New York Yankees starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia has decided to remain with the team, according to a tweet he sent Monday night.

Sabathia’s deal, which he signed prior to the ’09 season, is worth $161 million. With four years remaining, Sabathia had an option this year to opt out if he decided to test the free agent waters.

His tweet, which confirmed his decision to stay in New York, reads: “Yankee fans, I’ll be here fighting for number 28 next year!”

It was reported last week that Sabathia had decided to opt out, which means that he either has a restructured contract with New York or he chose to keep his previous contract and not opt out. Sources indicated to ESPN Monday that the two sides were working on a new deal. CBS Sports later reported that Sabathia was given a one year extension worth $30 million, guaranteeing the lefty $122 million over the next five years.

Pittsburgh Steelers safety broke an NFL rule by punching New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady’s fumble out of the endzone for a safety. The rule is, in essence, the converse of the rule that makes it illegal to fumble the ball forward. The call is not reviewable.

When asked after the game, Polamalu said, “Whatever is going to get me in trouble, I’m saying the opposite.”

The reigning defensive player of the year, Polamalu had five tackles on a Steelers defense that held Brady and the Patriots to only 170 yards passing and 213 for the game in a 25-17 victory.

Former Dallas Cowboys running back Tashard Choice has been claimed by the Washington Redskins, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Choice was waived last week after getting passed on the depth chart by rookie DeMarco Murray.

Choice’s production has dropped recently, and when he had his chance to play after starter Felix Jones was injured, he was completely overshadowed by Murray. He will now join a backfield cobbled together to replace the injured Tim Hightower. Choice will compete for time with rookie Roy Helu and current starter Ryan Torain. Neither back has been particularly effective this season.

The Cowboys will visit Washington in Week 11.

Miami Heat owner Micky Arison has been fined $500,000 by the league, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. Arison’s back and forth with fans on Twitter seemingly led to the fine.

On Friday, Arison answered a tweet from an angry fan who asked: ”How’s it feel to be apart of ruining the best game in the world? NBA owners/players don’t give a damn about fans … and guess what? Fans provide all the money you’re fighting over … you greedy (expletive) pigs.”

Arison replied simply: ”You are barking at the wrong owner.” Soon after, Arison deleted the tweet that appears to show a disconnect between fellow owner. Later, a user suggested that having a league with 32 competitive teams is an “unrealistic and stupid” idea, Arison retweeted the comment and added a smiling face emoticon. He deleted that tweet, as well.

He clarified the later tweet, saying that the retweet was in response to the mistake made by the person who initially left the comment. There are 30 NBA teams, not 32.

The Oakland Raiders have signed veteran cornerback Lito Sheppard according to a tweet from the team’s official account. The 30-year-old former Viking will wear number 21 for the silver and black.

Sheppord previously played for the Eagles from 2002-2008 before one year stints with the New York Jets and the Minnesota Vikings. Until now he had not signed with a team for the 2011 season.

The former first round pick’s best season came in 2006 for the Eagles when he intercepted six passes and returned one for a touchdown. He did not record an interception in all of 2010, and only collected one in 2009.

The Associated Press’ preseason All-America team has been selected and Ohio State sophomore Jared Sullinger is the sole unanimous pick of the media panel. 

After a disappointing elimination in last year’s Sweet 16, the 6-9 power forward made it clear to Buckeyes coach Thad Matta that he would bypass the NBA draft.

“He knew what he was going to do from the time he got to Ohio State in the summer,” Matta told the Associated Press.  “When he told me he was coming back, I said, ‘Are you sure? Let’s talk about this.’ I want what’s best for our players.  He said, ‘No, there’s no need to do it, I’m coming back.’”

Ohio State goes into the season ranked No. 3 overall in the AP Preseason Top 25.

The other members of the All-America team include University of Wisconsin senior Jordan Taylor and three sophomores: Harrison Barnes of North Carolina, University of Kentucky’s Terrence Jones and University of Connecticut’s Jeremy Lamb.

Washington Nationals mega-prospect Bryce Harper has joined the fold and tweeted a picture of himself “Tebowing.”

As of last week, “Tebowing” has replaced planking as the newest internet craze and was defined by the Wall Street Journal as “to get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different.”

