Reds' Votto to miss 3-4 weeks with surgery
CINCINNATI, July 16 (UPI) -- Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto is set to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery and will miss 3-4 weeks, the team announced Tuesday.
Votto, who was batting .342 with 14 home runs and 49 RBIs, will be placed on the 15-day disabled list.
"Joey Votto met with the medical staff this evening and has been diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee," Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty said. "He is going to have arthroscopic surgery tomorrow [Tuesday] and should miss 3-4 weeks. Joey is very comfortable with the decision and is eager to return to the lineup."
Votto, named to his first All-Star Game this month, has been slumping recently, going 9-for-32 since July 3.
"It is in my best interest and in the best interest of the team to do it now, so that I can be healthy during the last two months of the pennant race," Votto said.
Patriots, Welker can't agree on deal
FOXBOROUGH, Mass., July 16 (UPI) -- New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker will play under a one-year deal after he and the team failed Monday to reach a long-term contract.
The Pats designated Welker as their franchise player in February, so he will play under a one-year, $9.5 million contract during the upcoming season, The Boston Globe reported.
Under NFL rules, the two sides won't be able to negotiate again until after the season.
The 31-year-old Welker said in May he had hoped to reach a long-term deal before Monday's deadline, but no agreement materialized.
He hauled down 122 passes in 2011, giving him an NFL-best 554 receptions since 2007.
Knicks obtain Felton, Lin could walk
NEW YORK, July 16 (UPI) -- The New York Knicks Monday acquired guard Raymond Felton in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers, but seemed likely to lose guard Jeremy Lin.
The Knicks said Felton and forward Kurt Thomas had joined the team from Portland in exchange for forward Jared Jeffries and center Dan Gadzuric in a sign-and-trade transaction.
The Blazers signed Felton, a free agent, before the deal. The seven-year pro from North Carolina put up averages of 11.4 points, 6.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game for Portland last season.
The 39-year-old Thomas averaged 3.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 2011-12. He played seven seasons with New York from 1998-2005.
Jeffries averaged 4.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest for New York last season, while the 10-year veteran Gadzuric appeared in just two games for New York.
Meanwhile, a report Monday indicated the Knicks would likely not match a three-year, $25.1 million offer sheet from the Houston Rockets for Lin.
ESPN, citing two unnamed sources close to the team, said the Knicks were going to let the popular guard walk away after the Tuesday deadline to match the offer.
Ravens lock up Rice
BALTIMORE, July 16 (UPI) -- The Baltimore Ravens' Ray Rice, one of the top running backs in the NFL, signed a five-year contract Monday.
The team didn't say how much it will pay Rice, on whom it bestowed its franchise tag, but it reportedly is worth about $40 million.
Rice produced an NFL-best 2,068 yards from scrimmage last season, including a career-high 1,364 yards rushing with 12 touchdowns. He also caught 76 passes for 704 yards with three more scores.
The 25-year-old has 4,377 rushing yards with 24 touchdowns in his four-year career. He has made the Pro Bowl twice.
