MLB

– The Twins have signed C Joe Mauer to an eight-year/$184M contract extension. The Saint Paul native gets the fourth biggest pact in the history of the sport — only Yankees’ SS Derek Jeter and 3B Alex Rodriguez (twice) signed larger deals. Mauer, 27 in April, won the AL MVP Award last season on the strength of a .365/.444/.587 batting line to go along with a career high 28 homers, 96 RBI and 1.031 OPS. He’s already won three batting titles and has consecutive Gold Glove Awards under his belt. Let’s see if he can maintain it.

– Yankees’ 3B Alex Rodriguez is scheduled to meet with federal investigators probing a Canadian physician on Friday. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Buffalo and likely will include FBI agents and members of other federal agencies, the person said Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity because no public statements were authorized.

Rodriguez said March 1 he had been contacted by investigators and intended to cooperate. He was told from the outset that federal investigators view him as a witness in the case, the person said.

Dr. Anthony Galea said during a March 8 interview with The Associated Press that he treated the New York Yankees third baseman last year and prescribed anti-inflammatories but never gave him or any other athlete human growth hormone. Other major leaguers, including the Mets’ SS Jose Reyes and OF Carlos Beltran, have been contacted by federal investigators about Galea. Rockies’ RHP Huston Street has said investigators might want to talk to him about the case. Reyes and Beltran have said they did not receive HGH from Galea.

Galea, who also has treated golfer Tiger Woods, was charged by Canadian authorities in December with selling an unapproved drug known as Actovegin. He also was charged with conspiracy to import an unapproved drug, conspiracy to export a drug and smuggling goods into Canada by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Galea was arrested October 15 after a search warrant was executed at the Institute of Sports Medicine Health and Wellness Centre near Toronto.

Vials and ampules containing HGH and Actovegin, a drug extracted from calf’s blood, were found in a car driven by Mary Anne Catalano, according to the RCMP and U.S. federal court documents. Catalano told American authorities at the border in Buffalo that she knew the drugs were illegal and that she was transporting them for her employer. Galea told the AP during the March 8 interview that Catalano was carrying only a minuscule amount of HGH and that it was for his own use.

NHL

– Flyers’ F Jeff Carter (broken left foot) will miss the next three-to-four weeks.

NFL

– The player rep for free agent WR Terrell Owens insisted Monday that he’s had “active” discussions with three teams interested in his client. Agent Drew Rosenhaus said that a deal might have to wait until just before camp, but T.O. will report in shape. Rosenhaus added that there’s “no set number” as to contract terms. The Redskins, Seahawks, Patriots and Raiders are rumoured to be interested.

– The Jets have re-signed RFA WR Braylon Edwards to a one-year/$6.1M contract. The tender is a 20% raise on Edwards’ 2009 salary. The 27-year-old finished last season with just 45 catches for 680 yards (15.1 YPC) and four TDs. A lot of money for someone coming off such a bad season.

– NFL commissioner Roger Goodell indicated Monday that he plans to meet with Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger about the sexual assault allegations against him. “At the appropriate time, I’ll be meeting with Ben. The most important thing is we take the issue seriously. We are concerned that Ben continues to put himself in this position.” Roethlisberger appears to be at risk of league discipline, even though charges have yet to be filed.

WWE

– Almost 3 years after the car wreck that landed him in jail for and his passenger brain damaged, Nick Hogan is returning to the world of competitive drifting. Hogan will be participating in the newly formed XDC (Xtreme Drifting Circuit) drift series that pits professionals against amateurs. He’ll be driving a black, turbocharged Nissan 350Z. XDC sent out a press release on Monday announcing:

Nick Hogan is confirmed to compete in the 2010 XDC tour, returning to the sport in a turbocharged black Nissan 350Z. Hogan will use this season to promote his charity, Keep It On The Track, which promotes safe driving and seat belt use across the country. Hogan is scheduled to be at all six XDC events, but may not compete until round two in Las Vegas if his car is not ready by March 20.

– WWE Hall of Famer Baron Mikel Scicluna passed away Saturday following a long bout with cancer. He was 80 years old.

NBA

– F Zydrunas Ilgauskas  will consider a couple of different offers from the Cleveland Cavaliers and choose the one he wants Tuesday morning, his agent said Monday night. Ilgauskas has the option of signing for just the remainder of this season or adding extra years to the deal. Earlier in the day, Herb Rudoy said he wasn’t interested in any deals beyond this season. He wanted Ilgauskas to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Ilgauskas, though, is contemplating signing with Cleveland beyond this year.

– Cavaliers’ F LeBron James is close to re-signing a deal with Nike. James’ original seven-year contract that paid him in excess of $100M with bonuses is set to expire in a couple of months.

– Rockets’ F Shane Battier (knee) will miss the next two weeks.

– The Warriors have signed F Reggie Williams for the remainder of the season.

– The Wizards have signed G Shaun Livingston for the remainder of the season.

VoV

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