BASEBALL

MARTINEZ CONFIRMS DEAL WITH METS Pedro Martinez confirmed yesterday that he has agreed to join the Mets. The deal for the pitcher who helped Boston win the World Series will be worth more than $50 million. Martinez said the sides still must determine the distribution of the money, and that he needs to pass a physical.

“I only hope to honor my contract and to fulfill the expectations,” Martinez said on television in the Dominican Republic. “We got what we wanted. The team and I are happy with everything.”

Martinez’s agent, Fernando Cuza, told the Mets on Monday that he would attempt to work out a deal with them after New York guaranteed a fourth year, a person involved in the talks said on condition of anonymity. The Mets have not announced the deal, choosing to wait until an agreement is signed and the physical is passed.

SCHILLING LIKELY WON’T BE READY FOR OPENING DAY Red Sox ace Curt Schilling said his right ankle isn’t recovering from surgery as quickly as he expected and he doesn’t think he’ll be ready to pitch by Opening Day.

Schilling said he had a cast removed from the ankle over the weekend and learned for the first time that he wouldn’t be able to rotate his ankle for four to five weeks. That means he won’t be able to resume throwing when he had planned.

“So I’m looking at least another month before I start throwing, which puts me a month behind,” he said. The right-hander had surgery November 9 to repair a ruptured tendon sheath on his ankle.

GIANTS WAIVE PIERZYNSKI, SIGN FASSERO Catcher A.J. Pierzynski was placed on waivers yesterday by the San Francisco Giants, one day after the team finalized a contract with free agent Mike Matheny. The Giants also agreed to minor league contracts with 12 players, including left-hander Jeff Fassero.

FOOTBALL

EAGLES’ THOMAS COULD MISS PLAYOFFS AGAIN Philadelphia defensive tackle Hollis Thomas could miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season, this time with a dislocated elbow. Thomas, the Eagles’ best run stopper, was injured in Sunday’s victory over Washington. He had an MRI on Monday, and will miss three to six weeks. Thomas was having one of his best seasons this year, recording 21 tackles,10 hurries, and one fumble recovery.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

SOUTHERN MISS. TOPS NORTH TEXAS IN SEASON’S FIRST BOWL GAME Dustin Almond threw for 247 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score, leading Southern Mississippi (7-5) to its first bowl victory in four years, 31-10 over North Texas (7-5) in the New Orleans Bowl last night.

Linebacker Michael Boley helped put the game away, returning an interception 62 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Boley, named MVP of the first bowl of the postseason, finished with eight tackles, including two sacks.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

REPORT: MAJERUS TO TAKE OVER AT USC Former Utah coach Rick Majerus has accepted a five-year contract offer from USC to become its basketball coach for next season and immediately will step down from his job as an analyst with ESPN, according to a report last night by ESPN.com.

Majerus, 57, quit as Utah’s coach last season amid health concerns. According to the report, he is expected to rest before taking over the Trojans after this season. USC fired long-time coach Mike Bibby on December 6.

NO. 13 LOUISVILLE ROUTS NORTH CAROLINA A &T Larry O’Bannon scored 25 points on 10-for-14 shooting and Francisco Garcia added 12 points as the 13thranked Louisville Cardinals dominated North Carolina A &T last night, 85-51. In other Top 25 action last night, no. 7 Duke downed Illinois-Chicago, 88-55.

– Associated Press