*BASEBALL : First baseman Prince Fielder and the Brewers reached a preliminary agreement Thursday on a two-year, $18 million contract. The agreement is subject to a physical, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said. … Alex Cora and the Mets finalized a one-year, $2 million contract, giving the team a backup infielder who also could displace Luis Castillo at second base. … Cardinals third baseman Troy Glaus will be sidelined for about three months after arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder. … Outfielder Jayson Werth finalized a two-year, $10 million contract with the Phillies to avoid salary arbitration. … Gregg Zaun returned to the team that drafted him in 1989, finalizing a one-year, $2 million contract with the Orioles. … The New York Daily News reported the Mets also signed former Sox pitcher Freddy Garcia to a deal worth, with incentives, as much as $9 million. … Bill Werber, who was the oldest living ex-major-leaguer and a former teammate of Babe Ruth, has died at age 100.
*NBA : Dwight Howard, the Magic center who leads the NBA in rebounds, blocked shots and double-doubles, got a record 3,150,181 votes to lead this season’s All-Star team, released Thursday. The Feb. 15 game in Phoenix will mark the third All-Star trip for Howard, who’ll be starting for the second time and easily topped the previous record of 2,558,278 votes collected by Houston’s Yao Ming four years ago. … Monta Ellis will be in the Warriors’ lineup for the first time this season Friday night when they host the Cavaliers. The Warriors (13-30) decided after Thursday’s practice to welcome back Ellis, who has missed the entire season while recovering from a sprained ankle sustained in an accident on a motorized scooter last summer. … The Grizzlies fired coach Marc Iavaroni.
*TENNIS: Venus Williams squandered a match point before losing to 46th-ranked Carla Suarez Navarro, the biggest upset so far at the Australian Open. The 20-year-old Spaniard, who reached the French Open quarterfinals last year as a qualifier in her first Grand Slam, rallied to beat Williams 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.
*NHL: Canadiens winger Alex Kovalev and Sharks center Joe Thornton were selected as captains for the All-Star Game. … Flyers center Danny Briere, who has played only nine games this season, will miss at least four weeks after groin surgery Thursday. … Veteran goaltender Martin Gerber was placed on waivers by the Senators.
*NFL: Giants receiver Taye Biddle is recovering from gunshot wounds to his hand after being shot while visiting family in his hometown of Decatur, Ala. Police said in a statement Thursday that Biddle was shot Sunday night outside a residence and was treated and released from a local hospital. Police said there was no evidence Biddle caused or provoked the shooting.
*SOCCER: The Fire will close out its preseason schedule March 14 with a match against the Los Angeles Galaxy in Tempe, Ariz. The Fire will open the MLS season March 21 in Dallas.
