A person familiar with the negotiations says free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre and the Boston Red Sox are close to agreeing on a one-year contract. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday night because an agreement, which would be subject to a physical, had not been reached.
Bay's deal includes option year
Jason Bay's contract with the Mets includes a $17 million option for 2014 with a $3 million buyout, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. ... Catcher Miguel Olivo agreed to a $2.5 million, one-year contract with the Rockies that includes a club option for 2011. Olivo will share duties with Chris Iannetta.
TENNIS
Henin looks good in first match Justine Henin played as if she never left. She didn't even make it to her first post-match news conference since coming out of retirement before talk began about when she'll win an eighth Grand Slam singles title.
Henin beat second-seeded Nadia Petrova 7-5, 7-5 in the first round of the Brisbane International on Monday, the former No. 1's first official tour match since announcing her comeback in September.
"I feel better today than when I retired, that's for sure," Henin said. "Better emotionally, mentally. Better with myself, and that makes a big difference."
She is preparing to make her return to Grand Slam action at the Australian Open, which starts Jan. 18.
Henin abruptly left the tour in May 2008 after spending a total of 117 weeks at No. 1, winning seven major championships, an Olympic gold medal and 41 WTA titles overall. Now she is back, perhaps inspired by another Belgian, Kim Clijsters, who returned to the tour after about two years away and promptly won last year's U.S. Open.
