Right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka agreed to a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians on Sunday with an invitation to spring training.

Matsuzaka, who pitched for new Indians manager Terry Francona in Boston, must pass a physical for the deal to be finalized. Matsuzaka, 32, would get a $1.5 million, one-year contract if added to the 40-man roster and could earn $2.5 million in bonuses.

He was limited to 18 starts and 83 innings the last two seasons with the Red Sox after elbow surgery in 2011.

On Saturday, Cleveland signed first baseman-D.H. Jason Giambi to a minor league deal with an invite to camp. Giambi, 42, spent the past three-plus seasons filling a part-time role with Colorado. The former A's star will earn $750,000 if he makes the Indians.

  • Felix Hernandez is expected to be on the field with his teammates when Seattle opens spring training Tuesday in Peoria, Ariz. "Oh yeah, he'll be there," general manager Jack Zduriencik told the Seattle Times. An elbow issue that surfaced last week when Hernandez took a physical has put off any announcement of a contract extension for the Mariners ace while both sides figure out where to go from here.

  • Pitcher Francisco Liriano is guaranteed $1 million under his contract with Pittsburgh and can earn up to $13.75 million over two years if he pitches regularly and an injury to his non-throwing arm doesn't land him on the disabled list.

  • Outfielder Scott Hairston
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    and the Chicago Cubs finalized a $5.2 million, two-year contract.

    College football

    Joe Paterno's family released its response to Penn State's report on the Jerry Sandusky scandal, attacking Louis Freeh's conclusion that the late coach hid sex abuse allegations against his longtime assistant. In a report commissioned by the family, Dick Thornburgh wrote the investigation by Freeh resulted in a "rush to injustice."

    The Freeh report authorized by Penn State found Paterno and three ex-administrators covered up child sexual abuse allegations against Sandusky. Those findings last July were unsupported by the facts, the family critique said. Freeh called the critique self-serving. Sandusky, 69, was sentenced to at least 30 years in prison in October.

  • USC running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu was fired, coach Lane Kiffin confirmed. "We made the decision to go in a different direction," Kiffin said.

    Golf

    Rocco Mediate made a 4-foot birdie putt at No. 18 for a 1-under 71 and an Allianz Championship title in Boca Raton, Fla. He finished at 17-under 199 and became the 16th player to win in his Champions Tour debut. Tom Pernice Jr. (70) and Bernhard Langer (68) tied at 200.

  • Richard Sterne ran away with Joburg Open, winning by seven shots in Johannesburg. He shot an 8-under 64 to finish at 27-under 261.

    Tennis

    The United States was ouste in the first round of the Fed Cup, losing to host Italy 3-2 when top-ranked Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci beat Varvara Lepchenko and Liezel Huber 6-2, 6-2 in the doubles match in Rimini. The U.S. was without Serena and Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens because of injuries. Earlier in the day, Lepchenko beat Errani 7-5, 6-2, and Vinci stopped Jamie Hampton 6-2, 4-6, 6-1. Italy plays Czech Republic and Slovakia faces Russia in the semifinals in April.

  • Rafael Nadal lost to Horacio Zeballos 6-7 (2), 7-6 (6), 6-4 at the VTR Open in Vina Del Mar, Chile, settling for second place in his first tournament after being sidelined for seven months with a knee injury. Also, Nadal and Juan Monaco lost to Paolo Lorenzi and Potito Starace in the doubles final 6-2, 6-4.

    Soccer

    Manchester United (21-3-2) opened a 12-point lead over Manchester City by beating Everton 2-0. Ryan Giggs, 40, beat American goalie Tim Howard in the 13th minute to become the only person to score in every season of the English Premier League, which began in 1992-93.

  • Lionel Messi scored in his 13th straight Spanish league match, and first-place Barcelona (20-1-2) routed Getafe 6-1.

    Winter sports

    Lindsey Vonn, the four-time overall World Cup champion, had surgery in Vail, Colo., on her right knee after she shredded two ligaments in a crash last week at the world alpine championships in Austria. Dr. William Sterett didn't have a return date to skiing, but other doctors believe Vonn could be sidelined for up to eight months.

    Basketball

    Fans stormed the court and tore up seats during the Greek Cup final, and Athens police used stun grenades to gain order. The game was suspended for an hour before Panathinaikos beat Olympiakos 81-78 in front of nearly empty stands. The trouble began in the second quarter after a disputed foul call.

    Los Angeles Times contributed to this report.