Jays Sign Dotel as Closer

By Justin Worsley,

The Toronto Blue Jays have signed relief pitcher Octavio Dotel to a one-year, $3.5 million deal.

Dotel, 37, recorded 22 saves last season while pitching for the Colorado Rockies, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates. His 4.08 ERA, however, is above his career average of 3.75.

The deal also includes a 2012 club option. Last year's closer, Kevin Gregg, is currently a free agent.

Dotel has saved 105 games in 12 seasons. Toronto will be Dotel's 11th home, making him the 14th player in MLB history to play for more than 10 teams. The only team Dotel has spent more than one full season with is an early-career stint in Houston between 2000-04.

Liddell Ices His Career

By Justin Worsley,

After losing his last three fights and being unable to have his arms raised in victory since 2007, Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell officially announced his retirement on Wednesday during a UFC 125 press conference.

Liddell, 41, was one of the most iconic figures in UFC during the 2000's. In 2005, Liddell knocked out Randy Couture in the first round to win the UFC Light Heavyweight title, which he defended four times until Quinton Jackson delivered a first-round knockout two years later. Jackson is the only fighter who defeated Liddell more than once.

Liddell has an MMA record of 21-8 with 13 knockouts, including a 12-1 start to begin his career.

UFC President Dana White also announced that while Liddell may be leaving the octagon, he isn't leaving the company. White promoted Liddell, who he managed before opening UFC, to Vice President of Business Development.

Of Liddell's 21 career wins, 16 were under a UFC card, tied with Couture for the second-most in league history.

Favre Fined, Not Suspended by NFL

By Justin Worsley,

If Brett Favre misses what will most likely be the last NFL game of his career, the NFL won't be responsible for it.

The league announced on Wednesday that the 41-year-old quarterback will be fined $50,000 for failure to cooperate with the league's investigation of several lewd photographs and voicemails allegedly left by Favre to Versus reporter Jenn Sterger while the two worked for the New York Jets in 2008.

Favre will not be suspended due to the lack of evidence in the case.

The story initially came out on Deadspin.com in October. The league also resorted to using forensic technology on picture to determine whether or not they were sent by the three-time league MVP. The analysis was not conclusive enough to finger Favre as the culprit.

Sterger was hired as the "Gameday Host" for the Jets in 2008, the same year the team traded for Favre. Her lawyer, Joseph R. Conway, has not stated whether or not Sterger will sue Favre, the Jets or the league.

Favre will most likely start the Vikings season finale against the Detroit Lions after missing last Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles with a concussion. Last month, his 20-year streak of 297 consecutive regular season starts was snapped when he suffered a shoulder injury in the opening drive against the Buffalo Bills.

The fine may look hefty, but in reality it is not. Favre has a salary of $16 million this season, which breaks down to $1 million per game. The $50,000 fine equates to 0.3-percent of his overall salary.

Isles Trade Wisniewski to Montreal

By Justin Worsley,

The New York Islanders have traded defenseman James Wisniewski to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for two draft picks.

New York will receive a 2011 second-round draft pick as well as a conditional fifth-round draft pick in 2012.

Wisniewski, 26, has played in 32 games this season and was the Islanders top-scoring defenseman with three goals and 18 assists. He was suspended for two games earlier in the season for making an obscene gesture towards New York Rangers winger Sean Avery.

Montreal was looking to bolster their defensive front, which lost blue-liner Andrei Markov for the season last month.

Wisniewski will join the Canadiens on Wednesday when they travel to Tampa Bay.

New York acquired Wisniewski last July in exchange for a third-round draft pick. Montreal will be his fourth home in less than two years.

FIU Baseball Player Arrested on Rape Charges

By Justin Worsley,

Last spring, Florida International shortstop Garrett Wittels was making headlines as he ended his season with a 56-game hitting streak, two games shy of former Oklahoma State first baseman Robin Ventura's record.

Now, he is making headlines for other reasons. NBCSports.com has reported that Wittels, 20, has been arrested in the Bahamas along with two friends for the alleged rape of two 17-year-old girls.

Wittels and his friends were released last Thursday on a $10,000 bond. The incident occurred on Dec. 20 at the Atlantis Resort and Casino. The age of consent in the Bahamas is 16.

According to Wittels' father, Michael, Garrett is guilty of nothing and is simply being accused by the girls because of who he is.

Wittels' eligibility could possibly be in jeopardy for the upcoming season. The Panthers open their season with a three-game series against Southeastern Louisiana between Feb. 18-20. Wittels hit .417 last season.

