SEATTLE (AP) Robinson Cano is trading pinstripes for the Pacific Northwest.

The free agent second baseman and the Seattle Mariners have reached agreement on a deal, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday.

ESPN reported earlier Friday that the contract was worth $240 million for 10 years.

The person told the AP that the deal was pending a physical that had not yet been scheduled. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement.

Music mogul Jay-Z, whose Roc Nation has partnered with CAA Baseball to represent Cano, was in Seattle for talks that began Thursday and stretched into Friday. Agent Brodie Van Wagenen of CAA Baseball and Juan Perez of Roc Nation Sports also were in attendance.

Cano had spent his entire career with the New York Yankees and was a five-time All-Star. He played in 160 games last season and hit .314 with 27 homers and 107 RBIs.

The Yankees had offered $175 million over seven years. New York went 85-77 last season and missed the playoffs for only the second time in 19 years; Seattle went 71-91 and hasn't been in the playoffs since 2001.

"He was a great Yankee. He was a great player. I think everybody tried hard to get the deal done. We just never got close enough obviously. We wish him the best. We hope he has a long, healthy career," Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said Friday. "We're going to keep going. We're still looking at all the same guys that we were looking at a week ago or two ago. We're going to continue to improve. We're not done spending."

The Mariners weren't saying much of anything.

"We are not able to confirm any news regarding Robinson Cano at this time. If and when an agreement is completed and finalized, we will announce," the team said in a statement.

The deal would be tied for the fourth-richest contract in baseball history and a striking blow from a franchise that's done little to get noticed for the past decade.

Only the two deals signed by Alex Rodriguez - first with Texas and then the Yankees - and Joey Votto's contract with Cincinnati were worth more. Albert Pujols also signed a $240 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels.

Cano posted a .899 on-base plus slugging percentage last season and finished fifth in American League most valuable player voting.

He's been one of the most durable players in baseball for the past seven seasons, missing only 14 out of 1,120 games since the start of the 2007 season. He's a career .309 hitter who has averaged 24 homers and 97 RBIs per season. Cano has hit at least 25 homers and had a slugging percentage above .500 in every season since 2009.

Cano could be the anchor for a lineup that's lacked consistency at the plate most of the past decade.

Between 2009 and 2012, Seattle's offense ranked last in baseball in batting average, and was near the bottom in runs scored and homers. The Mariners showed some pop this past season with 188 home runs - second-most in baseball - but 52 of those came from the combo of Kendrys Morales and 41-year-old Raul Ibanez, both free agents.

It's the second straight offseason Seattle will have made a massive financial commitment after giving a $175 million, seven-year deal to ace Felix Hernandez last winter. Seattle has plenty of financial room to make significant cash commitments because the only major contracts on the books for 2014 are for Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma, and only Michael Saunders and Justin Smoak are entering arbitration.

Helping provide room to increase the payroll is the Mariners' investment in a new regional sports network that is expected to net Seattle significant revenue in the coming years and it's not a surprise the club was able to make such a staggering offer.

But finalizing a deal with Cano won't solve all of Seattle's problems. It's a start, immediately adding a legitimate slugger to the middle of a lineup that finally showed some pop last season after years of floundering with one of the worst offenses in baseball. The Mariners have plenty of other problems to solve, including adding another established starter to their rotation and finding solutions for an outfield filled with questions.

The potential acquisition of Cano could mean a move is made with Nick Franklin or Dustin Ackley. Franklin became Seattle's starting second baseman for the majority of last season after an early promotion from the minors. He showed flashes at the plate but slumped badly in the later months of the season and his defense was always a concern.

Ackley was Seattle's second baseman of the future when he was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 draft, but went through his own hitting swoon. Ackley was demoted to the minors to try to find his swing and was moved from second base to playing in the outfield.

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AP Baseball Writers Ronald Blum in New York and Janie McCauley in San Francisco and AP freelance writer Mark Didtler in Tampa, Fla., contributed to this report.

Sat, 07 Dec 2013 03:26:00 +0000

HOUSTON (AP) Gary Kubiak pulled the Texans out of the NFL basement and remains the only coach to take them to the playoffs.

That wasn't enough to save his job, not with the Texans mired in an 11-game skid that has dropped them back to the bottom of the league.

