Yankees Sign Clemens to $10.1-Million Contract

Roger Clemens wants to say goodbye to baseball with the New York Yankees.

The six-time Cy Young Award winner agreed Monday to a $10.1-million, one-year contract and probably will retire after next season, his 20th in the major leagues.

“My feeling is right now that I don’t anticipate playing past this year,” Clemens said. “I plan on going out the right way -- like I always have, full throttle.”

An eight-time All-Star who turns 41 in August, Clemens has gone 60-27 during four seasons with the Yankees.

With a 293-151 record, Clemens has a chance to overtake Tom Seaver (311) and Gaylord Perry (314) next season, which would put him in 15th place on the career wins list.

After going 20-3 in 2001, Clemens was 13-6 with a 4.35 earned-run average in 29 starts last season, battling leg problems.

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The Angels plugged one of their bench holes, signing free-agent outfielder Eric Owens to a one-year contract for $925,000.

Owens, 31, can play all three outfield positions and runs well, providing the Angels with a pinch-running threat and with the option to increase Tim Salmon’s time at designated hitter.

Owens hit .270 for the Florida Marlins last season, with four home runs and 33 strikeouts in 385 at-bats. He stole 26 bases, more than any Angel.

He selected the Angels after discussions with the Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies.

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A meeting between Hall of Famers and Commissioner Bud Selig to discuss Pete Rose was postponed at the request of baseball officials. The Hall had been contacting its 58 living members about a possible gathering in Los Angeles on Jan. 17.

But Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer, asked the Hall to delay the session. Hall spokesman Jeff Idelson said that the meeting would not take place, but would not go into the reasons, and DuPuy declined to comment.

Tennis

Top-ranked Serena Williams and James Blake won their opening singles matches and combined for a win in mixed doubles to lead the United States to a 3-0 victory over Uzbekistan in the Hopman Cup at Perth, Australia.

Williams overpowered Iroda Tulyaganova, 6-3, 6-2, and Blake rallied to defeat Oleg Ogorodov, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.

American Meghann Shaughnessy beat Myriam Casanova, 6-4, 6-3, in the first round of the Australian Women’s Hardcourt Championships at Gold Coast.... Vince Spadea lost a set before rebounding to beat junior Wimbledon champion Todd Reid, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, in the first round of the AAPT Championships at Adelaide, Australia.... Russia’s Vera Zvonareva upset third-seeded Tatiana Panova, 6-4, 6-1, in the first round of the ASB Women’s Classic at Auckland, New Zealand.

Miscellany

The Portland Trail Blazer organization will not take over the Portland Fire for financial reasons, possibly spelling the end of the city’s WNBA team.

Notre Dame Athletic Director Kevin White was given a two-year contract extension, which runs through 2012.

Passings

W.T. “Billy” Brown, a jumper on the U.S. team at Berlin Olympics in 1936, died Sunday of congestive heart failure at 84 in Baton Rouge, La.