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All season, Troy Glaus has had a pain in the foot, and more recently been a pain in the neck for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Yesterday, the Jays took steps to rectify their third baseman's nagging foot issue, saying that Glaus will undergo "nerve-decompression surgery" in Los Angeles next week.

His season is over.

As for that other matter causing grief among the Jays' executive — Glaus's possible involvement with performance-enhancing steroids — the American League club said it has received an explanation from Glaus and that it continues to support him.

"I talked to him, but that conversation was really more between him and I," general manager J.P. Ricciardi said before last night's game against the New York Yankees at the Rogers Centre. "I'd rather keep it that way."

Last week, SI.com reported that Glaus received multiple shipments of performance-enhancing steroids through an illicit distribution network, according to information provided by an unidentified source.

According to the report, Glaus received the shipments between September of 2003 and May of 2004 while he was still a member of the California Angels.

The report noted that their information pertained only to the receipt, not the actual use, of nandrolone and testosterone, which remain on Major League Baseball's banned list.

Asked whether Glaus was able to provide the Jays with an adequate explanation, Ricciardi said, "Yeah, I think so."

Later, without going into specifics, Ricciardi elaborated.

"I felt like what he told me was fine," Ricciardi said. "It's not my place to pass judgment. We just wanted to let him know we're here for him, we're here to support him. He's a Blue Jay and we're not going to turn our back on him because of allegations or anything like that.

"We're glad he's here. We'll see what he can do when he's healthy. We want him to be a part of our team. Like I said, we're not going to turn our back on any of these guys if someone accuses them of something."

Glaus's only comment on the issue has been no comment.

The beefy Glaus has been bothered all season by a left foot problem that has at various times been described as bone spurs and then plantar fasciitis, an overuse injury that causes severe pain in the heel of the foot.

The injury, which Glaus aggravated during Monday's game in Detroit against the Tigers, has restricted him to 115 games this season.

The Jays' leader in home runs a year ago with 38, Glaus has just 20 this season along with 62 runs batted in.

Ricciardi said that when the Jays were most recently in California they sent Glaus to see Dr. Phillip Kwong, a foot specialist in Los Angeles, who said the problem was a nerve in the player's foot.

"They did a procedure where they froze the nerve," Ricciardi said. "And they said if this really takes and you don't feel any pain you probably need surgery to decompress the nerve.

"And that's what they did and he felt better with it."

Glaus, who was at the Rogers Centre before the game but was preparing to leave for Los Angeles, declined to speak with reporters.

"He just couldn't have a healthy season," Ricciardi said. "It's a relief from the sense that we know what it is, we can take care of it, and he'll be healthy for spring training."

In other news, Ricciardi said he has had preliminary discussions with representatives of Matt Stairs, one of Toronto's offensive bright lights this season, about a contract extension.

Signed during the off-season to a bargain-basement one-year deal worth $850,000 (U.S.), the Fredericton, N.B.-raised Stairs responded with 19 home runs in just 301 at-bats heading into last night's game.

The 39-year-old veteran also did not look out of place filling in at left field for the injured Reed Johnson and at first for Lyle Overbay, who was out for an extended period with a broken hand.

"I would say he's in the driver's seat," Toronto manager John Gibbons said of Stairs and his negotiating strength.

Ricciardi said he had a brief conversation with Bob Garber, Stairs's Chicago-based agent, on Tuesday.

"I think we've got the parameters to work with," Ricciardi said. "Just like we did with Johnny Mac [Toronto shortstop John McDonald], I think there's a deal to be made there."

Stairs said he has surpassed all his expectations this season.

"Ten times surpassed," he said. "I never set goals, but my goal was to try to hit 10 home runs. I surpassed that by the all-star break."

As for what kind of a new deal he hopes he can work out with the Jays, Stairs just smiled.

"I'm not going there," he said.