Cone Leaves Yankees Behind for a Chance With Red Sox

David Cone left the New York Yankees for their biggest rival.

The 38-year-old former Cy Young Award winner agreed Thursday to a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox.

“He wants to beat the Yankees,” Boston General Manager Dan Duquette said. “Why else would he sign with the Red Sox?”

Cone, who has five World Series rings, has a 184-116 record and a 3.40 earned-run average over a 15-year career but struggled last season, going 4-14 with a 6.91 ERA in 155 innings.

The deal is not guaranteed, meaning Boston could release him during spring training and owe only termination pay. But if he makes the roster and pitches regularly, he could make between $4 million and $5 million.

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Right-hander Jimmy Haynes and the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a $2.2-million, one-year contract, more than double his $1-million salary last season. . . . Right-hander Pat Mahomes, let go by the New York Mets last month, agreed to a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. . . . Don Zimmer will return as the Yankees’ bench coach this season, his 53rd in professional baseball.

Golf

Justin Leonard put his swing changes to good use at the Mercedes Championships for a six-under-par 67 at Kapalua, Hawaii. That was good for a one-stroke lead over Ernie Els, who made eagle on the par-five 18th for a 68.

Tiger Woods found himself in waist-high weeds on the ninth hole during his first round of the year, but when it was over, he was in a familiar spot--near the lead.

“I shot the worst score I could have possible shot, but I’m still right there,” Woods said after a three-under 70 that left him three strokes back.

Tim Herron, Glen Day and Willie Wood, who each have at least one PGA title to their credit, were among six players who shot five-under 67s for the first-round lead at the Tucson Open. Kevin Sutherland, Geoff Ogilvy and Tim Clark were the other co-leaders.

Tennis

Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi could have a rematch of their classic five-set semifinal last year at the Australian Open, but this time it would be in the quarterfinals. Agassi, the defending champion, will play Jiri Vanek of the Czech Republic in the first round. Sampras will face Karol Kucera of Slovakia in the opening round.

On the women’s side, defending champion Lindsay Davenport is seeded second and will meet 17-year-old Australian Jelena Dokic in the first round. Top-seeded Martina Hingis and Venus and Serena Williams are all in the upper half of the draw. The Williams sisters could meet in the semifinals.

Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia overpowered Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain, 6-3, 6-4, in the Colonial Classic at Melbourne to reach a pre-Australian Open showdown with Agassi. Sampras, who lost his first two matches in the round-robin Colonial, finished by beating Germany’s Nicolas Kiefer, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5). . . . Hingis swept past Serena Williams, 6-4, 7-5, to reach the semifinals of the Adidas International at Sydney.. . . Italian Rita Grande upset top-seeded Amy Frazier, 6-4, 6-3, in the quarterfinals of the Tasmanian International tennis tournament at Hobart, Australia. . . . Top-seeded Mary Pierce of France added an ankle problem to her mounting injuries only days before the Australian Open, but she still defeated Joannette Kruger of South Africa, 6-3, 6-0, in the quarterfinals of the Canberra International.

Miscellany

Closing arguments in the murder trial of former NFL player Rae Carruth were postponed after the lead prosecutor became ill. Judge Charles Lamm said prosecutor Gentry Caudill was sick, then delayed closing arguments until Monday.

A Columbia (S.C.) management group defrauded several prominent athletes--including Stephen Davis of the Washington Redskins and the University of Georgia’s Quincy Carter--out of millions of dollars, according to a federal indictment. Authorities said Darnell Jones, 38, and James Brown, 52, operators of Summit Management Group Ltd., were charged with fraud and money laundering in the 56-count indictment.

UCLA tailback DeShaun Foster and linebacker Robert Thomas, both juniors, said they plan to return to the Bruins next season instead of testing NFL waters. . . . North Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers, who led the nation with 15 sacks last season, said he will return for his junior year.

USC football players Kareem Kelly, Darrell Rideaux and Miguel Fletcher will compete in the 50-meter dash at the Los Angeles Invitational track meet Jan. 20 at the Sports Arena.

Upon arrival in Rome, Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona was whisked away by Italian tax police who claim that he owes $25 million in back taxes and interest.