While the fad may die down after Tim Tebow’s sub-par performance this week against the Detroit Lions, for at least a week it was the most popular thing on the internet to do. Even Tebow himself acknowledged the trend, and shared via twitter some of his favorite renditions of the act.

Harper, the 19-year-old former No. 1 overall pick by the Washington Nationals, is a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints.

CBSSports.com is reporting that West Virginia University is filing suit against the Big East Conference to exercise its option to join the Big 12.

Big East commissioner John Marinatto said in an email to the league’s presidents that “we have been advised by West Virginia league council that the University is filing suit against the Big East conference today (Monday) – presumably to get relief from the withdrawal provision contained in our bylaws.”

Big East members are required to pay $5 million in exit fees and provide 27 months notice prior to leaving the conference.  West Virginia accepted an invitation to play in the Big 12 beginning in the 2012 season on Friday.  According to Big East bylaws, the Mountaineers would have to wait until the 2014 season to begin play with its new conference.

Conference members, University of Pittsburgh and Syracuse University have also announced their departure to the ACC earlier this year.  Marinatto has declared that they too cannot leave until 2014.

Pittsburgh and Syracuse are not listed in the lawsuit.

Deadspin reports that in a new Shaquille O’Neal tell all book slated to come out Nov. 15 titled: Shaq Uncut: My Story, the four-time NBA champion reveals some details surrounding the feud he had with Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant.

In an excerpt shared by Deadspin, it was apparent that Shaq still has some strong words for Bryant regarding the split:

“So I’m on edge because I don’t have a new deal, and Kobe is on edge because he might be going to jail, so we’re taking it out on each other. Just before the start of the ’03-’04 season the coach staff called us in and said, “No more public sparring or you’ll get fined.” … Phil was tired of it. Karl Malone and Gary Payton were sick of it. … So what happens? Immediately after that Kobe runs right out to Jim Gray and does this interview where he lets me have it. He said I was fat and out of shape. He said I was milking my toe injury for more time off, and the injury wasn’t even that serious. (Yeah, right. It only ended my damn career.) He said I was “lobbying for a contract extension when we have two Hall of Famers playing pretty much for free.”

I’m sitting there watching this interview and I’m gonna explode. Hours earlier we had just promised our coach we’d stop. It was a truce broken. I let the guys know, “I’m going to kill him.”

Together Bryant and O’Neal helped the Lakers win three consecutive NBA titles from 1999-2002. The rift between the two forced Los Angeles to choose between the two superstars and the Lakers sent the 32-year-old to the Miami Heat before the 2004-05 season.

NBC Sports reports that the Colorado Rockies have decided to decline pitcher Aaron Cook’s option, and buyout the remaining $11 million on his contract for $500,000.

Cook has been battered by injuries, allowing him to pitch just 97 innings last season.  In 17 starts, he posted a 3-10 record with a 6.03 ERA.

The 32-year-old right hander has seen a decline in the number of innings he’s thrown for the past three seasons, tossing 158 innings in 2009, 128 in 2010, and 97 this year.

Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd told Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post that Cook is welcome to re-sign with the Rockies, but he will likely see a decrease in his pay.

Chicago Cubs right-handed starter Carlos Zambrano is scheduled to pitch next weekend in the Venezuelan Winter League, according to the Chicago Tribune. The 30-year-old starter is believed to be auditioning for teams who may be interested in acquiring the veteran starter after he finished his season on bad terms with Chicago.

Despite being placed on the MLB restricted list last August after reportedly walking out on the Cubs, Zambrano is still under contract with the team through at least the remainder of 2012. The Venezuelan native is slotted to make $18 million this coming season, and has a vested player option to make $19.25 million with the team in 2013.

In 24 starts last year for Chicago, Zambrano posted a career worst 4.82 ERA to go with a 9-7 record. The three-time All-Star posted an 11-6 record with a  3.33 ERA just one season ago.

Zambrano’s best season came in 2004 when at the age of 23 he posted a 16-8 record and a 2.75 ERA for Chicago.

Philadelphia goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov will not be available to members of the media the day before and the day of Flyer’s games, according to reports from NBC Sports.

In response to the recent announcement, the Philadelphia chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association has filed a complaint which could mean fines for the Flyers organization for failing to give reporters adequate player access.

It also appears that this new Bryzaglov interview policy will be in effect during HBO’s 24/7 documentary leading up to the Winter Classic featuring the Rangers and the Flyers. Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia’s Tim Panaccio tweets the no access rule will not go over well with HBO, as the 24/7 feature aims to showcase professional hockey with an unprecedented level of transparency.

