Pro baseball
YANKEES EXERCISE OPTION ON GRANDERSON: Baseball's business began Friday with the New York Yankees exercising $15 million options on second baseman Robinson Cano and T.F. South grad Curtis Granderson.
Oakland, the surprise AL West champion with a major league-low $59.5 million payroll, exercised a $4.5 million option for closer Grant Balfour and declined its half of a $10 million mutual option for shortstop Stephen Drew, who receives a $1.35 million buyout.
Minnesota declined a $9.25 million option on right-hander Scott Baker, who missed the entire season because of a torn elbow ligament. The Twins are interested in keeping him at a lower salary.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, who haven't made the playoffs in three years, declined options on first baseman Juan Rivera ($4 million), right-hander Todd Coffey ($2.5 million) and catcher Matt Treanor ($950,000). Rivera gets a $500,000 buyout, Coffey $300,000 and Treanor $150,000.
Pro football
SMITH NEARS PERFECTION ON MNF: On an almost perfect Monday night for Alex Smith, the San Francisco 49ers flexed their NFC West dominance with a 24-3 flattening of the Arizona Cardinals.
Smith completed 18 of 19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns two to Michael Crabtree and one to Randy Moss, as San Francisco (6-2) opened a two-game lead in the division and sent Arizona (4-4) to its fourth straight lost.
Smith's only incompletion was dropped by a wide-open receiver.
Smith was 14 of 15 and for 146 yards and two touchdowns, both to Crabtree, to help the 49ers build a 17-0 halftime lead.
MERRILLVILLE'S NEAL ADDED TO PACKERS INJURY LIST: The Green Bay Packers played without eight starters last weekend, and coach Mike McCarthy added two more players to the injury list on Monday.
Wide receivers Greg Jennings (torn abdominal muscle) and Jordy Nelson (hamstring), fullback John Kuhn (hamstring) and running back Cedric Benson (sprained foot) were among the starters who missed Sunday's game. Safety Charles Woodson (broken collarbone), cornerback Sam Shields (ankle) and linebackers Nick Perry (knee), D.J. Smith (knee) and Desmond Bishop (hamstring) also were out.
McCarthy also added defensive ends Jerel Worthy (concussion) and Mike Neal (knee) to the list of injured players.
COLTS WAIVE PAIR IN HANDFUL OF MOVES: The Colts have waived running back Mewelde Moore and nose tackle Antonio Dixon.
Indy also promoted cornerback Marshay Green and fullback Robert Hughes from the practice squad to the active roster on Monday, and signed cornerback Teddy Williams to the practice squad.
The moves come one day after starting cornerback Vontae Davis left the Colts' 19-13 overtime victory at Tennessee with a left knee injury. Interim coach Bruce Arians says Davis' MRI results were not yet available.
BRONCOS SURVIVE MANNING THUMB SCARE: Peyton Manning counts himself fortunate. Consider his team furious.
Manning acknowledged he was "probably a little bit lucky" that he banged the right thumbnail and not the knuckle of his throwing hand on New Orleans defensive end Martez Wilson's helmet Sunday night.
It's what happened a split-second later that has the Broncos miffed.
The crown of Wilson's helmet smacked into Manning's chin, a play the Broncos are expected to have the league look at this week.
Although no flag was thrown, it was similar to the illegal hit last month that cost Broncos linebacker Joe Mays a $50,000 fine and a one-game suspension for blasting Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub.
Women's soccer
FIVE CRUSADERS EARN POSTSEASON LEAGUE HONORS: The Valparaiso women's soccer team put five players on the Horizon League all-conference teams with two on the first team.
Luisa Desario and Rachel Hoaglin were named to the All-League First Team, marking the first time since joining the Horizon League that the Crusaders have had multiple players selected to the first team.
Also honored Monday were freshmen Rita Craven, Jenny Fassbinder and Sarrah Ludwig, who all earned spots on the league’s All-Newcomer Team.
Women's volleyball
VALPO SENIOR EARNS THIRD WEEKLY LEAGUE AWARD: Valparaiso senior libero Taylor Root was named Defensive Player of the Week by the Horizon League for the third time this season.
Root started out the week with a 29-dig effort in Valpo's come-from-behind five-set victory over IUPUI, while also adding 31 serve receptions without an error against the Jaguars.
On Friday, Root picked up 31 digs in three sets in the Crusaders' sweep of Wright State, matching the second-most in a three-set match in program history and the second-most in the nation this year in a sweep, both only trailing her own mark of 34 set two weeks ago.
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