Houston fired Kubiak on Friday, one day after the Texans lost 27-20 at Jacksonville and continued their stunning fall for a team that expected to make a Super Bowl run. Houston (2-11) was flagged 14 times for a franchise-record 177 yards.

The 52-year-old Kubiak was hired in 2006 and led the team to AFC South titles in 2011-2012, the highlights of his eight-year tenure as coach of his hometown NFL team.

The Texans said they couldn't wait any longer to start turning things around, not with the losses and undisciplined play piling up.

"What's taken place with this organization is unacceptable," general manager Rick Smith said. "We've got three weeks of an evaluation process left and we've got to right the ship."

Kubiak thanked the team for giving him his first head coaching job in the NFL.

"Though we came up short this season, the work, effort and sacrifice they gave me and this organization over the last eight seasons is not to be taken for granted," he said in a statement provided by the Texans. "We had a great run here and we will never forget our back-to-back AFC South championships. Coming back home was a dream come true for all of us. This will always be our home."

Kubiak's overall record is 61-64, with a 2-2 mark in the playoffs. Owner Bob McNair said the decision to let him go was a hard one.

"It was difficult for me because I think so much of Gary," McNair said. "We've been evaluating it every game and asking the question, `What's in the best interest of the organization?' We're at the point now where we need to go ahead and make some changes because losing like this is unacceptable."

He added: "We're here to have a winning culture and this year has not contributed to that."

The Texans said defensive coordinator Wade Phillips would serve as interim coach for the rest of what has been a miserable season. McNair said NFL and head coaching experience were important factors in filling the job, and that the 66-year-old Phillips will be considered.

Kubiak suffered a mini-stroke Nov. 3 in a frightening scene, collapsing at halftime during a game against the Colts and being rushed to a Houston hospital. He suffered a transient ischemic attack, which occurs when blood flow to the brain is briefly interrupted, typically by a blood clot or narrowed blood vessels. Experts say they are often a warning sign for a future stroke, particularly within three months of a TIA.

Kubiak returned to coach, but the Texans have been unable to rebound from injuries to top players including quarterback Matt Schaub, running back Arian Foster and linebacker Brian Cushing, who was lost for the second straight season.

McNair pointed to messy play and the handling of second-year quarterback Case Keenum as reasons for the move before the end of the season.

"I think the last straw was losing," McNair said. "We've got a lot better talent than Jacksonville and to lose to them twice, to their credit they played harder, played smarter and to have them beat us on that is not acceptable. If a team's going to beat us because they're better than we are, or have better ability that's fine, but we expect to go out and play hard and play smart, and we didn't play smart."

Kubiak, a former NFL quarterback who calls the team's plays, has long been known as a top offensive coach, mentoring quarterbacks in Denver under Mike Shanahan and then Schaub and Keenum in Houston.

He was hired in 2006, along with Smith, after the Texans finished a franchise-worst 2-14. Smith spent 10 years with Kubiak while the coach was offensive coordinator of the Broncos. Smith was Denver's defensive assistant for four seasons before moving into the front office for his last six years with the Broncos.

The pair helped transform the Texans, which began play in 2002, from league laughingstock to contender. The team went 6-10 in their first year and 8-8 in each of the next two seasons. Expectations were high in 2010 after Houston finished at 9-7 for its first winning record in 2009. The Texans instead fell to 6-10, which led to many fans calling for Kubiak's firing.

His original contract was due to expire after the 2010 season, but McNair defended him several times amid the bumps.

Last year, the Texans announced contract extensions for both Smith and Kubiak, rewarding them for taking the team to the playoffs last year for the first time. Kubiak's three-year agreement has him under contract through 2014.

McNair said at the time he offered Kubiak a four-year deal, but the coach preferred to make it for three.

Kubiak made his mark as Denver's offensive coordinator under Shanahan, winning two Super Bowls. An eighth-round pick out of Texas A&M, he spent nine years as John Elway's backup. He finished his career 4-1 as a starter, all in emergency relief of Elway.

"You always hate to see guys fired," Broncos coach John Fox said. "It happens, it's tough. But you never like to see that. He's a good friend and a heck of a coach, a guy I have a lot of respect for and it's unfortunate."

