The Associated Press

CLEVELAND - Billy Traber's rookie season is over, and most of his second season probably is, too.

The Cleveland Indians left-hander will undergo ligament transplant surgery on his elbow and won't be able to pitch for at least nine months.

The 23-year-old has been pitching with a damaged elbow for years, but recently it became so sore he couldn't tolerate the pain.

"I've always had a problem there," he said. "I think it finally just caught up with me."

Traber, who went 6-9 with a 5.24 ERA in 18 starts, was in the mix to be in Cleveland's rotation next season.

EXPOS: The team voted against shifting a quarter of next season's home games to Mexico or Puerto Rico.

Major League Baseball asked players Thursday to allow about a quarter of the Expos' home games next year to be moved from Montreal to either San Juan or Monterrey. Games can't be moved without an agreement with the players union.

"I think the vote represents what the guys, in their gut, actually feel," the Expos' Todd Zeile said.

To increase revenue, baseball relocated 22 Expos home games this year to San Juan. Players union official Gene Orza said the initial proposal for 2004 called for about the same number of games to be moved next season.

ORIOLES-YANKEES: The teams will make up this week's tie caused by Hurricane Isabel as part of a twi-night doubleheader Friday at Yankee Stadium.