Molina, Mulder undergo surgery

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and pitcher Mark Mulder had season-ending surgery Monday.

Molina underwent surgery for torn cartilage in his right knee. Mulder, who struggled in three September starts, also had arthroscopic surgery on his previously repaired rotator cuff. Club officials had described it as a cleanup procedure on an unhealed portion of the rotator cuff.

Dr. George Paletta, the team physician, performed both operations in St. Louis. Molina is expected to be ready to resume full athletic activities in four to six weeks, while Mulder is expected to be at full strength well before spring training.

Molina batted .275 with six homers and 40 RBIs in 111 games. Mulder, a 16-game winner in 2005, was 0-3 with a 12.27 ERA.

-- AP