Game 9: Yankees at Royals  —  YANKEES  —  Notes: Jorge Posada has been diagnosed with a shoulder strain according to the KC team doctor and should only miss a few days.  It doesn't look like a DL.  He had the MRI sent to Dr. James Andrews for confirmation and the Yankees will have their doctors look at it as well.

Indictment: Agents steered baseball players to doctor for performance-enhancing drugs  —  NEW YORK (AP)—A federal indictment unsealed Wednesday charged that unidentified agents for baseball players steered clients to a California physician linked in media reports to supplying Troy Glaus …

Phil Hughes' Mechanics: What's The Deal?  —  When you are the youngest pitcher in Major League Baseball and being touted as the future ace of the New York Yankees, I suppose that it is normal to be under the microscope at all times.  And, boy has Phil Hughes been under the microscope.

Dan Johnson designated  —  From Chronicle Staff Writer Susan Slusser in Toronto  —  Quick note: Dan Johnson's agent, Bobby Barad, tells me that the A's have just informed the first baseman that he has been designated for assignment.  That means they have 10 days to put Johnson on waivers, trade him or release him.

Smith set to make Majors debut vs. Jays  —  Oakland (4-4) at Toronto (4-3), Wednesday, 4:07 p.m. PT  —  Left-hander Greg Smith will make his Major League debut on Wednesday night when the Athletics visit the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.  —  Smith is taking over for injured starting pitcher …

METS POISED TO SIGN VARGAS  —  The Mets are on the verge of signing free-agent right-hander Claudio Vargas to a minor-league contract, and a deal could be done as early as tomorrow, The Post has learned.  —  Vargas' agent, Bean Stringfellow, told The Post today that the Mets have offered Vargas …

Rollins won't play tonight  —  NEW YORK - Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins has been scratched from tonight's game against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium because of a sprained left ankle.  Earlier in the day, Rollins had expected to play but he was taken out of the lineup after his normal pre-game stretching routine.

Twins snap White Sox's 5-game win streak  —  CHICAGO (AP)—Jason Kubel hit a grand slam and drove in six runs, and the Minnesota Twins broke out on offense in pounding Chicago 12-5 and snapping the White Sox's five-game win streak on Wednesday night.  —  The 12 runs doubled their previous season high …

Cards' Pujols confronts Astros' Backe  —  HOUSTON (AP)—St. Louis' Albert Pujols and Houston's Brandon Backe had a heated exchange as the Astros left the field after batting practice on Wednesday.  —  The exchange, which happened in front of Astros manager Cecil Cooper, lasted a few minutes.