Times wires
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Baseball
MVP Hamilton and Rangers renew for two
ARLINGTON, Texas — American League MVP Josh Hamilton agreed to a two-year, $24 million contract with the Rangers on Thursday.
The deal, four days before a scheduled arbitration hearing in Phoenix, covers his last two arbitration-eligible seasons. Hamilton can become a free agent after the 2012 World Series.
"We want to be a part of this organization, not only for the next couple of years but for a long time to come," said Hamilton, 29, who gets a $3 million signing bonus.
The three-time All-Star and former top Rays prospect, who has battled drug and alcohol addictions, has a .311 career average, with 93 homers and 331 RBIs in 468 major-league games.
Bonds trial: Federal prosecutors reduced the number of charges against home run king Barry Bonds from 11 to five, cutting six counts of making false statements to a federal grand jury in December 2003, the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News reported. The former Giants outfielder, who has pleaded not guilty and denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs, is scheduled for trial March 21.
More baseball: The Angels defeated pitcher Jered Weaver, 28, in salary arbitration; the pitcher will get a raise from $4,265,000 to $7,365,000 instead of his request for $8.8 million. … Outfielder Luke Scott and the Orioles avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.4 million deal. … Twins officials may be open to trading starting pitcher Francisco Liriano, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.
Tennis
Qualifier stands in Clijsters' way
Qualifier Jelena Dokic upset fifth-seeded Nadia Petrova 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) in the second round of the Open Gaz de France in Paris, setting up a quarterfinal against Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters, with the No. 1 ranking on the line.
If Clijsters wins today, she will overtake Caroline Wozniacki in the women's rankings.
SAP Open: Milos Roanic ousted Tampa resident James Blake 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) late Wednesday in the second round in San Jose, Calif.
Et cetera
alpine Skiing: American Lindsey Vonn took a slow practice run but remained uncertain whether she would compete in today's super-combined at the world championships in Germany. She suffered a concussion Tuesday.
ARENA FOOTBALL: The Storm acquired quarterback Billy Ferris in a trade with Arizona for receiver Kerry Reed.
Horses: Reprized Halo drew the No. 1 post in a field of 10 3-year-olds for Saturday's Grade III $225,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar. Also on the Festival Preview Day undercard, Denomination is on the rail among 10 older females in the Grade III $125,000 Endeavour, and Annabel Lee starts from the No. 1 stall in a field of 12 3-year-old fillies in the $125,000 Florida Oaks.
Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires