In Brief | Nation and World

Mets’ Shaun Marcum unable to throw simulated game

NEW YORK — Shaun Marcum was unable to pitch a simulated game for the New York Mets because of pain in his neck and will not be able to come off the disabled list to start Sunday against the Miami Marlins.

Marcum had been set to throw Tuesday at the team’s spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Marcum signed a $4 million, one-year deal with the Mets during the offseason. He received a cortisone injection in his right shoulder for an impingement last month, then felt neck discomfort during a bullpen session on March 25. He did not pitch in any spring training games after March 16.

Aaron Laffey and Collin McHugh appear to be the most likely candidates to replace Marcum. Already missing injured ace Johan Santana, New York has a rotation that includes Jonathon Niese, Matt Harvey, Dillon Gee and Jeremy Hefner.

Santana had shoulder surgery Tuesday for the second time in 31 months.

The Mets said the 34-year-old left-hander was operated on at the Hospital for Special Surgery, where team medical director David Altchek repaired a tear in the capsule in the front of his left shoulder. The team said the two-time Cy Young Award winner was to be hospitalized overnight.

Santana is likely to miss the entire season for the second time in three years.

Cano switches agents to Jay-Z company from Boras

NEW YORK — Rapper and recording producer Jay-Z is expanding into sports representation and has signed New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano away from Scott Boras to be a client.

Shawn Carter, also known as Jay-Z, and his Roc Nation company have partnered with CAA Sports to form Roc Nation Sports. Cano changed his listed agent with the Major League Baseball Players Association on Tuesday from Boras to CAA Sports’ Brodie Van Wagenen.

Cano can become a free agent at the end of the World Series. Boras usually prefers that his clients become free agents to increase bidders and maximize their values, so the change could increase the chance Cano will reach a new agreement with the Yankees during the season.

“CAA is built on a culture of collaboration and this relationship is no different,” Van Wagenen said. “Jay and I will both be involved in all aspects of Robinson’s representation on and off the field.”

Juan Perez is president of Roc Nation Sports. Jay-Z, a part owner of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets, is friendly with injured Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, a former Boras client.

Seau lawsuits merged with Pa. NFL concussion case

PHILADELPHIA — Two wrongful-death lawsuits over the suicide of Pro Bowler Junior Seau have been consolidated with NFL concussion litigation in Philadelphia.

A key hearing in the NFL case is set for next week, when lawyers for thousands of former players will try to keep the issue in federal court. The league wants the claims heard in arbitration, under terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

The Seau lawsuits were moved from California, where the 43-year-old linebacker died May 2 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His survivors allege that throughout his career he sustained violent hits that caused traumatic brain injury, depression and ultimately his death.

Seau played for San Diego, Miami and New England during a 20-year career, which ended with his retirement in 2009. He was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, after his death.

Nearly 4,000 former players have filed concussion-related lawsuits, accusing the NFL of hiding the risks of concussions and head injuries and glorifying violence on the field.

Indians’ Kazmir hurts abdominal, could miss start

TORONTO — Cleveland pitcher Scott Kazmir has a sore abdominal muscle and might miss his first scheduled start for the Indians.

Kazmir felt sore after playing catch on flat ground during a team workout Monday. The Indians open the season Tuesday night at Toronto.

Manager Terry Francona said Kazmir will be reevaluated after he tries to throw a bullpen on Wednesday. The 29-year-old lefty was set to start Saturday at Tampa Bay.

Kazmir hasn’t pitched in the major leagues in almost two years. A two-time All-Star with Tampa Bay, he was released by the Angels in 2011 and pitched last season in independent ball.

The Indians selected Kazmir for the 25-man roster and optioned left-hander Nick Hagadone to Triple-A Columbus. Cleveland also outrighted lefty David Huff to Columbus and had outfielder Ezequiel Carrera claimed off waivers by Philadelphia.

Reds outfielder Ludwick needs shoulder surgery

CINCINNATI — Reds outfielder Ryan Ludwick tore cartilage in his right shoulder while sliding into base during the season opener and will need surgery.

The team didn’t project Tuesday how long Ludwick will be out.

Ludwick dislocated his right shoulder on a headfirst slide into third base in the third inning of Cincinnati’s 3-1, 13-inning loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. He had an MRI on Tuesday — the team’s day off — that detected the torn cartilage.

He’s scheduled for surgery on Wednesday. The Reds will place him on the 15-day disabled list before playing the Angels.

It’s a significant setback for the defending NL Central champions, who relied on Ludwick to pull them through the loss of Joey Votto last season.

Bruins obtain Jagr from Stars to spark offense

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins have acquired Jaromir Jagr from the Dallas Stars, hoping the 10th-leading goal scorer in NHL history can improve their shaky offense.

