Major League Baseball launched a department of investigations Friday, a permanent branch of the commissioner's office responsible for looking into drug use in the sport.
In his report last month on drug use in baseball, George Mitchell had recommended the formation of the unit.
Adopting another of Mitchell's recommendations, MLB is establishing a tip line for team employees to make the commissioner's office aware of violations of drug, betting and other rules.
MLB said the unit "will have broad authority to conduct investigations." The limits of the unit were not immediately clear.
Dan Mullin, a former New York City Police officer who had been baseball's senior director of security operations, was appointed vice president and head of the unit. George Hanna, a former FBI employee currently in baseball's security department, was appointed senior director of investigations.
Closer Chad Cordero and the Washington Nationals agreed to a one-year, $6.2 million contract that avoided an arbitration hearing.
Cordero, a right-hander, gets a raise from the $4.15 million he earned last season after going through arbitration. He went 3-3 with 37 saves and a 3.36 earned-run average last season.
Reliever Eddie Guardado and the Texas Rangers agreed to terms on a one-year, $2-million contract.
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TENNIS
Henin wins 28th match in a row
Top-seeded Justine Henin won her 28th match in a row, beating second-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, in the Sydney International final after falling behind, 3-0, in the third set. Henin broke Kuznetsova's serve at 4-4 in the third set, then held serve and won on her first match point.
Eleni Daniilidou's first WTA Tour singles title since 2006 turned out to be her easiest when she won the Hobart International in Australia in a walkover.
Second-seeded Vera Zvonareva rolled her left ankle during a practice session about two hours before the scheduled start of the final and could not play.
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Oregon's Stewart to enter NFL draft
Oregon announced that running back Jonathan Stewart will pass up his senior season and make himself available for the NFL draft.
Stewart rushed for a team-record 1,722 yards, averaging 132.5 yards a game, in helping the Ducks to a 9-4 record.
Stewart also ran for 11 touchdowns and caught two touchdown passes.
He gained 253 yards in Oregon's 56-21 victory over South Florida in the Sun Bowl.
