Report: reliever received steroids

Relief pitcher Scott Schoeneweis received six shipments of steroids in 2003 and 2004 from the Florida pharmacy under investigation for illegal distribution of performance-enhancing drugs, ESPN.com reported Monday.

Schoeneweis, then with the Chicago White Sox and now with the New York Mets, was prescribed the steroids by Ramon Scruggs of the New Hope Health Center in Tustin. Schoeneweis spent $1,160 and received testosterone and stanozolol.

The New York Mets sent a message to their fans apologizing for the team’s collapse that caused them to miss the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years.

“All of us at the Mets are bitterly disappointed in failing to achieve our collective goal of building upon last year’s success,” the team said in the message. “We did not meet our organization’s expectations -- or yours.”

Houston Astros closer Brad Lidge had surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee and should be ready for the start of spring training in mid-February.

Creative Artists Agency said it had signed a deal to represent the New York Yankees’ sports marketing interests for the new Yankee Stadium that will open in 2009.

For most sports teams, that would mean selling naming rights to a corporate sponsor. Not so for the Yankees.

“There will not be someone attaching their name to Yankee Stadium,” said Howie Nuchow, co-head of CAA sport. “The Yankees will, as they always have, keep the integrity of their stadium.”