Bryzgalov has a reputation for being brutally honest in his interviews. His most recent post-game interview showcased a seemingly dejected Bryzgalov, who claimed he had no answers for fans after his poor performance in a high-scoring 9-8 loss against the Winnipeg Jets. There is speculation that this interview led to the newly imposed no media policy for the goalie.

This season Bryzgalov has a 4-4-1 record with a 3.16 goals against average and an .880 save percentage.

The New York Mets will adjust spacious Citi Field to bring the fences closer to the plate, according to NBC Sports.

Citi Field has served as the home of the Mets since the beginning of the 2009 season. The $900 million stadium was built with much fan-fare to replace the Mets’ first home, Shea Stadium. However the dimensions of the field as well as the park’s wind patterns are attributed to a massive power cut-off over the last three seasons for the Mets.

According to STATS LLC, the park ranked dead last in home runs in Major League Baseball during its three seasons of use. Currently the left, center, and right field fences sit 335, 408, and 330 feet away respectively, while the power alleys (left and right-center field) are 384 and 415 feet away from home plate.

The proposed changes will lower the 16-foot fence in left field and will move the walls in by as much as 12 feet.

The New York Rangers have placed forward Sean Avery on re-entry waivers, according to ESPN New York. This move could signal the return of the 31-year-old NHL star to the Rangers lineup.

The Rangers must wait until noon on Tuesday to see if Avery clears waivers. He went unclaimed when he was placed on waivers earlier this month before the Rangers stint opening the season overseas in Sweden. At the time, Avery told ESPN New York he doubted he would ever wear a Rangers uniform again.

The move comes as the Rangers are struggling on ice with a 3-3-3 record and suffered a loss in their long awaited home opener at the newly renovated Madison Square Garden this past Thursday.

The controversial agitator and fan favorite had been playing for the club’s AHL team in Hartford. In his two minor league appearances this season Avery performed well, posting a game-winning goal in a shootout and a game sealing empty net goal.

The Mexican Primera Division soccer club Jaguares has replaced their players’ name on the back of their jersey with their Twitter handle, Yahoo! Sports reports. The team is also promoting their beer sponsor’s Twitter handle on the jerseys.

The team claims the move was in interest of gaining more followers for the players and sponsor on the social media site. The newly fashioned jerseys feature the unique Twitter blue and the Twitter bird logo.

This is not the first social media related move in soccer jerseys. Valencia soccer club promoted their team’s official Twitter handle on the front of their jerseys because of the absence of a sponsor.

Derek Lowe has been traded from the Atlanta Braves to the Cleveland Indians, according to a Tweet from Sports Illustrated’s John Heyman.

According to Heyman, the Braves will likely still have to pay $10 million of Lowe’s $15 million salary in 2012. The team has reportedly received a minor-league pitcher in the deal.

Lowe signed a four-year $60 million deal with the Braves as a free-agent in 2009. The deal called for Lowe to earn $15 million each season.

Last year, despite being on a team that won 89 games, Lowe posted a league-high 17 losses while recording a 5.05 ERA in 34 starts. The previous season Lowe had 16 wins with a 4.00 ERA.

The Atlanta Braves have decided to pick up their 2012 club option for Eric Hinske, according to a tweet from their official account. The club will also reportedly decline Nate McLouth’s option.

Hinske will now earn $1.5 million for 2012 after making $1.35 million in 2011. The Braves had the choice to buyout his contract for $100,000.

The 34-year-old utility man hit .233/.311/.403 with 10 home runs and 28 RBI in 264 plate appearances for the Braves this year. While his bat is not as potent as it once was earlier in his career, Hinske has provided defensive versatility by playing five different positions for Atlanta over the past two seasons.

The Braves bought out McLouth’s contract for $1.25 million. Had they exercised his club option, they would have been forced to pay the veteran outfielder $10.65 million. The 30-year-old hit .228/.344/.333 in 81 games for the Braves this season. The former All-Star managed to hit just .190/.298/.322 in 2010 for Atlanta.

McLouth’s best season came in 2008 when he hit .276/.356/.497 with 26 home runs a league leading 46 doubles.

TMZ is reporting that Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries will file for divorce this morning. The two had been married for just 72 days.

