Giants’ Nen to Miss Season After Surgery

San Francisco closer Robb Nen will have season-ending shoulder surgery today to repair a partial tear to his right rotator cuff.

“I was kind of expecting it,” Manager Felipe Alou said.

Nen’s throwing shoulder has not responded to operations in November 2002 and April 18, followed by an extensive rehabilitation program. After his latest operation, he’s expected to be ready for spring training in 2004.

Team trainer Stan Conte said Nen is “incredibly upbeat.... His mental outlook is the best I’ve seen in six months.”

Nen, a three-time All-Star, had a 6-2 record, 2.20 earned-run average and 43 saves last season to help the Giants advance to their first World Series since 1989. He had seven saves in the postseason.

Nen is the club’s career saves leader with 206. He’s 11th on the baseball career list with 314 saves.

Alou said Tim Worrell and Felix Rodriguez would handle the closer’s job.

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Derek Jeter is ready to start a minor league rehab assignment today at double-A Trenton, another step in his comeback from a dislocated left shoulder.

The star shortstop is expected to rejoin the New York Yankees for the start of a six-game homestand on Tuesday. He was injured in a collision March 31.

Jeter will play five games with the Trenton Thunder. He will join the Eastern League team for tonight’s game against the Binghamton Mets and is to play with the Thunder through Sunday.

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Major League Baseball historian Jerome Holtzman was in stable condition at Evanston (Ill.) Hospital, one day after suffering a stroke.

Holtzman, in his late 70s, became baseball’s official historian in 1999 after a 56-year career with the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.

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Former Dodger shortstop Jose Offerman signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League.

Offerman, 34, was released by Montreal on the final day of spring training. He played for Boston and Seattle last year.