Twins acquire pitcher Carl Pavano
MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The Minnesota Twins strengthened their rotation Friday by acquiring veteran right hander Carl Pavano from the Cleveland Indians.
Cleveland gets a player to be named later.
The oft-injured 6-foot-5 inch, 240-pound Pavano has been injury-free in 2009 and has a 9-8 record with a 5.37 ERA in 21 starts (125 2/3 innings) with 23 walks with 88 strikeouts.
He has been limited by shoulder, back and elbow problems in past seasons.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported the Twins will pay one-third of his one-year, $1.5 million contract.
Also Friday, the Twins optioned knuckleballing reliever R.A. Dickey to Triple-A Rochester and 260-pound right hander Boof Bonser was moved to the 60-day disabled list to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
Report: LeBron James leaves options open
CLEVELAND, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Reigning NBA MVP LeBron James is undecided about his future with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Plain Dealer said Friday.
Ongoing media reports this year have said the 6-foot-8 inch guard/forward will leave Cleveland when he becomes a free agent after next summer.
"I signed a contract in 2006 with an option," James told the newspaper at the launch of his new Nike Air Max LeBron VII sneakers in Akron. "It would make no sense for me to sign that contract if I didn't keep my options open. I'll let you fill in the blanks."
James, a six-year NBA veteran, led the Cavaliers to the Eastern Conference Finals last season with averages of 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 81 contests.
His scoring average is 27.5 points in 472 games.
Florida No. 1 in coaches preseason poll
MCLEAN, Va., Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The Florida Gators were tabbed the No. 1 college football team in the USA Today coaches' poll released Friday.
Florida, coming off a 13-1 season that was capped by a 24-14 victory over Oklahoma in the Bowl Championship Series title game, collected 53 first-place votes from the panel of 59 college football coaches who participate in the poll.
Texas was first on four ballots and is No. 2 in the preseason poll followed by Big 12 Conference rival Oklahoma, which was given one first-place vote. The final first-place vote was for Southern California, which is fourth. Alabama, a Southeastern Conference rival of Florida, is fifth.
Ohio State was voted to the No. 6 spot followed by Virginia Tech, Penn State and two more SEC teams in No. 9 Louisiana State and 10th-ranked Mississippi.
Oklahoma State was installed at No. 11 with California at 12th; Georgia, another SEC member, in 13th while Oregon is 14th and Georgia Tech No. 15.
The No. 16 spot was given to Boise State, which was followed by, in order, Texas Christian, Utah, Florida State and North Carolina.
The final five in the preseason poll has Iowa at No. 21, Nebraska rated 22nd, Notre Dame in the 23rd spot while Brigham Young is 24th and Oregon State No. 25.
Taylor defendant wants to change plea
MIAMI, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- A defendant in the slaying of NFL star Sean Taylor said he didn't understand terms of his deal with prosecutors in Miami and wants to rescind his guilty plea.
A Miami-Dade judge was to hear testimony Friday in the case of Venjah Hunte, 21, who drove a group of men from Fort Myers, Fla., to Miami for a botched burglary that ended in the death of Taylor, who played for the Washington Redskins and the University of Miami.
Taylor was shot in the groin during the robbery of his Palmetto Bay and died in the hospital.
Hunte said he didn't understand the deal reached with prosecutors and in June his attorneys filed a motion to vacate his plea. If Hunte violates terms of his agreement by not testifying against others, he could be sentenced to life in prison, The Miami Herald reported.
The court has waived attorney-client privilege for Hunte's former lawyer, Michael Hornung, who was expected to testify Friday. Hunte said Hornung gave him "ineffective representation" leading to the plea agreement.
Defendants Eric Rivera, 19, the accused gunman; Jason Mitchell, 21; Charles Wardlow, 20, and Timmy Lee Brown, 18, are in jail awaiting trial on murder charges.
App. State star sidelined by foot injury
BOONE, N.C., Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards will miss up to four weeks with a right foot injury, ESPN said.
The three-time All-American was injured this week in a mowing accident at his off-campus residence in Boone, N.C.
School spokesman Mike Flynn said medical privacy laws prevented the university from releasing details.
"We're all fortunate and grateful that Armanti wasn't more seriously injured," Coach Jerry Moore said. "He's demonstrated many times, (and) his toughness is second-to-none. I'm confident that he'll be back on the field with his teammates as soon as possible."
Edwards, a 6-foot-1 inch, 180-pound senior from Greenwood, S.C., is scheduled to graduate this December after 3½ years.
He has led the Mountaineers to two Football Championship Series titles, and last season won the Walter Payton Award, given to the top offensive player in the FCS annually.
