LITTLE ROCK — BASEBALL

Wright to sign for $138M

David Wright and the New York Mets finalized a $138 million, eight-year contract Tuesday, the largest deal in the team’s history. The contract was agreed to last week, subject to a physical, and the team said Wright, 29, planned to discuss it today at the winter meetings. “I’ve grown up in this organization and made lifelong friendships with teammates, uniform personnel and front office staff. I’m grateful for the opportunity to finish what I’ve started,” Wright said. Wright’s new deal replaces the $16 million salary he was to have earned under a 2013 option in his previous contract. The new deal contains deferred money. Wright, who joined the Mets in 2004 and has been with the club throughout his career, batted .306 with 21 home runs and 93 RBI last season.

A person familiar with the talks tells The Associated Press that free agent outfielder Shane Victorino and the Boston Red Sox are close to completing a three-year deal worth $39 million. Victorino, 32, hit a combined .255 with 11 home runs and 55 RBI last season for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also stole a career-high 39 bases. The Dodgers got Victorino in a late July trade with the Phillies.

Free agent pitcher Dan Haren and the Washington Nationals are close to completing a one-year deal for $13 million, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press. Washington had the best record in the majors last season. The NL East champions already have a formidable rotation led by Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg, and could boost it by adding Haren, an All-Star in 2007-2009. Haren was 12-13 with a 4.33 ERA in 30 starts and 1762/3 innings for the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels nearly traded the 32-year-old right-handerto the Chicago Cubs for reliever Carlos Marmol after the season, then declined their $15.5 million option on him for next season and paid a $3.5 million buyout.

BASKETBALL

Former ORU coach dies

Ken Trickey, a former basketball coach at Iowa State, Oral Roberts and other schools, died Tuesday. He was 79. ORU President Mark Rutland said in a statement announcing Trickey’s death that the coach’s exciting basketball program helped the university become known throughout the country. Trickey led Oral Roberts to the round of eight in the NCAA Tournament in 1974 and was the school’s victories leader until Scott Sutton passed him last year. Trickey had a 214-116 record in two stints at ORU (1969-1974 and 1987-1993). Trickey played at Middle Tennessee State and was coaching the Blue Raiders when they beat ORU 115-89. That convinced Rev. Oral Roberts to pursue Trickey as his program’scoach the following year.

The struggling Cleveland Cavaliers have recalled forward Kevin Jones. Jones has been playing for the Cavs’ Developmental League affiliate in Canton. In five games with the Charge, the former West Virginia star averaged 23.6 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. The6-8 Jones was one of the final players cut by the Cavs at the end of training camp. Cleveland has struggled without star point guard Kyrie Irving, their leading scorer who is out with a broken left index finger and expected to miss two more weeks. On Monday night, the Cavs were also missing rookie guard Dion Waiters in an 89-79 loss to Detroit. Waiters has a sprained ankle. He and Irving combine to average 38 points.

FOOTBALL

Seahawks waive WR Edwards

The Seattle Seahawks have cut wide receiver Braylon Edwards after a season during which he had little impact on the offense and placed starting left guard James Carpenter on the seasonending reserve/nonfootball illness list. Seattle made the moves Tuesday afternoon. Edwards was waived with an injury distinction,but no specific injury was cited. The Seahawks now have just five healthy wide receivers. Edwards had just 8 catches for 74 yards and 1 touchdown in 10 games. Carpenter returned from a serious knee injury last season and started seven games for the Seahawks at left guard. But he left early in Sunday’s victory over Chicago after experiencing what Coach Pete Carroll called a sharp pain in his surgically repaired knee. Seattle signed offensive lineman Rishaw Johnson from the practice squad.

With Brian Urlacher nursing a hamstring injury, the Chicago Bears have signed Dom DeCicco to a two-year contract, adding depth at linebacker. Urlacher’s status for this week’s game at Minnesota and beyond is in question after he was injured on the final drive of Sunday’s overtime loss to Seattle.

The Tennessee Titans have placed right tackle David Stewart and safety Robert Johnson on injured reserve. The Titans filled their roster spots by adding offensive lineman Kyle DeVan and tackle Daniel Baldridge. Stewart broke his right leg in last week’s 24-10 loss to Houston. Johnson tore ligaments in his foot.

Grady Allen, the father of Oakland Raiders Coach Dennis Allen and a former NFL linebacker, has died. He was 66. The Raiders said Tuesday that Grady Allen died overnight from cardiac arrest. Dennis Allen had left the Raiders on Sunday night to go to the Dallas area to be with his father, who was hospitalized last week. Dennis Allen is expected to rejoin the team tonight and coach Oakland against Denver on Thursday night. Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp oversaw the team at practice Tuesday with defensive coordinator Jason Tarver running that side of the ball.

BOXING

Kameda keeps WBA title

Koki Kameda (29-1, 17 knockouts) retained his WBA bantamweight title by scoring a split decision over Mexican challenger Hugo Ruiz (31-2, 28 KO) on Tuesday inOsaka, Japan. Two judges scored the bout for the Japanese champion 116-113 and 115-113, while the third favored Ruiz 117-113. Kameda was making the fifth defense of the title he won in 2010.

BASEBALL Eric Hinske, Diamondbacks agree to deal

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Free agent Eric Hinske (Arkansas Razorbacks) agreed Tuesday to a one-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

While the deal was not announced, Diamondbacks Manager Kirk Gibson discussed it at the winter meetings.

“Just a veteran guy, lefthanded bat, mostly thinking about bench for him,” Gibson said. “He’s got experience, understands how to read people, a little first base probably, but he probably could gothird or outfield in a pinch in an extra-inning game. His mentality is somewhat one that I can relateto, very intense. I like that.”

Hinske, 35, has spent the past 11 seasons in the major leagues, including the past three with the Atlanta Braves. He hit .197 with 2home runs and 13 RBI in 132 at-bats last season, seeing time at first base, left field and right field.

“We were not very good in late or in-close leverage situations,” Gibson said. “I think as you analyze that, that’s a lot of mentality involved in that, and you have to develop a certain approach in those situations and trust it.

I’vewatched him over his career, and I think he’s a guy that can help us as a team, as well.”

Sports, Pages 20 on 12/05/2012