Sports Desk
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

BASEBALL
Mussina, Yankees Reach Preliminary Deal For $23 Million, Two Years
Mike Mussina and the New York Yankees reached a preliminary agreement yesterday on a $23 million, twoyear contract.
Mussina is scheduled to take a physical today that would allow the deal to be finalized. He declined comment on the agreement, saying he would refrain from any remarks until a telephone conference call Wednesday.
A right-hander who turns 38 on December 8, Mussina left the Baltimore Orioles after the 2000 season to sign an $88.5 million, six-year contract with the Yankees. He was 15–7 with a 3.51 ERA this year.
New York declined a $17 million option last week, paying a $1.5 million buyout, but the Yankees have said since the end of the season that they hoped to keep Mussina. Some of the money in his new contract will be deferred, lowering its present-day value for purposes of the luxury tax.
Garciaparra and Dodgers Agree to $18.5 million, Two-Year Deal
Six-time All-Star Nomar Garciaparra and the Los Angles Dodgers agreed yesterday to an $18.5 million, two-year contract.
The 33-year-old Garciaparra, the NL comeback player of the year, will get a $2.5 million signing bonus, which is deferred until 2009 and 2010, and salaries of $7.5 million next season and $8.5 million in 2008. He would get an additional $250,000 each year for 500 plate appearances.
A two-time AL batting champion, Garciaparra shifted to first base with the Dodgers last season, his first with the team. He hit .303 with 93 RBIs and 20 home runs to tie J.D. Drew for the team lead in homers.
FOOTBALL
Packers QB Rodgers Out for Season; Favre’s Prognosis Good
The Green Bay Packers lost a quarterback for the season yesterday. It wasn’t Brett Favre.
Backup Aaron Rodgers said he didn’t know how he broke his left foot in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against New England and thought he was just feeling sorry for himself because of his poor performance.
Rodgers had replaced Favre, who hurt his elbow earlier in the game, but is expected to return in time for Monday night’s game at Seattle.
Rodgers’s injury requires surgery, which he said will likely include placing a screw in his foot. He’ll be out for the rest of the season, and the Packers are in need of another quarterback.
Ex-Eagles DB, Andre Waters, Commits Suicide
Andre Waters, a defensive back who spent most of his 12 seasons in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound early yesterday. He was 44.
His body was found at about 1:30 a.m. at his Tampa home, the medical examiner’s office said. He had shot himself in the head. Toxicology reports were ordered, and results will be available in four to six weeks, the office said.
— Associated Press