Lincecum, Fielder agree to new contracts
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum and free agent slugger Prince Fielder each agreed to new deals Tuesday, reports indicated.
Lincecum has verbally agreed to a new, 2-year deal with the San Francisco Giants, MLB.com reported Tuesday, citing unnamed sources.
Lincecum, victimized by the Giants' light-hitting offense last season, will earn $40.5 million from the team as well as a $500,000 signing bonus, thereby avoiding arbitration, the San Francisco Chronicle said.
The 27-year-old hurler managed only a 13-14 record last season while backed the second-worst offense in major league baseball -- only Seattle scored fewer than the Giants last season (556). But he posted a sterling 2.74 ERA while striking out 220 over 217 innings.
Ex-Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Fielder has agreed in principle to a nine-year, $214 million contract with the Detroit Tigers, baseball sources told Yahoo! Sports.
The 27-year-old has pounded 230 home runs and driven in 656 runs over six major-league seasons, all with the Brewers. He also hit for average last season, batting 299 with 38 homers and 120 RBI.
In signing with the Tigers, he follows in the footsteps of his father, Cecil, who played for Detroit from 1990-96.
Bearcats' Jones gets contract extension
CINCINNATI, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- University of Cincinnati football Coach Butch Jones has been awarded a three-year contract extension, Bearcats Athletic Director Whit Babcock said Tuesday.
The athletic director said Jones exemplifies "loyalty to the University of Cincinnati" and will lead the Bearcats to "great things" in future seasons.
"I have tremendous faith in Coach Jones and his ability to lead our young men on the football field, in the classroom and in the community," Babcock said.
Jones has been at Cincinnati's helm since Brian Kelly left the school in 2010 to become the head coach at Notre Dame after the former mentor had guided the Bearcats to back-to-back Big East titles and BCS Bowl appearances in 2008 and 2009.
"This a commitment to our staff and to the football program as a whole," he said.
Jones led Cincinnati to 10 wins in the recently completed season, claiming a share of the Big East title and downing Vanderbilt in the Liberty Bowl.
Bulls' Luol Deng out with torn ligament
CHICAGO, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng has torn a wrist ligament and will be out of action while healing, the team said Tuesday.
Bulls officials confirmed Deng was hurt during Saturday's contest against the Charlotte Bobcats.
The player told reporters he's going to need a bit healing time, but will try to play through it.
Deng has been a key contributor to the Bulls' NBA-best 16-3 start. He has averaged 15.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 18 games.
Posada says goodbye, Yanks ink Martin
NEW YORK, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada announced his retirement Tuesday, and hours later the team announced a deal for his replacement, Russell Martin.
Posada, 40, played 17 years in the major leagues, all with New York, helping the Yankees win the World Series in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009.
"Every time I stepped through the Yankees Stadium doors I quoted Joe DiMaggio, 'I want to thank the good Lord for making me a Yankee,'" he said during a Yankee Stadium news conference called to officially mark his departure.
"I was able to live my dream to play baseball for the best sports franchise ... the New York Yankees. Playing for the New York Yankees has been an honor. I could never play for another team. I will forever be a Yankee."
Hours later, the Yankees announced current catcher Martin had inked a one-year contract, thereby avoiding arbitration.
The 28-year-old hit .237 with 17 doubles, 18 home runs and 65 RBI over 125 games for New York last season, the first with the Yanks for the three-time all-star.
