Toronto Blue Jays reach deal with Melky Cabrera

The busy Toronto Blue Jays struck again Friday with their latest big deal: All-Star game most valuable player Melky Cabrera is set to join them in his return from a drug suspension.

A person familiar with the negotiations said the free-agent outfielder and the Blue Jays have reached agreement on a two-year contract worth $16 million. The deal is pending a physical, the person said on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement.

ESPN Deportes first reported the agreement Friday.

Earlier this week, the Blue Jays got All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes and pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle from the Miami Marlins in a blockbuster trade that could involve a dozen players.

The 28-year-old Cabrera was leading the National League in hitting at .346 for the San Francisco Giants when he drew a 50-game suspension Aug. 15 for a positive testosterone test.

ETC.

Russ Cochran leads at Pebble Beach

Russ Cochran shot a seven-under 65 at Del Monte for a share of the Pebble Beach Invitational lead with fellow Champions Tour player Kirk Triplett.

Triplett had a 69 at Del Monte to match Cochran at nine-under 135 in the tournament that features 81 players from the PGA, LPGA, Champions and Web.com tours.

John Mallinger, the 2010 winner, was a stroke back after a 69 at Spyglass Hill. Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam was five under after a 69 at Spyglass.

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Ai Miyazato of Japan kept telling herself to be patient and the putts would start falling. It all came together Friday at the Titleholders in Naples, Fla., where she shot an eight-under 64 for a one-shot lead.

Two big birdie runs gave Miyazato a good chance to finish off the year with her third win. Miyazato was at 10-under 134, one shot clear of Na Yeon Choi.

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New Zealand’s Michael Campbell shot a six-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead in the Hong Kong Open. Defending champion Rory McIlroy missed the cut.

Campbell was nine under at Hong Kong Golf Club. Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, China’s Zhang Lian-wei and Sweden’s Fredrik Andersson Hed were tied for second. McIlroy shot a 72 to finish at five over.

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Australia’s Matthew Guyatt shot a thee-under 69 to maintain a two-stroke lead after the second round of the Australian Masters at Melbourne. Guyatt was 10 under at Kingston Heath.

New Zealand’s Michael Hendry was second after a 69. Australian star Adam Scott was seven under after a 70, and defending champion Ian Poulter of England was five strokes behind after a 72.

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In Johannesburg, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson opened a four-shot lead in South African Open with a seven-under 65 before second-round play was suspended because of an electrical storm.

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Joey Logano won the pole Friday for NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, with championship contenders Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson not far behind.

Keselowski will start third Sunday in the 400-mile race. He takes a 20-point lead into the finale over five-time champion Johnson.

Keselowski only needs to finish 15th or better — or 16th or better if he leads at least one lap, and 17th or better if he leads the most laps — to win a first Cup championship for himself and team owner Roger Penske.

Johnson will start 10th.

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Former Chicago Bears coach and Hall of Fame player Mike Ditka has had a minor stroke, an ESPN producer said.

Ditka, 73, told the Chicago Tribune he was feeling “good right now and it’s not a big deal.” He was playing cards at a suburban country club Friday when he noticed his hands “weren’t working quite right,” and he then started having difficulty speaking.

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Saint Louis men’s basketball Coach Rick Majerus, 64, will not return to the team because of a serious heart condition.

Majerus ended the school’s 12-year NCAA tournament drought last season with a 26-win team.

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Eagles quarterback Michael Vick will miss Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins due to the effects of a concussion. Rookie Nick Foles will get his first NFL start in a battle of 3-6 teams fighting to save their seasons.

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will miss Monday’s game at San Francisco because of a concussion. Jason Campbell is the likely starter against the 49ers.

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The NCAA has extended Tennessee’s probation by two years as part of additional penalties handed down Friday following the ruling that former football assistant coach Willie Mack Garza provided impermissible travel and lodging to a former prospect.

Penalties include a public reprimand and censure plus a reduction in official visits, evaluation days and complimentary tickets to recruits on unofficial visits. This extends a probationary period that started in August 2011 and now runs through Aug. 23, 2015.

Garza, who worked at Tennessee on former coach Lane Kiffin’s staff, received a three-year show-cause order. The show-cause penalty means that any school that hires him must prove to the NCAA that it is rules compliant. Garza resigned as USC’s secondary coach two days before the Trojans started their 2011 season.

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship has its most popular fighter back.

Welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre (22-2) returns Saturday night from a 19-month layoff prompted by a knee injury and surgery, taking on Carlos Condit (28-5) in a pay-per-view card in Montreal.

Condit claimed the UFC’s “interim” belt in St-Pierre’s absence with a unanimous decision over Nick Diaz in February. Although Condit is a dangerous kicker and aggressor who could pose problems for St-Pierre — who has lost just once since 2006 —- mixed martial arts fans anticipate a victory by the Canadian whose return home has generated more than $3 million in ticket sales.

A St-Pierre victory could set up a possible super-fight between him and Anderson Silva, the UFC’s middleweight champion since 2006.

—Lance Pugmire