Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
Ryan Callahan scored three goals as the New York Rangers beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Saturday for their seventh straight win over the Flyers.
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.
Move over, Hollywood and NFL types, golf's two real A-listers take center stage Sunday at Pebble Beach, both in need of a win.
The United States swept favored Switzerland out of the Davis Cup on Saturday when Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan beat Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Luis Suarez's refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra overshadowed Manchester United's 2-1 win over rival Liverpool that lifted the defending champions to first place in the Premier League on Saturday.
Marlies Schild of Austria won her sixth World Cup slalom of the season Saturday after overall leader Lindsey Vonn and defending champion Maria Hoefl-Riesch crashed out in the opening run on the windy Pyrenees course.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
AP
NEW YORK - Alex Rios showed up at Yankee Stadium and saw his name in the starting lineup Monday night. He left the ballpark a few hours later, on his way to join the White Sox and a pennant race.
The two-time All-Star was claimed off waivers by Chicago and learned the news about 30 minutes before the first pitch between the Blue Jays and New York Yankees. The White Sox assume his entire huge contract while Toronto receives no compensation.
“I’d heard the rumors, but yeah, I thought I was going to stay here,” Rios said outside the Blue Jays clubhouse. “Stuff happens, and I just have to move on.”
The White Sox already have a full outfield with veterans Jermaine Dye, Scott Podsednik and Carlos Quentin. Everyone with Chicago outside of general manager Kenny Williams was stunned at yet another bold move, following the acquisition of San Diego Padres ace Jake Peavy on July 31.
“Yes, I was,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said before Chicago’s game at Seattle, when asked if he was surprised by the move. The White Sox began Monday three games behind Detroit in the AL Central.
“It was great news,” Guillen said. “A lot of people are (asking), ’How are we going to play all those guys?’ I’ve already had a meeting with some of those guys. I’m going to sit down with (Rios) and talk about the situation. Everybody is going to have playing time.
“The lineup? That’s going to be my headache — a good one,” he said.
Chicago’s players got the news about Rios as they dressed for batting practice.
“Tremendous player,” said DH Jim Thome, another one of the starters Guillen said would rest some to get Rios in the lineup.
Podsednik said he hadn’t thought about Rios’ arrival enough yet to comment about him.
Williams expects Rios to join the team Tuesday afternoon in Seattle, but because of the long flight he may not play until Wednesday’s series finale against the Mariners.
The 28-year-old signed a seven-year contract with the Blue Jays in April 2008 that guarantees him $69,835,000. He was due $5.9 million this season, $9.7 million in 2010, $12 million each in 2011 and 2012 and $12.5 million apiece in 2013 and 2014.
There is also a $13.5 million team option for 2015 with a $1 million buyout.
The White Sox assume a minimum of $61.6 million by adding Rios, which includes the roughly $1.9 million remaining on his contract this season.
Peavy, currently on the DL, is set to make $15 million in 2010, $16 million in 2011 and $17 million in 2012. There is a $22 million club option for 2013 with a $4 million buyout.
“Yeah, we’re out on a limb a little bit with the last two acquisitions, but what we’ve seen in recent games at home is our fans are starting to wrap their arms around this team,” Williams said. “People are getting excited about the possibility. I think they can see this team being a dangerous team when we get to the playoffs and match up against anyone.”
Williams had been trying to trade for Rios, but he said the Blue Jays denied his request for money to help pay his hefty contract.
“We had targeted him as the guy who would not only help us here in our quest for our division but in future seasons as well,” Williams said.
Chicago could wipe up to five free agents with contracts approaching $40 million off its books in 2010 — including Dye, Thome and struggling starter Jose Contreras.
“We’re OK with cash, because of the way we’ve structured our payroll over the years and with the young core that has developed right in front of ours,” Williams said.
Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said the move was not “a financial dump,” but acknowledged that Toronto needs “more financial flexibility.”
“Since we did the contract, so many things have changed in the game economically in the last year, little over a year, and this allows us to get out from under a contract and enables us to do more to address our club going forward,” he said.
Rios has struggled most of the season, batting .264 with 14 homers and 62 RBIs in 108 games, although Ricciardi said that wasn’t much of a factor in the decision.
“We like the player,” Ricciardi said, “but it’s just a situation where the contract for us, it enables us to do different things.”
Rios has spent his entire career with Toronto, breaking in as a 23-year-old rookie in 2004. A decent defensive outfielder, Rios hit .283 with 81 homers and 395 RBIs over the past six seasons, making the All-Star team in 2007 and 2008.
“It was a little emotional to say bye to your friends, to the people you came up with,” Rios said. “But like I said before, you have to move on. It’s a new team and I just have to keep doing what I was doing here, go out and play hard and just try to help the new team win.”
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
DeMarco: Plug in a well-heeled ownership group and negotiate one of those mega-bucks TV deals that are going around, and the Dodgers could become the west coast version of the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox.
HardballTalk headlines |
 | Interactive |
 |
 | Slideshow |
 | Unbreakable records in baseball A look at the most unbreakable records in baseball including Nolan Ryan's seven no-hitters. |
| Slideshow |
 | The top tools of baseball You hear a lot about the tools of baseball, but who are the best hitters, fielders and pitchers? We break it down. more photos |
 | Slideshow |
 |
The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos |
Jeremy Lin hit a free throw with 4.9 seconds left to overcome a dreadful second half and lift the New York Knicks to their fifth straight victory, 100-98, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
Doron Lamb hit a 3-pointer with 3:18 left to put No. 1 Kentucky ahead to stay, and the Wildcats took a big step toward a Southeastern Conference regular-season title by beating Vanderbilt 69-63 Saturday night for their 17th straight win.
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.