The Detroit Tigers released nine-time All-Star Gary Sheffield on Tuesday, leaving him without a team as he closes in on becoming the 25th player to reach 500 home runs. The World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies, however, quickly called the slugger to see if there was a fit.
"I wouldn't say I'm shocked, but I am surprised," Sheffield told the Oakland (Mich.) Press. "To do this when somebody is one home run away . . .
"I don't know how to react to it."
Any team can sign Sheffield for the $400,000 minimum, with Detroit paying the rest of his $14-million salary.
Chipper Jones and the Atlanta Braves agreed to a $42-million, three-year contract extension through 2012, a deal with an option that could become worth up to $61 million over four seasons. . . . Geoff Jenkins, who had a key hit for Philadelphia in the resumption of Game 5 of last year's World Series, was released by the Phillies, who also named Chan Ho Park their fifth starter.
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PRO FOOTBALL
Cutler on block
The Denver Broncos said they will grant Jay Cutler his request and try to trade the disgruntled Pro Bowl quarterback. There is no shortage of teams interested in the 25-year-old quarterback whose unhappy off-season began with Mike Shanahan's firing and has haunted new Coach Josh McDaniels' budding regime.
Broncos owner Pat Bowlen released a statement saying both he and McDaniels had been unable to get Cutler to call them back over the last 10 days. Bowlen said he spoke with Cutler's agent, Bus Cook, on Tuesday and came away convinced "that Jay no longer has any desire to play for the Denver Broncos."
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TENNIS
Federer, Nadal win
Serving at 2-2, Roger Federer overcame eight break points in a remarkable sequence to take the lead for good, and he beat American Taylor Dent, 6-3, 6-2, at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla.
Second-seeded Federer will play Andy Roddick in a quarterfinal tonight. The No. 5-seeded Roddick also left the baseline behind as he beat Gael Monfils, 7-6 (2), 6-4.
In the last match, top-seeded Rafael Nadal outlasted Stanislas Wawrinka, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4).
Filippo Volandri's three-month ban for using an asthma drug has been lifted after an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Switzerland-based court also ruled that Volandri will be restored the ATP points and earnings he lost, the Italian tennis federation said.
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JURISPRUDENCE