Kardashian and Humphries will not seek annulment, according to reports. The reason cited for divorce is “irreconcilable differences.”

The divorce announcement comes after reports have surfaced that E! Network initially tried to set up Kardashian with a New York area professional sports star in time for the Kim and Kourtney Take New York spin off.

CBS reports that Kris Humphries was apparently not the first choice for the 30-year-old Kardashian, who initially was interested in 23-year-old Danilo Gallinari, then of the Knicks. Galinari apparently was interested in meeting Kim Kardashian, but did not want to become a reality TV star. He was later traded to the Nuggets in the blockbuster deal that moved Carmelo Anthony to New York.

The media frenzy that swarmed the couple earned them millions of dollars and viewers. By selling the photos from the wedding to People Magazine and hosting a two-day wedding special on E! the Kardashian family earned approximately $18 million.

The date of separation will be listed as October 31, 2011. The couple had signed a prenuptial agreement.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell tweets that the NHL will become the first major professional sports league to secure a title sponsor for its All-Star game.  This season’s NHL All-Star Game, taking place on Jan. 29, will be called the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game.

The Ottawa Senators will be hosting the exhibition game for the first time.

Tim Hortons is a large restaurant chain serving both the United States and Canada opened by a former NHL player by the same name. Horton played defenseman for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres until his death in 1974.

Following a Tebow-led 45-10 blowout loss against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Denver Broncos head coach John Fox says, “It’s too early to say” who he will start against the Raiders next week, NFL.com reports.

The Denver Broncos have faced a quarterback controversy this season, with many calls for Tebow to be the starter.

Last week, Tebow started against the struggling Miami Dolphins and led his team to a thrilling overtime victory. He threw for 161 yards, two touchdowns and held a passer rating of 91.7. The start against the Detroit Lions showed a distinctly different Tim Tebow, who threw for one touchdown, one interception and a held passer rating of 56.8.

The second-year quarterback has faced media scrutiny and criticism throughout the season. With his great success in college football, the two-time BCS National Championship and 2007 Heisman Trophy winner has yet to solidify himself as an NFL starter.

The Cleveland Indians exercised their 2012 club option on starting pitcher Fausto Carmona, according to a tweet from the team’s official Twitter account. The team has also, as expected, declined the 2012 option on former All-Star outfielder Grady Sizemore.

Carmona’s option will pay him $7 million for the 2012 season, compared to $6.1 million which he earned in 2011. The Indians also have a $9 million option for the starter in 2013. The 27-year-old went 7-15 for Cleveland with a 5.25 ERA in 32 starts. The previous season Carmona was selected to the All-Star team and posted a 13-14 record with a 3.77 ERA in 33 starts.

Carmona signed the four-year deal after the 2007 season when he posted a 19-8 record with a 3.06 ERA.

The Indians decision to buyout Sizemore’s $8.5 million contract for $500,000 had been previously reported. The 29-year-old outfielder, who has struggled to stay healthy over the past several seasons, will now be a free agent.

In a recent interview with Andrea Kremer of the NFL Network, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb said that the way he was handled with the Washington Redskins was “disrespectful and disgraceful,” reports the Washington Post.

” Kremer: But even your longtime agent said the way that Shanahan handled you was “disrespectful and disgraceful.”

 McNabb: Well, I mean, it speaks for itself.

 Kremer: What are your thoughts on that?

 McNabb: Disrespectful and disgraceful.

 Kremer: What was disrespectful and disgraceful?

 McNabb: No one needs to know on the outside what’s going on in the building. None of it needs to be played out in the media. You go to practice, you have a conversation with somebody in the morning, all of the sudden later that afternoon you basically hear the whole conversation that was played out behind closed doors, that’s handled unprofessionally.”

McNabb was benched by the Washington Redskins in his only year with the team in 2010. In 13 games with Washington, he had thrown for 3,337 yards and 14 touchdowns while giving up 15 interceptions. The 34-year-old was benched after just six games this season after being acquired by the Minnesota Vikings.

The Washington Nationals have officially announced today that they will exercise the option on manager Davey Johnson’s contract for the 2012 season, the team said in a statement.

