M's, Hernandez reach deal on contract
SEATTLE, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- The Seattle Mariners and star pitcher Felix Hernandez have reached agreement on a reported seven-year contract extension, the team said Tuesday.
The Mariners said the 2010 American League Cy Young Award winner will officially sign the pact during a Wednesday press conference.
The terms of the deal weren't announced, but Fox Sports reported it is worth a total of $175 million, making the 26-year-old right-hander the richest pitcher in MLB history.
Contract talks with the Mariners ace were held up last week when a physical exam revealed an unspecified "elbow issue" with the durable right-hander, but sources told the Seattle Times the injury wasn't seen as serious.
The seven-year veteran threw a perfect game last season while compiling a 13-9 record with a 3.06 ERA over 33 starts. He struck out 223 batters over 232 innings.
For his career, the five-time all-star has compiled a 98-76 record over 238 games -- all starts -- with a 3.22 ERA and 1,487 strikeouts.
Wife charged in former Penn player's death
WALLINGFORD, Pa., Feb. 12 (UPI) -- The wife of former Penn basketball star Matthew White is charged with stabbing him to death in his sleep, court records say.
Maria Rey Garcia-Pellon was charged Monday with first degree murder, criminal homicide and possession of an instrument of crime, accused of stabbing White, 53, of Nether Providence in the neck with a knife, the news website philly.com reported.
Court records say Garcia-Pellon then changed clothes and went to a friend's home, telling the friend she caught White looking at pornography on a computer. The friend called 911.
"I caught him looking at pornography, young girls. I love kids, I had to do it," Garcia-Pellon told investigators.
White was starting center with the 1979 Penn team, part of the NCAA Final Four that year, and was drafted in the fifth round of the 1979 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Reds, Latos avoid arbitration with deal
GOODYEAR, Ariz., Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Pitcher Mat Latos and the Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a two-year contract, thus avoiding arbitration, the team said Tuesday.
Terms of the deal weren't revealed, but the Cincinnati Enquirer reported it is worth $11.5 million, including $4.25 million this year and $7.25 million in 2014.
The 25-year-old right-hander compiled a 14-4 record with a 3.48 ERA in 33 starts last season for the National League Central champs, including back-to-back complete games in June.
Over his four-year career with San Diego and the Reds, Latos is 41-33 with a 3.41 ERA in 105 games.
Blues goalie Halak re-injures groin
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- St. Louis Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak re-injured his groin just as he was about to make his return to the ice, the team said Tuesday.
Halak had been on the injured reserve list since Feb. 1 and was activated before Monday's game against the Los Angeles Kings, which he was scheduled to start.
But he aggravated the groin during the pre-game warm-ups and was replaced by Brian Elliott, who allowed four goals on 23 shots during a 4-1 loss.
The team said Tuesday the netminder was "day-to-day" with a strained groin.
Halak had compiled a 3-0-0 record in five starts prior to the original injury, including a pair of shutouts.