Panthers "Win" No. 1 Pick

By Justin Worsley,

Sometimes a loss can also be a win.

The Carolina Panthers were officially awarded the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft following both their 27-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and and upset victory by the Cincinnati Bengals over the San Diego Chargers.

Carolina is currently 2-13, the second worst record in franchise history.

The Panther also host the league's worst record in 2001, a season that began with a win over the Minnesota Vikings but ended with a 15-game losing streak. Carolina, however, was unable to obtain the no. 1 overall pick because the expansion franchise Houston Texans entered the league the following year.

The pick give Carolina the opportunity to draft the highly touted Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck if he decides to declare himself eligible. Several other top prospects include Louisiana State cornerback Patrick Peterson, Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green and Auburn defensive lineman Nick Fairley.

The second pick can go to either Buffalo, Cincinnati or Denver. All three teams are 4-11, however, Buffalo has a victory over Cincinnati, which will give the Bengals a lower draft pick between the two of them is a tie-breaker is needed.

Could Orlando Trade Jason Richardson?

By Justin Worsley,

When the Orlando Magic completed two blockbuster trades last week that reshaped their team, reports immediately came out that they may not be done wheeling and dealing.

But could one of their newest additions be shown the door almost as quickly as he was brought in? According to Yahoo! Sports Mike Miller, Orlando may be looking into trading swingman Jason Richardson to division rival Charlotte in exchange for forward Boris Diaw.

When Orlando traded away Marcin Gortat, Rashard Lewis and Mickael Pietrus, they lost a lot of their size and have been struggling defensively. Center Dwight Howard, who has won the last two Defensive Player of the Year awards, has been stuck practically doing everything by himself and Orlando is concerned that he may find himself frequently in foul trouble if they do not bring in help.

Diaw, 28, is a year younger than Richardson and is also taller (6-foot-8) and 10 pounds heavier (235 pounds.) Diaw averages 5.3 rebounds per game, exactly one more than Richardson and averages 0.6 blocks per game, higher than Richardson's 0.1.

The ironic part about this potential trade is that the two player have been swapped previously. Two years ago, Phoenix and Charlotte traded the two players in a five-player deal.

Richardson does average more points per game than Diaw, but much of his stats come from his time in Phoenix, where he averaged 19.3 points per game. In four games with the Magic, he has been unable to find similar success. Richardson is averaging only 9.8 points per game while replacing Vince Carter at the shooting guard position.

Acquiring Diaw can also keep Gilbert Arenas off the bench. Orlando is currently having a dilemma as to how to split the time between point guards Arenas and starter Jameer Nelson. Without Richardson, the Magic can place Arenas at the shooting guard spot and keep him on the court longer. Arenas has been impressive in limited action in Orlando, averaging 7.8 points and 4.5 assists. Arenas has not played longer than 29 minutes so far with Orlando.

There is also the financial benefit. Diaw comes at the bargain salary of $9 million this season while Richardson is making $14.4 million.

49ers Fire Singletary

By Justin Worsley,

Though he was one of the most terrorizing defenders on the field, Mike Singletary just couldn't bring similar success as a head coach.

With San Francisco officially out of playoff contention following their 25-17 loss to the St. Louis Rams, 49ers owner Jed York announced shortly after the game that he has fired Singletary.

San Francisco was preseason favorites to win the NFC West and make the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Instead, San Francisco began the season 0-5 and hosted a carousel at the quarterback position with both Alex and Troy Smith battling for the starting spot.

Troy Smith won the starting job in Sunday's game against the Rams, but was benched in the fourth quarter in favor of Alex Smith.

Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula will be the interim coach when the 49ers play their final game on Jan. 2 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Singletary is the fourth head coach fired this season.

Sources: McNabb to Request Release

By Justin Worsley,

After quarterback Donovan McNabb's tumultuous first season with the Washington Redskins which ended with him riding the bench, he may ask to leave the team.

According to a report on AOL FanHouse, McNabb will formally ask for his release at the season's end.

Washington had high hopes entering this season after trading with division rival Philadelphia and hiring two-time Super Bowl champion Mike Shannahan as their head coach.

Instead, it was just another season of mediocrity for Washington, who stands at 6-9 and in third place in the NFC East. Washington has won one playoff game since 2000.

McNabb was benched by Shannahan two weeks ago in favor of backup Rex Grossman, a move Shannahan claimed he did because Washington was officially out of the playoffs and he needed to evaluate each player on the team.

