Roddick Fires His Coach

Andy Roddick fired coach Brad Gilbert after 1 1/2 years together that yielded a U.S. Open title and the No. 1 ranking.

No specific reason was given for the surprising split in a statement Roddick released Monday through SFX Sports Group.

“The decision to not rehire Brad Gilbert for the 2005 season is based on what I think is best for my game at this time,” Roddick said.

“Any more on this situation is a private matter between coach and player. That being said, I enjoyed my time with Brad and wish him continued success in his future.”

It wasn’t immediately clear who might replace Gilbert.

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Baseball

The San Francisco Giants and catcher Mike Matheny agreed to a $10.5-million, three-year contract, the latest move to upgrade the team’s defense.

Matheny, who won his third Gold Glove award last season with the St. Louis Cardinals, joins nine-time Gold Glove shortstop Omar Vizquel, who signed a $12.25-million, three-year contract with the Giants last month.

Outfielder Carlos Lee was traded from the Chicago White Sox to the Milwaukee Brewers for outfielder Scott Podsednik, reliever Luis Vizcaino and a player to be named.

Lee, who batted .305 with 31 homers and 99 runs batted in last season, gives the Brewers a right-handed slugger in the middle of the lineup. Podsednik is a proven leadoff man who led the major leagues with 70 stolen bases last season.

Third baseman Corey Koskie and Toronto reached preliminary agreement on a three-year, $17-million contract.

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Miscellany

Olympic gold medalist and WNBA star DeLisha Milton-Jones was named as an assistant of the American Basketball Assn.’s Los Angeles Stars, becoming the third woman to coach a men’s professional basketball team.

Cal State Fullerton baseball Coach George Horton and women’s volleyball Coach Carolyn Zimmerman signed three-year contract extensions that will run through 2007.

Horton led the Titans to their fourth NCAA championship this year, the first under his direction and the first title since 1995. Zimmerman led Fullerton to a 14-14 record, its best season in eight years.

The school also announced that men’s soccer Coach Al Mistri would retire after the 2005 season.

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Passings

Former Dodger Brian Traxler, 37, died Nov. 19 in San Antonio after a short illness. Traxler had 11 at-bats with the Dodgers in 1990 and spent six seasons with the triple-A Albuquerque Dukes. Traxler spent the last four seasons as a coach in the Dodgers’ minor league system.