“After a series of discussions, it became obvious that the Nationals would be best served if Davey Johnson would continue as manager,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said in a statement. “Davey’s remarkable connection to the clubhouse and D.C. community during the season’s final three months was well received. His baseball acumen coupled with a proper off-season of planning, including a full regiment of Spring Training, should put our players in a position to succeed in 2012.”

Johnson took over the youthful Nationals mid-season in 2011 after incumbent manager Jim Riggleman suddenly resigned due to a contract dispute. The 68-year-old, who had previously served as an advisor to the club, helped lead the team to a 40-43 record in the 80 games he managed.

The Nationals finished the season with a 80-81 record, marking their second best record in the franchise’s short history. Washington also finished the season strong, winning eight-of-their-final ten games, which was second only to the Texas Rangers who finished the season by winning nine-of-their-final 10 games.

Johnson is best known for leading the 1986 New York Mets to a World Series championship over the Boston Red Sox. In his career he has posted a 1188-931 record as a manager.

The Detroit Red Wings have agreed to terms with defenseman Niklas Kronwall on a seven-year deal, according to a tweet from the team’s official account.

The Swedish seven-year veteran has gained a reputation for his powerful on ice presence and his open ice hits. The reliable stay-at-home defenseman regularly averages over 20 minutes per game and boasts a career +/- of +52.

With the potential retirement of Red Wings captain and fellow Swede and defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, who is in his 20^th season, the Red Wings have secured a force in Kronwall on the blueline many seasons to come. Kronwall’s current contract was set to expire after this season.

St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has announced his retirement, according to a tweet from Major League Baseball.

The three-time World Series champ had been reportedly mulling the idea of retirement throughout the season, and would never rule out the option when asked by reporters. La Russa shared a mutual option with St. Louis entering 2012.

“I have an issue with me answering any speculation because it’s exactly the opposite of what the club should be getting from a guy who is making out the lineup,” La Russa told reporters in September when asked about his future.

The 67-year-old most recently helped the Cardinals defeat the Texas Rangers in seven games to give the Cardinals their 11^th World Series title.

In 33 years as an MLB manager La Russa posted a career 2728-2365 record between his work with the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals.

Following Sunday’s loss, members of the Jacksonville Jaguars called out players from the Houston Texans for their dirty style of play, NBC Sports reports.

Jaguars DT Terrance Knighton didn’t want to name names, but told the Houston Chronicle ““It was just the dirty stuff they were doing. I don’t want to get into specifics; I just don’t like them. . . and I have no respect for them at all.”

Defensive end Jeremy Mincey offered more about the Texans dirty play, claiming “[he] was on the ground, and some guy stepped on [his] head.”

This is not the first time the Texans have been called out for cheap shots by another NFL team. In the Texans’ win over the Titans last week, they were accused of targeting the knees of the defensive line.

This season the Texans are 5-3 earning them the top spot in the AFC South.

At the Phoenix Coyotes’ Halloween party, hard-hitting NHL star Raffi Torres dressed up as Jay-Z and his wife, as a pregnant Beyonce, Yahoo! Sports reports. The photo was acquired from a tweet by fellow Coyotes teammate Paul Bissionette.

There has been some outrage expressed, claiming the costume is racially insensitive, due to Torres’ use of “blackface.”

Bissonette quickly responded via Twitter to the outcry saying:

“As far as everyone trying to call ‘Racism’ because Raffi dressed up like Jay-Z can simmer down. He’s a huge Jay-Z fan.”

Torres, who is the first player of Mexican and Peruvian descent in the NHL has also faced reportedly dealt with racism. At a young age, Torres’ mother was told her son should be “selling tacos” instead of playing on ice according to The Columbus Dispatch.

Torres is also known for his controversial and aggressive on ice play, most recently his hard hit on Chicago Blackhawk Brent Seabrook in the 2011 NHL Playoffs. The NHL decided not to fine or suspend Torres for that play.

Detroit Lions star defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has been granted a meeting with the NFL Tuesday in New York to discuss the fines and penalties he has received from the league this year, according to Fox Sports. Suh reportedly requested the meeting himself.

“To me, it’s just an opportunity to go out there and have good dialogue and see what I can take from that meeting,” Suh told reporters after the Lions’ 45-10 victory over the Denver Broncos yesterday.

“If it’s nothing, then it’s nothing. If it’s something good, then it’s something good.”

