Ortiz inks one-year deal with Boston
MLB: David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox avoided salary arbitration by agreeing Monday to a one-year contract worth $14,575,000.
The deal for the slugging designated hitter was midway between the $16.5 million he asked for last month and the $12.65 million submitted by the Red Sox, which matched his 2011 earnings.
Ortiz became a free agent after the season then passed up a chance to go elsewhere when he accepted Boston’s arbitration offer on Dec. 7.
“I feel happy since I avoided going to arbitration,” he said on Monday, hours before the hearing had been scheduled to start in St. Petersburg, Fla. “People are used to see me with the Red Sox uniform and when you have so much time in one organization, and you’re identified with it, the best thing is to stay, even if it is for 1 or 2 million less.”
The 36-year-old Ortiz hit .309 with 29 homers and 96 RBIs last year.
• Yankees, Pirates working on Burnett deal: The New York Yankees and Pirates have made progress toward a trade that would send much-maligned pitcher A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh would pay at least $10 million of the $33 million Burnett is owed in the final two seasons of his $82.5 million, five-year contract, a person familiar with the discussions said.
Burnett, a 35-year-old right-hander, has struggled to a 34-35 record and 4.79 ERA during three seasons with New York and went 11-11 with a 5.15 ERA last year.
• Athletics land Cespedes: After a winter of rebuilding, the Oakland Athletics were the surprise winner for Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes.
Cespedes and the A’s have agreed to a $36 million, four-year contract – quite a splash for the low-budget franchise that traded away several key faces this offseason. Cespedes played for Cuba in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
• Garland signs with Indians: Right-hander Jon Garland, who has won 132 games in the majors for five teams, agreed to a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians.
Garland’s 2011 season was cut short by a shoulder injury. He went 1-5 with a 4.33 ERA in just nine starts for the Dodgers before shoulder surgery in July.
• Janssen, Blue Jays come to terms: Right-hander Casey Janssen and the Toronto Blue Jays have avoided salary arbitration, agreeing on a $5.9 million, two-year contract.
Nowitzki clutch as Mavs edge Clippers
NBA: Dirk Nowitzki scored 22 points, 11 in the final 6-plus minutes, Shawn Marion added 16, and the Dallas Mavericks held on to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 96-92 in Dallas.
Caron Butler of the Clippers scored a season-high 23 points against his former team, and Blake Griffin added 20 points.
Conference-leading Sharks down Capitals
NHL: Joe Pavelski had two goals and two assists, leading the San Jose Sharks past the Capitals 5-3 at Washington.
Joe Thornton collected three assists for the Pacific Division-leading Sharks, and Thomas Greiss made 39 saves.
No. 2 Syracuse escapes at Louisville
Men’s basketball: C.J. Fair scored 13 points and No. 2 Syracuse scored the final six points of the game to beat No. 19 Louisville 52-51 at Louisville, Ky., snapping a seven-game losing streak against the Cardinals.
The Orange (26-1, 13-1 Big East) held the Cardinals (20-6, 8-5) without a point over the final 3 1/2 minutes and Fair hit the go-ahead layup with 2:11 left.
• No. 4 Kansas holds off Kansas State: Tyshawn Taylor had 20 points and Jeff Withey added 18 points and 11 rebounds for Kansas, which is alone in first place in the Big 12 after a 59-53 road win at Manhattan, Kan.
The Jayawks (21-5, 11-2) won for the 36th time in their last 39 games against the Wildcats (17-8, 6-7).
Lady Vols blow out No. 7 Kentucky
• Women’s basketball: Meighan Simmons scored a season-high 25 points and No. 13 Tennessee routed No. 7 Kentucky 91-54 at Knoxville, Tenn.
Shekinna Stricklen added 18 points for the Lady Volunteers, who shot 59 percent while holding Kentucky to 33.3 percent and held a 45-27 rebounding advantage.
Moss announces plan to return to NFL
Miscellany: Randy Moss wants to resurrect his NFL career.
Moss used a live webchat on his 35th birthday to announce he plans to come out of retirement next season. And Moss’ personal assistant, Donnie Jones, says Moss is “ready to rock ‘n’ roll.”
Moss retired last August, compiling 14,858 receiving yards and 153 touchdowns in 13 seasons. He last played in 2010, getting traded by the New England Patriots to the Minnesota Vikings before finishing the season with Tennessee.
• Boston College wins Beanpot: Bill Arnold scored with 6.4 seconds left in the first overtime to lead No. 3 Boston College to a 3-2 victory over No. 2 Boston University in the Beanpot in Boston, giving the Eagles the area’s college hockey bragging rights for the third consecutive year.
Luke Greiner scored a short-handed goal in the third period and Steve Michalek stopped 24 shots as Harvard beat Northeastern 3-2 in the Beanpot consolation game.