Yankees place A-Rod on disabled list

Alex Rodriguez has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right quadriceps, leaving the New York Yankees without two of their most important players. Rodriguez joins injured catcher Jorge Posada on the DL. The Yankees were waiting for additional opinions on Posada's ailing throwing shoulder before determining whether he needs surgery. A three-time AL MVP, Rodriguez was sent for an MRI yesterday that revealed a Grade 2 strain. He was put on the DL for the first time since July 2000 with Seattle . . . Braves pitcher John Smoltz went on the 15-day DL with an ailing right shoulder, though the team was told he can get over the problem without surgery . . . Scott Kazmir is expected to make his season debut for Tampa Bay Sunday against the Red Sox after the lefthander missed more than a month because of an elbow injury . . . Major League Baseball's new investigative unit is at work on several probes that could lead to discipline while also dealing with the burgeoning business of player identity theft. The department of investigations, established in January at the recommendation of former Senate majority leader George Mitchell, already uncovered evidence that Jordan Schafer, the top prospect in the Atlanta farm system, used human growth hormone. Schafer was suspended April 8 for 50 games. "There are several other investigations in the pipeline," said Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer. "You'll be reading about them."

Authorities are investigating the death of former Boston College and Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Caesar at an Orlando, Fla., apartment building. The Orange County's sheriff's office said the 41-year-old Caesar was found fatally shot at the Tuscany Village Apartments early Monday. Investigators are looking for witnesses. Caesar, from Dorchester, played for the Vikings in 1991 . . . The Colts signed rookie free agent safety Jamie Silva, a first-team All-America selection at BC last season . . . Offensive lineman Fred Weary agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Texans . . . The Chargers signed veteran tackle L.J. Shelton to a two-year deal . . . The Buffalo Bills will receive $78 million to play eight games in Toronto over the next five years . . . Ed Marion, an official for 28 years and a head linesman in three Super Bowls, died Monday night at his home in Paoli, Pa. He was 81.

Flames right wing Jarome Iginla, Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, and Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin are the three finalists for the Hart Trophy awarded to the NHL's most valuable player. Iginla, a Hart Trophy finalist for the third time, had 50 goals and 48 assists to rank third in the league in both categories . . . The NHL and its players' union have formed a group to examine the size and configuration of goalie equipment at a meeting June 11 in Toronto . . . The Blue Jackets re-signed defenseman Jan Hejda to a three-year contract . . . Nathan Smith, the captain of the American Hockey League's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, was charged with indecent exposure after a police officer saw him running naked on a downtown Scranton, Pa., street early Sunday.

Brazil, the world's second-ranked soccer team, will face Venezuela at Gillette Stadium June 6 at 8:30 p.m. Because it falls on an official FIFA match date, Brazil is expected to call up stars such as Ronaldinho, Kaka, and Robinho for the match. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, May 9 . . . Ronaldo went into hiding in Sao Paulo after a run-in with cross-dressing prostitutes that prompted police to investigate whether to charge one with trying to extort money from the striker . . . Manchester United set up the first all-English final in the history of the European Champions League, beating Barcelona, 1-0, behind Paul Scholes's goal. Manchester United will meet Chelsea or Liverpool in the final May 21 at Moscow.

Third-seeded David Nalbandian rallied to defeat Agustin Calleri, 1-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, in an all-Argentine matchup in the second round of the Barcelona Open . . . Second-seeded Fernando Gonzalez cruised into the second round of the BMW Open in Munich, defeating Dudi Sela, 6-3, 6-4 . . . Jelena Dokic, once ranked No. 4 in the world and now unranked after missing two years with injuries, made a quick exit in the first round of the Grand Prix Sar La Princesse Lalla Meryem in Fez, Morocco. Dokic lost to Greta Arn, 6-4, 6-2 . . . Top-seeded Vera Zvonareva beat Lucie Hradecka, 6-2, 6-3, in the first round of the Prague Open . . . Ben Hansbrough, who helped Mississippi State advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last month, is transferring to Notre Dame. He is the younger brother of North Carolina star Tyler Hansbrough . . . The Charlotte Bobcats formally introduced Larry Brown as their new head coach . . . Asafa Powell, who holds the world record in the 100 meters, won't race for two months because of a chest injury . . . Ken Schrader will replace the injured Dario Franchitti in Saturday night's Sprint Cup race.