Ramirez Goes Unclaimed

Manny Ramirez was not claimed on waivers before Friday’s deadline, leaving the outfielder and his $101.5 million contract with the Boston Red Sox.

Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein and owner John Henry declined to comment on Ramirez, citing a baseball rule against discussing whether players were put on waivers.

The only comment available from the Red Sox was that there was no announcement to make, spokesman Kevin Shea said after the 1 p.m. EDT deadline passed. If Ramirez had been claimed, that news could have been released immediately.

There is still the chance that the Red Sox could trade Ramirez, if they are willing to absorb some of his salary.

Ramirez is one of the best hitters in baseball, but his salary -- the second highest in baseball -- scared away potential takers when he was put on irrevocable waivers on Wednesday.

He led the American League with a .427 on-base percentage and 28 intentional walks. He also had 37 homers and 104 RBIs.

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Sammy Sosa turned down a chance to pursue free agency, announcing that he is keeping the last two seasons of his four-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. He will earn $33 million over the remainder of the deal.

Sosa signed a $72-million, four-year extension during spring training in 2001. Under the deal, he had the right to terminate the contract after this season or exercise player options for $16 million next season and $17 million in 2005.

Sosa, who turns 35 on Nov. 12, is 10th on the all-time list with 539 homers, and is two shy of tying Ernie Banks’ Cubs record of 512 home runs.

The Cubs, meanwhile, declined to exercise the $9-million option on first baseman Eric Karros, who filed for free agency.

Karros, acquired from the Dodgers last December, hit .286 with 12 home runs and 40 RBIs in his first season with the Cubs. He gets a $1-million buyout.

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The St. Louis Cardinals declined to exercise their $7-million option on Sterling Hitchcock, and the 32-year-old left-hander filed for free agency. Hitchcock, who gets a $1-million buyout, was acquired Aug. 22 from the New York Yankees.... The contract of Manager Tony Pena was extended two years through 2006 by the Kansas City Royals. Pena led the Royals to an 83-79 record -- their first winning year since the strike-shortened 1994 season....The Dodgers announced that interim hitting instructor George Hendrick, who joined the club on Aug. 4, had decided to return as hitting coach for triple-A Las Vegas.

Tennis

Second-seeded Andy Roddick defeated unseeded Jonas Bjorkman, 7-5, 7-6 (0), to reach the semifinals of the Paris Masters. Roddick’s semifinal opponent is unseeded Tim Henman, who upset third-seeded Roger Federer, 7-6 (5), 6-1.

The other semifinal has 14th-seeded Jiri Novak against Andrei Pavel. Novak beat Hicham Arazi, 6-2, 6-1, while Pavel defeated fifth-seeded Rainer Schuettler, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Golf

Retief Goosen had a five-under 66 in increasingly blustery conditions at Palm Harbor, Fla., giving him a one-shot lead over Jose Coceres (68) and J.J. Henry (67) after 36 holes of the Chrysler Championship. Goosen was at seven-under 135. Charles Howell III, the first-round leader, shot an even-par 71 and was at five-under 137.... Ahn Shi-hyun, 17, tied a course record with a seven-under 65, giving her a one-stroke lead over Grace Park after the first round of the CS Nine Bridges Classic on Jeju Island, South Korea. Se Ri Pak, who set the record last year, is four strokes back at 69.

Motor Racing

Ryan Newman won his 10th NASCAR Winston Cup Series pole of the season, this time putting his Dodge at the front of the field for Sunday’s Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. His fast lap was 133.675 mph....Kevin Harvick held off Ted Musgrave for a victory in the NASCAR truck event at Phoenix International Raceway.... Bill Auberlen of Redondo Beach won the pole for today’s Rolex Grand American sports car series season finale at Daytona International Speedway. He turned a lap at 108.331 mph in his Toyota Doran JE4.

Horse Racing

Bobby Frankel broke the North American record for most purses by a trainer in one year when his Golden Rahy won the seventh race at Santa Anita.

Golden Rahy, ridden to a 1 1/2-length win by Corey Nakatani in an optional claiming allowance race, earned $28,800, sending Frankel’s total to $17,854,877. The old record of $17,842,356 was set by Wayne Lukas in 1988.

Rugby

The U.S. lost to France, 41-14, in the Rugby World Cup at Wollongong, Australia, ending the tournament with a 1-3 record.