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Astros OK Hampton deal pending physical

HOUSTON, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- The Houston Astros have come to an agreement on a deal with free-agent starting pitcher Mike Hampton pending a physical.

MLB.com reported Monday that Hampton, 36, will travel to Houston to be examined.

Hampton had some of the best years of his career with Houston. A 22-win season in 1999 saw him finish second to Randy Johnson in the Cy Young Award voting. After six years with Houston, Hampton joined the Mets for one season.

Hampton pitched for Colorado for two years (2001-02) and then signed with Atlanta. Hampton made 60 starts for the Braves over his first two seasons (2003-04) but has since made just 25 starts over the past four years. He missed the 2006 season after elbow surgery and had the 2007 season wiped out by a torn tendon.

In 388 career games, including 334 starts, for the Mariners, Astros, Mets, Rockies and Braves, the left-hander is 141-105 with a 4.01 earned-run average.

Yankees decided against player arbitration

NEW YORK, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Pitcher Andy Pettitte and right fielder Bobby Abreu were not offered salary arbitration by the New York Yankees prior to Monday's midnight deadline.

Both players earned $16 million last season, but because the Yankees declined to offer arbitration they won't receive compensation in draft picks should they choose to sign with another team this winter.

Other Yankees players not offered arbitration were first baseman Jason Giambi; pitchers Sidney Ponson, Carl Pavano and Mike Mussina; and catchers Ivan Rodriguez and Chad Moeller.

Pettitte had a 14-14 record with a 4.54 earned-run average in 33 starts last season and Abreu hit .296 with 20 homers and 100 RBI.

Houston's WNBA franchise closing down

HOUSTON, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- The Houston Comets, who won the WNBA's first four championships (1997-2000), will close down this week.

The Comets had been owned by the WNBA since the middle of last season, but because a buyer couldn't be found the league made the decision to put the team out of business.

The Comets were originally owned by Leslie Alexander, owner of the Houston Rockets. He sold the team to a group headed by businessman Hilton Koch last year, but the league then took over the franchise.

It was reported there will be a dispersal draft next week for the players, who were still under contract with the Comets. The end of the Houston franchise leaves the WNBA with 13 teams for the 2009 season.

Wyoming reportedly set to name football coach

CASPER, Wyo., Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Wyoming was reported ready Monday to name Missouri offensive coordinator Dave Christensen its new head football coach.

The Casper Star Tribune reported that Christensen will leave Missouri to replace Joe Glenn, who was fired after six seasons as head coach at Wyoming.

Christensen has spent the past eight seasons at Missouri and coached under Gary Pinkel since 1992 when the two were at Toledo. He has also been an assistant at Idaho State and Washington..

Glenn's Wyoming record was 30-41, including 4-8 this past season.

Harris, Roy named NBA players of the week

NEW YORK, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- New Jersey's Devin Harris and Portland's Brandon Roy were selected the NBA players of the week, the league said Monday.

Harris took the honor for Eastern Division players while Roy claimed the award for the Western Division for games played Nov. 24-30.

Harris averaged an NBA-best 30 points a game in the span. He hit 53.5 percent of his shots and added 6.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds a game. He had a career high 47 points against the Suns as the Nets, 3-1 on a western road trip, won in Phoenix for the first time since 1993.

The Trail Blazers were 4-0 last week behind Roy, who averaged 20 points, 6 assists and 5.3 rebounds a game. He had his first double-double of the season with 25 points and 10 assists last Friday in a 101-86 win over New Orleans.