Sports briefs

Big baseball names become free agents

NEW YORK — Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon, Houston shortstop Miguel Tejada and Dodgers pitcher Randy Wolf were among the free agents who weren't offered salary arbitration, moves that enable new teams to sign them without losing draft picks.

Because all three were Type A players under the free-agent rankings, their former teams would have received two draft picks if they had been offered arbitration and then signed with new clubs.

Other Type As turned down for arbitration included Dodgers second baseman Orlando Hudson, Colorado pitcher Rafael Betancourt, Detroit second baseman Placido Polanco, Angels pitcher Darren Oliver and Houston pitcher LaTroy Hawkins.

With about two hours left until the deadline, 18 players had received arbitration offers and only seven of them were position players: St. Louis outfielder Matt Holliday and third baseman Mark DeRosa; Boston outfielder Jason Bay; Los Angeles Angels third baseman Chone Figgins; Seattle third baseman Adrian Beltre; Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez and Rangers outfielder Marlon Byrd.

Pitchers offered arbitration included Angels ace John Lackey; Boston reliever Billy Wagner; Detroit's Brandon Lyon and Fernando Rodney; Oakland's Justin Duchscherer; Atlanta's Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano; Colorado's Rafael Betancourt and Jason Marquis; Houston's Jose Valverde; and St. Louis' Joel Pineiro.

In addition to Damon, the Yankees declined to offer arbitration to World Series MVP Hideki Matsui and pitcher Andy Pettitte. The Angels turned down pitcher Kelvim Escobar in addition to Guerrero.

Struggling UCLA loses sophomore forward

LOS ANGELES — UCLA coach Ben Howland says sophomore forward Drew Gordon is no longer on the team.

Howland said Tuesday he came to a mutual agreement to part ways with Gordon, who intends to transfer.

The 6-foot-9 Gordon is the Bruins' third-leading scorer, averaging 11.2 points and 5.3 rebounds while starting all six games. The former San Jose high school star apparently clashed a few times in recent months with Howland, who didn't give a specific reason for Gordon's departure

Roethlisberger expected back this week

PITTSBURGH — Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has worked out without problems since missing Sunday night's game in Baltimore with a concussion and is expected to play Sunday against Oakland.

Roethlisberger was held out of the 20-17 overtime loss to the Ravens after having post-practice headaches Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. A team doctor recommended Saturday that the quarterback not play, and coach Mike Tomlin agreed.

Fighting Irish contacting candidates

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick says he has started contacting the candidates to replace fired coach Charlie Weis.

Swarbrick would not say how many people he has talked to, but says he didn't begin contacting candidates until Tuesday. He wouldn't comment on any of the names widely reported as possible replacements for Weis. He also says the search could take him out of town as early as today.