Johnson, Hampton Are Part of Trade

Catcher Charles Johnson reversed his decision and approved a trade to the Colorado Rockies, his agent said Saturday, clearing the way for a six-player deal that sends left-hander Mike Hampton to the Florida Marlins.

Hampton might not stay in Florida for long. A lawyer familiar with the situation told Associated Press on condition of anonymity that the Marlins were working on a deal that would send Hampton to the Atlanta Braves.

Brave General Manager John Schuerholz and Hampton’s agent, Mark Rodgers, declined to comment. Marlin General Manager Larry Beinfest did not immediately return a phone call.

Johnson, who had used his no-trade rights to block the deal earlier Saturday, changed his mind after getting an additional $1 million to make up for the fact that there is no state income tax in Florida.

“We got some tax elements taken care of in the transfer, so the monetary element would remain the same in Colorado,” agent Scott Boras told Associated Press. “My understanding is that this was the final step.”

Jay Alves, spokesman for the Rockies, said the deal was not quite done.

Johnson would go to Colorado along with outfielder Preston Wilson, left-handed reliever Vic Darensbourg and second base prospect Pablo Ozuna. Hampton and outfielder Juan Pierre would go to Florida.

Hampton signed an eight-year, $121-million contract with Colorado in December 2000.

Johnson has $25 million coming over the next three seasons and Wilson is owed $27.5 million the next three years.

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The Oakland Athletics traded right-hander Cory Lidle, their No. 4 starter the last two seasons, to the Toronto Blue Jays for two minor leaguers. Lidle had an 8-10 record and a 3.89 earned-run average last season.

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The New York Yankees signed an agreement establishing scouting and marketing ties with the Yomiuri Giants, Japan’s most popular and successful baseball team.

Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui became a free agent after 10 seasons with Yomiuri and is being pursued by the Yankees, who denied any link between the agreement and the possible signing of Matsui.

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Football

Jacksonville Jaguar running back Fred Taylor was fined $10,000 by the NFL for making a slashing-of-the-throat gesture after scoring a touchdown against Washington last Sunday, his second such punishment this season. Taylor was fined $5,000 for making the same motion after scoring a touchdown against Kansas City on Sept. 15.

St. Louis Ram running back Marshall Faulk sat out practice for the third consecutive day because of ankle and foot injuries, and his availability for Monday night’s game against Chicago remained in doubt.

College of Marin quarterback Geary Davenport passed for 781 yards and nine touchdowns, but Marin lost, 72-69, to Solano Community College at Suisun City, Calif.

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Tennis

Top-ranked Lleyton Hewitt closed in on a second consecutive Masters Cup title by beating Roger Federer, 7-5, 5-7, 7-5, in the semifinals at Shanghai. Juan Carlos Ferrero beat fellow Spaniard Carlos Moya, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-4, in the other semifinal.

Golf

Arnold Palmer made a 40-foot birdie putt and let Tom Watson take care of the rest as they won six consecutive holes to help the United States to a 6 1/2-5 1/2 lead over the Rest of the World in the Warburg Cup at St. Simons Island, Ga.

Palmer and Watson defeated Gary Player and Bernhard Langer, who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on Friday night, 3-and-2.

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Figure Skating

Americans Sasha Cohen and Michael Weiss won the women’s and men’s events, respectively, in the Lalique Trophy at Paris.

Cohen earned her second Grand Prix title and it was the first for Weiss, who rebounded from a poor short program Friday to leap from fifth place in the standings. Cohen rallied from a second-place showing in the short program.

The U.S. team of Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto finished third in ice dancing.

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Miscellany

Olympic gold medalist Derek Parra of the U.S. won the men’s 1,500 meters in the speedskating World Cup at Erfurt, Germany. Jennifer Rodriguez of the U.S. finished second to Canada’s Cindy Klassen in the women’s 1,000.

Amanda Beard of the U.S. won the women’s 100-meter breaststroke in the FINA World Cup at Rio de Janeiro.

Manchester United soccer star David Beckham could be out for three weeks because of a broken rib, an injury he probably suffered in a game against Southampton two weeks ago.

Quarterfinal matches today in the America’s Cup challenger series were postponed because of strong winds off Auckland, New Zealand.

The Ice Dogs beat Idaho, 3-2, in a West Coast Hockey League shootout at Long Beach Arena.