The Final 9

By RONALD BLUM

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees reeled in another prime free agent, reaching a preliminary agreement Tuesday with first baseman Mark Teixeira for $180 million over eight years.

Two people familiar with the negotiations disclosed the agreement, which is subject to a physical. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was not yet final.

Teixeira's deal, which includes a signing bonus of about $5 million and a complete no-trade provision, raises the Yankees' offseason spending spree to $423.5 million. Just last Thursday, the Yankees completed agreements with two highly prized pitchers, giving CC Sabathia a $161 million, seven-year contract and A.J. Burnett an $82.5 million, five-year deal.

Preparing to move into their pricey new ballpark, the Yankees will hold the four largest contracts in the sport as they try to win the World Series for the first time since 2000. Third baseman Alex Rodriguez has baseball's highest deal at $275 million over 10 years, and shortstop Derek Jeter is second at $189 million over 10 years.

AP Sources: Teixeira agrees to $180M Yankees deal....

By RONALD BLUM

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees not only failed to make the playoffs, they were hit with their highest luxury tax in three years.

The Yankees were assessed a $26.9 million tax by the commissioner's office on Monday, up from $23.9 million last year and their biggest bill since paying nearly $34 million for 2005.

The Detroit Tigers, who also failed to qualify for the postseason, are the only other team that must pay tax and owe $1.3 million to the commissioner's office.
Checks are due by Jan. 31.

Yanks have $26.9 million luxury tax....

NEW YORK (AP) -- Roger Clemens' former personal trainer filed paperwork preserving the right to sue the seven-time Cy Young Award winner in New York.

Brian McNamee, who told federal investigators that Clemens used performance-enhancing drugs, contends the pitcher defamed him after McNamee spoke to investigators for former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell. The summons, filed in Queens Supreme Court last week, preserves McNamee's right to sue, Richard Emery, a lawyer for McNamee, said Tuesday.

McNamee preserves right to sue Clemens in New York....

By JEFF CARLTON

Roger Clemens' former personal trainer cooperated with investigators looking into steroids in baseball under threat of prosecution, an assistant U.S. attorney said in a court filing Thursday.

In a declaration filed in federal court in Houston as part of Clemens' defamation lawsuit against Brian McNamee, assistant U.S. attorney Matthew Parrella said he told McNamee he was not a target of the investigation but could become one if he failed to cooperate.

If McNamee made any false statements to federal investigators or to the group investigating doping in baseball, Parrella said, he could face prosecution.

McNamee told former Sen. George Mitchell's investigators that Clemens had used steroids and human growth hormone before they were banned by baseball.

Also filed Thursday were declarations from attorney Charles Scheeler, who worked with Mitchell, and Earl Ward, an attorney for McNamee. Both supported McNamee's claim that he faced prosecution if he did not help investigators.

Official: Clemens' trainer cooperated under threat....

CC Sabathia and the Yankees agreed Wednesday on the framework for a 161-million dollar, seven-year contract.

By Barry M. Bloom

LAS VEGAS -- Joe Gordon, a nine-time All-Star second baseman for the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians and an American League MVP, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday by one of the two Veterans Committees charged with the assignment.
Gordon was the only one of 20 potential candidates elected by separate committees analyzing the careers of players whose careers began prior to 1943 and 1943 or after. Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski was the last player voted into the Hall by a different formation of the current Veterans Committee in 2001.

Gordon, whose career began in 1938, was picked by the 12-person committee surveying candidates from his era. He received 10 votes. The announcement came on Monday at the annual Winter Meetings.

"We are thrilled and proud to welcome Joe Gordon to the Hall of Fame family," said Hall of Fame chairman of the board Jane Forbes Clark. "The Veterans Committee for this ballot had the challenge of considering players who retired long ago, but the Hall of Famers and historians on the Committee did their homework with diligence and effort, and we thank them."

Gordon will be inducted posthumously along with anyone selected by the Baseball Writers Association of America next July 26 during the annual ceremonies behind the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown. On the BBWAA ballot, the most likely candidates are Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice.

No one from the post-1942 committee was elected. That group included such fan favorites as Ron Santo, Joe Torre, Gil Hodges, Dick Allen, Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, Al Oliver, Vada Pinson, Luis Tiant and Maury Wills. That 10-player ballot was handled by a Veterans Committee made up of the 64 living Hall of Famers.

Veterans elect '40s star Gordon to Hall....

By BEN WALKER

Greg Maddux has thrown his last pitch.

The four-time Cy Young winner will announce his retirement Monday at the baseball winter meetings in Las Vegas.

Maddux, who turns 43 in April, ranks eighth on the career wins list with 355. He went 8-13 with a 4.22 ERA last season with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Maddux made three relief appearances in the playoffs for the Dodgers this year — he had an 0.00 ERA over four innings — and then filed for free agency amid speculation he would retire.

On Friday, confirmation came from the office of Maddux's agent, Scott Boras. Maddux, his family and Boras will hold a news conference at the hotel where the meetings are being held to announce one of baseball's greatest pitchers is finished.

Last month, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti left open the possibility that Maddux would return for a 24th season in the majors.

"I told Scott we'd love to have him back, and we're not going to be closing the door on Greg Maddux anytime soon," Colletti said at the time. "I've known him for a long, long time. I respect who he is and admire him for what he's done. I know the impact he has on a club and on a franchise."

Greg Maddux to announce retirement Monday....

NEW YORK — Citi Field will remain the name of the New York Mets' new ballpark following a government bailout the team believes will help the struggling bank survive its economic crisis.

Citigroup agreed in 2006 to pay the Mets US$400 million over 20 years for naming rights to the stadium, scheduled to open next year. Two New York City councilmen said last week that the $800 million ballpark's name should be changed to Citi/Taxpayer Field.

"The company is still an ongoing company and a vital company that is doing business around the globe," Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon said Tuesday. "The taxpayers are backstopping what's going on in the global economy. It's not really Citi's fault that they're in this problem. There are a lot of other banks in the same situation - with naming-rights deals, also."

After Citigroup's shares lost 60 per cent of their value within a week and dropped as low as $3.05, the government agreed last month to give the company a $20 billion cash injection - following an earlier $25 billion infusion. As part of the plan, the government agreed to assume possible losses on risky loans in exchange for $7 billion in preferred shares.

"We have a deal with Citi that is good for them, good for us. It's good business for us to have the partnership and the relationship," Wilpon said. "We think we can bring the right people to help them market their product so they can be a going concern, and that over time, the fans that we bring here will become Citi customers and that Citi will thrive and be able to pay the money back to the government."

Signage for Citi already is visible at the ballpark, which is adjacent to Shea Stadium, and more is to come.

New York Mets say Citi Field will remain name of new ballpark....

NEW YORK (AP) — Career steals leader Rickey Henderson heads 10 first-time candidates on this year's Hall of Fame ballot, joining holdovers Mark McGwire and Jim Rice — eligible for the final time.

Other newcomers are Jay Bell, David Cone, Ron Gant, Mark Grace, Jesse Orosco, Dan Plesac, Greg Vaughn, Mo Vaughn and Matt Williams.

Just 23 players are on the ballot, the smallest group ever. Holdovers include Harold Baines, Bert Blyleven, Andre Dawson. Tommy John, Don Mattingly, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Tim Raines, Lee Smith and Alan Trammell.

Henderson on Hall of Fame ballot for the first time....