The 34-year-old McNabb has 3,000 passing yards for the fourth-consecutive year, but has also thrown 15 interceptions and 14 touchdowns, his lowest since his rookie season.

Last month, Washington signed McNabb to a five-year extensions, however, it also included an out clause for Washington which avoids any further financial responsibility for McNabb if they release him this off-season.

The Redskins were hoping McNabb would bring similar success he has with Philadelphia as well as being the first Washington quarterback since Brad Johnson in 2000 to be named to the Pro Bowl.

Instead, it was just another casualty of an aging star brought in by owner Daniel Snyder. Since Snyder purchased the team in 1999, Washington has had 12 different starting quarterbacks, including those signed in free agency as well as a pair of failed draft picks, Patrick Ramsey and Jason Campbell.

McNabb will have plenty of options in free agency. Unless his replacement in Philadelphia, Michael Vick, does not stay with the Eagles, McNabb is the best quarterback available. Minnesota and Arizona were two teams who were heavily interested in trading for McNabb last season.

Webb, Rangers Agree to Deal

By Justin Worsley,

Scrambling to fill the void left by ace pitcher Cliff Lee, the Texas Rangers have reached out to another former Cy Young Award winner.

According to sources, the Ranges have agreed to a one-year deal with right-handed pitcher Brandon Webb. The deal is pending a physical.

Lee was courted by both Texas and the New York Yankees until a "mystery team" emerged two weeks ago. One of Lee's former teams, the Philadelphia Phillies were revealed to be that team and it was announced shortly after that he signed with them.

Webb, 31, won the Cy Young in 2006 while pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In that season, Webb went 16-8 with a 3.10 ERA and 178 strikeouts.

Over the next two seasons, Webb proved his Cy Young campaign was no fluke, posting a 40-17 record over that span and a 3.15 ERA.

Webb has not pitched since opening day of the 2009 season after injuring his right shoulder. The Diamondbacks picked up the option on his 2010 contract and he stayed on the roster as a pitching instructor.

Now with a clean bill of health, Webb told clubs who were interested in him that he was only seeking a one-year deal in order to restore his value for next season. Along with Texas, the Chicago Cubs, the Washington Nationals and a mystery team believed to be the Cincinnati Reds were interested in him.

Webb possesses a sinker which is considered one of the league's best in his repertoire. The Rangers, who lost to the San Francisco Giants in last October's World Series, also have C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis, Tommy Hunter and Derek Holland on their roster. Wilson, Lewis and Hunter all won at least 12 games last season.

Lions Stafford Placed on Injured Reserve

By Justin Worsley,

The Detroit Lions have placed franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford on injured reserve with a separated right shoulder, ending his season.

Stafford, the first-overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft, only played in three games this season, passing for 535 yards with six touchdowns and only one interception. The 22-year-old originally injured his shoulder in a season-opening loss to the Chicago Bears and was sidelined until Week 8, when he returned to throw four touchdown passes in a win over the Washington Redskins.

His return, however, was short. During the fourth quarter of an overtime loss to the New York Jets, Stafford re-injured his shoulder and has not returned to the field since.

Drew Stanton has started in place of both Stafford and backup Shaun Hill, who is out with an injured finger.

Stafford has yet to play a full season. During his rookie year, Stafford separated his left shoulder during a win against the Cleveland Browns, ending his season.

Detroit is mathematically eliminated from playoff contention this year.

Last Place Devils Fire MacLean

By Justin Worsley,

Trying to save the season before it is too late, the New Jersey Devils have fired head coach John MacLean on Thursday.

Jacques Lemaire will return as the head coach for New Jersey for a third time. Lemaire, 65, was the head coach at New Jersey last season, which ended with an early playoff exit, but retured at the season's end.

Under MacLean, the Devils went 9-22-2 and were the lowest scoring team in the league, averaging only 1.7 goals per game. The Devils have been shut out four times so far this season. Last year, the Devils were only shut out six times in the entire season.

Lemaire led the Devils to their first Stanley Cup in 1995 and is 588-441-124-60 in his career as a head coach. Last year, the Devils won the Atlantic Division after going 48-27-7.

Along with their anemic offense, the Devils have also had their fair share of injuries. Goaltender Martin Brodeur has missed time with an elbow injury and captain Zach Parise has been on injured reserve since Nov. 8 with a knee injury.

Without Parise, teams have been able to focus solely on high-scoring winger Ilya Kovalchuk. The Russian Sniper, who was given a 15-year, $100 million deal last summer, has only scored eight goals in 32 games.

