Off the wire

LITTLE ROCK — BASEBALL AP: Mets, Bay reach agreement

Free agent slugger Jason Bay and the New York Mets have reached a preliminary agreement, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Bay must pass a physical for the deal to be completed. The three-time All-Star is expected to sign a four-year contract for about $65 million. Bay set career highs with 36 home runs and 119 RBI last season for Boston. The 31-year old outfielder is a lifetime .280 hitter and has averaged 30 home runs and 99 RBI in his six full seasons in the majors.

Infielder/outfielder Mark DeRosa has signed a $12 million, two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants after passing a physical Monday. The 34-year-old DeRosa underwent left wrist surgery after the season, when he batted .250 with a career best 23 home runs to go along with 78 RBI for Cleveland and St. Louis.

GOLF

Daly to play in Sony Open

Former Arkansas Razorback John Daly (Dardanelle) has received a sponsor’s exemption to play in next month’s Sony Open in Honolulu. It will mark Daly’s fifth appearance at the tournament at the Waialae Country Club. The tournament tees off Jan. 14.

BASKETBALL Rockets seek to trade McGrady

The Houston Rockets acknowledge they are trying to trade Tracy McGrady, after the two-time scoring champion’s representatives asked the team to deal him. General Manager Daryl Morey said Tuesday the two sides have had “multiple conversations” and that the Rockets “have agreed to look into trade opportunities and have granted him an indefinite leave from team activities.” McGrady was unhappy with his playing time in six games since returning from off-season knee surgery and left the team before two road games over the weekend. The seven-time All-Star is due to make about $23 million this season in the last year of his contract. McGrady played a total of 46 minutes in six games this season, his first action since undergoing microfracture surgery on his left knee Feb. 24. While McGrady had been insisting since training camp that he was ready to play again, the Rockets were hesitant to return him to the regular rotation. McGrady hit only 7 of 19 shots in his brief return.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have acquired forward Alando Tucker, a second-round draft pick and cash from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for backup point guard Jason Hart. The Suns then waived Hart, a nine-year veteran. Tucker was originally selected by the Suns in the first round of the 2007 draft at No. 29 overall out of Wisconsin. In two-plus years with Phoenix, Tucker played in 47 games including 11 this season in which he averaged 3.9 points in 6.5 minutes.

Geoff Petrie signed a three year contract extension Tuesday to remain the Sacramento Kings’ president of basketball operations. Petrie’s contract was set to expire after this season. Petrie arrived in Sacramento in 1994 and built a team that won at least 50 games in five consecutive seasons, contending for the Western Conference title each year. The Kings struggled in recent years and finished with the worst record in the league a year ago. But the team is off to a 14-16 start this year, only three victories shy of last season’s total.

FOOTBALL McCray charged with DWI New Orleans Saints defensive end Bobby McCray was arrested early Tuesday and charged with driving while intoxicated and other counts, police said. Police spokesman Gary Flot said Mc-Cray, 28, was stopped by an officer who saw him speeding about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday. He was booked into Orleans Parish Prison on charges of driving while intoxicated, speeding, careless operation of a motor vehicle and not having his vehicle registration with him. A jail spokesman said McCray was released on his own recognizance around 7 a.m. McCray refused to take a breathalyzer test, police spokesman Janssen Valencia said. A person suspected of driving drunk in Louisiana and refusing the breath test automatically loses his license for one year. Mc-Cray has appeared in all 15 games this season, and has 10 tackles and 1 1 /2 sacks.

Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman could miss the season finale against Detroit after breaking his ribs during the 36-30 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Tillman also suffered a lung contusion Monday night on an inadvertent helmet hit by teammate Craig Steltz as they tackled Minnesota’s Visanthe Shiancoe.

The Detroit Lions say quarterback Matthew Stafford has undergone successful surgery on his right knee. Stafford had what the Lions called minor surgery Tuesday. The rookie No. 1 overall draft choice was placed on injured reserve last week after a physical exam revealed he wouldn’t be ready to play in Sunday’s season finale against Chicago. Stafford completed 201 of 377 passes for 2,267 yards with 13 touchdowns and 20 interceptions this season.

The Atlanta Falcons have signed former Baltimore Ravens kicker Steve Hauschka after Matt Bryant suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday’s victory over Buffalo. Bryant continued to kick extra points after suffering the injury but defensive end Kroy Biermann was used on kickoffs in the second half of the 31-3 victory over the Bills.

HORSE RACING Farish to receive award

Lane’s End Farm owner William S. Farish has been chosen to receive an Eclipse Award of Merit for outstanding achievement in thoroughbred racing. Farish is an owner and breeder, and vice chairman of The Jockey Club. He also was the former chairman of the executive committee of the Breeders’ Cup and serves as chairman of the board. The Eclipse Awards will be presented Jan. 18.

SPEEDSKATING Richardson wins 1,500

Heather Richardson locked up her third Olympic spot by topping her personal best and the rest of the competition in the 1,500 meters Tuesday at the U.S. Speedskating Championships in Kearns, Utah. Her time of 1 minute, 56.22 seconds was more than two seconds ahead of her personal best and 2.51 seconds faster than any other woman Tuesday. Richardson’s time for the first lap was 25.21 seconds, 0.44 ahead of Elli Ochowicz in the other lane. Nancy Swider-Peltz Jr. finished second. The U.S. roster for the 1,500 will be Richardson, Jilleanne Rookard and Jennifer Rodriguez, who is headed to her third Olympics. Richardson, 20, had already locked up spots on the U.S. team for the 500 meters and 1,000. The American men were already stocked in the distance with world record holder Shani Davis, threetime Olympic medalist Chad Hedrick and Trevor Marsicano. The fourth spot was open Tuesday and 19-year-old Brian Hansen took it in 1:44.83.

FOOTBALL Favre among eight Vikings in Pro Bowl

NEW YORK - Brett Favre and Peyton Manning already were Pro Bowl regulars when they were selected to this season’s game Tuesday.

Favre was among eight Minnesota Vikings who made the NFC team, while Manning was one ofsix Indianapolis Colts on the AFC squad. It will be Favre’s 11th Pro Bowl and the 10th for Manning. No other quarterbacks have been to 10 all-star games.

Favre will be a backup to New Orleans’ Drew Brees, the NFL’s top-rated passer. The other NFC quarterback will be Aaron Rodgers, who replacedFavre in Green Bay last year.

Tennessee running back Chris Johnson, the league’s leading rusher, also made the AFC team, along with NFL receptions leader Wes Welker of New England. Manning will bebacked up at quarterback by New England’s Tom Brady and San Diego’s Philip Rivers.

All six of the quarterbacks made the playoffs and, of course, would prefer to be playing in the Super Bowl on Feb. 7 in Miami. The Pro Bowl has been movedto the previous Sunday at Dolphin Stadium, and no Super Bowl participants will play in the all-star game.

Other Vikings to make the Pro Bowl included defensive tackle Kevin Williams of Rison. Williams was among three Arkansans selected. Philadelphia offensive tackle Jason Peters (Arkansas Razorbacks) was chosen as a starter, along with Williams, while Carolina running back DeAngelo Williams (Wynne) is a backup to starter Adrian Peterson of the Vikings.

Pro Bowl selections 3C