Sosa, Rangers Continue to Work on Deal

Sammy Sosa and the Texas Rangers kept up negotiations on a minor league contract yesterday, working their way toward a deal.

The Rangers and Sosa's agent, Adam Katz, have exchanged a couple of proposals. They could finalize a deal this week, although Katz said yesterday that the sides had not yet reached an agreement.

Texas has offered Sosa a deal that would require him to earn his spot on the roster during spring training. Sosa, 38, is 12 short of 600 home runs in a 17-season career that began with the Rangers in 1989. He didn't play in the major leagues last year. . . .

The Padres traded offers with David Wells's agent, hoping to wrap up talks that would make the 43-year-old left-hander the No. 5 starter for his hometown team.

"I would say it was our best offer and our final offer," said General Manager Kevin Towers, who would like to have a deal done by today. . . .

The Cleveland Indians and reliever Jason Davis avoided salary arbitration, agreeing to a one-year, $670,000 contract.

Davis was 3-2 with a 3.74 ERA and one save in 39 games last season, when he earned $341,700. . . .

Craig Wilson, who could contend for playing time or a starting job in left field or first base, agreed to a two-year, $2 million contract with the Atlanta Braves. . . .

The Arizona Diamondbacks and pitcher Doug Davis agreed to a three-year contract, avoiding arbitration. . . .

The Dodgers have agreed to terms of a one-year contract with reliever Chin Hui Tsao, formerly a top prospect in the Colorado Rockies organization.

? COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Rod Broadway took over Grambling State's historic football program, leaving North Carolina Central to coach the Tigers.

Broadway replaces Melvin Spears, who was fired on Dec. 18 after a 3-8 season.

"I'm looking forward to the opportunity to coach at Grambling State University because it's considered the pinnacle of black college football," Broadway said.

? HORSE RACING: Barbaro's pain medication was reduced and the Kentucky Derby winner continued to improve following surgery on his left hind hoof.

Barbaro, plagued by the often-fatal hoof disease called laminitis, underwent surgery Saturday, and has made steady progress since, said chief surgeon Dean Richardson of the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa.

? HOCKEY: The Los Angeles Kings, playing without their top two goalies, claimed veteran Sean Burke off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Burke, who turns 40 later this month, had a 14-10-4 record with a 2.80 goals against average in 35 games for Tampa Bay last season.

? SOCCER: D.C. United selected Florida International goalkeeper Shawn Crowe and Dowling (N.Y.) forward Guy-Roland Knepe, a native of Ivory Coast, in the MLS supplemental draft. Knepe scored 25 goals as Dowling won the NCAA Division II title last fall.

-- From News Services and Staff Reports