Off the wire

BASEBALL

Lee’s future uncertain

Cliff Lee (Benton, Arkansas Razorbacks) said he’s ready to reclaim his spot in Philadelphia’s starting rotation after missing the past nine weeks with a strained left elbow. As for how much longer he will pitch for the Phillies, Lee is less certain as his name circulates in potential trade talks. “It’s out of my control,” the 2008 American League Cy Young Award winner said. “Right now I’m a Phillie and I’m ready to help this team win.” Philadelphia began Friday in last place in the National Leauge East and 10 games behind Atlanta and Washington. Lee, who is 4-4 with a 3.18 ERA in 10 starts, will start Monday against San Francisco. Lee is still owed more than $10.3 million this season, $25 million next year and has a vesting option for 2016.

Any hopes the New York Yankees had of CC Sabathia returning to their rotation this year are over. General Manager Brian Cashman said Sabathia will have season-ending surgery on his right knee Wednesday. Cashman said indications are the left-hander will be ready for spring training next year, but there are no guarantees. The team had all but ruled out Sabathia returning in 2014 after he had a setback early this month during his minor-league rehab assignment. One positive is that Sabathia will not have microfracture surgery, which would require a longer recovery. Cashman said the operation will be performed by Los Angeles Dodgers physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache. In other news, designated hitter Carlos Beltran has been activated from the seven-day concussion list. He was penciled in to bat sixth Friday night against Cincinnati.

The Houston Astros have failed to sign the first pick in this year’s draft. The Astros said they didn’t reach an agreement with high school pitcher Brady Aiken before Friday’s deadline. The left-hander from San Diego’s Cathedral Catholic was just the third high school pitcher to be selected first overall when he was taken last month. Aiken was also the first high school left-hander to be drafted in the first five picks since Adam Loewen went fourth overall to Baltimore in 2002. The UCLA recruit has a fastball that hits 96-97 mph.

The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with right-hander Erick Fedde, the 18th overall pick in the 2014 draft. Fedde, a 6-4, 180-pound junior out of the UNLV, went 8-2 with a 1.76 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 11 starts for the Rebels this past season. He was the 2014 Mountain West Pitcher of the Year. Fedde underwent Tommy John surgery June 3 and will report to Viera, Fla., to continue his rehab, according to General Manager Mike Rizzo. The 21-year-old is a graduate of Las Vegas High School, where he played with Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper. The team did not come to terms with its second-round pick, left-hander Andrew Suarez of the University of Miami, before Friday’s 5 p.m. deadline.

The Los Angeles Angels have acquired San Diego Padres closer Huston Street and a prospect in a trade for four minor-leaguers, which should end the Angels’ search for relievers just before the trade deadline in less than two weeks. The trade was first reported late Friday by Jim Bowden of ESPN. com and Ken Rosenthal of Fox-Sports.com. Along with Street, the Angels will get right-hander Trevor Gott. Angels’ prospects Taylor Lindsey, Jose Rondon, R.J. Alvarez and another minor-leaguer will head to San Diego. Street, 30, is a two-time All-Star and has the highest save percentage (92.5) since the beginning of the 2012 season. As of Friday, Street had 24 saves with an ERA of 1.09. He is earning $7 million this season.

GOLF

Diaz ahead by 3

Laura Diaz rallied for four birdies down the stretch to shoot a 2-under 69 for a three-stroke lead over Lydia Ko and Lee-Anne Pace after Friday’s second round of the Marathon Classic at Sylvania, Ohio. Diaz, who has devoted more time to her family than competition in recent years, led by four shots after shooting a bogey-free 62 in the opening round. She was at 11-under 131 at the tournament’s midpoint. Ko, bidding for a second LPGA Tour title as a pro to go with the two she won as an amateur, shot a second consecutive 67 to share second with South Africa’s Pace, who had a 68. Lurking another shot back at 135 are 2012 Marathon winner So Yeon Ryu and Rebecca Lee-Bentham, both of whom shot 67s. Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) had four birdies and three bogeys for a 1-under 70 (140) and is tied in a pack for 31st.

Bill Lunde and Zack Sucher shared the lead after the second round Friday of the Web.com Tour’s Albertsons Boise Open. Lunde was at 15-under 127 after a 10-under 61 on Friday at Hillcrest Country Club. First-round leader Sucher shot a 4-under 67 on Friday, not nearly as spectacular as his first-round 11-under 60. Steven Alker was in third with a 14-under 128, having shot 66 for his second round. Glen Day (Little Rock) was 10 under (132) after an eagle, five birdies and a bogey for a 6-under 65 on Friday, placing him in a tie for eighth. Sebastian Cappelen (Arkansas Razorbacks) failed to make the cut.

FOOTBALL

Claim extended 4 years

Dozens of former players joining a lawsuit against the NFL say teams kept handing out powerful painkillers and other drugs with few — if any— safeguards as recently as 2012 to keep players on the field. That extends by four years the time frame for similar claims made by hundreds of former players in the original complaint, and could open the door to a criminal investigation. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration is beginning to look into accusations contained in the original lawsuit — filed in May and covering the years 1968-2008. The new allegations could dramatically expand the investigation’s scope, as well as add a sense of urgency. Any violation of federal drug laws after 2009 would not be subject to the five-year statute of limitations.

Former NFL players Christian Ballard and Gregory Westbrooks are suing the players union for not providing accurate information about the risk of head injuries. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, with both claiming the NFL Players Association “withheld information from the players about the risks of head injuries.” Ballard and Westbrooks named former union presidents Trace Armstrong, Troy Vincent and Kevin Mawae in the suit. An NFLPA statement says: “This lawsuit has no merit and we will defend our union and our past presidents.” Ballard, a defensive end in 2011 and 2012, left the Vikings last September. Coincidentally, he is being represented by the union in a grievance concerning about $240,000 in 2013 salary. Westbrooks, now 61, played parts of seven seasons from 1975-81 as a linebacker and special teamer with four clubs.

CYCLING

Nibali wins stage, strengthens lead

CHAMROUSSE, France -- Stamping his dominance in the mountains and on the race overall, Vincenzo Nibali won Stage 13 of the Tour de France in the Alps on Friday up the hardest climb so far.

The Italian race leader collected his third Tour stage victory by overtaking two other breakaway riders at the end of a grueling 122-mile trek from Saint-Etienne to Chamrousse ski station.

With eight stages to the finish, Nibali's yellow jersey looks an ever more permanent part of his wardrobe.

The first of two days in the snow-capped mountains lived up to its billing, as the daunting final ascent of 12 miles with an average 7.3 percent gradient shook up the overall standings.

The main casualty was Richie Porte. The Australian, who took over as Sky Team leader after 2013 champion Chris Froome crashed out in Stage 5, began second to Nibali overall but lost time on the final climb and finished nearly 8 minutes off the pace.

Nibali, who has been calm and savvy in this race, crossed the line alone and thrust his hands in the air after winning 10 seconds ahead of Poland's Rafal Majka in second and Germany's Leopold Konig in third. The trailing two were far back in the overall standings, and not in contention to win the three-week race.

More important to Nibali was increasing the gap on his rivals for victory on the Champs-Elysees on July 17. Spain's Alejandro Valverde fared relatively well by placing third -- 50 seconds behind Nibali -- and taking second overall from Porte. But he's now 3 1/2 minutes behind overall.

"Today, I essentially wanted to gain some seconds," Nibali said. "And by doing that, I won."

Porte's troubles also meant others climbed in the standings: France's Romain Bardet, countryman Thibault Pinot and American Tejay van Garderen each moved up a spot to third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Upcoming Events