Damon Heading to Yankees

The New York Yankees grabbed center fielder Johnny Damon away from the rival Boston Red Sox, reaching a preliminary agreement Tuesday night on a $52-million, four-year contract.

Details of the deal were still being negotiated and Damon must pass a physical, a baseball official said.

Moving from Fenway Park to Yankee Stadium will mean a change of style and scenery for the long-haired, bearded Damon -- a fan favorite in Boston for his scrappy play and scruffy look. But New York owner George Steinbrenner bans beards and long hair.

“Sad to say bye to some of the greatest fans in the world. Unfortunately they had to see this day, but it’s time for me to move forward,� Damon told WBZ television in Boston. “They were coming after me aggressively. We know George Steinbrenner’s reputation.�

Damon fills a double void for the Yankees, giving them a speedy center fielder who can cover ground and a leadoff hitter.

Damon said Boston did not attempt to match New York’s offer.

Damon, who turned 32 last month, led Boston with a .316 batting average. He had 197 hits and scored 117 runs.

Earlier in the day, the Yankees reached a preliminary agreement on a $2-million, one-year contract with reliever Octavio Dotel, who is recovering from elbow surgery.

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The Texas Rangers agreed to acquire right-hander Adam Eaton and reliever Akinori Otsuka from the San Diego Padres for pitcher Chris Young, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and outfielder Terrmel Sledge.

The deal was pending physicals.

Eaton won 11 games in each of the last two seasons, but this year had two stints on the disabled list because of a strained middle finger that limited him to 128 2/3 innings and 24 games (22 starts).

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Pedro Martinez’s right toe still hurts after nearly three months of rest.

The New York Met ace said that he has used a protective shoe but still feels a little pain.

“This worries me a little because generally by this time of the year I’m already throwing,� he said at a dinner in the Dominican Republic.

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A week after the Washington Nationals acquired him from the Rangers, Alfonso Soriano still doesn’t want to move to the outfield from second base.

“I don’t want to change,� Soriano said in the Dominican Republic. “If I haven’t done it before, I won’t do it now.�

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Jarrod Washburn wasn’t the only left-hander the Angels lost to Seattle this week. Jake Woods, who had some success out of the Angel bullpen in the first half of last season, was claimed by the Mariners only four days after the Angels put him on waivers.

Woods, 24, began the 2005 season with the Angels and went 1-1 with a 4.55 earned-run average in 28 games, giving up 30 hits, striking out 20 and walking eight in 27 2/3 innings.

The Angels also tendered contracts to all players on their 40-man roster who are not under contract for 2006. A number of those players, including John Lackey, Francisco Rodriguez, Scot Shields, Chone Figgins and Brendan Donnelly, are eligible for arbitration.

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Jacque Jones and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a $16-million, three-year contract, one day after the outfielder rejected the Minnesota Twins’ offer of salary arbitration.... The Milwaukee Brewers allowed former closer Dan Kolb to become a free agent, two weeks after reacquiring the reliever from Atlanta. Milwaukee failed to offer the 29-year-old right-hander a contract by Tuesday’s 9 p.m. PST deadline.... Reliever Rudy Seanez returned to the Red Sox, agreeing to a one-year contract that guarantees him $2.1 million.... Left-hander Chris Hammond agreed to an $800,000, one-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds.... The Chicago White Sox finalized their trade for Javier Vazquez with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The White Sox got Vazquez and $4 million from Arizona for right-hander Orlando Hernandez, reliever Luis Vizcaino and minor league outfielder Chris Young.

HIGH SCHOOLS

New Jersey Announces Testing Plan for Steroids

New Jersey high school athletes whose teams qualify for title games will face random testing for steroids under a first-in-the-nation plan announced by acting Gov. Richard J. Codey.

Beginning next fall, athletes who test positive will be barred from playing in championship games and could face a yearlong ban from school sports.

Codey, a Democrat who leaves office next month when Jon Corzine is sworn in, said he would like to see random testing for steroids and other drugs extended to all students within two to three years.

SOCCER

Five Galaxy Players Invited to U.S. Camp

Landon Donovan and Eddie Johnson head a 30-man roster announced for the U.S. soccer team’s first training camp of 2006, and 16-year-old Freddy Adu was invited to practice with the group for the first time.

Donovan, one of five Galaxy players invited, led the U.S. with six goals this year. Johnson scored eight goals in his first eight games with the national team but sat out much of the year because of an injured toe.

Other Galaxy players called into camp are goalkeeper Kevin Hartman and defenders Chris Albright, Todd Dunivant and Ugo Ihemelu.

Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan was one of four players at his position to be invited.

Players will start practice Jan. 4 at the Home Depot Center, as many try to earn spots on U.S. Coach Bruce Arena’s 23-man World Cup roster.

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Saudi Arabia fired its national team coach six months before the World Cup, replacing Argentina’s Gabriel Calderon with Brazil’s Marcos Paqueta.

The Saudi Football Federation said it was “dissatisfied� with Calderon’s preparations leading to the soccer showcase in Germany.

MISCELLANY

Andretti to Make Return to the Indianapolis 500

Michael Andretti says that he will compete in the Indianapolis 500 in 2006, ending a two-year absence from the driver’s seat and taking another shot at a victory that so famously eluded him during a great career.

His son, Marco, will become a third-generation Andretti driver with a full-time spot in the Indy Racing League for Andretti Green Racing. The team is co-owned by Michael Andretti.

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Two-time Olympian Bill Demong won his second straight nordic combined World Cup-B event, beating the field by more than two minutes at Lake Placid, N.Y.

At the start of the four-lap, 15-kilometer race, Demong was 46 seconds behind, but he took the lead by the second lap and skied easily to the win. He finished 2 minutes 11 seconds ahead of Norway’s Mikko Kokkslien.

PASSINGS

Drag Racing Pioneer Miller Dies at 84

Ak Miller, a pioneer drag racer who had a career as a driver and car builder in many facets of motor racing for six decades, died Dec. 15 of a heart attack in a rest home in Pico Rivera. He was 84. See obituary, B section.