Manny Ramirez was out of Boston's lineup Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners with what his manager said was a sore knee.

"Just showed up this morning. He just came in and said, 'My right knee hurts,' " manager Terry Francona said hours before the Red Sox went for a series sweep.

When asked if the slugger will be back for Friday's opener against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park, Francona said, "I'm hoping it'll be all right Friday. I don't know. I don't really have a good answer for that. I hope so."

Ramirez said his knee has been bothering him for about a week.

"I've just been trying to play it out," he said, while jokingly singing for tips at his locker in the clubhouse, with his I-Pod docked to a speaker and a cup out seeking donations from teammates. "I decided it was time to give it a rest."

Asked if he would be ready for the Yankees, Ramirez said, "I don't know. I'm day-to-day at this point."

Posada delaying shoulder surgery

New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada wants to put off surgery on his right shoulder even if it means sacrificing the start of next season. If he does play the rest of this year, it won't be behind the plate.

On the disabled list for the second time this season, Posada had his throwing shoulder examined by New York Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek on Tuesday, and surgery was again recommended. An MRI exam showed fraying in the tendons around the labrum, but not a rotator cuff tear, Posada said Wednesday before the Yankees played the Minnesota Twins.

"I've got 15 days to make a decision," said Posada, who went on the DL Monday. "I'll rehab it and see how it feels and have a decision by then."

Chipper Jones, Hudson leave with injuries

Atlanta slugger Chipper Jones and ace Tim Hudson left Wednesday night's game against Florida with injuries, a pair of blows to the Braves' already slim playoff hopes.

Jones strained his left hamstring running out a ground ball in the fourth inning, and Hudson departed after throwing only 68 pitches because of tightness in his right elbow. Hudson will be evaluated today, an off day for the team.

SHORT HOPS: Former major leaguer Jay Gibbons is getting another chance with the Milwaukee Brewers. The team purchased Gibbons' contract from the Atlantic League's Long Island Ducks and will assign him to its Double-A affiliate in Huntsville, Ala.

* The Chicago Cubs activated All-Star outfielder Alfonso Soriano before their game against Arizona on Wednesday night.

* The San Diego Padres purchased the contract of left-hander Wil Ledezma from Triple-A Portland on Wednesday, replacing traded pitcher Randy Wolf on the roster.

* The Oakland Athletics' 16-year-old pitching prospect Michael Inoa of the Dominican Republic has ties to a sports bookie in his native country, SI.com reported Tuesday.