BASEBALL

YANKEES INK MATSUI TO NEW FOUR-YEAR DEAL

Hideki Matsui and the Yankees agreed last night to a $52 million, four-year contract that will keep the popular outfielder in New York. Matsui’s agent, Arn Tellem, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman met the November 15 deadline contained in Matsui’s first contract with the team. That deal stated that if there was no agreement by then, New York would have to place the outfielder on unconditional release waivers

Matsui is to earn $13 million in each of the next four seasons, a baseball official familiar with the talks said on condition of anonymity. Matsui was coming off a $21 million, three-year contract in which he earned an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses. He hit .305 with 23 homers and 116 RBI last season.

In other Yankees news, the team exercised its $1.5 million option on reliever Tanyon Sturtze rather than paying a $150,000 buyout. The 35-year-old right-hander was 5-3 with a 4.73 ERA and one save in one start and 63 relief appearances.

METS DECLINE OPTIONS ON HEREDIA, ISHII

The Mets declined their 2006 options yesterday on left-handers Felix Heredia and Kazuhisa Ishii. Heredia will get a $200,000 buyout instead of a $2.5 million salary. He is suspended for the first 10 days of next season after testing positive for a steroid. Ishii will receive a $2.2 million buyout rather than a $3.25 million salary.

Heredia, who is a free agent, pitched in just three games for the Mets before season-ending surgery on June 2 to repair a blood clot in his left shoulder. The 32-year-old Ishii was 3-9 with a 5.14 ERA in 16 starts and three relief appearances.

FOOTBALL

MCNABB UNLIKELY TO PLAY AGAINST GIANTS

Donovan McNabb is unlikely to play in Philadelphia’s game against the Giants on Sunday because of a groin injury.

“I wouldn’t bet on it,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said yesterday when asked if Mc-Nabb could start. “He doesn’t look good today.”

McNabb injured his groin while trying to tackle Dallas’s Roy Williams after throwing an interception. Williams returned the pick 46 yards for a touchdown with 2:43 left to lead the Cowboys to a 21-20 comeback victory over the Eagles on Monday night. Reid said McNabb had an MRI yesterday morning, and was waiting to see a specialist. If McNabb doesn’t play, Mike McMahon probably would start over Koy Detmer against the Giants. McMahon, listed as the third-string quarterback, played the last series against Dallas, and drove the Eagles to the Cowboys’ 42 before David Akers missed a 60-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds.

HOCKEY

COLUMBUS ACQUIRES FEDOROV FROM ANAHEIM

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired six-time All-Star center Sergei Fedorov yesterday from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks for forward Tyler Wright, rookie defenseman Francois Beauchemin, and a fifth-round pick in 2006.

The 35-year-old Fedorov had one assist in five games this season for Anaheim, his second with the Mighty Ducks after 13 seasons with Detroit. He recently returned from a groin injury that sidelined him for 13 games. Columbus general manager and president Doug MacLean said he was unwilling to part with any of the Blue Jackets’ young talent. Columbus is last in the NHL with 34 goals.

Fedorov has 431 goals and 589 assists in 15 seasons in the NHL. The speedy Russian had a career-high 56 goals for the Red Wings in 1993-94, when he won the league’s MVP award. Fedorov will make $18.2 million over the next three seasons.

TENNIS

FEDERER ADVANCES IN CHINA WHILE AGASSI IS CRITICIZED FOR WITHDRAWAL

Roger Federer asked for treatment at the start of his third set against Ivan Ljubicic, and a collective groan echoed around the Qi Zhong Stadium. The injury-marred Tennis Masters Cup couldn’t withstand the loss of another of its stars.

Top-ranked Federer, the two-time defending champion, got a quick rub on his right leg from a physiotherapist, then held off Ljubicic 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (4) yesterday to secure a spot in the semifinals.

Playing with a heavy, black brace on his right ankle, Federer extended his winning streak to 33 matches and improved to 79-3 this year. That’s three shy of John McEnroe’s Open-era record (82-3) for winning percentage in a season.

Federer is the only player ranked from among the top six still in contention in the season-ending event, which is supposed to feature the ATP Tour’s top eight players. Second-ranked Rafael Nadal and no. 5 Andre Agassi withdrew on Monday with foot and ankle injuries. Chinese organizers took a swipe at Agassi yesterday because he didn’t notify them before announcing he was quitting following his upset loss to Nikolay Davydenko. In 2002, Agassi withdrew from the tournament after two losses. His action Monday annoyed Wang Liqun, deputy director of the organizing committee.

“After two defeats, he cited his injury again, a hip injury, and he took off again,” Wang said through an interpreter. “This year, by the same token, it happened.”

The interpreter said Wang was trying to limit personal comments concerning Agassi’s decision. “However, he certainly is not appreciative of what he did, and particularly because he actually made the sudden announcement without notifying anyone,” the interpreter said.

– Associated Press