Newsmakers
Closing in The Arizona Diamondbacks and young All-Star outfielder Justin Upton are closing in on a six-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. The deal would be worth just more than $50 million, the person said Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been finalized. The 22-year-old Upton made his first All-Star game last season, when he hit .300 with 26 homers and 86 RBIs.
Agreed Starting pitcher Luke Hochevar, the overall No. 1 draft pick of the 2006 amateur draft, agreed to a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals that will pay him $1.76 million in the major leagues. The deal includes a salary of $772,500 if Hochevar is in the minors.
Extended Oregon State basketball coach Craig Robinson, who is the brother-in-law of President Barack Obama, has agreed in principle to a two-year contract extension. School officials said the agreement will keep Robinson with the Beavers through the 2015-16 season. His 31 wins since taking the job in 2008 are the most for the Beavers over two years since the 1989-91 seasons.
Announced Defending Iditarod champion Lance Mackey, who also has won the Yukon Quest four times, plans to bypass both long-distance sled dog races next year and focus on the lower 48 mushing circuit. Mackey says he wants to experience such events as the 345-mile International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race, which goes to 10 Wyoming towns before ending in Utah. The 1,100-mile Iditarod kicks off with a ceremonial start in Anchorage on Saturday.
Sidelined Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ray Emery needs surgery to repair his right hip and will miss the rest of the season. Michael Leighton has started in Emery’s place and will likely be the Flyers’ top goalie in the playoffs.
Revealed Golden State Warriors leading scorer Monta Ellis underwent an MRI exam on his injured back that revealed a strain, and he isn’t expected to join the team at all during its five-game road trip.
Suspended Alabama forward JaMychal Green was suspended indefinitely for violation of team rules. Green is the team’s second-leading scorer (14.8) and top rebounder (7.2). Coach Anthony Grant did not set a date for Green’s return.
•Sacramento Kings forward Andres Nocioni was suspended by the NBA for two games without pay after pleading no contest in California to drunken driving. Nocioni was arrested about 2 a.m. Nov. 5 when a police officer noticed his car weaving in downtown Sacramento, hours after the Kings had lost a home game to the Atlanta Hawks.