Lemaire is expected to return to the ice Thursday night when the Devils host the New York Islanders.

Pryor Among Five Buckeyes Suspended Five Games Next Season

By Justin Worsley,

The NCAA ruled on Thursday that Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor and four other Buckeyes must sit out the first five games of the 2011 season for receiving improper benefits and one other player will have to sit out one game for receiving a discounted service.

Though the players are suspended, they are still eligible to play on Jan. 4 in the Sugar Bowl when the no. 6 Buckeyes play no. 8 Arkansas.

Along with Pryor, DeVier Posey, Mike Adams, Daniel Herron and Solomon Thomas were suspended. They most also repay between $1,000 to $2,500 to charity.

Jordan Whiting will pay $150 to a charity along with his one game suspension.

Head coach Jim Tressel announced in a press conference that he believes only one or two of the named players filed for the NFL Draft in April, however, did not name the players or was aware of whether or not they would be able to escape punishment by going pro.

The players sold game-worn jerseys, pants and other equipment as well as their Big Ten championship ring from the 2008 season. All six players except Whiting are juniors.

The first game they will be eligible will be the Oct. 8 matchup against the newest member of the Big Ten, Nebraska.

Mariners Ship Johnson to San Diego

By Justin Worsley,

The Seattle Mariners have completed a trade with the San Diego Padres which will send catcher Rob Johnson to San Diego in exchange for cash considerations as well as a player to be named later.

Johnson, 28, was the opening day starter this season, however, only started 61 games until Adam Moore replaced him on the starting lineup. The right-hander had a miserable offensive campaign, batting only .191 with a 2.93 on base percentage and two home runs.

On Dec. 13, Seattle designated Johnson for assignment in order to sign designated hitter Jack Crust to their 40-man roster.

The Mariners sent Johnson to Triple-A Tacoma in August and he never was recalled. With the Raniers, Johnson batted .297 in 18 games.

Johnson will most likely serve as the backup to Nick Hundley. Last year's backup, Yorvit Torrealba, signed with the Texas Rangers last month.

Pacquiao's Next Opponent to be Shane Mosely

By Justin Worsley,

ESPN.com's Dan Rafael has reported that Manny Pacquiao has agreed to defend his welterweight title against "Sugar" Shane Mosely on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, 32, was attempting to reschedule his canceled fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mayweather, however, has not responded to Pacquiao's camp. The two were originally slated to fight last March until Pacquiao refused to submit to Olimpic-style blood testing, which would involve him having blood drawn within 14 days of the fight, which he thought would weaken him.

Instead, Pacquiao decided to defend his title against Joshua Clottey, who he defeated by a unanimous decision.

Pacquiao also won the WBC Super Welterweight title last month after defeating Antonio Margarito by a unanimous decision. Overall, the Philipino southpaw is 52-3-1 with 38 knockouts.

Mosely, 39, last fought in September, a split decision with Sergio Mara, and lost by unanimous decision to Mayweather last May. In his career, Mosely is 46-6-1 and has 39 knockouts.

The event will also be hosted on pay-per-view. This will be the first time the two fighter will be pitted against one another.

Chip Kelly Named Coach of the Year

By Justin Worsley,

Oregon coach Chip Kelly was named the Associated Press coach of the year on Wednesday, beating out several candidates, including Auburn's Gene Chizik and TCU's Gary Patterson.

Kelly, who is in his second year with the Ducks, guided Oregon to and undefeated season and will face Chizik's Tigers in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game. At one point of the season, no. 2 Oregon was the top-ranked team in the nation, a first in school history.

Kelly received 24 of the 55 votes, edging Chizik's 17. Stanford's Jim Harbaugh received 5 votes while Patterson and Michigan State's Mark Dantonio both received three votes.

Chizik also fell short in the voting for SEC coach of the year, which went to South Carolina's Steve Spurrier after the Gamecocks won their first ever SEC East division title. Spurrier has won the award seven times as well as winning the ACC coach of the year award twice.

Kelly was also named the Pac-10 coach of the year as well the recipient of the Walter Camp Award. He is the first Pac-10 coach to be named the coach of the year by the Associated Press. Patterson won the award in 2009.

The Ducks first brought Kelly in as an offensive coordinator in 2007, the same position he held previously in New Hampshire. Utilizing a spread offense, which replies on the speed of the skill position players to cause big gains against defenses, Oregon saw their win total increase each season.