Jagr, who leads the Stars in points this season, was traded Tuesday for two prospects, forwards Lane MacDermid and Cody Payne, and a conditional second-round pick in this year’s draft.

The deal came five days after the Bruins thought they obtained forward Jarome Iginla from the Calgary Flames, only to learn Iginla had been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In his first season with the Stars, the 41-year-old Jagr has 14 goals and 26 points. Brad Marchand leads the Bruins with 14 goals and Patrice Bergeron is first with 31 points. Jagr has 679 career goals.

Jagr also has six power-play goals, twice as many as Bruins leaders Marchand and Tyler Seguin, and should help the team with the 24th-ranked power play in the NHL going into Tuesday night’s game against the Ottawa Senators.

Ex-NBA player indicted on murder, gang charges

ATLANTA — Former NBA player and Atlanta native Javaris Crittenton has been indicted on charges of murder and gang activity.

Fulton County District Attorney’s spokeswoman Yvette Jones said Tuesday that 25-year-old Crittenton and his cousin, Douglas Gamble, are charged in the death of an Atlanta woman and the attempted murder of another man.

Julian Jones was shot and killed while walking with a group in August 2011. Authorities say that incident and a second shooting were gang-related, and may have been retaliation after Crittenton was the victim of a robbery.

Crittenton was drafted by the Lakers in 2007 and has also played for the Wizards and Grizzlies. He was suspended in 2010 for pulling a gun in the Wizards’ locker room.

Crittenton’s attorney, Brian Steel, says his client is not guilty.

Iowa State reports recruiting violations to NCAA

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa State said Tuesday that coaches and staff made dozens of improper recruiting calls between 2008 and 2011 and it has asked the NCAA to levy a punishment of two years of probation.

The university said it reported the “inadvertent” violations to the NCAA in November 2011. It said an “exhaustive” review of three years of telephone and text messages discovered that non-coaching staff members made 55 impermissible phone calls while coaches made 24 improper calls.

The review also found that coaches also failed to document 1,405 calls in which they tried but failed to connect with recruits for reasons such as dropped calls, lack of answers or voice mails. Those attempted contacts were supposed to be logged under NCAA rules, which regulate the number and timing of coaches’ contacts with recruits.

The university said it had entered into a summary disposition process with the NCAA, which allows universities to submit their own investigative findings and propose penalties.

The NCAA’s Committee on Infractions will then determine whether to accept the findings and penalties or to move forward with its own hearing to seek a different punishment.

Baylor’s Brittney Griner leads AP All-America team

Brittney Griner has been in a class by herself all season. Now she’s part of a select group.

Baylor’s 6-foot-8 star senior was a unanimous selection to The Associated Press’ All-America team Tuesday.

Griner became the fifth three-time AP All-American, joining Tennessee’s Chamique Holdsclaw, Duke’s Alana Beard, Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris and Connecticut’s Maya Moore. Paris and Moore were the only two to earn the honor all four years.

“That’s pretty special company,” Griner said.

She was joined on the squad by Notre Dame’s Skylar Diggins, Stanford’s Chiney Ogwumike, Delaware’s Elena Delle Donne and Baylor teammate Odyssey Sims.

With Sims and Griner, it marked the sixth time that teammates were first team All-Americans. Connecticut has done it four times and Tennessee once.

Pittsburgh running back Rushel Shell to transfer

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh freshman running back Rushel Shell is transferring.

Coach Paul Chryst released a statement early Tuesday saying the team’s second-leading rusher a year ago will not be back for the 2013 season. Shell took a leave of absence from the Panthers last week, and after a few days consulting with his family decided to continue his college career elsewhere.

The 19-year-old rushed for 641 yards and four touchdowns last season while sharing the workload with senior Ray Graham. Shell was expected to be the primary back for the Panthers next season when they join the ACC.

Shell signed with Pitt in 2012 following a record-setting career at Hopewell (Pa.) High, where he set a state record with 9,078 career yards rushing.

Chicago suburb makes pitch if Cubs want to move

CHICAGO — As Chicago Cubs and city officials continue to negotiate over a $300 million renovation of Wrigley Field, the mayor of a nearby community wants team owners to know they are welcome in his town.

Bradley Stephens is the mayor of Rosemont, located near O’Hare International Airport. He says there are 25 acres of land the Ricketts family, owners of the Cubs, can have for free if they decide they want to build a new ballpark.

Stephens understands the idea of leaving one of the most beloved ballparks in the nation is the longest of longshots. But he wants it known if the Cubs have to look for a new home they need look no farther than Rosemont. Stephens says he has made the offer known to the Ricketts.

From wire sources