BASEBALL

METS LOSE LO DUCA TO NATS

Free-agent catcher Paul Lo Duca agreed to terms of a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals, the Washington Post reported on its Web site.

Financial terms of the contract were unknown, though the 35-year-old was thought to be seeking $5 million, the newspaper said, citing an unnamed person with knowledge of the situation. The agreement is pending Lo Duca passing a physical.

Last week, the Nationals traded catcher Brian Schneider and outfielder Ryan Church to the Mets for outfielder Lastings Milledge. The move left Washington in need of a catcher to help tutor Jesus Flores, pegged to be their top catcher in the future, the Post said.

Bloomberg News

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

BOWDEN AGREES TO 1-YEAR DEAL AT FLORIDA STATE; FISHER NEXT

Jimbo Fisher will succeed Bobby Bowden as Florida State’s next football coach — someday.

President T.K. Wetherell designated offensive coordinator Fisher as “head coach-in waiting,” but skipped out of a somewhat unusual news conference Monday without answering questions about the contracts that are not yet finalized. Bowden, major college football’s winningest coach, agreed to return for a 33rd season with options to stay longer.

NFL FOOTBALL

MERRIMAN OUT FOR LIONS GAME

“Lights Out” is going to be on the shelf for at least one game, maybe longer. Star outside linebacker Shawne Merriman will miss San Diego’s home game against Detroit because of a sprained ligament in his left knee that knocked him out of Sunday’s game at Tennessee, which the Chargers won in overtime.

Associated Press