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Philadelphia Phillies Vice President and General Manager Pat Gillick stands in the background as free agent infielder Abraham Nunez answers questions from the media Tuesday in Philadelphia. The Phillies signed Nunez, 29, to a $3.35 million, two-year contract that includes a club option for 2008 and performance bonuses.
BY ROB MAADDI
Phillies sign ex-Cardinal third baseman
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies got the infielder they wanted, one day after losing the closer they hoped to keep.
Free agent infielder Abraham Nunez and the Phillies agreed Tuesday to a $3.35 million, two-year contract. Meanwhile, All-Star Billy Wagner finalized his deal with the New York Mets, leaving a big void in Philadelphia's bullpen.
The 29-year-old Nunez started 77 games at third base for St. Louis last season, becoming the regular when Scott Rolen was sidelined for the year with a shoulder injury. Nunez hit .285 with five home runs and 44 RBIs in 139 games. He also started at second base and shortstop.
"He's a versatile player who can play many positions. It's important to have guys on your team who can play multiple positions," Phillies general manager Pat Gillick said.
The contract includes a club option for 2008 and performance bonuses.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Nunez likely will platoon at third with David Bell, who hit just .199 against right-handers last season. Nunez hit .277 against right-handers last year.
For his career, Nunez has hit .248 with 16 homers and 161 RBIs in eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and one with the Cardinals.
Gillick has been busy since replacing Ed Wade, who was fired after failing to lead the Phillies to the playoffs in eight seasons on the job.
Last week, Gillick traded slugger Jim Thome to the Chicago White Sox for center fielder Aaron Rowand and two prospects. The move cleared the way for NL Rooke of the Year Ryan Howard to play first base every day.
Gators hit surprise streak
BY MARK LONG THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As Billy Donovan walked on the court, referee Travis Correll extended his arms to signal a full timeout and whacked the Florida coach upside the head.
It was pretty much the first thing that went wrong for the 11th-ranked Gators this season.
Taurean Green scored 18 points, Corey Brewer added 17 and Florida beat Alabama State 87-60 on Monday night to give the program its best start in more two decades.
"What does it mean? Not a whole lot to me," Donovan said. "What it really shows is the lack of basketball tradition here at the University of Florida. There's only two teams that started 7-0. That's mind-boggling."
Unranked in the preseason poll, the Gators are 6-0 for the first time in Donovan's 10 years. Florida last start ed 6-0 in 1984-85.
"It's nice to do something that hasn't been done in 21 years. But it does not move you any closer to the goals you have."
"We want to keep it going all year," said forward Al Horford, who had 12 points and 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.
After losing their top three scorers and having four sophomores and a junior in the starting lineup, the Gators have been one of the biggest surprises in the country.
In the only other game involving a ranked team, No. 9 Memphis beat Lamar 108-83.
Alabama State (1-5) hardly proved to be much of an obstacle for Florida, which was bigger, faster and deeper than the Hornets. The Gators shot 65 percent from the field, had a 34-24 rebounding advantage, blocked nine shots and had six steals.
Lee Humphrey scored 13 points for Florida, while Brewer added seven rebounds and five assists.
The Gators opened with a 10-0 run, maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the first half and then pulled away.
"I don't think we were intimidated." Alabama State coach Lewis Jackson said.
Green was 10-of-10 from the free throw line and has made 24 in a row.
He was 14-of-14 in the second half Friday night against Florida State.
"That's pretty impressive," Donovan said. "He has a good understanding of how to get fouled."
LaMarquis Blake led the Hornets with 16 points, and Cedric Mitchell added 13. Leading scorer Akeim Claborn, who entered averaging 16.2 points, finished with six after spending much of the night in foul trouble.
"I was really hoping no one saw that," Donovan said. "Thank God he didn't have any rings on. Wrong place at the wrong time. He got me pretty good, too."
About the only damage done to Florida came when the ref accidentally smacked Donovan early in the second half.
The Gators started 5-0 three other times under Donovan: 1997, 1998 and 2003. But in those years, Florida lost its sixth game to Texas, Duke and Maryland.
"There's something special about this team," said Green, who was celebrating his 20th birthday. "We have good chemistry. Hopefully, we can keep it together."
Catch her if you can
Julia Mancuso, of the United States, zooms down the course on her way to the 32nd fastest time in the first training run of the Lake Louise women's World Cup downhill skiing race on Tuesday.
Frank Gum/NTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS
"Everybody's looking for pitching and there's not a lot of pitching out on the market. Consequently, it's economics," said Philadelphia Phillies general manager Pat Gillick, who was unsuccessful in his attempt to re-sign the closer.
NEW YORK — Billy Wagner is following Carlos Delgado to Shea Stadium, reaching a preliminary agreement on a $45 million, four-year contract with the New York Mets.
Just hours after Delgado's introductory news conference at the ballpark on Monday, Wagner agreed to a deal with the highest average salary for a reliever.
Earlier Monday, B.J. Ryan finalized a $47 million, five-year agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays. The total of Ryan's contract is the largest for a reliever. The previous marks for total and average were held by New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera.
"It's good not to have an unsigned closer right now, to be in the market for a closer," said Rick Hahn, assistant general manager of the World Series champion Chicago White Sox. "It certainly is an indication of this robust market for free agents."
With Wagner headed to New York, Philadelphia is considering Tom Gordon and Trevor Hoffman. The Yankees have a two-year offer out to Gordon and also have been negotiating with Kyle Farnsworth.
Moments after pulling on a Mets Jersey at Shea Stadium, Delgado explained why he won't continue his refusal to stand on the field during "God Bless America," a stance he took the last two seasons while playing with Toronto and then Florida. Delgado, who spurned New York last offseason to sign with the Marlins, spoke about his anti-war protest with Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon.
"I gave him my views on that subject and I also said I would not put myself in front of the team," Delgado said. "The Mets have a policy that everybody should stand for 'God Bless America' and I will be there. I will not cause any distractions to the ballclub."
Mets sign closer Wagner for four years
BY RONALD BLUM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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