When the 2008 season ended, former head coach Mike Bellotti knew he could trust Kelly with the team and handed over the keys to the program as Bellotti took over the job as athletic director.

Now, in just his second season, the 47-year-old Kelly has exceeded expectations of both Bellotti and Duck nation as well as delivered Oregon to their first shot at the national title.

Jennings Breaks Foot, Out 4-6 Weeks

By Justin Worsley,

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings has undergone surgery on his fractured left foot and will be sideline for four to six weeks as he recovers.

Jennings, 21, has taken a more important role in Milwaukee's offense in his second season and is scoring more points per game (17.9) and grabbing more rebounds (4.0) than he was last season.

Prior to his injury, Jennings was yet to miss a game in his short career, playing in 107 straight regular season games as well as seven portseason matches.

Keyon Dooling will most likely replace Jennings in the starting lineup. Dooling has scored 5.2 points per game while averaging 17.3 minutes while playing off the bench.

Earl Boykins is also on their roster, however, he has seen limited action all season and will most likely continue playing off the bench.

The Bucks have lost two straight games and are on a three-game road trip to face Portland, the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago before coming home on Dec. 27 to host the Atlanta Hawks.

Royals Deal Greinke to Milwaukee

By Justin Worsley,

Two seasons after losing ace pitcher CC Sabathia to free agency, the Milwaukee Brewers have found themselves on the outside looking in when the postseason arrives. Now, with a new ace, they hope their fortunes can change.

Milwaukee has agreed to a deal with the Kansas City Royals to acquire 2009 American League Cy Young-award winning pitcher Zack Greinke along with shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt and cash considerations for shortstop Alcides Escobar, outfielder Lorenzo Cain and right-handed pitchers Jake Ordorizzi and Jeremy Jeffress.

Greinke, 27, went 10-14 last season with a 4.17 ERA just a season after his Cy Young-winning campaign where he went 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA and a career-high 242 strikeouts.

Kansas City was reported to have been listening to offers for Greinke, however, Greinke has a no-trade clause in his contract and was able to block 15 teams from being allowed to acquire him, including the New York Yankees.

New York was searching for another top-notch pitcher this offseason and spent much time targeting Cliff Lee. When Lee ultimately spurned the Yankees, rumors began to circulate that they would try to obtain Greinke. Many critics saw this as a bad fit, however, due to Greinke's history of social anxiety problems. Greinke missed the entire 2006 season due to a bout with depression and refused to pose on the cover of Sports Illustrated after winning the Cy Young award.

The 2011 season is the last chance Milwaukee has to impress first baseman Prince Fielder before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The Brewers also traded for pitcher Shaun Marcum last month.

The Brewers projected rotation features Greinke, Yovani Gallardo, Marcum, Randy Wolf and Chris Naverson.

Magic Acquire Arenas, Turkoglu in Separate Trades

By Justin Worsley,

With Orlando suffering through a recent slump and being forced to see their in-state rival Miami winning 11-straight games, the Magic decided it was time for a change of scenery.

Orlando completed two separate trades on Saturday. First, Orlando re-acquired forward Hedo Turkoglu along with Jason Richardson and Earl Clark from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus, Orlando's 2011 first-round draft pick and cash considerations.

The Magic then traded Rashard Lewis to Washington for point guard Gilbert Arenas.

Turkoglu was a key component in Orlando's run to the NBA Finals in 2009, scoring 16.8 points per game and 4.9 assists, however, he has struggled to find his groove since then. The 31-year-old Turkish native only averaged 11.3 points with Toronto last season and has scored only 9.5 points per game in 25 games with the Suns this season.

Richardson, 29, led Phoenix in scoring and steals so far this season with 19.3 points per game and 1.1 steals. The versatile Richardson can play both guard and forward.

Lewis, the second-highest paid player in the NBA, was a disappointment this season, only mustering 12.2 points per game with a .419 field-goal percentage.

Arenas has been on the trade block for Washington since being suspended 50 games by the NBA last year for bringing firearms into the Wizards locker room. Washington held the first-overall pick in the draft, which they used on Kentucky's John Wall, who also plays point guard.

Carter, 33, is an eight-time All-Star, however, he has a career low in points per game (15.1) and assists (2.9) this season.


Due to the trade, Orlando was only able to dress eight players for Saturday night's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Philadelphia was able to take advantage of the short-handed Magic, winning 97-89.

Nets Get Vujacic in Three-Team Trade

By Justin Worsley,

The New Jersey Nets have acquired guard Sasha Vujacic from the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team trade.

