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Cardinals put Kurt Warner on injured reserve

Tempe, Ariz., Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner will miss the rest of the season due to a right knee injury.

The Cardinals put Warner on injured reserve Tuesday.

Warner left Sunday's 30-19 loss to the Houston Texans in the second quarter. He had led Arizona on a touchdown drive, but was replaced by backup Josh McCown after going a perfect 10-for-10 for 115 yards with the TD.

The injury is not considered serious, but the Cardinals are being cautious. With nothing left to play for other than draft position, Arizona is expected to start McCown on Saturday against Philadelphia.

Warner missed four games earlier this season with a groin injury and the team went 2-2 during his absence. He has passed for 2,713 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 10 games this season -- his first with Arizona.

Packers claim wide receiver Rod Gardner

Green Bay, Wis., Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The Green Bay Packers announced Tuesday they claimed wide receiver Rod Gardner off waivers from the Carolina Panthers.

Gardner, who played his college football at Clemson, was released by the Panthers last Friday.

Gardner was acquired by the Panthers from the Washington Redskins during the off-season. He played in just 10 of Carolina's 13 games and caught just nine passes for 84 yards with one touchdown.

A first-round selection by the Redskins in 2001, Gardner recorded career-bests of 71 receptions, 1,006 yards and eight touchdowns during the 2002 campaign. He caught 59 passes the following year and had 51 catches last season.

Overall, Gardner has played in 74 NFL games, making 236 receptions for 3,081 yards and 23 touchdowns.

White Sox acquire Vazquez from Arizona

Chicago, Ill., Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The Chicago White Sox announced Tuesday they have acquired pitcher Javier Vazquez and cash considerations from Arizona.

In exchange, the Diamondbacks will receive pitchers Orlando Hernandez, Luis Vizcaino and minor league outfielder Chris Young.

Vazquez spent one year with Arizona after being acquired from the New York Yankees in the Randy Johnson deal. He requested a trade to a city closer to his offseason home in Puerto Rico.

The 29-year-old righthander was 11-15 with a 4.42 earned run average in 33 starts for Arizona in 2005. He was 7-4 in his first 14 starts, but went just 4-11 in his last 19.

Vazquez pitched six seasons with Montreal, then was traded to the Yankees in December of 2003. He has a career record of 89-93 with a 4.28 ERA.

Hernandez, another ex-Yankee, was 9-9 with a 5.12 ERA for the White Sox last season.

Cincinnati signs veteran reliever Hammond

Cincinnati, Ohio, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The Cincinnati Reds signed veteran relief pitcher Chris Hammond to a one-year contract Tuesday with a mutual option for 2007.

Hammond, 39, had a 5-1 record with a 3.84 earned run average in 2005 with the San Diego Padres.

The left-hander has a 2.47 ERA in 221 relief appearances over the last four seasons, including a 7-2 record with a 0.95 earned run average in 2002 with the Atlanta Braves. That season he led all major league relievers in ERA and became just the third pitcher since 1900 with a minimum of 70 innings pitched to have an ERA below 1.00.

Hammond was a starter for the Reds from 1990-92. He has been used as a left-handed relief specialist during his 13 seasons. He held left-handed batters to a .164 batting average last season.