Gary Sheffield will have surgery on his left shoulder today. The Yankees’ right fielder had been told by several doctors, including Dr. James Andres, Stuart Hershon, and Frank Jobe, that he wouldn’t need to be operated on, but the pain has continued, so he will in fact go ahead with the surgery. According to the New York Times:

[General Manager, Brian] Cashman described the operation as minor and said that if everything goes as expected, Sheffield will recover in four to five weeks.

The Times also picked up on a report which appeared last Sunday in the Dominican newspaper, El Caribe, concerning Pedro Martinez. Apparently, Pedro was impressed by Steinbrenner when the two met in Florida last week. In addition, Derek Jeter got together with him as well.

“I want respect, affection and the best treatment possible,” Mart”nez said, without specifying a contract figure. “I am not asking for anything that Pedro Mart”nez doesn’t deserve. People don’t understand that when it’s about a free agent, that means that you can go to the best bidder.”

…”I would play baseball even in a goat’s den,” he said. “Anywhere. That doesn’t worry me.”

Yup. He’s a ba-a-a-a-d, man. (Aw, hell, I just couldn’t resist.)

Meanwhile, Tony Massorotti reports in the Boston Herald that the Sox have upped their offer to Jason Varitek. Ah, the price of success.