BASEBALL
Freese avoids arbitration
A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that third baseman David Freese has avoided arbitration with the Los Angeles Angels, agreeing to a one-year deal for $6.425 million. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity Wednesday because the Angels have not announced the move. The deal was the midpoint between the salary figures exchanged by the sides. Freese batted .260 in his first season with the Angels, getting off to a weak start in his first AL season before finishing with 10 home runs and 55 RBI. He filled a long-standing hole at third base for the Angels, who finished with the majors' best record and won the AL West title. The Angels' remaining arbitration-eligible players are newly acquired outfielder Matt Joyce and right-handed starter Garrett Richards.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks have hired Joe Carter as special assistant to General Manager Dave Stewart. Carter and Stewart played together for two seasons with Toronto, including the Blue Jays' 1993 World Series championship team. Carter's walk-off three-run home run off Mitch Williams in Game 6 gave the Blue Jays a come-from-behind victory to clinch their second consecutive world championship. Stewart was the starting pitcher and worked six innings in that game. He had 12 seasons with at least 25 home runs and became the first player with 100 RBI in consecutive seasons for three teams -- Cleveland, San Diego and Toronto.
• Four minor league baseball players have been suspended for violating the drug policy. The commissioner's office announced the penalties Wednesday. Free agent right-hander Raymond Hanson was suspended 80 games after a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance. New York Yankees shortstop Tyler Palmer was penalized after testing positive for a banned amphetamine, and a second positive test for a drug of abuse. He is on the team's Gulf Coast League roster. Arizona right-hander Felipe Perez and Pittsburgh first baseman Kevin Ross each were suspended 50 games after testing positive for a drug of abuse. Both players were on the roster of Class A affiliates. There have been 22 suspensions this year so far under the minor league drug program.
GOLF
Nagle, former Open winner, dies
Kel Nagle, a former British Open winner, U.S. Open runner-up and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, has died. He was 94. The PGA of Australia said in a statement Thursday that Nagle, who won the British Open at St. Andrews in 1960, its centenary year, died overnight at a Sydney hospital. It did not give a cause of death. The Australian golfer, who won a tournament every year for 26 years after turning professional in 1946, collected 61 victories on the PGA Tour of Australasia and two on the U.S. tour. His win at St. Andrews came by one stroke over Arnold Palmer, who was attempting to win his third consecutive major that year after taking the Masters and U.S. Open. Nagle finished second to Gary Player at the 1965 U.S. Open at Bellerive in St. Louis, losing an 18-hole playoff to the South African. Player said then that Nagle was "one of the best short-game players" he had seen. Nagle also won the Australian PGA championship a record six times and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2007. He also played on the PGA Senior Tour (now Champions Tour) in the United States in 102 events from 1981-1989.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Stricklen dealt to Connecticut
The WNBA's Seattle Storm traded Camille Little and Shekinna Stricklen (Morrilton) to the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday for the third and 15th picks in the upcoming WNBA draft and Renee Montgomery. The Storm already have the No. 1 pick. Connecticut is trying to regroup from the loss of rookie of the year Chiney Ogwumike, who is sidelined for at least six months after having microfracture surgery on her right knee Thursday. The Sun still have the fourth pick in the draft, which they acquired from New York in a trade last year. Little has played in 202 of a possible 204 games for Seattle, starting all of them. Last year, she averaged a career-high 12.9 points and helped the Storm win the WNBA title in 2010. Stricklen was the No. 2 pick in the 2012 draft out of Tennessee by the Storm. She averaged a career-best 10.0 points in 2013 before putting up only 7.2 last season.
GOLF
Korda, Lewis, Munoz share LPGA lead
OCALA, Fla. — Jessica Korda pulled a hand warmer out of each jacket pocket, showing just how cold she was during the opening round of the LPGA opener.
Her scoreboard told a much different story.
The 21-year-old American shot a 6-under 66 in the opening round of the Coates Golf Championship on Wednesday and was in a three-way tie with fellow American Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) and Azahara Munoz of Spain. All three teed off in windy conditions and finished in chilly temperatures just before dark.
“I can’t feel my fingers right now,” Korda said.
She might be in for more of the same today, with temperatures expected to be the mid- to late-30s for the early tee times.
Twenty players failed to complete the opening round at Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club, which boasts eight tribute holes from famed courses around the world. They will finish up beginning at 7:30 a.m. today, just before Korda, Lewis and Munoz tee off in the second round.
Only 26 of 120 players were under par when play was halted.
Korda straightened out an errant driver on the front nine and birdied six of her final 13 holes.
Lewis birdied five of her final six holes, the last coming on an uphill, 6-footer just after the horn blew.
“I stayed patient out there,” Lewis said. “Finally, on the back nine, I got more comfortable with being back playing again and just started hitting golf shots.
“It was a good day. I almost wish we didn’t have darkness, and I could keep going since I finally got into a rhythm there. “
Munoz was solid throughout, hitting 17 of 18 greens in regulation, and closed with consecutive birdies to make it a three-way tie at the top. The only green she missed was at the par-4 13th, with her approach shot coming up just a few feet short and rolling off the front.
American Austin Ernst and Ha Na Jang of South Korea finished at 5 under, one stroke ahead of New Zealand’s Lydia Ko and South Korea’s Na Yeon Choi. American Lexi Thompson, 19, and Mi Jung Hur of South Korea were 3 under.
Top-ranked Inbee Park was 1 under, one shot ahead of reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie.
Sports on 01/29/2015