In Brief

BASEBALL

Ramirez, Damon agree
to deals with Tampa Bay

Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon are about to become teammates again, this time in Tampa Bay.

Both free-agent outfielders agreed to one-year contracts with the Rays, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the agreements had not been announced.

Damon will get $5.25 million and the chance to make $750,000 in bonuses based on attendance, the person said. Ramirez will get $2 million.

The moves mark the first major additions for the American League East champions after a devastating offseason in which one prominent player after another left cost-conscious Tampa Bay.

Ramirez and Damon played together for four years in Boston and helped the Red Sox to the 2004 World Series title.

Also: The Los Angeles Angels acquired All-Star center fielder Vernon Wells from Toronto, giving them the big bat they wanted to add this winter.

The Blue Jays shipped their high-priced fixture to the Angels for catcher Mike Napoli and outfielder Juan Rivera.

The teams did not say whether the Blue Jays would also send cash to the Angels to help offset Wells' contract. He has four years and $86 million left on a $126 million, seven-year deal.

Nick Punto agreed to a $750,000, one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. Punto, a switch-hitter, was the Minnesota Twins' opening day third baseman last year and also played shortstop and second base.

The Chicago White Sox picked up their 2012 option on manager Ozzie Guillen's contract. Guillen, entering his eighth season with Chicago, agreed to a multiyear extension in September 2007 that ran through the upcoming season.

The College of Southern Nevada will retire the No. 34 jersey of hitting phenom Bryce Harper, the first pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft.

Harper left Las Vegas High School after his sophomore year to play with tougher competition and ready himself for the possibility of playing professionally a year early.

Harper's number will be retired before the team's season opener Friday along with the No. 6 of former coach Tim Chambers, now UNLV's coach, and the No. 44 of former outfielder Mike Dunn.

FOOTBALL

Lions QB Stafford has
right shoulder surgery

Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford had surgery on his right throwing shoulder, and the Lions say they expect the former No. 1 draft pick to be back in time for training camp after playing only three games last season.

Stafford's operation was performed by renowned sports Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla.

Stafford played only one game start to finish last season. He went on injured reserve Dec. 24.

Also: Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton has hired representation as he prepares for the NFL Draft.

The former Auburn quarterback, who is skipping his senior season, signed with co-representatives, agent Bus Cook and Washington, D.C.-based Perennial Sports and Entertainment. Cook's clients include Brett Favre.

Dave Wannstedt agreed to a multiyear deal to become the Buffalo Bills' assistant head coach. Wannstedt spent the past six years coaching the University of Pittsburgh, where he was forced to resign last month.

Former NFL coach Dick Jauron was named defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns. Jauron, 60, is the first hire for Browns coach Pat Shurmur's staff.

A Texas appeals court threw out former coach Mike Leach's breach of contract claim against Texas Tech, though it said he could still pursue nonmonetary claims against the school over his controversial 2009 firing.

Washington rewarded coach Steve Sarkisian with a new five-year, $12.75 million contract after he led the team to its first bowl game since 2002. The Huskies finished the season 6-6 overall and 5-4 in the Pac-10 before beating No. 17 Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl.

MISCELLANEOUS

NASCAR president hints
at 'easy' points system

NASCAR president Mike Helton strongly indicated the points system used since 1975 will be scrapped for a simpler scoring method.

"The goal for some time has been to create a points system that is easy to understand, easy to explain, easy to be talked about, but also be credible at the end of the season," Helton said during a competition update at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The current system is a complicated formula that NASCAR says was drawn up on a napkin over drinks at a Daytona Beach bar in 1974.

An announcement of changes is expected to be made Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C.

Also: UNLV women's basketball forward Lenita Sanford has been ruled academically ineligible and will miss the remainder of the season. Sanford, a junior, started the team's first 11 games and averaged 8.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks.

UNLV's Chelsea Cassulo set a school indoor record and Ashley Henry tied one as the Rebels opened their track and field season at the Cherry & Silver Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M.

Cassulo, a junior transfer, had a weight throw of 64 feet, 8 inches, breaking Monique Hughes' 2008 record of 59-7½. Henry, a freshman, cleared 5-10 in the high jump to tie Christine Spence's 2005 mark.

The 29th-ranked UNLV women's tennis team won five of six singles matches, led by Nives Pavlovich at No. 1 singles, to down New Mexico State 5-2 at the Fertitta Tennis Complex in the Rebels' first dual match of the season.

The UNLV men's tennis team lost to No. 15 Texas Tech 6-1 at the Fertitta Tennis Complex in the Rebels' dual match opener. Mehdi Bouras upset 20th-ranked Gonzalo Escobar at No. 1 singles for UNLV's lone point.