In brief
BASEBALL
Ramirez to bring much-needed bat to Milwaukee
With Prince Fielder all but gone and Ryan Braun facing a possible 50-game suspension, the Milwaukee Brewers needed another source of offense.
The Brewers finalized a $36 million, three-year contract with free-agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez on Wednesday, adding a much-needed bat to their lineup.
Ramirez, who played the past eight-plus seasons for the National League Central rival Chicago Cubs, said he considers the Brewers a team that will be in position to contend every year for the foreseeable future -- even if they do lose Braun for a chunk of next season and lose Fielder for good.
"You're going to miss those guys if Ryan Braun is suspended, but I think you win with pitching," Ramirez said.
And while Ramirez said he'll do his best to help produce runs, he doesn't see himself as a direct replacement for Fielder.
"You can't replace Prince Fielder," Ramirez said. "He's one of the best hitters in the game."
Also: The San Francisco Giants are working to finalize a $1 million, one-year contract with free-agent reliever Guillermo Mota to bring him back for a third season.
The deal was close to done, still pending a physical and final paperwork.
Mota, a 38-year-old right-hander, has become a reliable option for manager Bruce Bochy. He went 2-2 with a 3.81 ERA in 52 appearances last season for the NL West runners-up.
The St. Louis Cardinals finalized a two-year, $14 million free-agent deal with shortstop Rafael Furcal, a trade deadline pickup who helped them in their run to the World Series title.
The deal was completed after the 34-year-old Furcal passed a physical.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have reached agreement on a $1.75 million, one-year contract with 41-year-old right-hander Takashi Saito.
The former All-Star went 4-2 with a 2.03 ERA in 30 relief appearances for the Brewers last season.
In another Diamondbacks' deal, right-hander Jonathan Albaladejo agreed to a $490,000, one-year contract. Albaladejo pitched in Japan last season after appearing in 10 games for the New York Yankees in 2010.
The Boston Red Sox tweaked their bullpen and bench, acquiring reliever Mark Melancon and utility infielder Nick Punto in separate deals.
After losing closer Jonathan Papelbon in free agency, the Red Sox obtained Melancon from the Houston Astros for infielder Jed Lowrie and right-hander Kyle Weiland.
Hours later, the team announced it had signed Punto to a two-year contract. He replaces Lowrie, also a switch-hitter who can play all over the infield.
The Oakland Athletics agreed to a $3.35 million, one-year contract with left-hander Dallas Braden.
Braden made three starts last season before being sidelined by a shoulder injury. He was 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA before going on the disabled list April 18. He had surgery to a repair a torn capsule in his left shoulder May 17.
Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan said the team has not ended contract talks with free-agent outfielder Michael Cuddyer, amid discussions with his potential replacement, Josh Willingham.
Ryan said "nobody is backed into a corner here." Cuddyer has been with the organization since he was a first-round draft pick in 1997.
Willingham played last season for the Oakland Athletics, hitting a career-high 29 home runs with a career-best 98 RBIs. He is also a free agent and the same age (32) as Cuddyer.
The Baltimore Orioles signed Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada to a $8.15 million, two-year contract.
The 30-year-old Wada is expected to enhance a pitching staff that finished last in the majors with a 4.89 ERA.
GOLF
Wahlin shoots 66, takes Dubai Ladies Masters lead
Lotta Wahlin made seven birdies for a 6-under-par 66 to take a one-shot lead over Becky Brewerton after the first round of the Dubai Ladies Masters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The 28-year-old Wahlin, whose career was disrupted in 2009 when she was diagnosed with skin cancer, made a 26-foot birdie putt on the 18th for the lead to go with six other birdies and one bogey.
The Swede is two shots ahead of four other golfers and four shots ahead of Lexi Thompson (70), the 16-year-old American who is the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour.
Michelle Wie, looking for her first win of the year, was seven shots back after shooting 73. She's tied for 54th in the 108-player field.
Also: Tom Lehman was voted the Champions Tour player of the year after a season in which he won three times and won the Charles Schwab Cup. Lehman also won the money list, the only Champions Tour player to surpass $2 million.
MISCELLANEOUS
IndyCar to release initial findings of Wheldon crash
IndyCar officials plan to announce today their initial findings from the investigation into Dan Wheldon's fatal accident.
Wheldon was killed in the opening laps of the Oct. 16 season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner was involved in a 15-car accident, and his car sailed into the catchfence.
Many elements of the event have been criticized in the wake of the accident, and IndyCar hasn't released its 2012 schedule because officials have been waiting for the investigation to be complete. Among the concerns is learning if the IndyCar is compatible with high-banked ovals.
The series came to an agreement last week with Las Vegas to buy its way out of the portion of the contract that called for IndyCar to end 2012 at Las Vegas.
Also: Las Vegan Roy Nelson was added to the Ultimate Fighting Championship card at Mandalay Bay on Super Bowl weekend.
The heavyweight will fight Fabricio Werdum, who returns to the UFC after a successful stint in Strikeforce, at UFC 143 on Feb. 4.
The card is headlined by an interim welterweight title bout between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit, which was booked after champion Georges St. Pierre tore his ACL and had to pull out of his fight against Diaz.
Josh Koscheck, who was to fight Condit, will now take on Mike Pierce.
St. Pierre underwent surgery, which he deemed on Twitter a "huge success," Tuesday in Los Angeles.
An Ohio prosecutor said he has decided against filing criminal charges in an on-court brawl involving Cincinnati and Xavier basketball players.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said he made the decision following an investigation that included review of films and interviews with the two teams' coaches and some players and witnesses. He also said that Xavier center Kenny Frease was satisfied with an apology from Bearcats forward Yancy Gates after the two "reached out to each other privately."
Gates punched Frease in the face during the melee.
Penske Racing promoted Todd Gordon to crew chief of its No. 22 Dodge. The team does not have a driver yet since Kurt Busch left the organization last week after six seasons.
Gordon led Penske's No. 22 team in the Nationwide Series to six wins and six poles last season.
Kentucky Derby winner Strike the Gold was euthanized after injuring his left front leg while in his paddock at a stud farm in Turkey, the Turkish Jockey Club told the Daily Racing Form and Bloodhorse websites.
The 1991 Derby winner trained by Hall of Famer Nick Zito had battled laminitis lately but was in good health before injuring his pastern, a part of the leg between the fetlock and the top of the hoof. Strike the Gold was 23.
