MLB • Reliever Rafael Soriano and the Washington Nationals reached agreement pending a physical on a $28 million, two-year contract that includes $14 million in deferred money, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
A one-time All-Star, Soriano had 42 saves and a 2.26 ERA for the AL East champion New York Yankees last year while filling in for injured closer Mariano Rivera, who plans to return from a knee injury in 2013.
American Shiffrin wins in Austria
skiing • American teenager Mikaela Shiffrin won a World Cup night slalom in Flachau, Austria, buoyed by a roaring crowd for her third victory in her first year on the circuit. Shiffrin was second after the opening run and third fastest in the final run to finish in a combined time of 1 minute, 51.45 seconds.
The Vail, Colo., skier was already the first American to win two World Cup races before turning 18. She is exactly the same age 17 years, 308 days as Austrian great Annemarie Moser-Proell was when she earned her third career victory in 1971. Moser-Proell holds the career record of 62 World Cup wins.
Frida Hansdotter of Sweden was second, 0.85 seconds behind. Tanja Poutiainen of Finland was third, trailing Shiffrin by 1.10. Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany, who led Shiffrin by 0.56 after the first run, straddled a gate shortly before the end of her final run and failed to finish.
Overall World Cup leader Tina Maze of Slovenia placed fifth, extending her lead over second-place Hoefl-Riesch to 590 points. Shiffrin leads the slalom standings.
Defending champion Lindsey Vonn skipped the race because she has not been able to train enough in the slalom due to illness.
U.S., Costa Ricato play in Colorado
SOCCER • The U.S. men's team will play its first home game in the final round of World Cup qualifying against Costa Rica on March 22 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. The U.S. Soccer Federation announced the site Tuesday. Seeking their seventh straight World Cup appearance, the Americans open the 10-game round against Honduras on Feb. 6 at San Pedro Sula. The game in Colorado will give the U.S. players several days of training at altitude before they play at Mexico on March 26 in their third qualifier of the final round.
The Americans have played one qualifier previously at the venue, beating Guatemala 2-0 in 2008.
From wire reports