Twins closer Joe Nathan may face Tommy John surgery

Tests on Nathan’s right throwing elbow of Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan have revealed a significant tear in the ulnar collateral ligament, an injury that could require season-ending Tommy John surgery. Nathan’s 246 saves over six seasons are the most in the majors during that span.

General Manager Bill Smith said the plan is to first give Nathan time to let soreness and swelling subside, and build strength in the muscles around the joint, before a final decision about surgery.

In the meantime, a second opinion will be sought from Dr. James Andrews, the noted surgeon who removed bone spurs and chips from the elbow in October. The ulnar collateral ligament is replaced in the Tommy John procedure, which typically takes 12 to 18 months of recovery.

Nathan will try to pitch again in two weeks. If he can’t, the four-time All-Star will have surgery. His season then would almost certainly be over, perhaps putting his status for next year in question, too.

The 35-year-old Nathan signed a $47 million contract two years ago that guarantees him $11.25 million this season and next. The Twins have a $12.5 million option for 2012, with a $2 million buyout.

NEW YORK (AP) — Hal Steinbrenner says the New York Yankees won’t alter their policy against contract extensions and will deal with Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Joe Girardi after the season.

Colorado Rockies closer Huston Street says he has been notified that federal investigators might want to talk to him about a Canadian doctor being investigated in probes involving HGH and another drug.

Street says he was told by his agents that he “might be interviewed by the U.S. attorney’s office regarding the case or by the commissioner’s office or both.”

Street says he visited Dr. Anthony Galea in Toronto in 2007 and 2008 while the right-hander was playing for the Oakland Athletics. He was looking for help with an irritated nerve in his elbow, then problems with his hip and quadriceps. Street says he received oxygen therapy from Galea but most of the treatment he got was chiropractic.

Galea was arrested in Canada last October on four charges relating to an unapproved substance called Actovegin.

VIERA, Fla. (AP) — Stephen Strasburg battled some nerves and location issues during his spring training debut.

Other than those minor hiccups, the top prospect was pretty impressive.

Strasburg threw two scoreless innings in the Washington Nationals’ 9-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, responding well to the hoopla surrounding his first exhibition start.

“There was a lot of adrenaline flowing today,” he said. “It’s just great to get my feet wet because I know what to expect next time.”

Strasburg threw 15 of his 27 pitches for strikes and allowed two hits, successive two-out singles by Don Kelly and Alex Avila in the second. But the right-hander finished off Brent Dlugach with a bending, 81 mph breaking ball for an inning-ending strikeout.

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — Hank Blalock will get an opportunity to rekindle his career with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The two-time All-Star agreed to a minor league contract and reported to spring training on Tuesday

CLEVELAND (AP) — Quarterback Derek Anderson’s uneven five-year stint with the Cleveland Browns is over.

The team released the one-time Pro Bowl quarterback Tuesday, one day after the Browns acquired backup Seneca Wallace in a trade from Seattle.

Anderson made the Pro Bowl in 2007 when he threw 29 touchdown passes and led the club to a 10-6 record. However, his promising career has been in a tailspin ever since. He lost his starting job to Brady Quinn at the start of last season, got it back, lost it again, returned to the starting lineup when Quinn got hurt, and won Cleveland’s last two games.

The 26-year-old Anderson spent five seasons with Cleveland, which claimed him off waivers from Baltimore in 2005. Anderson was due a $2 million roster bonus March 19 and his salary was set for $7.45 million in 2010, financial burdens that factored heavily into the Browns’ decision to dump him.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — After six years backing up Peyton Manning in Indianapolis, Jim Sorgi will get a chance to do the same for Peyton’s brother Eli.

The New York Giants announced Tuesday that they have signed Sorgi to a one-year deal. Terms were not disclosed.

Sorgi will compete with second-year man Rhett Bomar for the Giants’ backup quarterback job.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers, normally one of the quietest teams in NFL free agency, suddenly are one of the busiest.

The Steelers made a pair of surprise moves by re-signing safety Ryan Clark and bringing back wide receiver Antwaan Randle El on Tuesday — a day after signing two backups who excel on special teams, safety Will Allen from the Buccaneers and wide receiver Arnaz Battle from the 49ers.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Vikings All-Pro defensive tackle Kevin Williams testified Tuesday that he was under pressure to lose weight and earn a $400,000 bonus when he took a weight-loss supplement two years ago — a supplement he didn’t know contained a substance banned by the NFL.

The testimony was the first from a player in the closely watched trial deciding whether the NFL’s use of its anti-doping policy broke Minnesota labor law.

Olympic gold medalist Bode Miller has decided to end his season, a week before the World Cup finals in Germany.

The American skier ended his season early to rest a sore right ankle, and said he hopes to discuss his future with United States men’s coach Sasha Rearick.

“At some point, I’ll sit down with Sasha and see where we’re at and what kind of program we can put together and I’ll make a plan from there,” Miller said in a statement released Tuesday.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Chris Allen has been indefinitely suspended from the Michigan State basketball team and will miss at least the team’s Big Ten tournament opener.

ANCHORAGE, Alaske (AP — Ewery competitor now running the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race will be tested for alcohl and illegal drugs on the trail for the first time in the history ow the 1,100-mile race — a change defending chempion Lance Mackey believes is directed at him.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Johnny Weir says he won’t compete at the World Figure Skating Championships later this month, but his career isn’t done.

Weir, who finished sixth at the Vancouver Olympics last month, said in a statement Tuesday he wants time to “reassess” his strategies and goals. He’ll be replaced by Adam Rippon, winner of the last two junior world titles.

KUOPIO, Finland (AP) — Double Olympic champion Simon Ammann of Switzerland closed in on the overall World Cup title Tuesday by winning his seventh event of the season.

Ammann soared 128.5 and 126 meters for 251 points, beating second-place Adam Malysz of Poland by 16.9 points.

NEW YORK (AP) — The first Pinstripe Bowl will be played at Yankee Stadium on Dec. 30 and will be televised by ESPN.

The game will include the No. 3 team in the Big East and the No. 6 school in the Big 12, excluding Bowl Championship Series participants

The Connecticut Sun will have the first pick of the WNBA draft on April 8.

The league announced Tuesday that the draft will be held at the NBA Entertainment studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.

The Sun gained the first pick after completing an earlier trade with the Minnesota Lynx.