Dodgers’ A.J. Ellis undergoes minor knee operation

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis underwent a minor knee operation last week, the team announced Monday.

Ellis underwent a 30-minute procedure on Friday to trim the medial and lateral meniscus in his left knee, which were torn. He will begin physical therapy next week and is expected to be able to start his normal off-season training program in six weeks. He should be fully competitive at the start of spring training, according to the team.

Soreness in the knee resulted in Ellis’ missing two games in July and undergoing an MRI exam. At the time, he said the exam revealed nothing more than inflammation.

Ellis endured a 0-for-30 skid in September but batted .370 with two home runs and 10 runs batted in over his last eight games. For the season, he hit .270 with 13 home runs and 52 RBIs.

This was the first full season in the major leagues for Ellis, 31. He finished fourth in the major leagues in games caught (131), games started at catcher (128) and innings caught (1,151).

The same day that Ellis underwent his procedure, outfielder Matt Kemp underwent a shoulder operation.

-Dylan Hernandez

Francona wants to ‘stick around’

Terry Francona signed a four-year contract with the Cleveland Indians. He hopes to stay even longer.

“I don’t want to be a rental manager,” Francona said Monday as he was introduced as the club’s 42nd manager. “I didn’t want to come in worried. I want to be part of the solution. I want to stick around.

“I didn’t come here to go to pasture.”

Francona, who led the Boston Red Sox to two World Series titles, was hired over the weekend by the Indians. He was chosen over Sandy Alomar Jr., who managed the club’s final six games after Manny Acta was fired. Francona takes over an Indians team that collapsed from contention by going 5-24 in August and finishing 68-94, the third time in the last four seasons they have lost at least 90 games.