Robinson Stays With Nationals

Frank Robinson was rehired Thursday as manager of the Washington Nationals after a lengthy delay caused by the team’s lack of a permanent owner.

Robinson, who turned 70 in August, had been uncertain of his status since the end of the season. Baseball officials originally said a new owner for the Nationals would be selected by Labor Day, but the commissioner’s office still hasn’t identified which of the bidding groups will get the franchise.

With spring training two months away, General Manager Jim Bowden began talks last week to bring back Robinson for a fifth season.

“We said from the outset that we wanted to wait until new owners were in place,” Bowden said. “We also said there would come a time where we couldn’t wait any longer, and that time has come.”

Robinson was hired by the commissioner’s office to manage the Montreal Expos after the franchise was bought by the 29 other teams in 2002. Robinson initially expected to hold the job for one season, anticipating that the franchise would be dissolved, but instead it was moved to Washington.

It appears unlikely that a new owner will be in place in time to make significant changes before spring training.

Despite the lowest payroll in the National League East, Robinson had the Nationals in first place for much of the season before they faded to finish 81-81. He is 314-334 in four seasons.

Reliever Braden Looper and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a three-year, $13.5-million contract, giving St. Louis another newcomer in its rebuilt bullpen.

Looper, 31, had 28 saves in 36 chances with a 3.94 earned-run average for the New York Mets last season but will be a setup man for closer Jason Isringhausen with the Cardinals. The right-hander fills a slot held the last two seasons by Julian Tavarez, who became a free agent.

The Minnesota Twins agreed to a one-year contract with two-time All-Star third baseman Tony Batista.

Batista, 32, played last season in Japan, batting .263 with 27 home runs and 90 runs batted in for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the Pacific League.

Also, the Twins agreed with catcher Shawn Wooten on a minor league deal.

The Angels requested unconditional release waivers on outfielder Jeff DaVanon, who batted .231 while appearing in 108 games last season.

DaVanon, 32, hit two home runs, drove in 15 runs and scored 42 runs in 225 at-bats. He has a .256 career average, with 28 home runs and 109 RBIs in 402 games.

Charlie Monfort, controlling owner of the Colorado Rockies and his brother, Dick, have bought the remaining shares held by team co-founder Jerry McMorris.

In November 2004, the Rockies dropped McMorris from the team’s board of directors, ending a 12-year relationship. McMorris’ stake in the team in July 2004 was about 12.4%, and he retained a 42.5% share of the general partnership.

McMorris was chairman and chief executive of the Rockies when the team began play in 1993. Keli McGregor took over as president in 2001 and Charlie Monfort assumed the managing general partner role in 2003.

McMorris’ trucking company, Denver-based NationsWay Transport Inc., filed for bankruptcy in 1999.

Left-handed reliever Mike Myers, 36, and the New York Yankees completed their two-year, $2.4-million contract. He was 3-1 with a 3.13 ERA in 65 games last season for Boston.

SOCCER

Keane Joins Celtic

in 18-Month Deal

Roy Keane joined Celtic on an 18-month contract, spurning Real Madrid and other clubs to finish his career in Scotland.

The 34-year-old former Manchester United captain said he rejected offers from Madrid, Everton and Bolton -- even though the Premier League clubs are close to his home in northwest England.

Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said Keane’s contract would run until June 2007.

Rodrigo Diaz scored on a rebound of his own penalty shot in the 89th minute, rallying Toluca to a 3-3 tie with Monterrey in the first leg of Mexico’s biannual soccer championship in Mexico City.

Monterrey was called for contact, and Diaz kicked the penalty shot into the arms of goalkeeper Christian Martinez, who lost control of the ball, allowing Diaz to push in the rebound.

The second game of the match will be played Sunday in Monterrey.

WINTER SPORTS

Davis’ Hopes Fade

for an American First

Shani Davis, trying to become the first American to make both speedskating teams for the same Olympics, failed to reach the final of the 1,000 meters at the U.S. short-track championships at Marquette, Mich., another blow to his hopes of pulling off the historic double. Davis is already pre-qualified for the long-track team.

Apolo Anton Ohno, a star at the 2002 Games, qualified for the short-track team.

Jenny Potter scored two goals and Lyndsay Wall had two assists to lead the U.S. women’s hockey team to a 3-1 victory over Finland in an exhibition at Rochester, N.Y.

HIGH SCHOOLS

Co-Players of the Year

Named in City Section

Running back Stafon Johnson of Los Angeles Dorsey and receiver Jamere Holland of Woodland Hills Taft were selected the co-players of the year in football for the City Section by a panel of sportswriters.

In a vote by City coaches, Johnson was named the section’s player of the year, with running back C.J. Gable of Sylmar selected the offensive player of the year and defensive back Darian Hagan Jr. of L.A. Crenshaw the defensive player of the year.

MISCELLANY

Phillies’ Michaels

Put in Program

Phillie outfielder Jason Michaels was placed in a program for first-time offenders in Philadelphia after his arrest last summer for assaulting a police officer outside a nightclub.

Michaels, 29, was assigned to the district attorney’s Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for the July 3 arrest. If he complies with the terms of the program, to be set on Jan. 20, the charges can be dropped and the record expunged.

Michaels was accused of punching officer Timothy Taylor, wrestling him to the ground and ripping his shirt, requiring several officers to subdue him.

Top-seeded Nebraska and Washington advanced to the NCAA women’s volleyball championship by sweeping semifinal matches at San Antonio.

The Cornhuskers (33-1) defeated Santa Clara, 30-24, 30-19, 30-21, and the third-seeded Huskies (31-1) defeated Tennessee, 30-25, 30-19, 30-21.