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Yankees re-sign pitcher Hiroki Kuroda

NEW YORK, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Free-agent starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda has re-signed with the New York Yankees, the team announced Tuesday.

Kuroda was a stalwart in the American League East champions' starting rotation in 2012, compiling 16-11 record with a 3.32 ERA and 167 strikeouts over 219 2/3 innings.

The deal is worth $15 million, the New York Daily News reported.

"I am very happy and excited to re-sign with the Yankees. I am very grateful for all of the interest and all of the offers that I received from the various teams that courted me," the Japanese right-hander said in a statement.

Kuroda, 37, sports a 57-57 record and a 3.42 ERA during his five-year North American career.

NHL, players union to meet again Wednesday

NEW YORK, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- NHL owners and union representatives of locked-out players will meet again Wednesday after a 90-minute bargaining session Monday, a league official says.

Deputy NHL Commissioner Bill Daly told NHL.com Tuesday the two sides "will be meeting [Wednesday] morning. I don't know about the substance and I have no expectations."

A spokesperson for the NHL Players Association said the union was holding internal meetings Tuesday.

The Monday session was the first in more than a week following an acrimonious break-off. Daly said owners asked the NHLPA to develop a proposal encompassing its positions on all of the core economic issues during the meeting.

NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr said after Monday's session the union wanted to discuss one the key sticking points in the 2-month-old lockout -- an NHL demand to crack down on the "backloading" of long-term deals, which the league sees as evasions of the salary cap.

But, Fehr said, the owners didn't want to address it as a stand-alone topic, but rather as part of a series of "core" economic issues that also include the players' overall share of the revenue pie, NHL.com reported.

NASCAR's Danica Patrick announces divorce

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 20 (UPI) -- NASCAR driver Danica Patrick revealed on Facebook Tuesday she is divorcing Paul Hospenthal, her husband of seven years.

Patrick, 30, said in a posting her decision to divorce the 47-year-old physical therapist wasn't an easy one.

"I am sad to inform my fans that after seven years, Paul and I have decided to amicably end our marriage," Patrick wrote. "This isn't easy for either of us, but mutually it has come to this. He has been an important person and friend in my life and that's how we will remain moving forward."

The former IndyCar Series racer this month wrapped up her first full season on NASCAR's Nationwide Series, finishing 10th in its points standings and receiving its Most Popular Driver Award.

Patrick also participated in a 10-race schedule in the Sprint Cup Series this season. She will compete in the premiere series full-time next year for Stewart-Haas Racing.

Beckham to leave Galaxy after MLS Cup

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- British soccer star David Beckham will wrap up his stint with the Los Angeles Galaxy after the upcoming MLS Cup, he said Tuesday.

In a statement released by the team, the 37-year-old Beckham said it was time for him to embark on an unspecified new phase of his playing career as it nears its conclusion.

"I've had an incredibly special time playing for the LA Galaxy, however, I wanted to experience one last challenge before the end of my playing career," Beckham said. "I don't see this as the end of my relationship with the league as my ambition is to be part of the ownership structure in the future."

In six seasons with the Galaxy, the midfielder appeared in 98 regular season games, tallying 18 goals and adding 40 assists, good for the fourth-most in club history.

The Galaxy will seek their fourth MLS Cup championship Dec. 1 against the Houston Dynamo, who they defeated in the 2011 title game.

Beckham is also credited with bringing international recognition and prestige to the MLS after playing in three World Cups for England, scoring 17 goals in 115 overall appearances for his country.