The Texans also fired special teams coordinator Joe Marciano and replaced him with assistant Bob Ligashesky, who is in his 10th NFL season and first full year with Houston. Other recent departures from the Texans include assistant head coach Alex Gibbs (for Seattle) and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan went to join his father in Washington.

Keenum, Phillips and the rest of the Texans will get three weeks to show what they have to McNair and company. With Kubiak out, it is clear that the evaluation process could have stiff consequences as the team tries to rebuild.

"We have a young quarterback in Case Keenum and we need to find out if he's capable of being a starter or capable of being the backup," McNair said. "The way you find out about that is by playing him."

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AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton contributed to this report.

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Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org

Fri, 06 Dec 2013 22:49:00 +0000

LAKE LOUISE, Alberta (AP) - Lindsey Vonn returned to racing in a World Cup downhill Friday, 10 months after major knee surgery and less than three weeks after partially re-tearing a ligament, and was thrilled to be back, no matter that her time was not among the top 25.

The reigning Olympic downhill gold medalist took an important step in preparation for the Sochi Games by competing for the first time since her high-speed crash at the world championships in February. She tore two ligaments in her right knee and broke a bone in that leg.

A fall during practice on Nov. 19 in Colorado delayed her comeback.

The American finished in an unofficial time of 1 minute, 59.22 seconds Friday, putting her 26th out of the first 29 skiers on the course.  

Fri, 06 Dec 2013 22:05:03 +0000

SEATTLE (AP) After all the other schools that called over the years and were sent away, it was Washington that finally hooked Chris Petersen.

Petersen will be the Huskies' football coach, making the decision to leave Boise State after eight seasons as the Broncos head coach.

Petersen was offered the job on Thursday night during a meeting with Washington athletic director Scott Woodward in Boise. After a night of sleep, Petersen called Friday morning to accept the position before meeting with his Boise State team.

He's leaving after an unprecedented run of success at Boise State: five conference titles, 92 victories, two Fiesta Bowl wins and credit for putting the Broncos on a national stage for more than just its blue turf field and trick plays.

"Coach Petersen's success and record are extraordinary, but even more impressive is the man himself," Woodward said in a statement released by the school. "His integrity, work ethic and character make him an outstanding fit and leader of our student-athletes at UW. We are thrilled and proud to call Coach Petersen a Husky."

Petersen replaces Steve Sarkisian, who went 34-29 in five seasons at Washington before leaving earlier this week to take the job at USC. Petersen was 92-12 in his eight seasons at Boise State. But he's coming off the worst regular season in his tenure with the Broncos after going 8-4, including a 38-6 loss at Washington in the season opener.

That Washington was able to pry Petersen away is surprising after so many other schools tried unsuccessfully before. He's been linked to jobs all over the country but primarily West Coast jobs at USC, UCLA and Stanford. Every time he said `No thanks,' until now.

"It's time for him to take it to the next level," said Seattle Seahawks safety Jeron Johnson, who played for Petersen at Boise State.

Petersen took over for Dan Hawkins in 2006 and turned Boise State into the darling of the BCS. Whether it was the audacious trick plays that led to Boise State's BCS upset of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, or the staggering run of victories with Kellen Moore at quarterback, Petersen was the one directing the Broncos' rise.

The Broncos won five conference championships under Petersen and won 12 games in every season between 2008 and 2011. The Broncos got as high as No. 2 in the AP Top 25 in 2010 and might have found themselves playing in another BCS game if not for an overtime loss at Nevada in the next-to-last game of the regular season.

But the Broncos seemed to plateau this season. The year started with the blowout loss at Washington, the worst defeat of Petersen's career. Boise State lost three more times on the road at Fresno State, at BYU and at San Diego State, and a loss in a bowl game would leave the Broncos with five defeats for the first time since 1998, when they were in their third season at the Football Bowl Subdivision level.

"I know Bronco Nation joins me in thanking Chris Petersen for all he did to advance Boise State's football program over the past thirteen years," Boise State President Bob Kustra said. "He is not only a great coach but a great person and an asset to the community. We were lucky to have him at Boise State and Washington is lucky to get him."

