Ivan Rodriguez, Marlins Reach $10-Million Deal

The cost-conscious Florida Marlins expanded their payroll Wednesday by signing 10-time All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez to a $10-million, one-year contract.

“When you’re dealing with a great and special opportunity and a special player, there are no parameters,” Marlin owner Jeffrey Loria said.

Rodriguez, 31, played 1,479 games with the Texas Rangers, batting .303 with 215 home runs and 829 runs batted in, and developing a reputation as one of the best catchers.

Rodriguez sat out nearly two months last season because of a herniated disk but batted .314 with 19 homers and 60 RBIs.

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In an agreement reached Tuesday, New York Met outfielder Roger Cedeno has pleaded no contest to reckless driving and has agreed to complete a DUI course.

Cedeno, 28, was arrested by a Florida Highway Patrol officer Nov. 26 on suspicion of drunken driving.

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Jon Lieber, who is recovering from ligament-replacement surgery in his right elbow and may not pitch this season, has agreed to a $3.5-million, two-year contract with the New York Yankees. Lieber had a 20-6 record with the Chicago Cubs in 2001.

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The San Diego Padres’ new ballpark, scheduled to be completed by opening day 2004, will be called Petco Park after the pet supply company agreed to a naming rights deal reportedly worth more than $60 million over 22 years.

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Commissioner Bud Selig’s top deputy, Bob DuPuy, met with Pete Rose and his business agent Dec. 16 at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., part of negotiations that could lead to the reinstatement of baseball’s career hits leader.

DuPuy declined to comment on the negotiations.

New York Newsday reported Wednesday that a friend of Rose, who was not identified, said the former player was prepared to admit he bet on baseball.

Figure Skating

With a flawless free program at Malmoe, Sweden, Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin defended their European figure skating title and extended Russia’s dominance in the pairs event to eight consecutive years.

France’s Sarah Abitbol and Stephane Bernadis finished second, and Russia’s Maria Petrova and Alexei Tikhonov were third.

Miscellany

Pilot error probably caused the 2001 crash of a twin-engine airplane that killed 10 people associated with the Oklahoma State basketball program, according to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The report, obtained Wednesday by the Associated Press, said some of the plane’s instruments stopped working after an electrical malfunction, but the pilot could have used backup instruments to safely land the plane.

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Years of breathing fumes in a race car has given NASCAR driver Rick Mast, 45, carbon monoxide poisoning, which will end his career. He made 364 starts over a 15-year career.

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Augusta Richmond County (Ga.) officials split 5-5 on a plan to require demonstrators who oppose Augusta National Golf Club’s all-male membership policy to give the sheriff’s department at least 30 days notice of their plans to picket the club during the Masters in April.

The proposal could be reconsidered next month.

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Little Current, winner of the 1974 Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, was euthanized Sunday at Monroe, Wash., because of an intestinal tumor.

At 32, Little Current was the oldest living winner of a Triple Crown race.