Surgery will end Posada's season

Jorge Posada will have season-ending surgery on his right shoulder, ending his attempt to return to the New York Yankees' lineup for the team's playoff push. The catcher has struggled with shoulder pain most of the season, weakening his throws and limiting his playing time behind the plate. On the disabled list for the second time this year, Posada was trying to rehabilitate his shoulder enough to come back as a DH or first baseman this season. But after the Yankees acquired Xavier Nady in a trade with Pittsburgh Saturday, they decided it was best for Posada to have surgery, general manager Brian Cashman said . . . The Pirates added pitcher Jeff Karstens to the major league roster. Karstens, a 25-year-old righthander, was one of four players the Pirates obtained from the Yankees Saturday for Nady and reliever Damaso Marte . . . Atlanta will be without Chipper Jones and Tim Hudson for a while. The Braves put both stars on the 15-day disabled list, a setback for a team trying to revive its fading hopes in the NL East. Jones leads the majors in hitting at .369. He hurt his left hamstring Wednesday night running out a grounder and has been slow to heal. The righthanded Hudson is 11-7 with a 3.17 ERA. He has been feeling tightness in his pitching elbow . . . Chicago Cubs first base coach Matt Sinatro was suspended for two games after making contact with an umpire during a dispute in Saturday's loss to the Marlins . . . Cubs reliever Kerry Wood threw in the bullpen, but manager Lou Piniella said his closer is not close to returning from a blister on his pitching hand.

Disgraced NBA referee Tim Donaghy was a compulsive gambler whose road to professional and personal ruin began on the golf course, where he bet up to $500 a hole, according to an evaluation filed on the eve of his sentencing. "In short, he could not stop himself from gambling," wrote Stephen Block, a longtime New York-based gambling treatment counselor. Donaghy, 41, faces up to 33 months in prison at his sentencing today in federal court in Brooklyn after pleading guilty last year to taking thousands of dollars in payoffs from a professional gambler for inside betting tips . . . The Minnesota Timberwolves and restricted free-agent forward Ryan Gomes have agreed in principle on a five-year contract. Terms were not disclosed. Gomes was one of five players acquired by the Wolves last summer from the Celtics for Kevin Garnett. Gomes played in all 82 games, 74 as a starter, and averaged a career-best 12.6 points and 5.8 rebounds . . . The Los Angeles Clippers continued their offseason makeover, signing veteran swingman Ricky Davis to a multiyear contract. Davis averaged 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while playing in all 82 games for the Miami Heat last season . . . Former No. 1 overall pick Kwame Brown and the Detroit Pistons agreed on two-year deal - including a player option for the second season - worth $8 million . . . The Denver Nuggets acquired forward Renaldo Balkman from the New York Knicks in exchange for guard Taurean Green, forward Bobby Jones, and a second-round draft pick in 2010 . . . The Golden State Warriors re-signed center Andris Biedrins to a six-year contract worth more than $62 million . . . Guard Sasha Vujacic and the Lakers finalized a three-year, $15 million contract . . . The US Olympic basketball team arrived in Macau, China, with a word of caution from coach Mike Krzyzewski. "We haven't accomplished anything yet," he said. LeBron James joined the squad's first practice with his right ankle taped. He sat out the Americans' first tuneup against Canada Friday with a sprain . . . Indiana guard Jordan Crawford transferred to Xavier. He averaged 9.7 points as a freshman for the Hoosiers.

Bradley Kushner of the Country Club of New Seabury shot a 1-under-par 71 to take the lead after the first day of stroke play at the Massachusetts Junior Golf Championship at Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton. John Brennan (The Orchards GC) and Dan Fanion (The Ranch GC) each shot a 1-over 73 to trail Kushner by two strokes . . . Kyle Gallo of Timberlin CC and Jeff Hedden of Black Hall each shot a 4-under 67 to share the first-round lead at the Connecticut Open at Round Hill Country Club in Greenwich . . . Greg Norman, who finished third in the British Open, turned down an invitation to play in the PGA Championship, deciding to stick to a previous commitment . . . Chris Wood turned professional just over a week after finishing fifth as the highest placed amateur at the British Open.

Forwards Nate Thompson and Martin St. Pierre re-signed with the Bruins yesterday. They were the team's two remaining restricted free agents. Thompson, who served as Providence captain in 2007-08, is entering his fourth year of pro hockey. St. Pierre, acquired last week from Chicago for forward Pascal Pelletier, scored 88 points for Rockford (AHL) in 2007-08 . . . Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Florida Panthers.

NASCAR driver Tony Stewart was fined $10,000 for what the US Auto Club deemed unsportsmanlike conduct during a midget car race last week at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis. Stewart reportedly knocked a radio headset off the head of one USAC official and shoved another following a ruling Thursday involving Stewart's car, driven by Tracy Hines . . . Twelfth-seeded Tommy Robredo beat Mardy Fish, 6-2, 6-2, in the opening match of the Cincinnati Masters . . . Marion Bartoli overcame a sore thigh to defeat qualifier Melanie South, 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-0, in the opening round of the Rogers Cup in Montreal . . . Robbie Findley scored on a sliding strike in the 87th minute and host Real Salt Lake escaped with a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC in MLS action.