Stairs: Jays trading him to a contender

The Toronto Blue Jays designated Matt Stairs for assignment after last night's 3-2 loss to host Tampa Bay, and the designated hitter-outfielder expects to be traded by tomorrow. "I can tell you that I am going to a contender, so that makes it a little easier to swallow," said Stairs, who would not name the team. The Blue Jays would only say they were working on a potential deal. "He's not shocked," manager Cito Gaston said. "He knows it's that time of the year. He's fine." Stairs, 40, is hitting .250 with 11 homers and 44 RBIs in 105 games.

Washington Nationals righthander Shawn Hill is being shut down for the season after he experienced swelling in his right elbow during rehabilitation from an arm injury. Hill, on the disabled list since June 25 with a sore forearm, will have his arm examined by Dr. James Andrews today. Hill missed the 2005 season after having Tommy John surgery and missed time in 2006 with soreness in his right elbow. Last season he was limited to 16 starts by a shoulder injury and a compressed radial nerve in his right forearm . . . Atlanta Braves righthanded reliever Rafael Soriano had elbow surgery and is expected to be ready by spring training next season . . . Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick, one of the team's top hitters, went on the 15-day DL with a strained left hamstring . . . The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated righthanded reliever Cory Wade from the 15-day disabled list and designated reliever Tanyon Sturtze for assignment.

Michael Phelps can soon add another accomplishment to his already glowing résumé: author. The record-shattering Olympic swimmer has earned an advance estimated at $1.6 million from Simon & Shuster for a book to be titled "Built to Succeed," the New York Post reported. It's been a busy week for Phelps, who plans to host the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" and appear as a presenter at MTV's 2008 Video Music Awards. Phelps was in New York City yesterday filming a cameo for the HBO series "Entourage."

Tamika Whitmore scored 15 points and the Connecticut Sun raced out to a big early lead in an 84-58 victory over the Indiana Fever in Indianapolis, marking the WNBA's return following the Olympic break. Asjha Jones added 14 points and Kerri Gardin and Sandrine Gruda each had 11 for the Eastern Conference-leading Sun (17-10) . . . At New York, Jia Perkins scored 19 points to lead the Chicago Sky to a 69-60 win over the Liberty . . . Seattle Storm star Lauren Jackson, the WNBA's reigning MVP, had surgery on her right ankle in Australia and is expected to be sidelined six weeks. Sue Bird shook off any remaining jet lag to score 22 points, and host Seattle rolled over Houston, 66-49 . . . Candace Parker had 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 blocks to lead host Los Angeles over Sacramento, 78-63 . . . Sophia Young scored 18 points and Ann Wauters added 15 points and nine rebounds to lead San Antonio to a 77-55 rout of the Mercury in Phoenix.

The Bruins signed AHL defensemen Mike Egener and Ryan Stokes. Both will be in training camp next month. The 23-year-old Egener was selected 34th overall by Tampa Bay in the 2003 NHL draft. The 6-foot-4-inch, 213-pounder appeared in 17 games for the Norfolk Admirals last season (1-1 -2, 28 penalty minutes). The 6-4, 200-pound Stokes was an undrafted free agent. Stokes, 25, played in 55 games for the Rockford Ice Hogs last season (4-6 -10 with 93 penalty minutes). Both are candidates to fill the enforcer role in Providence left open when forward Steve MacIntyre signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Florida Panthers this summer.

FLUTO SHINZAWA

Oscar De La Hoya finally has an opponent for his farewell fight - only the Golden Boy's tantalizing matchup with Manny Pacquiao might not be his final bout after all. De La Hoya and Pacquiao have confirmed their plan to meet Dec. 6 in Las Vegas. Yet De La Hoya (39-5-0, 30 KOs) changed the fight's stakes when he acknowledged he wasn't sure he'll retire afterward. De La Hoya repeatedly had said he would quit boxing after this year, but his inability to land a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September might have altered his plans . . . Former mixed martial arts light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson, 30, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges after a chase and series of traffic crashes last month in Santa Ana, Calif. . . . Elite athlete Barbara Warren, 65, died Tuesday after breaking her neck in a bike crash Saturday at the Santa Barbara Triathlon.