BASEBALL Yankees' Aaron Boone injures knee playing hoops

The third baseman may be out for the season.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK -- New York Yankees third baseman Aaron Boone injured his left knee playing basketball and may be out for the season, just three months after his hero-to-goat performance in the postseason.
Boone was hurt Jan. 16 and might have torn his anterior cruciate ligament. He was examined by Anaheim Angels team physician Dr. Lewis Yocum.
The extent of the damage won't be known until swelling subsides, and Boone has not yet been examined by Yankees' doctors. If there is a complete tear, he would require reconstructive surgery that could sideline him until 2005.
"We are currently evaluating the extent of the injury and expect to solicit multiple opinions before providing a complete diagnosis," general manager Brian Cashman said Monday.
Dodgers
LOS ANGELES -- The proposed sale of the Dodgers from News Corp. to Boston real estate developer Frank McCourt will be put to a vote for approval by baseball owners Thursday during a telephone conference call. McCourt, whose grandfather was part owner of the Boston Braves, announced Oct. 10 he had agreed in principal to buy the team along with Dodger Stadium and adjoining real estate, plus training facilities in Vero Beach, Fla., and the Dominican Republic. The sale is worth $430 million. The vote on the highly leveraged sale comes two days before a Jan. 31 deadline for closing the transaction. Twenty-two of the 30 owners must approve the sale.
Rockies
DENVER -- Right-hander Shawn Chacon agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.85 million. Chacon, designated as the Rockies' closer for 2004, earned $300,000 last season. The Rockies offered Chacon, who became arbitration-eligible this offseason, a 2004 salary of $1.65 million. Chacon submitted a figure of $2.1 million, leaving the midpoint at $1.875 million. Chacon, 26, earned an All-Star berth in 2003 but was unable to pitch in the game because of an elbow injury. Chacon, who began the season with an 11-3 record, finished the year at 11-8 with a 4.60 ERA and was placed on the disabled list Aug. 16.
Red Sox
BOSTON -- Right-hander Reynaldo Garcia was claimed off waivers from the Texas Rangers. Garcia, 29, has spent his first seven seasons in the Rangers system. He made his major league debut in 2002 and has made 20 major league appearances over the last two seasons. Garcia, 6-foot-3 and 170 pounds, is 0-0 with an 11.25 ERA. A native of Mayua, Dominican Republic, Garcia is 30-38 with 36 saves and a 3.71 ERA in 207 minor league games, including 55 starts.
Mets
NEW YORK -- Reliever Jaime Cerda was traded from the New York Mets to the Kansas City Royals on Monday for minor league pitcher Shawn Sedlacek. Cerda, a 25-year-old left-hander, was 1-1 with a 5.85 ERA in 27 relief appearances over 321/3 innings. Sedlacek, a 27-year old righty, was 4-11 with a 6.45 ERA for last season for Triple-A Omaha and 1-2 with a 5.60 ERA for Double-A Wichita.