The 6’4”, 307 pound defensive stopper will reportedly ask for more clarity from the league on why he has been fined as frequently as he has this season. He will also attempt to convince league officials why he believes he shouldn’t be receiving such penalties at all, Fox reports.

Suh, 24, has been one of the best defensive linemen in the game since entering the league in 2010. Last season he recorded 66 tackles and 10 sacks en route to being named the NFL’s Rookie of the Year. So far this season Suh has collected 24 tackles and three sacks.

His physical style of play, however, has not come without controversy. Suh reportedly has been levied three personal fouls through eight games this season, and was most notably fined $20,000 by the league for a pre-season hit on Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton.

St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said Sunday that the team will exercise Yadier Molina’s option, according to MLB.com. The decision is expected to officially be made Monday.

The option will earn Molina $7 million in 2012, and there is a $750,000 buyout clause. It will also mark the final year of Molina’s contract, which he signed in 2008.

Molina, 29, had one of his best offensive years in 2011, hitting .305 with 14 homeruns and 65 RBI.

The Boston Red Sox have set their first two interviews with Philadelphia Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin and Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum, according to an MLB.com report. Mackanin will be brought into Fenway park Monday to begin the interview process, with Sveum coming later in the week.

Both men have been interim managers in the past, and Sveum was the Red Sox’s third base coach in 2004-05. Mackanin acted as a manager in Pittsburgh after Lloyd McClendon was fired in 2005, and in Cincinnati after Jerry Narron was let go in 2007.

Sveum has experience in Boston, and with that, relationship with a few of the players, including team captain Jason Varitek. He was named Baseball America’s Top Managerial Prospect in 2003.

There is no timetable for when a hire could be made, and it is believed that Boston will bring in at least one more candidate.

The Boston Red Sox have confirmed that they have agreed to pick up Marco Scutaro’s 2012 option for $6 million. The news was first reported by Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald.

This is effectively the first move for GM Michael Cherington, who took over the club after Theo Epstein left for Chicago.

Scutaro hit .299 in 113 games with the Red Sox. His numbers are down a slightly from the previous three seasons, when he split time between Boston and Toronto.

The San Francisco Giants have reportedly locked up a second left-handed relief pitcher, as they have exercised Jeremy Affeldt’s $5 million club option for 2012. They reportedly re-signed Javier Lopez earlier Sunday.

Like Lopez, Affeldt has been an effective reliever for the Giants. Much of their success has come from their ability to keep the ball on the ground, as they were both among league leaders in ground ball outs.

After coming up with the Kansas City Royals as a starter in 2002, Affeldt has pitched for the Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds prior to joining the Giants as a reliever in 2009.

Affeldt finished 2011 with a 2.63 ERA in just over 61 innings pitched.

New York Yankees starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia will opt out of his contract and become a free agent, according to Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman. Sabathia had signed a 7-year deal prior to the 2009 season worth $161 million.

Though the Yankees are believed to be the leaders for Sabathia, other teams will likely become involved if he opts out by the Monday deadline. New York has reportedly offered Sabathia a new contract, though details were not disclosed. The lefty’s current contract is worth $92 million over the next four years.

Sabathia has 64 wins as a Yankees over three years, and 183 overall with a career 3.51 ERA and 2099 strikeouts. He finished 2011 with 19 wins and is a candidate for the Cy Young Award.

Detroit Lions LB Stephen Tulloch has turned a relatively common play into an Internet sensation. After sacking Denver Broncos’ QB Tim Tebow, Tulloch imitated Tebow’s kneeling moment of reflection from a week ago.

Known for his devout religious beliefs, Tebow fell to a knee last week to reflect on the Broncos improbable comeback victory over the Miami Dolphins. Since then, a mini Internet craze was born, as “tebowing” has swept the nation.

Tebow is making just his second start of the season for the Broncos after supplanting previous starter Kyle Orton in Week 5.

Javier Lopez, a left-handed reliever, has agreed to re-sign with the San Francisco Giants, sources have told the Associated Press. The club will reportedly pay Lopez $8.5 million over two years. Lopez was set to become a free agent if the Giants would not have signed him.

Lopez, 34, came over from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2010 and was instrumental in the Giants’ World Series run. Since his acquisition, Lopez has appeared in 97 games, going 7-2 with a 2.38 ERA.

In 2011, Lopez made just under $2.4 million and came up two innings short of 55 innings pitched, which would have garnered him a $25,000 bonus.