Sports

MINNEAPOLIS - Mike Pelfrey once was a promising prospect for the New York Mets, a groundball-inducing machine who chewed up innings and bats with a hard sinker that tumbled out of his 6-foot-7 frame.

MONTREAL - Boxer Jean Pascal got the verdict he was looking for on his injured left shoulder. Doctors told the former light heavyweight champion from Laval, Que.

LONDON - Britain is pumping record amounts of cash into its Olympic sport programs, aiming to win more medals in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 than it did as host nation in London this year.

NEW YORK, N.Y.

HOUSTON - The Houston Astros wanted to add power to their lineup and a veteran presence to their young team. They think they got both by agreeing to a $2.9 million, one-year contract with Carlos Pena.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The New York Yankees' luxury tax bill for this year has gone up by nearly $400,000. Major League Baseball sent a revised accounting to the team Tuesday, raising New York's payment to $19,311,642 from $18,917,994.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Thomas Bach strides through the hotel lobby between meetings with a phone pressed to his ear. Over in one corner of the foyer sits Richard Carrion, deep in discussion with a fellow member.

Hockey Canada president and CEO Bob Nicholson is excited about the talent available at this year’s world junior hockey championship tournament.

The Victoria Grizzlies have gone into the Christmas break as the hottest team in the B.C. Hockey League and ranked No. 8 in the country by the Canadian Junior Hockey League.

SAN FRANCISCO - Right-handed reliever Santiago Casilla and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a $15 million, three-year contract. The deal, which is pending a physical, includes a club/vesting option for the 2016 season.