Rodriguez Leaves Marlins for Big Deal With Tigers

Ivan Rodriguez finalized his $40-million, four-year contract with the Detroit Tigers on Monday, leaving the World Series champion Florida Marlins to join a team that last year set the American League record for losses.

“This is an exciting day for me,” he said. “I know they had a bad season last year, but I think this is going to be a completely different season.”

The signing of the 10-time All-Star catcher was the latest high-profile move by the Tigers, who were 43-119 last season. Detroit won five of its last six games to avoid tying the post-1900 major league record of 120 losses, set by the 1962 New York Mets.

Rodriguez, a 10-time Gold Glove winner and most valuable player of the NL championship series, gets $7 million this year, $8 million in 2005 and $11 million each in 2006 and 2007, according to contract information obtained by Associated Press. The Tigers have a $13-million option for 2008 with a $3-million buyout.

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The Oakland Athletics and free-agent infielder Eric Karros agreed on a $1.05-million, one-year contract that included a club option for 2005.

Karros, 36, hit .286 with 12 homers and 40 runs batted in for the Chicago Cubs last season after 12 years with the Dodgers.

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Drew Henson has agreed to leave the New York Yankees to pursue a career in the NFL.

Henson’s agent, Casey Close, told the Yankees the third baseman is quitting after three mediocre seasons in the minor leagues, a baseball official said on condition he not be identified.

Henson will forfeit the $12 million he is owed from the contract he signed with the Yankees in 2001, the official said.

The NFL’s Houston Texans, who hold the quarterback’s rights, announced that Henson would work out with the team Feb. 12 in a showcase for the other NFL franchises.

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The Minnesota Twins avoided salary arbitration with left-handed reliever J.C. Romero by agreeing to an $820,000, one-year contract.... Outfielder Wil Cordero and the Florida Marlins agreed to terms on a $600,000, one-year contract, pending a physical.... Right-hander Pat Mahomes and the Montreal Expos agreed to a minor-league contract. Mahomes, 33, would get a $350,000, one-year contract if he’s added to the major league roster.

WNBA

Two Phoenix businesswomen are set to purchase 25% of the WNBA Phoenix Mercury franchise, pending league approval. The Mercury are owned by Phoenix Sun chairman, chief executive and general partner Jerry Colangelo.

Anne Mariucci, a developer and homebuilder, and Kathy Munro, a businesswoman, would be the first women to hold an ownership interest in a WNBA team. It also would be the first time an NBA team that operates a WNBA team would have outside investors.

Jennifer Azzi, 35, who played for San Antonio, Utah and Detroit, is retiring from the WNBA to devote more of her time to her business interests.

Awards

Vin Scully was a double winner at the 13th annual Southern California Sports Broadcasters awards luncheon at Lakeside Golf Club in Toluca Lake. Scully, winning his 17th and 18th awards from the group, was named best play-by-play announcer in both radio and television.

Other award winners for 2003 were Rex Hudler, named best television commentator; Stu Lantz, tabbed best radio commentator; and Stu Nahan, presented the Irv Kaze Memorial Radio Talk Show Host Award. KFWB won for best radio staff, and Channel 2 for best television staff.

Jaime Jarrin was named the winner of the first Foreign Language Sports Broadcasters award and was inducted into the group’s Hall of Fame.

Les Richter, a longtime NASCAR vice president, has been chosen as the winner of the 5th Annual Eagle One-Shav Glick Award. The award recognizes distinguished achievement in motor racing by a Californian.

Richter will receive the award, named for The Times’ motor racing writer, during ceremonies May 2 before the NASCAR Auto Club 500 at California Speedway.

Miscellany

Russian pairs Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin took the lead after the short program, moving closer to a third straight title at the European figure skating championships in Budapest, Hungary.

World champion Evgeni Plushenko led his qualifying group with a dazzling program, getting marks ranging from 5.6s to 5.9s.

NASCAR driver Scott Wimmer was charged with driving while impaired after crashing a pickup truck in High Point, N.C. Wimmer had a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit, said Lt. Keith Washington, a police spokesman.

The Avengers acquired defensive specialists Robert Bean and Jason Waters and put nine players on injured reserve to reach the Arena Football League’s 24-player regular-season roster limit. Bean was obtained from Indiana for offensive-defensive lineman Doug Lytle. Waters was picked up from Grand Rapids for future considerations.

Louisiana State defensive end Marquise Hill has made himself available for the NFL draft after his involvement with an agent put his college eligibility in question.

French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero injured his leg and stomach at the Australian Open and won’t play for Spain in this weekend’s Davis Cup in the Czech Republic.

Passings

Eleanor Holm Whalen, a two-time swimming gold medalist in the 1932 Olympics who was kicked off the 1936 U.S. team after she was caught drinking and shooting dice, has died of kidney failure in Miami. She was 91.

T.J. Simers has the day off.