The deal will send Terrence Williams to the Houston Rockets and power forward Joe Smith to Los Angeles. The Nets will also receive a 2011 first-round draft pick from Los Angeles and a lottery-protected 2012 first-round pick from Houston.

The Nets are now loaded in future draft picks. In 2008, the Golden State Warriors traded their lottery-protected first-round pick to New Jersey in exchange for point guard Marcus Williams. Williams only lasted one year before bolting to Memphis.

Overall, the Nets have five first-round picks in the next two seasons.

The trade will not be official until December 15 due to NBA rules which delay offseason signees from being traded. Smith, who will join his eighth team since 2003, signed with the Nets last September.

The deal rids the Nets of Williams, who was sent to the D-League last month after violating a series of team rules. Williams was recalled last week, but was put on the inactive list for Tuesday night's game against the Philadelphia 76ers by head coach Avery Johnson.

Vujacic, a 26-year-old Slovenian native, will most likely play behind Devin Harris at the point guard position. Unable to find a way into the Lakers rotations, Vujacic only averaged 1.8 points per game.

Dwight Howard Retires

By Justin Worsley,

Orlando Magic superstar center Dwight Howard has announced his retirement from the NBA Dunk Contest, held annually during the All-Star break.

Howard, 25, won the contest in 2008 while dressed up like Superman, complete with the famous "S" insignia and cape. The 6-foot-11 Howard finished second in 2009 to Nate Robinson, who, at 5-foot-9, is the only three-time champion.

It seemed that Howard would stay in the contest forever, though. Last season, Howard pulled himself out of the contest and now he is officially done after only two contests.

Howard stated his main reason for not wanting to participate anymore is due to the additional work done to his knees from the routine of the contest as well as practice.

"I do too much running and jumping during the season," Howard told FanHouse's Chris Tomasson. "By the time the dunk contest comes around, my legs are as beat as anything."

No players have officially announced their intention on playing in the contest this February.

Nabokov Leaves KHL

By Justin Worsley,

When former San Jose Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov was unable to land a deal with the NHL this offseason, he did as many player do, he went to another league.

His run in the league, however, was short-lived.

Nabokov's agent has told ESPN.com's Scott Burnside that the 35-year-old has left the Kontinental Hockey League. He went 8-8-5 with a 3.02 goals against average and a .888 save percentage with the SKA St. Petersburg club. Nabokov originally signed a four-year deal with the club.

If Nabokov does decide to return to the NHL, he will have to enter through waivers, however, he would be a coveted asset for teams looking for a playoff push. Last season, Nabokov went 44-16-10 with a 2.43 goals against average and a .922 save percentage.

Despite his gaudy numbers, Nabokov has a tendency of slipping in production during the postseason, which was one of the reasons why the Sharks, who he spent his entire career with, were willing to let him go in favor of Antii Niemi, who helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup last year.

Cliff Lee Returns to Philadelphia

By Justin Worsley,

In a shocking twist, Cliff Lee didn't sign with the Texas Rangers or the New York Yankees, the long believed front-runners for his services. Instead, Lee took his talents to Eastern Pennsylvania and returned to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Lee, 32, has reportedly signed a five-year, $120 million deal with a player option for another year.

The lefty was a hired gun for the Phillies as they made a stretch for their second straight World Series appearance in 2009. The team, however, traded Lee to the Seattle Mariners in a four-team, nine player trade to bring Roy Halladay to Philadelphia.

Lee, the 2008 Cy Young award winner, was traded to the Texas Rangers and brought them to their first World Series appearance. He is expected to pitch second in the rotation behind Halladay, last season's Cy Young award winner. Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton complete a rotation who have a combined record of 67-49 with 942 strikeouts. The only pitcher with an ERA higher than 3.20 was Blanton.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. will most likely look into trading Blanton to free up some money. Kyle Kendrick also pitched last season in Philadelphia and they have prospect Vance Worley in waiting.

The Yankees, who were in need of a second pitcher behind ace CC Sabathia, will most likely look into trading for Kansas City Royals Zack Greinke or Matt Garza, who plays for division rival Tampa Bay.

Texas will now be sent looking into several available free agents such as Carl Pavano or former Cy Young award winner Brandon Webb.

Lee was reportedly offered $127 million by Texas for six years and over $130 for New York for seven years.

Red Sox Sign Crawford to Blockbuster Deal

By Justin Worsley,

Apparently, trading for Adrian Gonzalez just wasn't enough.

