Panthers' Horton will miss four to six weeks

Florida Panthers GM Randy Sexton announced that Nathan Horton suffered a fractured tibia and will be out at least four weeks.
"There's never a good time for this type of injury, especially this time of year," said Sexton. "But it's an opportunity for other guys to step up and show that they belong and carry some of the offensive load."

"That's today's NHL everyone's dealing with," said head coach Peter DeBoer. "To have him and Booth on the sidelines means we're going to have to really be good defensively and get contributions from some other people." "The nice thing, I guess the silver lining, is that a couple of the four-five weeks he'll be out will be the Olympic break so that helps a little bit as far as number of games missed." It seems that he has to take off his panthers jersey and rest for a while.

D-backs and Montero reach a one-year deal

The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to terms with Miguel Montero on a one-year contract reportedly worth $2 million on Friday. He set several career highs last season with a .294 batting average, 16 home runs and 59 RBIs in 128 games in the diamondbacks jersey. The left-handed hitter also established career highs with 61 runs scored, 125 hits, 30 doubles, 38 walks, a .355 on-base percentage. Among big league catchers, Montero ranked fourth in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage.

The four-year veteran has a career .267 batting average with 31 home runs and 117 RBIs in 288 games with 242 coming at catcher. He was originally signed by the club as an amateur free agent in 2001. The D-backs also avoided the arbitration process with Conor Jackson on Thursday, signing him to a a one-year deal worth $3.1 million.

Hughes is named Illinois Sportscaster of Year

Cubs radio play-by-play man Pat Hughes was named the 2009 Illinois Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. This is Hughes' eighth Sportscaster of the Year honor and his fifth in Illinois. He was honored as Wisconsin's Sportscaster of the Year in 1990, 1991 and 1992. "I would like to thank the Cubs fans for being the greatest audience that a broadcaster could ever dream of," Hughes said. "I would also like to thank all of those who voted for me."

Hughes is entering his 15th season with the Cubs, teaming with Ron Santo on the Cubs Radio Network. The 2010 season will be Hughes' 28th of broadcasting Major League Baseball. Hughes also produces an audio series called "Baseball Voices," which focuses on the careers of some of the game's top announcers. Among the voices are Harry Caray, Red Barber, Jack Buck, Bob Uecker, Harry Kalas and Dave Niehaus.

Lincecum shows up in court

San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum appeared in court in Washington State on Tuesday morning to resolve his pending charges for possession of marijuana and drug.

Lincecum, who is the two-time defending National League Cy Young Award winner, will pay a fine of $513 to resolve the charges that stemmed from Oct. 30. He appeared before Judge Darvin Zimmerman in Clark County District Court. The charges were reduced to a civil infraction.

NHL Live will announce players of the week

It is reported that the players of the week will be announced during Monday’s edition of NHL Live!, scheduled from noon-2 p.m. on NHL Network and NHL.com and broadcast on XM Radio.

TSN broadcaster Bob McKenzie, Phoenix Coyotes GM Don Maloney and Dallas Stars play-by-play man Ralph Strangis will be among the guests chatting with hosts Rob Simpson and Dave Maloney. NHL Live! is broadcast from the NHL Store Powered By Reebok in Manhattan.

Ribeiro has been taken to hospital

Stars center Mike Ribeiro was taken to a hospital following an incident with the Rangers forward Christopher Higgins. At the second period, Ribeiro took the stick in the throat and stayed on the ice for several minutes while trainers attended to him. He was able to skate off under his own power, but did not return to the game. "He's got something wrong with his throat, but we got him at the hospital now making sure everything’s OK," Stars coach Marc Crawford said. "It's a contusion, and they're just making sure his airways are all clear."

Higgins was given a two-minute penalty. "It's not my decision. If there's an injury on the play, you're supposed to get four minutes," Crawford said. "They didn't think it was a severe enough injury. That's tough for them to call."

Scott Niedermayer will appear on NHL Live!

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer will be among the guests on NHL Live! on NHL Network and NHL.com and broadcast on XM Radio.

Niedermayer is in the midst of his 17th NHL season. He has 4 goals and 22 assists in 46 games with the Ducks this season and has won four Stanley Cup championships between Anaheim Ducks and New Jersey Devils. Also slated to appear with hosts Rob Simpson and Stan Fischler are top amateur prospects Taylor Hall and Cam Fowler, as well as USA Today's Kevin Allen and Bob Harwood of Versus.

Vermette and Erat will join in NHL Live!

It is said that Columbus Blue Jackets center Antoine Vermette, who scored his 100th NHL goal last week, will be among the guests on NHL Live! on NHL Network and NHL.com and broadcast on XM Radio.

Also slated to appear with hosts Rob Simpson and Billy Jaffe are Nashville Predators forward Martin Erat, NHL Radio insider Jay Feaster and NHL.com's Shawn Roarke, who will offer a look at the upcoming Olympic hockey competition in Vancouver.

Winn isn't aware Nats' interest about him

Some reports indicated that the Nationals have interest in signing free-agent outfielder Randy Winn. However, Winn said he has not heard anything about the Nationals having interest in him. Even a baseball source said he didn't see Winn coming to Washington because the Nationals are likely to be set with a starting outfield of Josh Willingham, Nyjer Morgan and Elijah Dukes, with Roger Bernadina and Justin Maxwell waiting. If Winn were to become a member of the Nationals, he would be considered a fourth outfielder. "Like I said, I've never even received a call from them," Winn said. "I don't believe my agent has either. Whether they do or don't has not been expressed to me."

