Record-setting closer Rodriguez jumps to Mets
Francisco Rodriguez became the first top-tier free agent to reach an agreement when he decided to join the New York Mets, and Kerry Wood was on the verge of striking a deal with the Cleveland Indians at the winter meetings in Las Vegas.
Coming off a record 62 saves for the Los Angeles Angels, Rodriguez reached a preliminary agreement Tuesday on a $37 million, three-year contract with the Mets, desperate for bullpen help. .
In the second trade of the four-day session, the Cincinnati Reds acquired catcher Ramon Hernandez and cash from the Baltimore Orioles for utilityman Ryan Freel and two minor leaguers.
The Dodgers reached a $17.5 million, three-year agreement with third baseman Casey Blake and a preliminary one-year deal with infielder Mark Loretta, pending a physical.
NFL
Portis scorns Zorn
Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis unleashed a load of frustration toward rookie coach Jim Zorn, criticizing him for giving inconsistent messages and sarcastically calling Zorn a “genius.”
Portis, in his weekly appearance on WTEM-AM radio, was still smarting from his lack of playing time in Sunday’s 24-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, when he was removed from the game after the first series of the second half.
•Union backs Burress: The NFL Players Association filed a grievance challenging the suspension and fine given to Plaxico Burress by the New York Giants after the receiver accidentally shot himself in a nightclub more than a week ago.
The union said the team violated the collective bargaining agreement.
NBA
Kings stun Lakers
Francisco Garcia and John Salmons scored 21 points apiece, and the Kings snapped an eight-game losing streak with a surprising 113-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento, Calif.
Bobby Jackson added 15 points for the Kings, whose first victory in nine home games was one of the NBA’s most improbable results of the young season. Sacramento had lost 11 of its last 12 games overall.
•Cavs net historic win: On a night when their top two players set franchise records, the Cavaliers broke a league mark with a 114-94 romp over the Toronto Raptors at Cleveland.
LeBron James scored 31 points and became Cleveland’s career steals leader and Zydrunas Ilgauskas moved atop the Cavaliers’ rebounding chart.
In winning their ninth straight by at least 12 points, the Cavs, 17-1 since Nov. 3, are the first team in league history to win nine consecutive games in a single season so handily.
•Magic escape: Hedo Turkoglu banked in a 3-pointer from 25 feet with less than 1 second left, as Orlando rallied from a late eight-point deficit to beat the Trail Blazers 109-108 in Portland.
•Jazz ruin McHale’s debut: Kevin McHale instilled some much-needed energy and heart into his down-and-out Timberwolves in his first game as coach.
Next on his agenda should be teaching them how to shoot free throws.
Mehmet Okur hit the go-ahead shot with 1.7 seconds to play and the Utah Jazz capitalized on 16 missed free throws by Minnesota to rally for a 99-96 victory at Minneapolis.
College basketball
Texas beats Villanova
A.J. Abrams had 26 points and Damion James added 16 to lead No. 6 Texas to a 67-58 victory over No. 15 Villanova in the Jimmy V Classic at New York.
Abrams, who had 18 points in the second half, and James, the Longhorns’ two leading scorers, combined to score 16 straight points for Texas (7-1).
College Football
Van Diest honored
Mike Van Diest, who has led Carroll College of Helena to a 13-0 record and a spot in the NAIA national championship game, has been named an NAIA regional coach of the year by the American Football Coaches Association.
•Curry wins Butkus Award: Wake Forest senior Aaron Curry has won the Butkus Award honoring the nation’s top college linebacker.
•Sooner wins Broyles Award: Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson was given the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach. The Sooners scored at least 60 points in five straight games and an NCAA-record 702 points.
•Locksley will coach New Mexico: Incoming New Mexico coach Mike Locksley is picking up where his predecessor left off, saying the program is in good shape and he’s ready to make things even better.
“This isn’t a rebuilding project. I look at it as a renovation,” Locksley said Tuesday. “I’ll be putting my personal touches on the great foundation that’s already been laid.”
NHL
Gagne sinks Islanders
Simon Gagne scored a tiebreaking power-play goal with less than 9 minutes left to lead the Flyers to a 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders at Philadelphia.
•Canadiens douse Flames: Robert Lang had two goals and an assist, Matt D’Agostini extended his goal-scoring streak to four games and the Canadiens beat the Calgary Flames 4-1 at Montreal.
Miscellany
Lewis leads boxing class
Three-time heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis headlines the 2009 induction class into the International Boxing Hall of Fame at Canastota, N.Y.
Lewis enters as a modern era fighter, along with American bantamweight champion Orlando Canizales and South African junior lightweight champ Brian Mitchell.
•Dream will draft first: The last-place Atlanta Dream will have the top pick in the WNBA draft in April.
The Washington Mystics received the second pick in the draft lottery, followed by the Chicago Sky, Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury.
•Economy affects Olympics: London 2012 organizers are concerned companies supplying materials for the Olympic Park could go broke because of the global economic downturn.
The plans for the village already have been scaled back.