KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Former Fowler High School right-hander Luke Hochevar and the Kansas City Royals agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.76 million, the same salary he had last year when he went 6-6 with a 4.81 ERA in 18 games.
The deal, which includes a $50,000 bonus for making the all-star team, enabled the Royals to avoid arbitration with Hochevar.
• AL MVP Josh Hamilton remains hospitalized while showing signs of getting better in a bout with pneumonia. The Texas Rangers said the outfielder “is showing significant improvement” but remained at a hospital for treatment “in order to accelerate his full recovery.”
• The Los Angeles Angels and catcher Jeff Mathis agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.7 million, avoiding arbitration.
• Free-agent reliever Kyle Farnsworth is approaching an agreement on a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.
• Recently retired manager Joe Torre said he is “definitely interested” in working for Bud Selig and expects to talk with the commissioner during the two-day owners meeting in Paradise Valley, Ariz.
Nowitzki out with injured knee
INDIANAPOLIS — Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki‘s remains out because of an ailing right knee.
Nowitzki sprained the knee in the second quarter of a 103-93 victory at Oklahoma City on Dec. 27. Coach Rick Carlisle said Nowitzki is showing signs of progress and continues to be day to day.
• Houston scoring leader Kevin Martin, averaging 23.2 points, sat out Houston’s game against Okla- homa City because of a sore wrist.
• Former Nuggets guard Allen Iverson said he plans to have a lesion removed from his right leg in the United States before rejoining his Turkish team Besiktas in time for the playoffs.
Gary Moore, Iverson’s manager, said Iverson has a lesion that is pressing up against the bones of his leg and requires surgery in the U.S.
“It has to be removed and tested to see if it’s benign or not,” Moore said. “Once that’s removed, Allen is going to look to rehabilitate his leg because the doctors tell him he’ll be out four to six weeks.”
• Ted Williams, an Ohio homeless man whose silky voice made him a Web phenomenon and produced a job offer from the Cleveland Cavaliers, is headed to rehab for alcohol and drug dependency after an appearance on “Dr. Phil.”
Williams, 53, agreed to enter a private facility after an interview with Dr. Phil McGraw set to air today.
Footnotes.
The Nashville Predators signed forward Jerred Smithson to a two-year, $1.6 million contract taking him through the 2012-13 season.
• Minnesota Gophers senior goaltender Alex Kangas needs surgery for a labral tear in his left hip and will miss the rest of the season.
• Rafael Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki will top the seedings in the Australian Open when the official draw is announced today, reflecting their No. 1 rankings in men’s and women’s tennis.
• FIFA president Sepp Blatter apologized to IOC president Jacques Rogge for criticizing the Olympic body and saying it handled its finances “like a housewife.”
The Associated Press
