Rodriguez, Varitek Are Suspended

Alex Rodriguez and Jason Varitek were suspended for four games and fined Thursday, and six other players were punished for their roles in a bench-clearing brawl last Saturday between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Yankee pitcher Tanyon Sturtze and Red Sox outfielders Gabe Kapler and Trot Nixon were suspended for three games and fined by Bob Watson, major league baseball’s vice president of on-field operations.

Yankee outfielder Kenny Lofton, Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz were fined.

Rodriguez and Sturtze are appealing their suspensions. Varitek, Kapler and Nixon plan to appeal, Red Sox spokesman Glenn Geffner said.

*

The Texas Rangers signed All-Star closer Francisco Cordero to an $8-million, two-year extension, avoiding the chance of arbitration after this season.

Cordero, who is making $2 million this season, received a $250,000 signing bonus for signing a contract that will pay him $3.75 million next season and $4 million in 2006.

*

Outfielder Juan Gonzalez of the Kansas City Royals is expected to sit out the rest of the season with a lower back injury.

Gonzalez has been sidelined since getting hurt May 22. He was examined by spine specialist Robert Watkins in Los Angeles this week after experiencing discomfort while on a rehabilitation assignment with the rookie league Arizona Royals.

*

The Oakland Athletics released veteran first baseman Eric Karros two days after designating him for assignment. Karros struggled in his first season with the A’s, batting .194 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 40 games.

*

Jason Giambi will stay home until the Yankees receive test results that show why he has felt so weak for so long, General Manager Brian Cashman said. Diagnosed with an intestinal parasite on June 29, Giambi has been fatigued for much of the season. He was out of the starting lineup for the sixth straight game when the Yankees opened an 11-game homestand against the Orioles.... Andy Pettitte worked out his ailing left elbow in a bullpen session but was still uncertain whether he could start Saturday for the Houston Astros against the Cincinnati Reds. He has a small tendon tear in the elbow.... The Yankees want to build a new, $750-million stadium across the street from Yankee Stadium, Crain’s New York Business reported Thursday.