Sammy Sosa is being sued for $203,000 in the Dominican Republic by a businessman who claims the former major-leaguer owes him for a commission on a house sale, among other things.

Carim Abu Nabaa alleges that Sosa has not paid him a commission of $150,000 on a house sale, $43,000 for a luxury watch, and $10,000 for getting Reggaeton singer Don Omar to perform at Sosa's 41st birthday party.

In legal documents obtained by the Associated Press, Sosa has been ordered to appear Dec. 2 in a Dominican court.

Sosa played for the Chicago Cubs from 1992 to 2004. He also played for Texas, the Chicago White Sox, and Baltimore.

Calls to Sosa's representatives in the Dominican Republic were not returned yesterday.

Yankees. Bob Sheppard, the legendary public-address announcer for New York, told MLB.com his career is over.

Sheppard hasn't worked a game since late in the 2007 season because of illness.

"I have no plans of coming back," Sheppard, 99, told the Web site. "Time has passed me by, I think. I had a good run for it."

Sheppard worked his first Yankees game in 1951.

Mets. U.S. District Judge Edward Korman said Wednesday in New York that he was dismissing a lawsuit brought by the Willets Point Industry and Realty Association.

Once a swamp and a garbage dump, Willets Point is now a jumble of scrap yards and auto-repair shops. It lacks sidewalks and sewers.

The lawsuit accused the city of neglecting the gritty area while it worked on plans to seize the land and redevelop it.

Blue Jays. Toronto signed 32-year-old shortstop Alex Gonzalez to a one-year deal worth $2.75 million, which includes a club option for 2011.

Red Sox. DeMarlo Hale is Boston's new bench coach under manager Terry Francona.

Hale, the team's third-base coach the last four seasons, replaces Brad Mills, hired as manager of the Houston Astros last month.