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Sports in brief: Peña, Damon could return to Tampa Bay Rays

 
Published Jan. 11, 2012

baseball

peña, damon keeping return to rays in plans

1B Carlos Peña and DH Johnny Damon remain possibilities to fill the Rays' openings for two hitters, agent Scott Boras said Tuesday, but both have interest from other teams.

"I think the Rays need offense," Boras said. "And both players enjoyed playing there."

Boras said he's talking to "a number of clubs" about Peña and is "going through the customary negotiations." Peña was with the Rays in 2007-10 then went to the Cubs last season, where he made $10 million, hitting .225 with 28 homers.

Damon hit .261 with 16 homers for the Rays last season, while making $5.25 million, and has made it clear he would like to return. "There was not a better DH in the AL, apart from Michael Young and David Ortiz," Boras said. "He had a great season down there."

Among other players the Rays have talked are Orioles DH/OF Luke Scott and Rockies OF Seth Smith.

Report: Extension for Selig: Owners say commissioner Bud Selig will be offered a contract extension this week. ESPN.com first reported Selig will be offered an additional term when owners meet today and Thursday in Scottsdale, Ariz. Selig, who turns 78 in July, has been commissioner since September 1992.

Cubs: Paul Maholm agreed to a one-year contract that guarantees the left-hander $4.75 million. Maholm, 29, was limited by a left shoulder strain last season with Pittsburgh and made 26 starts.

golf

LPGA brings back popular events

The LPGA Tour took a big step toward beefing up its schedule by adding three tournaments in the United States, including the return of two popular events in Ohio and Virginia.

The biggest surprise was the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic, which was not played a year ago. The LPGA also is going back to Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., a favorite among players that was last played in 2009.

The tour previously announced new tournaments in Hawaii and Canada, along with sanctioning the Australian Open.

tennis

Wozniacki rallies to reach quarters

Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki came back from 4-0 down in the final set to beat Dominika Cibulkova 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 and advance to the quarterfinals at the Sydney International.

The match ended on a line call that was ruled in and later, on video review, shown to be out by a few millimeters, giving Wozniacki victory on her second match point.

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova also struggled against an unseeded opponent before advancing with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 win over Alexandre Dulgheru.

et cetera

IndyCar: Rookie of the year James Hinchcliffe was hired to drive for Andretti Autosport. He will take over the Go Daddy entry, left vacant when Danica Patrick jumped to NASCAR.

Winter sports: Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke was seriously injured while training on the superpipe in Park City, Utah, and airlifted to a Salt Lake City hospital. A spokeswoman at University Hospital confirmed Burke, 29, was being evaluated.

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Dakar Rally: American driver Robby Gordon won the ninth leg in Inique, Chile, and French rival Stephane Peterhansel finished second to maintain his overall lead in the car category. In motorbikes, Cyril Despres of France won the stage to regain the lead.

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer; Times wires