in 2002, made an impressive Triple A debut by blanking Syracuse on three hits over seven innings as the host Pawtucket Red Sox defeated the SkyChiefs, 5-0. Smith, who was called up from Portland Thursday, walked one and struck out eight. In the second game of the day-night doubleheader, Charlie Zink allowed three hits over seven innings in the PawSox' 5-1 win . . . Elden Auker, a submarine-style pitcher who helped the Detroit Tigers win their first World Series championship in 1935 and played for the Red Sox in 1939, died in Vero Beach, Fla. He was 95.

The chemist who created ``the clear," a previously undetectable steroid, couldn't remain in the clear, and now he's bound for prison. Patrick Arnold, the last of five defendants convicted of steroid-distribution charges connected to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, was sentenced to three months in prison and three months' home confinement for his role in the scandal. Arnold was indicted in November on a charge of conspiring with BALCO founder Victor Conte to distribute tetrahydragestrinone, also known as ``the clear," a powerful steroid that helped athletes add muscle mass and recover quickly from intense workouts. A new grand jury is investigating whether Giants outfielder Barry Bonds lied about using ``the clear" to the grand jury that investigated the BALCO lab more than two years ago.

After accepting an arbitrator's decision on winger Kyle Calder, the Chicago Blackhawks traded him to the Philadelphia Flyers for center Michal Handzus. Calder will make $2.95 million this season; Handzus will make $2.128 million . . . The Phoenix Coyotes avoided arbitration with Mike Comrie, re-signing the center to a one-year contract worth $3 million . . . The AHL's Manchester Monarchs named former Clarkson coach Mark Morris their head coach. Morris was dismissed by Clarkson in 2002 amid allegations he used physical force and threatening conduct toward a player.

Justin Gatlin insisted on running at the national championships in June even after USA Track & Field officials asked him to withdraw over his positive drug test, a person with knowledge of the meeting told the Associated Press. Because only the ``A" sample result was available from the April test, USATF couldn't bar Gatlin from competing . . . Michael Phelps won the 200-meter individual medley in 1 minute 56.50 seconds at the US Summer National swimming championships in Irvine, Calif. . . . Texas A&M-Commerce asked Oklahoma for permission to contact quarterback Rhett Bomar to discuss his possible transfer to the school. Bomar was dismissed from the Oklahoma team for accepting compensation beyond the actual hours he worked at a car dealership . . . Maria Sharapova advanced to the semifinals in the Acura Classic in Carlsbad, Calif., overpowering Mary Pierce, 6-2, 6-3. Sharapova will face Patty Schnyder. Kim Clijsters ousted Martina Hingis, 7-5, 6-2, setting up a semifinal against Nicole Vaidisova . . . Lleyton Hewitt was bounced from the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, falling, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4, to Arnaud Clement. In a semifinal, Clement will face Marat Safin, a 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (11-9) winner over Wesley Moodie. Dmitry Tursunov overwhelmed Tim Henman, 6-3, 6-2, and will face Andy Murray . . . No official reason was given for Andre Agassi's decision to withdraw from next week's Canadian Open . . . Leandro Barbosa, who started only 11 games last year, signed a five-year, $33 million contract extension with the Phoenix Suns that begins after the 2007-08 season . . . In WNBA action, Sheryl Swoopes scored 10 of her 22 points in overtime to help the Houston Comets beat the host Minnesota Lynx, 77-73, and Cheryl Ford scored 15 points to help the Detroit Shock rout the host Chicago Sky, 76-49 . . . Major League Soccer's All-Stars will face English Premier League champ Chelsea tonight in Bridgeview, Ill.