$12 million deal for Yanks’ Jeter
Derek Jeter and the Yankees worked out a $12 million, one-year deal that kept the captain from going on the open market, while Joe Nathan, Jose Veras, Ubaldo Jimenez, Kurt Suzuki and Franklin Gutierrez were among the players who became free agents Friday.
The Mets declined their option on injured pitcher Johan Santana, while Boston exercised its option on pitcher Jon Lester.
Toronto exercised options on closer Casey Janssen, first baseman Adam Lind and infielder Mark DeRosa and declined an option on infielder Munenori Kawasaki.
Jeter, who turns 40 next June, was limited to 17 games this year after breaking his ankle in the 2012 playoffs. He spent four stints on the disabled list in the most frustrating season of his 19-year career. His deal had included a $9.5 million player option.
Across town, the Mets declined a $25 million option on Santana and will pay the two-time Cy Young Award winner a $5.5 million buyout. Santana, who turns 35 on March 13, went 46-34 with a 3.18 ERA while with the Mets, missing the 2011 and 2013 seasons because of shoulder injuries.
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Expanded replay to be tested
NEW YORK — Expanded instant replay will be given a test next week by Major League Baseball at the Arizona Fall League.
MLB said the new video review procedures will be used during five AFL games from Tuesday through Nov. 9. AFL umpires will work the games and MLB umpires will observe. The contemplated procedures allow each manager one challenge over the first six innings and two from the seventh inning on. Challenged calls will be reviewed by a crew in MLB headquarters in New York City, which will make a final ruling.
Expanded video review, developed by Atlanta Braves President John Schuerholz, MLB Executive Vice President Joe Torre and MLB Special Assistant to the Commissioner Tony La Russa, is subject to approval by owners, the players’ association and the umpires’ union.
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Djokovic to face Federer in semis
PARIS — Novak Djokovic won his 15th straight match and Roger Federer avenged last week’s loss to Juan Martin del Potro, setting up a semifinal match between the two at the Paris Masters.
Djokovic beat Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 6-1, 6-4, while Federer defeated Del Potro 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 Friday.
Djokovic, who saved all six break points, won 13 of 19 points at the net.
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UConn women top No. 1 poll
UConn is the unanimous choice atop The Associated Press’ preseason women’s basketball poll.
The Huskies, who finished last season with their eighth national championship, received all the first-place votes from the 36-member national media panel Friday. It’s the ninth time that UConn has been the top team in the preseason. Five of those years they went on to win the title.
Duke was second in the poll — it’s best ranking since the Blue Devils finished at No. 1 in the final poll of 2007.
Duke is followed by Stanford, Tennessee and Louisville, which lost in the title game to UConn last season.