Sports in brief: Mets, Twins finalize trade

Pitcher Johan Santana passed his physical Saturday, finalizing the swap that sent him from the Minnesota Twins to the New York Mets for four prospects: outfielder Carlos Gomez and right-handers Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra.

“We’ve been lacking what we consider a true No. 1 starter,” Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. “It doesn’t get much better than Johan Santana.”

After an off-season of shopping the two-time A.L. Cy Young Award winner, Minnesota considered hanging onto him. Without a new deal, Santana could have become a free agent following this year’s World Series. The Twins offered Santana an $80 million, four-year extension, but he turned it down.

The Mets and Twins announced the trade one day after Santana agreed to a $137.5 million, six-year contract with New York – record riches for a pitcher. With an option for a seventh season, the deal could be worth $157 million.

The left-hander gets $19 million this year, $20 million in 2009, $21 million in 2010, $22.5 million in 2011, $24 million in 2012 and $25.5 million in 2013, according to terms obtained by the Associated Press.

“Reliever Jon Rauch and Washington agreed to a $3.2 million, two-year contract, avoiding arbitration.

The right-hander will make $1.2 million in 2008 and $2 million in 2009. The deal also includes a club option for $2.9 million in 2010 that must be exercised within five days of the end of the 2008 World Series.

Tennis

Sharapova wins

Maria Sharapova won her Fed Cup debut match and defending champion Russia split with Israel in their opening singles, while Spain and China took 2-0 leads in the first round in London.

Sharapova defeated Tzipi Obziler 6-0, 6-4, and Israel’s Shahar Peer rallied to defeat Dinara Safina 0-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Nuria Llagostera Vives of Spain upset Francesca Schiavone of Italy 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-2, and Anabel Medina Garrigues followed with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Flavia Pennetta in Naples, Italy.

In Beijing, Li Na defeated Alize Cornet of France 6-3, 6-1 and Peng Shuai outlasted Virginie Razzano 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to put China within one victory of its first appearance in the Fed Cup semifinals.

In San Diego, Lindsay Davenport faltered badly in a loss in the quarterfinal against Germany.

Davenport fell 6-1, 7-5 to 18-year-old Sabine Lisicki.

Ashley Harkleroad shook off her nerves and evened the best-of-5 series at 1-1 with a brilliant Fed Cup debut, a 6-1, 6-3 win over Tatjana Malek.

Miscellany

Downhill canceled

American Bode Miller and the rest of the downhill field got a day off after the World Cup race was canceled because of heavy snowfall in Val D’Isere, France.

“Lindsey Vonn is looking on the bright side after a poor run in foggy conditions derailed her bid to tie the U.S. record for World Cup downhill victories.

“We still have four more downhills left,” Vonn said after finishing tied for fifth behind Slovenia’s Tina Maze, who took advantage of sunnier conditions to ski the Corviglia course in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in 1 minute, 44.38 seconds.

Vonn retained her lead in the standings after finishing 0.42 seconds behind Maze.

“Monterey Jazz edged Tiago by 4 1/2 lengths in the $300,000 Strub Stakes for 4-year-olds at Santa Anita.

Ridden by David Flores, Monterey Jazz ran 1 1-8 miles in 1:45.65 and paid $13.60, $4.40 and $3.60. Tiago, last year’s Santa Anita Derby winner, returned $2.80 and $2.40. Monzante was another half-length back in third and paid $4.60 to show.