Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval was hospitalized in Venezuela with an abdominal issue, according to the Twitter account of Michael Sandoval, his brother.

Michael Sandoval tweeted Pablo had been diagnosed with colitis but is expected to return to his Venezuelan League club soon. According to Navegantes del Magallanes' official twitter account, Sandoval could return to the team within 24 to 48 hours.

Sandoval, the 2012 World Series MVP, was named to Venezuela's provisional World Baseball Classic roster Thursday, along with second baseman Marco Scutaro and reliever Jose Mijares.

Ryan Vogelsong and Jeremy Affeldt will represent Team USA, and Angel Pagan and Javier Lopez are on Puerto Rico's roster. Giants closer Sergio Romo will represent Mexico, and Santiago Casilla is slated to pitch for the Dominican Republic, a team that will include A's pitcher Pedro Figueroa and ex-Giant Melky Cabrera.

The semifinals and championship of the WBC will be played at AT&T Park on March 17-19.

The U.S., managed by Joe Torre, opens against Mexico on March 8. Others on the U.S. roster include Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Braun, Giancarlo Stanton, David Wright and Joe Mauer.

  • The A's agreed to one-year contracts with catcher John Jaso ($1.8 million) and outfielder Seth Smith ($3,675,000), avoiding salary arbitration. Jaso was acquired Wednesday from Seattle. Also agreeing to one-year deals to avoid arbitration were Chicago Cubs starter
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    Matt Garza ($10.25 million), Washington reliever Drew Storen ($2.5 million), New York Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain ($1,875,000) and Boston catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia ($4.5 million).

  • Matt Harrison and Texas finalized a $55 million, five-year contract. He was 18-11 with a 3.29 ERA in 32 starts last year.

  • Closer Rafael Soriano signed a $28 million, two-year contract with Washington. He saved 42 games for the Yankees in 2012.

  • Boston and former Texas first baseman/catcher Mike Napoli agreed to a $5 million, one-year deal, according to a source. Napoli had agreed to a $39 million, three-year deal last month, subject to a physical. Boston became concerned about his hip.

  • Gio Gonzalez won the Warren Spahn Award as the top left-handed pitcher in 2012. He went 21-8 with a 2.89 ERA for Washington.

    College football

    Al Pacino will play Joe Paterno in a movie about the late Penn State coach. Producer Edward R. Pressman confirms Brian De Palma will direct "Happy Valley," the tentative title of the film, based on Joe Posnanski's best-selling book "Paterno."

  • Former Washington State and NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf was moved from a drug treatment center to the Montana State Prison for threatening a staff member and violating his treatment plan. Leaf was charged last spring with breaking into two houses and stealing prescription painkillers. His sentence called for spending nine months in a locked drug treatment facility as an alternative to prison. He's eligible for parole June 30.

    Cycling

    The 2014 Tour de France will begin in England. The first stage is from Leeds to Harrogate on July 5. The next day, riders travel from York to Sheffield. July 7, the race goes from Cambridge to London. The rest of the route will be unveiled Oct. 23.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.