Buster Posey, Neftali Feliz named rookies of the year

San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey and Texas Rangers closer Neftali Feliz were named as Major League Baseball’s rookies of the year Monday, two weeks after having faced each other in the World Series.

Posey singled against Feliz as the Giants beat Texas in the clinching Game 5 of the World Series.

Posey hit several key home runs late in the season and helped the Giants win the World Series for the first time since 1954. He easily outdistanced Atlanta outfielder Jason Heyward for the National League award.

Feliz, the rocket-armed right-hander who set a rookie record with 40 saves as Texas reached its first World Series, finished far ahead of Detroit center fielder Austin Jackson for the American League honor.

Posey was picked first on 20 of 32 ballots in voting by members of the Baseball Writers’ Assn. of America. Voting was done by two members of the BBWAA in every league city after the regular season, with each person listing three players.

Feliz got 20 first-place votes and was listed on all 28 ballots. He drew seven seconds and one third.

The NL Cy Young will be the next major award to be announced. The announcement is set for Tuesday.

PRO FOOTBALL

Redskins give McNabb extension

Two weeks after they caused an uproar by benching him in the final two minutes of a loss to the Detroit Lions, the Washington Redskins signed Donovan McNabb to a five-year contract extension that includes $40 million guaranteed, according to multiple sources — giving top-grade money to a quarterback who is about to turn 34 and is having his worst season since he was a rookie.

The deal was announced a few hours before McNabb and the Redskins lost to the quarterback’s longtime team, the Philadelphia Eagles, 59-28, in the Monday night game.

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Second-year receiver Ramses Barden broke his left ankle and also tore a ligament in the ankle in a 33-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, New York Giants Coach Tom Coughlin said.

Coughlin said Barden will probably miss the rest of the season.

The injury came only days after Steve Smith was sidelined indefinitely because of a partial tear of a chest muscle.

The injuries leave the Giants with three healthy receivers: Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham and rookie Duke Calhoun.

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Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller and defensive end Spencer Johnson probably won’t play against Cincinnati next week because of hamstring injuries. Linebacker Shawne Merriman is also expected to miss at least another week of practice because of a strained right Achilles’ tendon…. New York Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery says an MRI exam reveals he has a “slight” groin tear and his status for New York’s next game is uncertain…. Cleveland Browns starting linebacker Scott Fujita has an injured left knee ligament and Coach Eric Mangini says one of his defensive captains “could be out for a little while.”… Seattle Seahawks defensive end Raheem Brock was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence just hours before the Seahawks traveled to Arizona to face the Cardinals on Sunday. Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll said Monday he didn’t know about Brock’s arrest until after Sunday’s game. Carroll says he spoke with Brock on Monday morning and the team will deal with the situation once all the information has been obtained.