Associated Press
LOS ANGELES ó World Series MVP Hideki Matsui finalized a $6 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels, ending his seven-season run with the New York Yankees.
“This is the beginning of a new journey for me,” Matsui said through a translator. “I’d like to do my best in every way I can to bring another world championship to this team since they won in 2002.”
The Yankees haven’t been close to making any moves since acquiring Curtis Granderson from Detroit last week. New York, which planned to introduce the center fielder on Thursday, is far apart from left fielder Johnny Damon, who has asked for a $39 million, three-year deal.
– Boston finalized an $82.5 million, five-year contract for pitcher John Lackey and a $15.5 million, two-year agreement with outfielder Mike Cameron. The Red Sox also must figure out whether the Mike Lowell-to-Texas trade will go through and have been discussing whether to acquire Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego, a deal that could send Clay Buchholz and/or Jacoby Ellsbury to the Padres.
– Milwaukee completed a $7.5 million, two-year contract with reliever LaTroy Hawkins.
NHL
RALEIGHó Tuomo Ruutu had his first career hat trick, and Cam Ward made 24 saves to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Dallas Stars 5-3 on Wednesday night.
Eric Staal had a goal and two assists, and Jussi Jokinen had a goal and an assist. Last in the NHL, the Hurricanes won for only the eighth time this season.
Devils 2, Canadiens 1
NEWARK, N.J ó Martin Brodeur tied Patrick Roy’s NHL record for regular-season appearances by a goalie, and Patrik Elias scored the winner with 2:36 left in the New Jersey Devils’ 2-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.
Brodeur played his 1,029th game, all with New Jersey in his 16-year career. Roy played for Montreal and Colorado in his 18-year career.
Senators 2, Sabres 0
OTTAWA ó Brian Elliott made 22 saves for his second shutout in four games, and Alexandre Picard and Mike Fisher scored for Ottawa.
Coyotes 6, Maple Leafs 3
TORONTO ó Petr Prucha scored twice, and Keith Yandle and Martin Hanzal each had three assists for Phoenix.
Islanders 2, Rangers 1
NEW YORK ó Dwayne Roloson made 25 saves, and Jon Sim and Blake Comeau scored for the Islanders in the first game of a home-and-home series.
Panthers 4, Thrashers 3
SUNRISE, Fla. ó Michael Frolik scored with 1:21 left for Florida.
Stephen Weiss, Radek Dvorak and Bryan McCabe also scored, and Tomas Vokoun stopped 20 shots. Ilya Kovalchuk, Nik Antropov and Vyacheslav Kozlov scored for Atlanta.
NASCAR
BRISTOL, Conn. ó Marty Reid will take over as lap-by-lap announcer for ESPN’s NASCAR coverage in 2010, with Dr. Jerry Punch returning to his role as a pit reporter.
The network said in a statement on Wednesday that Reid will join analysts Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree in the booth. He’ll call all 17 of ESPN’s Sprint Cup races along with many of the network’s Nationwide Series telecasts.COLLEGE FOOTBALL
LAWRENCE, Kan. ó Former Kansas football coach Mark Mangino will be paid $3 million as part of a settlement both sides signed last week.
Mangino resigned earlier this month amid allegations that he emotionally mistreated his players.
– MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. ó Central Michigan has named associate head coach Steve Stripling as interim head football coach. Stripling will lead the No. 25 Chippewas (11-2) at least through the GMAC Bowl against Troy (9-3), the Sun Belt Conference champion, on Jan. 6 in Mobile, Ala.
TIGER UPDATE
WASHINGTONó A Canadian doctor who has treated golfer Tiger Woods and many other pro athletes is under a joint U.S.-Canadian investigation for possibly providing performance-enhancing drugs.
A U.S. official familiar with the investigation said Canadian authorities have been investigating Dr. Anthony Galea, who was arrested Oct. 15 in Toronto, and the FBI has been brought into the case.
DUDLEY FOR GOVERNOR
PORTLAND, Ore.ó Former NBA center Chris Dudley formally announced he is running for Oregon governor.
The 6-foot-11 Yale graduate told supporters Wednesday he wants to slow the growth of the state budget and considers his lack of political experience a plus.
Dudley played 16 years in the NBA, including two stints with Portland .
He will compete for the Republican nomination against Allen Alley, John Lim and Bill Sizemore.
Former Gov. John Kitzhaber and former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury are seeking the Democratic nomination.