The struggles this season left some wondering if Petersen had already done all he could do at Boise State. Petersen was expected to make $2.3 million next season and his contract with the Broncos called for a buyout of $750,000.

Petersen will inherit a program at Washington coming off its first eight-win season since 2001. The Huskies had been stuck on seven wins the past three seasons but a 27-17 win over Washington State in the Apple Cup changed that.

Washington appeared on the verge of joining the upper echelon of the conference this season but was turned back in losses to Stanford, Oregon and Arizona State. Sarkisian never defeated the Ducks in his tenure, which stuck with Washington fans tired of getting beaten up by their neighbors to the south, and that will be a primary task for Petersen. In his career, Petersen is 2-0 against the Ducks and 8-2 total against current Pac-12 schools. His only two losses were to Washington.

One of Petersen's big tasks will be to quickly piece together a staff. His hiring could mean the Huskies are able to retain defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox, whom Sarkisian wanted to take with him to USC but who has a large buyout. Wilcox was on Petersen's staff at Boise State for four seasons before moving on to Tennessee.

"The biggest thing for UW players is to believe him," Johnson said. "He's not going to mislead you."

Fri, 06 Dec 2013 23:58:00 +0000

NEW YORK (AP) Curtis Granderson is heading across town, where the New York Mets hope his home run swing won't suffer at Citi Field.

The free-agent outfielder agreed to a $60 million, four-year contract with the Mets, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the deal was pending a physical and no announcement had been made.

Granderson, who turns 33 in March, comes over from the crosstown Yankees and gives the Mets much-needed power in their punchless outfield. He batted .229 with seven homers and 15 RBIs this year, when wrist and hand injuries limited him to 61 games. But he surpassed 40 homers in each of his previous two seasons in pinstripes.

The move marks general manager Sandy Alderson's most expensive free-agent signing - by far - after three years of bargain shopping as the Mets rebuilt.

A three-time All-Star, Granderson provides proven thump from the left side of the plate to complement right-handed hitter David Wright in a lineup that managed only 130 home runs last season - tied for 25th among 30 major league teams.

New York also signed free-agent outfielder Chris Young to a $7.25 million, one-year contract this offseason. Granderson has played center field most of his career but spent time in both left and right last season. He figures to fill a corner spot with the Mets, who plan to use defensive whiz Juan Lagares or Young in center.

New York's outfield combined to hit .238 this year (29th in the majors) with 50 homers (tied for 24th) and 209 RBIs (16th), according to STATS. The group also includes speedy left fielder Eric Young Jr., the NL stolen base leader.

Granderson turned down a $14.1 million qualifying offer from the Yankees to test the open market. The Mets, however, would not have to forfeit their first-round draft pick to sign him because they own the 10th overall selection. The top 10 picks are protected.

Granderson hit 41 home runs in 2011, when he led the American League in runs (136) and RBIs (119) and finished fourth in MVP voting. He had 43 homers and 106 RBIs in 2012, taking advantage of the short right-field porch at Yankee Stadium.

The Mets hope his power will translate to spacious Citi Field, where it's more difficult to clear the fences.

Granderson's numbers have declined the past two years, down to a .317 on-base percentage and .407 slugging mark last season. He also is prone to strikeouts - whiffing 364 times from 2011-2012 - and joins a Mets lineup that fanned 1,384 times this year, tied with Atlanta for most in the NL.

But his bat is a significant upgrade for the Mets, starved for offense following their fifth straight losing season since moving into Citi Field. Now, the club can focus on other areas of need - shortstop, first base, the pitching staff - heading into baseball's winter meetings next week.

Granderson was on the disabled list twice last season after getting hit by pitches.

He missed the first 38 games after breaking his right wrist when he was plunked by Toronto left-hander J.A. Happ in his first spring training plate appearance on Feb. 24. Not long after he returned, Granderson broke a knuckle on his left pinkie when he was hit at Tampa Bay on May 24.

That kept him out until August, making Granderson one of several Yankees stars to be sidelined much of the season. New York was unable to overcome all the injuries, missing the playoffs for only the second time in 19 years.

Granderson's agreement with the Mets was first reported by the New York Post.

Fri, 06 Dec 2013 21:55:00 +0000