Yankees, Sabathia reportedly agree on seven-year deal
There is no recession for the New York Yankees.
Flexing the economic muscle of their new billion-dollar ballpark and ignoring industry-wide nervousness over big-money deals, the Yankees landed the top free-agent pitcher when they agreed Wednesday to the framework of a $161 million, seven-year contract with CC Sabathia.
The amount is a record for a pitcher and the fourth-highest salary in baseball.
The Yankees and Sabathia’s agents still need to work out all the details and the pitcher must pass a physical, a baseball official familiar with the talks told the Associated Press on Wednesday.
•Dodgers land Loretta: The Los Angeles Dodgers finalized a $1.25 million, one-year contract with free-agent utilityman Mark Loretta.
•Pirates lose sponsor: General Motors, seeking a bailout worth billions of dollars from the federal government, is not renewing a sponsorship arrangement with the Pittsburgh Pirates that expired at the end of last season.
•Johnson will manage U.S.: Davey Johnson will get another chance to manage the U.S. baseball team – one made up of major leaguers this time.
Johnson guided the Americans to a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics in August and now will manage the U.S. team in the second World Baseball Classic this spring.
Johnson already has one roster spot set. It was also announced that New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter will play for the U.S. team.
Football
No bonus for Burress
The New York Giants have refused to pay suspended receiver Plaxico Burress a $1 million portion of a signing bonus from a contract signed in September.
NFL Players Association union spokesman Carl Francis confirmed that the Super Bowl champions decided to not make the payment, which was due Wednesday.
“We will file a claim in the appropriate forum to enforce his right to receive and keep the moneys entitled to him under his player contract,” Francis said.
•Cassel’s status up in air: New England Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel left the team to join his family in San Jose, Calif., following the death of his father earlier in the week.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Greg Cassel died Monday. Belichick said he didn’t know when Cassel would rejoin the team.
•Cowboys lose Jones: Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones might miss the rest of the season because of a neck injury suffered in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
•Jaguars’ Taylor ails: Fred Taylor tore ligaments in his left thumb in a game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday and is awaiting a second opinion before deciding whether to join the Jacksonville Jaguars’ injured reserve list.
•Panthers’ owner needs transplant: Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, 72, is in need of a heart transplant and has been placed on a donor waiting list.
•Savannah back with Huskies: Linebacker E.J. Savannah will return to the Washington Huskies team according to a school spokesman.
Savannah had academic and team issues under former coach Tyrone Willingham and was released from his scholarship back in September.
•Gill hot commodity: University of Buffalo coach Turner Gill, fresh off an improbable Mid-American Conference title, is a candidate for coaching vacancies at Syracuse and Auburn.
•Alabama State on probation: Alabama State University’s program was placed on five years’ probation by the NCAA for 17 rules violations and must forfeit all games won in the 2000 and 2001 seasons, including the 2001 Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.
•Orakpo wins Lombardi: Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo won the Rotary Lombardi Award, the first Longhorn to take home the trophy, as the nation’s top college lineman or linebacker, in 24 years.
NBA
Suns, Bobcats pull off deal
The Phoenix Suns jettisoned two familiar players to Charlotte, and got the Bobcats’ leading scorer.
The Suns traded Raja Bell and Boris Diaw to the Bobcats as part of a deal for Jason Richardson.
Rookie point guard Sean Singletary also went to Charlotte, while the Suns got small forward Jared Dudley and a 2010 second-round draft pick.
•Three-team trade worked out: The New Orleans Hornets sent veteran guard Mike James to Washington in exchange for Antonio Daniels as part of a three-team trade that returned a future first-round draft pick from the Wizards to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Memphis also dealt guard Javaris Crittenton to Washington and sent a conditional second-round pick to New Orleans, while the Wizards waived guard Dee Brown.
•Mobley will retire: New York Knicks guard Cuttino Mobley will retire from the NBA today, a person familiar with the decision told AP.
NHL
Sakic breaks fingers
Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic, already out with back problems, broke three fingers on his left hand when he tried to clear snow from a snowblower at his home in Englewood, Colo., and will be out at least three months.
Golf
Daly smashes camera
John Daly smashed a spectator’s camera into a tree while shooting a 6-over-par 78 in the first round of the Australian Open in Sydney.
Daly reportedly snatched Brad Clegg’s camera after he got too close and smashed it against a tree, telling the man, “You want it back, I’ll buy you a new one.”