Knee Injury Ends Valentin’s Season

Third baseman John Valentin of the Boston Red Sox is sidelined for the season but he should be able to return next year from surgery to reattach his patellar tendon to his left kneecap.

“I don’t think we have any evidence that this would be career-ending,” Red Sox doctor Arthur Pappas said Wednesday, a day after Valentin blew out his knee trying to field a routine grounder.

Pappas said he expected David Altcheck, who operated on the same knee in November, to perform the surgery today in New York. Valentin’s leg will be immobilized for four to six weeks and then he faces six to eight months of rehabilitation before he can try to get into baseball shape.

The timetable has him ready for spring training.

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Hideki Irabu will be sidelined two to four weeks after arthroscopic knee surgery, leaving the Montreal Expos with only three starting pitchers.

Closer Dustin Hermanson will move back to the starting rotation next week to help fill in.

Irabu, who suffered torn cartilage in his right knee, was placed on the 15-day disabled list, and the Expos called up right-hander Matt Skrmetta from triple-A Ottawa to take his roster spot.

The Expos have eight pitchers and two catchers on the disabled list, including closer Ugueth Urbina. Right-hander Mike Thurman’s sore right elbow will be examined by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., today. Thurman went on the disabled list Friday with what was initially diagnosed as tendinitis.

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The Chicago Cubs will not have as many security personnel in the visiting bullpen after Wednesday departure of John Rocker and the Atlanta Braves.

The Cubs added about 50 people to the security force because of the fracas between the Dodgers and fans May 16 near the visiting bullpen at Wrigley Field.

Sixteen players and three coaches were suspended for their involvement in the skirmish, which started when a fan allegedly hit catcher Chad Kreuter on the back of his head and stole his cap.

Rocker’s arrival this week prompted extra staff near the visiting bullpen and even that was altered each day.

On Monday, a fan ran down an aisle toward the bullpen and shouted obscenities at Rocker. The fan was escorted away.

On Tuesday, additional security staff were seated at the end of each aisle near the wall and faced the fans the entire game. Rocker, who has been criticized since making insensitive comments, was booed when he came onto the field Tuesday night. When Rocker was taken out of the game, he was escorted to the dugout by a security guard.

Negotiators for major league umpires and owners agreed to extend their interim agreement by a month through June. Under the interim agreement, which was announced March 21 and had been due to expire Wednesday, the sides agreed to keep in place the terms of the contract that ended Dec. 31. . . . The Tampa Bay Devil Rays acquired right-hander Tanyon Sturtze from the Chicago White Sox for minor league infielder Tony Graffanino.