Winn is a 12-year Major League veteran and has played the past four-plus seasons with the Giants. Winn hit .262 with two home runs and 51 RBIs in 149 games in 2009 in giants jersey.

Padres send Minors deal to Worrell

Pitcher Mark Worrell, who was believed to be the key player to the Khalil Greene trade one year ago, signed a Minor League contract to remain with the Padres. Worrell missed 2009 season after having surgery on March 25 to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Worrell has been undergoing his rehabilitation at the Padres' Spring Training facility in Arizona. The Padres think that he can start throwing in Spring Training and return this summer.

Worrell was acquired by the Padres from the Cardinals on Dec. 4, 2008, for Greene. He was non-tendered by the Padres following the season and removed from the 40-man roster. Worrell suffered the injury during Spring Training. Gregerson became the key piece to the Greene trade. Hope he can come back soon in his padres jersey.

Rays will host free coaching clinic

It is reported that the Rays will host a free coaches clinic as part of the team's youth baseball training program. The "Learn How to Play the Rays Way" Coaches Clinic will be held on Jan. 16 from 10 a.m. to noon at Tropicana Field. All youth league coaches are invited, each of whom will be afforded a unique opportunity to learn from a Major League coaching staff. The clinic will feature professional advice and instruction from members of the Rays' Major League and Minor League coaching staffs, including third-base coach Tom Foley, pitching coach Jim Hickey and hitting coach Derek Shelton, along with Eckerd College head baseball coach Bill Mathews.

The clinic will consist of six stations, each of which will hold a lecture on techniques and drills. The Rays' coaches will also conduct a question-and-answer session to conclude the day's activities. In addition, representatives from St. Anthony's Sports Medicine will provide instructions on injury prevention.

Maple Leafs lose Grabovski and Primeau due to injuries

The team announced last weekend that Toronto Maple Leafs forwards Mikhail Grabovski and Wayne Primeau will miss periods of time after being injured in Saturday’s loss to Calgary Flames. Grabovski sustained a fractured wrist during the first period and is expected to be out of the lineup for six weeks. Primeau suffered a knee injury during the third period and will be out of the lineup from two to four weeks.

Grabovski has appeared in all 42 games this season in his toronto maple leafs jersey and is tied for fifth in team scoring with 25 points. Primeau has two goals and three assists in 35 games this season.

New York Mets sign Kelvim Escobar

The New York Mets announced that they have signed right-handed pitcher Kelvim Escobar, one of five active pitchers who have made 200 or more starts and saved 50 or more games to a one-year Major League contract. Escobar was 18-7 with a 3.40 ERA in 30 starts for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2007. Injuries and surgery limited him to one Major League start over the last two seasons.

Escobar, who saved 38 games for Toronto in 2002, underwent right labrum surgery on July 29, 2007. He made one start in 2009 with the Angels on June 6, allowing four hits, two runs, earned, with four walks and five strikeouts at Detroit. He also made three rehabilitation appearances last season, two for Rancho Cucamonga of the California League and one for Salt Lake of the Pacific Coast League.

Escobar has posted double figures six times during his career and has struck out 1,310 batters in 1,507 innings. In addition to Escobar, the four other active pitchers who have started 200 more games and saved 50 more games are Derek Lowe, John Smoltz, Ryan Dempster and Tom Gordon. Hope Escobar can play well in the new mets jersey.

Phillies sign a two-year deal with Baez

A reprot said that Philadelphia Phillies had agreed to a two-year contract with right-hander Danys Baez. Baez went 4-6 with a 4.02 ERA in 59 appearances last season with the Baltimore Orioles. He has 114 career saves including a career-high 41 saves for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2005. The Phillies have been looking for bullpen help since the 2009 season. Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero and Chad Durbin are the only locks for the 2010 bullpen, but Lidge and Romero are recovering from elbow surgeries.

Baez's arrival gives Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel another option. His arrival also means free-agent right-hander Chan Ho Park will not be back any more. Amaro said recently that once the Phillies sign a free-agent reliever they might have young men like Antonio Bastardo and Sergio Escalona take the remaining jobs in the bullpen. The Phillies have been interested in bringing back left-hander Scott Eyre, but a source said the Phillies have offered him only a Minor League. Eyre, who was 5-1 with a 1.62 ERA in 61 appearances since August 2008, has made $2 million last season. It is certain that Baez will paly well in the phillies jersey.

Ryan Malone will appear on NHL Live

It is said that Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Malone will be among the guests on NHL Live! tomorrow scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. on NHL Network and NHL.com. Also scheduled to appear to speak with co-hosts Deb Placey and E.J. Hradek are Eddie Olcyzk of NBC and NHL Radio, as well as USA Today's Kevin Allen, Jim Hughson of CBC and Brian Engblom of Versus.

A former fourth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Malone has 19 goals and 16 assists in 38 games for the Lightning this season. This is his second campaign in Tampa Bay after spending four seasons in the pittsburgh penguins jersey.