According to sources, the Boston Red Sox have signed four-time All-Star Carl Crawford to a seven-year, $142 million deal late Wednesday night.

Crawford, 29, has spent his entire nine-year career with the Tampa Bay Rays, a team who rose from the bottom of the AL East to prominence in recent years because of his contributions.

The outfielder is not the only Ray to leave the team on Wednesday. First baseman Carlos Pena signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs as well.

Crawford, a career .296 hitter, won both the Golden Glove and Silver Slugger award in 2010. His hitting, however, is not what he is most well-known for. Crawford has led the AL in stolen bases four times and has tied the major league record for the most in a game (six, ironically, against the Red Sox.)

The signing of Crawford adds yet another superstar to the Red Sox lineup. On Monday, the Red Sox brought in slugger Gonzalez and still have Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz in the batting lineup.

Crawford's contract rivals the other top available prospect in the outfield, Jayson Werth, who signed a seven-year deal as well but for only $126 million with the Washington Nationals earlier in the week.

Crawford hit .307 last season with a career-high 19 home runs and 90 RBIs. The speedster also stole 47 bases and hit an AL leading 13 triples.

Blackhawks Kane Out 3 Weeks

By Justin Worsley,

Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane will miss three weeks due to an unspecified lower body injury suffered last Sunday.

Kane, 22, was avoiding a check in the opening minutes of the game when he instead checked himself into the boards and fell awkwardly. The 2009 All-Star did not return in the Blackhawks 4-2 win.

The loss of Kane, however, is a big blow to the defending Stanley Cup champions. Kane has 11 goals and a team-high 16 assists this season. Chicago is 15-12-2 this season, but has won seven on their last 10. Kane has 12 points in that span.

This is the first extensive injury in Kane's career. ESPNChicago.com's Jesse Rogers reported that Blackhawks head coach Joel Queeneville would not specify whether or not it was Kane's ankle that was injured.

Redskins Shut Down Haynesworth

By Justin Worsley,

The Washington Redskins has suspended defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth without pay for the final four games of the season for conduct detrimental to the team, adding more to the saga between the two-time All-Pro lineman and head coach Mike Shannahan.

Haynesworth was one of the best run-stuffing defensive lineman in the league during his first seven seasons, all with the Tennessee Titans. Last year, Haynesworth left the team to take a seven-year, $100 million offer from the Redskins.

Shannahan, a two-time Super Bowl champion, is in his first year in Washington and since day one has had a problem with the 335-pound Haynesworth. Haynesworth boycotted the team's offseason workouts because they were changing to a 3-4 defensive scheme. When he finally arrived, Haynesworth, showed up out of shape and took 10 days to pass a conditioning test.

Haynesworth will appeal the suspension, however, it is more than likely that he has played his last days in Washington. His teammates have slowly gone against him during the course of the season and have publicly voiced their opinion more than once. Defensive captain London Fletcher called Haynesworth "selfish" and on Monday, veteran Phillip Daniels called out Haynesworth's lack of trust in the new defensive system.

Haynesworth did not play in last Sunday's blowout loss the the New York Giants, announcing his decision just hours before the game due to an undisclosed illness. There have also been reports that Haynesworth is no longer speaking to Shannahan and that he has refused to play in certain packages.

Haynesworth, 29, has only played in eight games this year, notching only 16 tackles and 2.5 sacks, his lowest since 2006. Haynesworth has never had less than 30 tackles in a season in his career.

Wannstedt Resigns at Pitt

By Justin Worsley,

Congratulations, Dave Wannstedt coaching the University of Pittsburgh to their first Big East title since 2004. Now, it will cost you your job.

The university announced on Tuesday that Wannstedt will resign from his position as head coach after the Panthers finished 7-5, failing to meet expectations in a weak Big East conference this season.

Wannstedt, 58, will remain on the program as a special assistant to the school's athletic director, Steve Pederson.

Wannstedt, a former offensive lineman for the school, felt pressure from the organization to resign and Pitt wanted to change head coaches now instead of after their minor bowl game, the Compass Bowl against Kentucky (6-6), so that they are able to obtain one of the top candidates available as well as have a system set up for national letter-of-intent day, which is Feb. 2.

The Panthers went 42-31 under Wannstedt and 1-1 in postseason play. Between 2008-10, Pitt went 26-12. Only the Dan Marino-led Panthers, who went 33-3, had a better record in three seasons.

Wannstedt was also a head coach for the Chicago Bears and the Miami Dolphins in the NFL.

