KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Veteran catcher Jason Kendall, a three-time All-Star, has retired.
Veteran catcher
Jason Kendall retires
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Veteran catcher Jason Kendall, a three-time All-Star, has retired.
The 38-year-old Kendall announced his retirement Tuesday, less than a week after signing a minor league contract with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.
Kendall was a career .288 hitter in 2,085 games for Pittsburgh (1996-2004), Oakland (2005-07), the Chicago Cubs (2007), Milwaukee (2008-09) and Kansas City (2010). He ranks fifth all-time in baseball history with 2,025 games caught.
He made the All-Star game in 1996, 1998 and 2000, all when he played for the Pirates. He missed the final month of 2010 and all of 2011 with shoulder surgery.
Royals slugger Billy Butler said it was an honor to be Kendall’s teammate, tweeting that he “was old school and played the game right & all while being a great dad.”
Rockets getting
center Omer Asik
HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets have a true center again.
The Rockets announced Tuesday that Turkish big man Omer Asik is headed to Houston after the Chicago Bulls decided not to match their three-year, $25 million offer sheet.
The 7-foot Asik averaged 3.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and one block in 66 games last season. He helped Turkey earn the silver medal at the 2010 FIBA world championship. Turkey didn’t qualify for the 2012 OIympics in London.
The Rockets have needed a solid big man since Yao Ming retired last summer, his career derailed by foot injuries. Houston has reportedly been in the mix to land Orlando All-Star Dwight Howard, but so far, the Magic seem content to keep him.
Cardinals sign veteran Wilson to extension
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Five-time Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson has agreed to restructure his contract and will take a pay cut unless he meets incentives established in the new four-year deal.
The extension, which runs through the 2015 season, was agreed to on Tuesday as the team reported to its training camp in Flagstaff.
The 32-year-old Wilson had two years remaining on the five-year, $39 million contract he signed in June 2009. His salary would have been $6.5 million this year and $7.5 million toward the cap. The new agreement lowers those numbers considerably. The Arizona Republic reported Wilson will take a $3.5 million pay cut this season.
But the total over the four years of the new deal could reach $28 million to $30 million if he meets certain incentives.
Browns end drama, sign QB Brandon Weeden
CLEVELAND — Brandon Weeden’s start with the Browns won’t be delayed.
The rookie quarterback signed a four-year, $8.1 million contract on Tuesday, one day before he and Cleveland’s other first-year players have their first practice of training camp. Only three years of Weeden’s deal are guaranteed, which was thought to be a sticking point during negotiations.
Weeden’s signing came one day after the Browns signed running back Trent Richardson, the No. 3 overall pick in April’s NFL draft, to a four-year, $20.5 million contract. Richardson’s package includes a $13.3 million signing bonus.
107 athletes banned from Olympics
LONDON — More than 100 athletes have been kept out of the London Olympics because of doping suspensions.
World Anti-Doping Agency President John Fahey on Tuesday announced the results of a program designed to test athletes under suspicion before they arrived in London.
In the six months prior to mid-June, at least 107 athletes drew doping bans, ruling them out of the games. Fahey acknowledged that perhaps not all would have qualified to compete.
Sweeping drug cheats out of the Olympics was achieved by sharing intelligence between WADA, sports federations and London organizers, Fahey said. He promised no letup during the games, which open Friday.
Indians acquire INF-OF Lillibridge from Red Sox
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians acquired veteran Brent Lillibridge from the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, adding some backup versatility as they seek to stay in the AL Central race.
Minor-league right-hander Jose De La Torre was sent to Boston, which had acquired Lillibridge on June 24 as part of the trade that sent corner infielder Kevin Youkilis to the Chicago White Sox.
Lillibridge has seen extensive action at every position except pitcher and catcher in his career. He is expected to be used in a utility role after joining the Indians on Wednesday when the team will have to clear a spot on the 25-man roster for him.
Pirates acquire LHP Rodriguez from Astros
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired left-hander Wandy Rodriguez from the Houston Astros for three minor league players.
The Pirates also get cash in the trade that was announced Tuesday night after losing to the Chicago Cubs 5-1. Pittsburgh is sending left-handers Rudy Owen and Colton Cain and outfielder Robbie Grossman to Houston.
Hoping to make the playoffs for first time since 1992, Pirates general manger Neal Huntington improved one of the top pitching staffs in the National League with the acquisition of Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is 7-9 with a 3.79 ERA for Houston, the worst team in the major leagues.
The Pirates began the night just 1½ games behind the Cincinnati Reds in the NL Central and in the thick of the wild-card race.
Steelers, Tomlin
agree to extension
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have ended at least one contract distraction before training camp starts.
The team and coach Mike Tomlin agreed to an extension on Tuesday that will keep him on the sideline through at least 2016. Financial terms were not disclosed. Tomlin’s previous deal expired at the end of the 2013 season.
The 40-year-old Tomlin, a surprise choice to replace Bill Cowher following the 2006 season, is 55-25 with the Steelers, winning three AFC North titles, two AFC championships and the 2009 Super Bowl.
Contract extension
for Bruins coach
BOSTON — Just because the Boston Bruins are bringing back the core of last year’s team doesn’t mean they’re content to stand pat.
So says general manager Peter Chiarelli.
The team announced this week that it has signed coach Claude Julien to a contract extension, a reward for leading the team to the 2011 Stanley Cup championship. Julien’s contract had been set to expire after next season.
Chiarelli said he expects that the training camp roster will look a lot like the current one. But he’s promised to make improvements where he can. Some of those might come during the season.
Of course, there’s a chance there won’t be a season: NHL owners are talking lockout again. The current labor agreement expires in September. The league and the NHLPA are talking today in Toronto.
Jaguars’ Blackmon pleads guilty to DWI
STILLWATER, Okla. — Jacksonville Jaguars first-round draft pick Justin Blackmon pleaded guilty Tuesday to drunken driving in Oklahoma last month and was given a sentence that includes no jail time for the former Oklahoma State star.
1912 World Series trophy to be auctioned
BOSTON — The 1912 Boston Red Sox World Series trophy presented to team manager Jake Stahl is going on the auction block.
The sterling silver trophy will be auctioned Aug. 2 at Camden Yards in Baltimore during a national sports collectors convention.
The trophy’s current owner is Red Sox fan Robert Fraser. He says several companies wanted to auction it off for the 100th anniversaries of the team’s World Series win against the New York Giants and the opening of Fenway Park.
By wire sources