EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Jordan Farmar underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee, and the Los Angeles Lakers guard is expected to be out approximately eight weeks.
Farmar, who is averaging 7.9 points and 2.4 assists as a backup, was injured during Friday night’s 89-87 loss at Miami.
• Oft-injured guard Steve Francis was traded from the Houston Rockets to the Memphis Grizzlies for a conditional second-round draft pick in 2011. The Grizzlies also receive a second-round pick for 2009 and cash.
Francis, who has not played this season, has career averages of 18.1 points, 6.0 assists and 5.6 rebounds.
• Oklahoma City Thunder forward Nick Collison is day to day because of a broken left thumb suffered in Sunday night’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
• Utah Jazz forwards Paul Millsap (knee) and Mehmet Okur (back) are questionable for Friday night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks.
• The Phoenix Suns signed guard Dee Brown, who appeared in 17 games, the last 11 as a starter, with the Washington Wizards before being released two weeks ago.
Kansas getting 7-foot transfer
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Jeff Withey, a 7-foot freshman who spent one semester at Arizona but did not play for the Wildcats, will transfer to Kansas next semester.
Kansas coach Bill Self confirmed Withey’s decision Wednesday night via text message.
Arizona’s top 2008 freshman, Withey requested a release from his scholarship before the season began after coach Lute Olson retired in October.
At Kansas, Withey will enroll in classes for the spring semester and will be able to practice immediately. He’ll redshirt this season and be eligible to play as a freshman in December 2009.
Padres sign infielder Rodriguez
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres agreed to terms on a one-year deal with infielder Luis Rodriguez.
The switch-hitting Rodriguez batted .287 with 12 RBIs and 22 runs scored in 64 games in his first season with San Diego.
The Padres also reached minor- league deals with pitchers Kevin Correia, Chris Britton and Oneli Perez and catcher Eliezer Alfonzo.
• The New York Yankees reached an agreement with catcher Kevin Cash on a minor-league contract. If Cash, a career .184 hitter, is added to the 40-man roster, he will receive a $700,000, one-year deal. He batted .225 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 61 games with the Boston Red Sox last season.
• Former Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Mench signed a one-year, $1.8 million deal with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan. Mench, 30, hit .243 in 51 games for Toronto last season.
Father of Cornhuskers coach dies.
Anthony Pelini, the father of Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini and defensive coordinator Carl Pelini, died Tuesday night at a hospital in Akron, Ohio, after an extended illness. He was 85.
It was not immediately known whether Pelini’s death would affect the team’s travel plans for the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1.
The Associated Press
