BASEBALL
Penny finalizes deal with Red Sox Righthander Brad Penny finalized a $5 million, one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox on Friday.
Penny, a two-time All-Star who won a championship with the Florida Marlins, was injured and had an off season for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, going 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA.
Penny, 30, was 94-75 in nine years for the Marlins and Dodgers, going 16-4 with a 3.03 ERA in '07 and finishing third in voting for the NL Cy Young Award.
• Utilityman Willie Bloomquist agreed to a $3.1 million, two-year contract and righthander Kyle Davies agreed to a $1.3 million, one-year deal with the Kansas City Royals.
• A source said the New York Mets are close to an agreement with righthander Tim Redding on a one-year contract worth about $2.25 million.
• Dave Roberts, a lefthanded pitcher who played for the 1979 World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates during a 13-year career in the majors, died of lung cancer in Morgantown, W. Va., at age 64.
• Pitcher Shawn Estes agreed to terms of a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
BROADCAST SPORTS
Barkley goes on leave Charles Barkley is taking a leave of absence from the broadcast booth.