Baseball brass keeping busy in Music City
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Baseball’s winter meetings are in full swing in Nashville.
We learned yesterday that Yankees star Alex Rodriguez needs hip surgery and could be out of action until midseason. This will be A-Rod’s sixth trip to the disabled list in six seasons.
We also got word that free-agent center fielder Angels Pagan was staying with the Giants. The 31-year-old batted .288 with eight home runs, 56 RBIs and a team-high 15 triples in his first season with San Francisco.
A person familiar with the negotiations says free agent James Loney and the Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a one-year contract.
Free-agent Mike Napoli and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a three-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
Veteran pitcher Jason Marquis is staying with the San Diego Padres after working out a one-year deal.
McIlroy recognized for 2012 performance
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — Rory McIlroy has been voted PGA Tour player of the year by his fellow competitors. The 23-year-old from Northern Ireland won four times on the U.S tour this year, including the PGA Championship for his second major title.
McIlroy also won the PGA Tour money title and the Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average.
John Huh is the rookie of the year. He won an opposite-field event in Mexico and was the only rookie to reach the Tour Championship.
Wizards facing tough task
UNDATED (AP) — Tonight’s six-game NBA schedule involves a worst-versus-first matchup in Washington, where the 1-13 Wizards await the 12-3 Heat. Miami is tied with Western Conference leader Memphis for best record in the league. Washington started the season with 12 straight losses and has three fewer wins than the second-worst teams in the league.
The Grizzlies will be trying to bounce back from a rare loss when they entertain a road-weary Phoenix club that’s lost three in a row.
Two early season contenders will be sharing the court in Brooklyn. The Nets are 11-5 and a game behind city-rival New York in the Atlantic Division race. Visiting Oklahoma City has won five straight to get to 14-4. The Thunder holds a five-game lead in the Northwest Division race.
Also this evening, Central leader Chicago hosts Indiana, Philadelphia is home to Minnesota and Houston is home to the L.A. Lakers. Los Angeles is 3-3 under new coach Mike D’Antoni and 8-9 overall.
Wolverines looking to maintain early season momentum
UNDATED (AP) — Michigan is the highest-ranked college basketball team on tonight’s schedule. The third-ranked Wolverines will be looking to get to 8-0 for the first time in 16 seasons when they host a Western Michigan team that’s run off six straight wins after losing its season opener.
After narrowly avoiding an upset at the hands of Illinois State on Saturday, fifth-ranked Louisville returns to the court tonight at upset-minded Charleston.
Arizona is the only other top 10 team in action. The eighth-ranked Wildcats host Southern Mississippi.