Miami Marlins make offer to Albert Pujols

A surprising visit by Albert Pujols is sending the message: The Miami Marlins will be a much different franchise from the Florida Marlins.

Pujols began his free-agent tour Friday when he was courted in Miami by the Marlins, only hours before they officially changed their name during a ceremony at their new ballpark. Pujols had lunch with team officials, checked out the stadium and received a contract offer.

The notoriously thrifty franchise, suddenly in the mood for a spending spree, declined to disclose details of the proposal.

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A person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press that the Philadelphia Phillies and closer Jonathan Papelbon have agreed to a $50-million, four-year contract that’s the largest ever for a reliever. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced and is subject to Papelbon’s passing a physical.

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Woods (75) falls six shots behind

Tiger Woods bogeyed his first three holes Saturday, and it didn’t get much better in the Australian Open at Sydney. He wound up with a three-over-par 75, going from a one-shot lead to six shots behind John Senden.

It was the third straight time that Woods had at least a share of the lead and failed to break par.

Senden, who won the Australian Open five years ago at Royal Sydney, birdied his last two holes to finish off a nine-under 63 that gave him a one-shot lead over Jason Day going into the final round.

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Hall of Famer Juli Inkster shot a three-under 69 for a share of the second-round lead with Anna Nordqvist in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational at Guadalajara.

The 51-year-old Inkster is trying to become the oldest winner in LPGA Tour history. Beth Daniel was 46 when she won the 2003 Canadian Women’s Open.

Nordqvist had a 65 to match Inkster at eight-under 136.

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Oklahoma had about one-quarter of its recruiting days this season taken away by the NCAA as punishment for committing major violations while the men’s basketball program already was on probation.

The NCAA Division I infractions committee reduced the Sooners’ recruiting days from 130 to 100 and also put Oklahoma on probation for three years, vacated all 13 wins from the 2009-10 season, took away one scholarship and eliminated two of the school’s 12 allowed official visits this year.

However, the Sooners were not labeled a “repeat violator,” avoiding the possibility of more severe penalties.

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Roger Federer earned his 800th victory, beating Juan Monaco of Argentina, 6-3, 7-5, to reach the semifinals of the Paris Masters.

Federer will next play Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, who edged Andy Murray of Britain, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4, in a match that lasted more than three hours.

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The United States soccer team dropped to 1-4-1 under Coach Juergen Klinsmann, losing to France, 1-0, in an exhibition game at Saint-Denis, FranceLoic Remy Clarence Goodson .

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Charlie Lea, the first French-born pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the major leagues died at 54.

Collierville (Tenn.) Police Lt. Doug Marshall confirmed Friday night that Lea was found dead at his home by his wife about 4:30 p.m. The cause of death was not immediately known.