In Brief

BASEBALL

Greg Maddux leaves Cubs, will join brother Mike with Rangers

Greg Maddux is leaving the Chicago Cubs to join the Texas Rangers, reuniting him with his brother Mike.

The Rangers said Tuesday that Greg Maddux, a Valley High product, will become a special assistant to the general manager, the same role he held with the Cubs the last two seasons.

When asked what drew him to the Rangers, Greg Maddux responded: "Probably the majority of it was my brother." He also said it was very attractive to work with Hall of Fame pitcher and Rangers president Nolan Ryan.

Mike Maddux, a Rancho High product, has been the Rangers' pitching coach for the last three seasons. He interviewed to become manager of the Cubs before Dale Sveum was hired this month.

Greg Maddux, a four-time Cy Young Award winner, will be an instructor at major and minor league spring training and will visit farm teams during the season.

"I like being around the game at the highest level possible," he said. "I will be another set of eyes. I will try to use the experiences I've had in the game and just pass those down to the players and coaches, just try to help out any way possible."

Also: Reliever Jonathan Broxton and the Kansas City Royals agreed to a one-year contract that guarantees the right-hander $4 million, solidifying one of the big league's youngest bullpens and providing a setup man for closer Joakim Soria.

The agreement, which is pending a physical, includes performance bonuses.

Kansas City was willing to take a chance on Broxton despite him being limited to 14 games for the Dodgers last season because of elbow trouble. A two-time All-Star, the 27-year-old Broxton made $7 million last season as part of an $11 million, two-year deal.

San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy received contract extensions taking them through the 2013 season, with club options for 2014, moves that were expected this winter.

CEO Larry Baer had been committed during the offseason to keeping both men with the organization after they were instrumental in the team's 2010 World Series championship, the first for the franchise since moving West in 1958. Sabean is the longest-tenured GM with one club in baseball.

The Giants went 86-76 and missed the playoffs this year, when they dealt with devastating season-ending injuries to 2010 National League Rookie of the Year catcher Buster Posey and second baseman Freddy Sanchez.

Pitcher-turned-outfielder Adam Loewen agreed to a minor league contract with the New York Mets.

The 27-year-old Loewen, who will attend major league spring training under the deal, was 6-for-32 (.188) for Toronto last season, with one home run and four RBIs. He hit .306 for the Triple-A 51s of the Pacific Coast League, with 46 doubles, 17 homers and 85 RBIs.

Right-hander Scott Mathieson was released by the Philadelphia Phillies, allowing him to sign with a team in Asia.

The 27-year-old was 1-4 with a 6.75 ERA in eight starts and seven relief appearances with the Phillies in 2006, 2010 and this year. He didn't allow a run in four relief outings this year.

MISCELLANEOUS

NBA teams told they can open doors to players on Thursday

NBA arenas are about to be unlocked.

Teams have been informed they may open their doors to players on Thursday, NBA spokesman Tim Frank said.

Teams have been told they may host "voluntary player workouts" and physicals in advance of the planned Dec. 9 opening of training camps.

In addition, agents may begin talking to teams again at 9 a.m. EST today, though deals cannot be offered. Deals cannot be signed before Dec. 9.

It's the first time since the lockout began July 1 that players have been permitted to use team training facilities.

Also: A Minnesota federal judge put the legal fight between the NBA's players and owners on hold to give the two sides time to finish their collective bargaining agreement.

U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz of Minneapolis granted a request by the players and issued a stay of all court proceedings. The stay is valid until Dec. 9, by which time a formal collective bargaining agreement is expected to be approved.

The two sides reached a tentative agreement Saturday and are in the process of completing the negotiations.

Paulina Gretzky has shut down her Twitter feed, fueling speculation her hockey great father took issue with racy photos of the aspiring actress and model.

The pictures that caused an Internet buzz depict the 22-year-old woman in revealing tops, short skirts and bikinis. She is in typical party-girl mode: swooning for the camera, tanning poolside and striking suggestive poses with girlfriends.

Paulina Gretzky is the eldest of Wayne Gretzky's five children with actress Janet Jones.