Yankees' Rivera hints at retirement
TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 20 (UPI) -- New York Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera said Monday he's made up his mind on whether 2012 will be his last season, but will keep his decision private for now.
The 42-year-old Rivera hinted at retirement as the Yankees gathered in Tampa, Fla., to open spring training, telling reporters he's already decided what he'll do at the end of the upcoming season when his current two-year contract runs out.
"I know now," he told The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger, "(but) I won't let you know now what I know."
The likely future Hall of Fame hurler with five World Series championship rings talked of the hardships of reporting for another spring training and said he's going to stick with his "irrevocable" decision "even if I save 90 games."
Rivera showed few signs of slowing down last year when he racked up 44 saves -- passing Trevor Hoffman's career record of 601 -- and posted a 1.91 ERA.
Preds extend GM Poile, assistant Fenton
NASHVILLE, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Nashville Predators General Manager David Poile and assistant Paul Fenton have been signed to three-year to contract extensions, the team said Monday.
Preds Chairman Tom Cigarran said the pair would stay in place through the through 2014-15 season.
Poile, the second-longest serving GM in the NHL, took over the expansion team in 1997 and has guided it to playoff berths in six of the last seven seasons.
"The consistent success of the Predators on the ice is directly attributed to his ability to assemble and lead a team of management, coaches, scouts and administrators who continually identify, draft, develop and motive an exceptional group of experienced and young players," Cigarran said.
Poile is third all-time in career wins for NHL general managers (1,049), trailing only Harry Sinden (1,170) and Glen Sather (1,144).
Former NHL player Fenton is in his seventh season as Poile's assistant.
Mitchell off team, Green back for Tide
TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Alabama forward Tony Mitchell was suspended for the season but JaMychal Green will return to the Crimson Tide, basketball Coach Anthony Grant says.
Grant told reporters Monday Mitchell, a junior, will sit out the rest of the season following a four-game disciplinary absence for "conduct detrimental to the team."
Green, a senior forward who has missed three games during an indefinite suspension, has been reinstated to the squad, Grant said.
The two were the leading scorers and rebounders for Alabama (17-9, 6-6 SEC). Mitchell was averaging 13.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game before his suspension, while Green has posted 14.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game this season.
Green's suspension was his third in three seasons with the Crimson Tide, The Birmingham (Ala.) News reported.
Manny Ramirez, A's agree on contract
PHOENIX, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Manny Ramirez, who faces a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy, has signed a minor-league deal with Oakland, the Athletics said Monday.
Terms of the contract weren't disclosed, but MLB.com and other media outlets indicated the A's offered the 39-year-old slugger $500,000 for the one-year agreement.
Ramirez announced his retirement last April after playing five games for Tampa Bay. At the time, Major League Baseball had disclosed his second violation of its Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, which carried a 100-game suspension.
But in December, he applied for reinstatement and his suspension was set at 50 games.
The 12-time all-star, who turns 40 May 30, served a 50-game suspension in 2009 when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In 19 seasons with Cleveland, Boston, the Dodgers, Chicago White Sox and Rays, Ramirez produced a .312 batting average with 555 home runs and 1,831 RBI. He helped the Red Sox to world championships in 2004 and 2007.
