Red Sox add Jenks to their relief corps

The Boston Red Sox kept spending Monday, completing a two-year, $12 million contract with relief pitcher Bobby Jenks.

Jenks leaves the Chicago White Sox, where he was a closer, to join a bullpen that already has Jonathan Papelbon and Daniel Bard working the late innings. Jenks provides insurance if one of them falters, especially because he's capable of moving into the closing job.

Jenks is a two-time All-Star who last season converted 19 of 20 save chances in the first half of the season but developed arm problems and lost his closing job late in the season. His 173 saves rank second in White Sox history.

The Red Sox already bolstered their offense in the offseason by signing first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and outfielder Carl Crawford.

"I'm just excited to get with the team that they're putting together this year," Jenks said.

Elsewhere: Brewers re-sign Counsell

• The Milwaukee Brewers and infielder Craig Counsell agreed to a $1.4 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. Counsell, 40, played the past four seasons in Milwaukee. Last year, he hit .250 with two homers and 21 RBI in 102 games.

• Rich Harden rejoined his first major league team, taking a $1.5 million, one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics. Harden pitched last season for Texas.

• The Yankees were hit with an $18 million luxury tax on their major league-leading payroll, New York's lowest tax since 2003. They paid $26 million last season. The Red Sox are the only other team that will have to pay. The Red Sox exceeded the payroll threshold for the first time since 2007 and owe almost $1.5 million.

Vonn, Riesch flop on slalom Marlies Schild won her second World Cup slalom of the season, while overall leader Lindsey Vonn and rival Maria Riesch crashed out in their first runs.

Schild was in second place behind Finland's Tanja Poutiainen after the first run and made a faultless second run to finish in a combined time of 1 minute, 34.95 seconds, 0.78 ahead of Poutiainen. Slovenia's Tine Maze was a distant third, 1.98 behind Schild.

Vonn and Riesch were among 23 skiers who failed to finish the first run on the highly technical Stade Emile Allais course. The setbacks did not hurt Vonn or Riesch in the overall standings. Vonn leads with 581 points. Riesch, of Germany, has 578.

"I think I got lucky because Maria went out as well today," Vonn said. "Honestly, it's a course that is [meant] to take people out. It's unfortunate because I don't think it looks very good on TV, and for the athletes it's not as fun."

Preakness' Pimlico run threatened The future of the Preakness at Pimlico is in doubt after a vote by Maryland's racing commission.

The board voted to reject a proposal by the owners of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park to conduct live racing next year, meaning there won't be horse racing at either track unless an agreement is reached. That leaves the future of the Triple Crown's second leg in doubt at the track where it has been run since 1873.

The track's owners have asked horsemen to give up various sources of revenue because of declining profits, but that idea was rejected. The next step was to cut the racing season to 78 live days, down from an original request of 146. That proposal was rejected 8-0 by the commission.

"We will continue to explore the legal options available to us," Gov. Martin O'Malley said.

Boxing: Manny Pacquiao plans to fight Sugar Shane Mosley in his next bout, in the welterweight division May 7 in Las Vegas. Promoter Bob Arum said he realizes he could have trouble selling a fight against a nearly 40-year-old opponent who will be nearly 2 1/2 years removed from his last victory when he faces Pacquiao.

Tennis: Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in Zurich to open a two-match exhibition series for charity between the world's top-ranked tennis players.

NEWS SERVICES