The Associated Press

BOSTON - The Boston Red Sox placed reliever Scott Williamson on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation and recalled right-hander Anastacio Martinez from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Williamson, 28, has one save and a 1.69 ERA in 14 relief appearances this season.

Martinez, who joined the team in time for Friday night's game against Toronto, has never appeared in the major leagues. He was 1-2 with a 2.55 ERA in 15 relief appearances in Pawtucket this season, striking out 27 in 24 2/3 innings.

• Boston first baseman David Ortiz signed a $12.5 million, two-year contract extension Friday. The first baseman-designated hitter said he didn't want to leave the Boston clubhouse and the fans who have made him a cult hero.

The deal also includes a club option for the 2007 season.

RANGERS: Rookie catcher Gerald Laird will have surgery to re-attach a torn ligament in his left thumb today and will be sidelined about three months.

Laird had an MRI on Friday morning that revealed the tear, and he was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Laird was the AL rookie leader in hits (27), runs (14), batting average (.307) and on-base percentage (.374).

PADRES: Reliever Rod Beck rejoined the team Friday, more than two months after leaving to deal with an unspecified personal problem.

"I had some really devastating things going on in my life where my mind wasn't on the game," Beck said Friday.

"Emotionally, I was sick. There were things going on that needed to be taken care of. I had a lot of things that basically made me unable to play baseball."

Beck expressed regret for leaving so abruptly, but he said there was no other option. He explained the situation to his teammates before addressing the media.

PETRICK RETIRES: Former major-league catcher Ben Petrick announced his retirement and said he had Parkinson's disease.

Petrick played for Colorado and Detroit from 1999-2003 and began this year in the Tigers' system.

Petrick, 27, said he was diagnosed with Parkinson's after the 1999 season. His father also has the disease.

SHORT HOPS: Angels slugger Troy Glaus had surgery on his right shoulder Friday, an operation that might sideline him for the rest of the season. Glaus was hitting .296 with 11 homers and 28 RBI in 29 games.

• With three steals Friday, the Cardinals have an NL-best 37.