Newsmakers
Agreed Free agent Derek Jeter is keeping his pinstripes, just like everyone expected.
The iconic shortstop and the New York Yankees reached a preliminary agreement Saturday on a $51 million, three-year contract with an $8 million player option for 2014, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
While negotiations moved slowly, there was little doubt that the Yankees captain would remain in the Bronx. Beloved by fans and respected by his peers, Jeter wants to be a Yankee for his entire career in the mold of Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle.
The guaranteed portion of the contract includes a $3 million buyout if the option is declined. If it is exercised, Jeter would earn $56 million over four seasons.
• Free agent Lance Berkman is headed back to the National League Central Division, joining a team he knows really well.
The former Houston Astros slugger agreed to an $8 million, one-year contract with St. Louis, solidifying the Cardinals’ roster ahead of the upcoming winter meetings.
The 34-year-old first baseman/outfielder was a five-time N.L. All-Star with the Astros and last year batted .248 with Houston and the New York Yankees, finishing with 14 homers and 58 RBIs. Berkman was traded to the Yankees on July 31 and helped them win the wild card.
Sidelined Utah starting quarterback Jordan Wynn will have shoulder surgery and will miss the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 22, coach Kyle Whittingham announced.
Whittingham said Wynn had an MRI Friday night after experiencing shoulder soreness in practice. Wynn initially hurt his shoulder in Utah’s 68-27 win over Iowa State on Oct. 9, but Whittingham said he recovered enough to play in the seven games that followed before reinjuring the shoulder in Utah’s 17-16 win over BYU on Nov. 27.
Wynn will undergo surgery in the next seven to 10 days, with recovery estimated at six months.
Terrance Cain, who directed Utah to victories over UNLV and New Mexico this season, takes over.
Awarded Golfer Jim Furyk has been voted the PGA Tour player of the year for the first time on the strength of his three victories and capturing the FedEx Cup.
Furyk, who had gone more than two years without winning, ended his long drought at the Transitions Championship. He also won The Heritage at Hilton Head, then capped off his big year by winning the Tour Championship.
It’s the second straight year that the PGA Tour player of the year did not win a major. Tiger Woods did it last year. Also on the ballot were Matt Kuchar, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Ernie Els. The tour does not release vote totals from the players.