Red Sox Shortstop Undergoes Surgery

Nomar Garciaparra had wrist surgery Monday, an opening-day operation that could deprive the Boston Red Sox of their two-time American League batting champion for half the season.

And there’s no assurance that his right wrist, which had a split tendon surrounded by an inflamed sheath, ever will be as strong as it was before the injury.

“The repair went quite well,” Red Sox team physician Bill Morgan said. “It’s obvious that he’s more vulnerable than prior to ever being injured. He had a fair amount of injury and a fair amount of surgery.”

Morgan did not say how long Garciaparra will be sidelined, but said the wrist would be immobilized for four to six weeks and would need four to six weeks of rehabilitation.

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St. Louis Cardinal catcher Mike Matheny, who threw out 46 baserunners and won his first Gold Glove last season, agreed to a three-year contract extension.

Matheny, earning $850,000 this year, threw out 46 of 90 runners trying to steal last year, but his season ended Sept. 29 when he accidentally cut himself with a hunting knife.

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Moises Alou was put on the 15-day disabled list by Houston because of a right calf strain, and the Astros recalled pitcher Scott Linebrink from triple-A New Orleans. . . . The Cincinnati Reds sold pitcher Ed Yarnall to the Orix Blue Wave of the Japanese Pacific League for $300,000. Also, Red Manager Bob Boone said center fielder Ken Griffey Jr., nursing a strained left hamstring, won’t play until he can run without a problem. Griffey pinch-hit and took a called third strike Monday. . . . Orlando Hernandez, slowed this spring by inflammation in his right elbow, gave up five singles over five shutout innings in an extended intrasquad game in hopes of soon joining the New York Yankees. . . . Atlanta Brave pitcher John Smoltz, recovering from ligament replacement surgery in his right elbow 13 months ago, has elbow tendinitis and won’t throw for seven days. Smoltz, put on the 15-day disabled list last Friday retroactive to March 23, had complained about soreness in the elbow Sunday after pitching two innings.