Rolen to Have Surgery

Scott Rolen will have surgery on his left shoulder, leaving the St. Louis Cardinals without their All-Star third baseman for the rest of the season.

Rolen, 30, has a torn labrum and has been told he will need at least six months to rehabilitate it after surgery. He is expected to return by or during spring training. Had he waited to have surgery, he could have sat out much of the 2006 season.

“I didn’t really have a decision,” Rolen said Sunday. “I know my body. I know my shoulder.”

Dr. George Paletta, the Cardinals’ medical consultant, will perform the surgery with assistance from Dr. Timothy Kremchek, the Cincinnati Reds’ medical supervisor. The surgery is expected to take place this week in St. Louis.

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Cardinal second baseman Mark Grudzielanek was hospitalized overnight because of a knee infection and will not travel with the Cardinals for the start of a four-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Manager Tony La Russa said Grudzielanek would be sidelined “a couple of days, and it may be longer. We’ll just keep our fingers crossed.”

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The New York Mets put Mike Piazza on the 15-day disabled list because of a broken bone in his left hand. To replace Piazza on the roster, the Mets purchased catcher Mike DiFelice’s contract from triple-A Norfolk.... The San Francisco Giants put closer Tyler Walker on the 15-day disabled list, two days after he surrendered a four-run, ninth-inning lead. The Giants called up right-hander Brian Cooper from triple-A Fresno.