The Panthers also struggled against their rivals under Wannstedt. West Virginia went 4-2 in the Backyard Brawl while Cincinnati won their first two River City Rivalry games.

No coach has been named yet for the Compass Bowl.

Nationals Sign Werth to 7-Year Deal

By Justin Worsley,

The Washington Nationals made the first surprising move in free agency, signing right fielder Jayson Werth to a seven-year, $126 million deal.

Werth, 31, was considered the top outfielder in free agency and was rumored to be sought after by the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. The right-hander spent the last four season in Philadelphia, where he had a breakout season in 2008, hitting 24 home runs and 67 RBIs, both career highs at the time, as the Phillies went on to win the World Series.

Last season, Werth hit .296 with 27 homers and 85 RBIs, helping Philadelphia obtain a league-best 97-65 record.

Werth has also never made more than $7 million per season. His contract now averages out to $18 million per year.

The move also shows that the Nationals are trying to immediately become contenders in a crowded NL East. The club has not had a winning record since 2003, their second to last season in Montreal.

The deal was negotiated by agent Scott Boras, who has also worked the deals of outfielder Bryce Harper and pitcher Stephen Strasburg, both of whom were taken with the first-overall pick in the last two drafts by Washington.

Habs Markov Out for Season

By Justin Worsley,

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov is out for the season with a torn right anterior cruciate ligament.

Markov tore his ACL last month during a 7-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on home ice. Markov will turn 32 later this month.

This will be the second surgery in less than a year on Markov's right knee. Last April, Markov injured the knee last April after colliding with Pittsburgh winger Matt Cooke.

Dr. James Andrews will conduct the surgery. Markov notched one goal and two assists in seven games before going down.

Roman Hamrlik has replaced Markov on the blue line, scoring 13 points and a plus-6 rating so far this season. Markov has played his entire career in Montreal.

Yankees, Rivera Agree to Two-Year Deal

By Justin Worsley,

Unlike one of the stars in New York, Mariano Rivera's contract went smoothly.

The closer agreed to a two-year deal which is worth around $30 million to stay with the Yankees, the only team Mariano has played for in his 16-year career.

The New York Daily News first reported the story.

Rivera is considered one of the best closers in the league. His 559 saves are the second-highest in league history behind free agent Trevor Hoffman. His 2.21 career ERA is the lowest in modern era.

The deal is expected to be Rivera's last. The 11-time All-Start just turned 41 last week.

Rivera saved 33 games for the Yankees last season and posted a 1.80 ERA. Re-signing Rivera was a priority for the Yankees, along with bringing back team captain Derek Jeter and free agent pitcher Cliff Lee.

Rivera only gave up two home runs last season, his lowest in five years. The deal could be announced by the Yankees as early as Friday.

White Sox Sign Slugger Dunn

By Justin Worsley,

The Chicago White Sox and first baseman Adam Dunn have agreed to a four-year, $56 million deal, according to sources.

ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick and Bruce Levine first reported the story.

The White Sox will formally announce the decision on Friday after Dunn, 31, passes a physical. The organization will now try to re-sign team captain Paul Konerko, als a first baseman. The White Sox plan on splitting the two between first baseman and designated hitter during the season.

Dunn his .260 with 38 home runs and 103 RBIs last season while playing for the Washington Nationals. Only Albert Pujols has hit more homers than Dunn's 282 since 2004.

Multiple teams were interested in a big-hitter like Dunn, however, he openly stated his desire to continue playing first base, despite protests by experts who believe that Dunn is more suitable as the designated hitter at this stage of his career. Dunn logged a career-high 13 errors last season, but was still able to post a .990 fielding percentage.

Chicago finished fourth in the American League last season with 177 home runs.

Hawks Johnson Out 4-6 Weeks With Elbow Injury

By Justin Worsley,

Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Joe Johnson will be out four to six weeks after injuring his right elbow.

Johnson, 29, will undergo arthroscopic surgery in Pensacola, Florida on Thursday to remove what the Hawks described as a "loose body" in his elbow. Renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews of Alabama will conduct the procedure. Andrews has worked with several sports stars in the past, including Miami Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford and St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols.

Atlanta is 12-7 on the year and 2.5 games behind the Orlando Magic for the Southeast Division lead after winning four straight games. Johnson, who was given a six-year, $119 million contract by Atlanta during the summer.

Johnson led the team with 17.1 points per game and 5.2 assists. Maurice Evans replaced Johnson in the starting lineup during Wednesday's win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Johnson has made four consecutive All-Star teams.