Hunter is newest Angel in the outfield

The Los Angeles Angels, who have been trying to land another strong hitter to complement slugger Vladimir Guerrero for several years, agreed to a five-year, $90 million deal with free agent Torii Hunter, who hit .297 with 28 homers and drove in 107 runs for Minnesota this year. The deal is subject to Hunter passing a physical. A seven-time Gold Glove winner, the 32-year-old Hunter will be the everyday center fielder and hit in the middle of the lineup, making it tougher for opposing pitchers to pitch around Guerrero. Although Hunter's arrival seems to make last season's center fielder, Gary Matthews Jr., odd man out in an outfield with Guerrero in right and Garret Anderson in left, Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said it would give him more options.

Glen Hanlon was fired yesterday as coach of the NHL-worst Washington Capitals, with the team off to its slowest start in 26 years. Hanlon, in his fourth season, was replaced on an interim basis by Bruce Boudreau, the coach of the Hershey Bears, Washington's American Hockey League affiliate. He takes over a club that is 6-14-1 for 13 points, four fewer than any other team . . . Ottawa Senators forward Patrick Eaves will be sidelined indefinitely after injuring a shoulder Wednesday night against Buffalo . . . The Minnesota Wild claimed left wing Todd Fedoruk off reentry waivers from the Dallas Stars.

The 2009 America's Cup has been postponed because of an ongoing legal dispute between Golden Gate Yacht Club and two-time defending champion Alinghi's Societe Nautique de Geneve over the rules for the next race. Golden Gate Yacht Club, the home of BMW Oracle Racing, contends that Desafio Español's status as the official challenger - which allowed it to negotiate the format for the next America's Cup - is illegal. The Americans want the right to replace the Spanish syndicate and draw up new rules for the next regatta with Alinghi.

Mike Singletary is staying with the 49ers - for now. Singletary, San Francisco's assistant head coach, pulled himself from consideration for the Baylor head coaching opening. The Hall of Fame linebacker said he wasn't offered the job at his alma mater. "For me, it never got to that point," said Singletary, who met with Baylor officials for five hours Tuesday. Singletary is expected to be a candidate for NFL head coaching jobs in the offseason . . . Tennessee signed wide receiver Mike Williams. The Titans are the third NFL team for Williams, the 10th pick in the 2005 draft by Detroit.

England fired coach Steve McClaren, a day after failing to qualify for the 2008 European Championship by losing at home to Croatia. Football Association chairman Geoff Thompson said McClaren's contract had been terminated with immediate effect, along with that of assistant Terry Venables. Needing only a draw at Wembley to qualify for Euro 2008, England was beaten, 3-2, by Croatia Wednesday night. Croatia already had qualified, and the other spot from Group E went to Russia. It was the first time since the 1994 World Cup that England had failed to qualify for a major championship and first time since 1984 that the team will miss the Euros . . . Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum combined for an 11-under-par 61 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the World Cup of Golf in Shenzhen, China . . . A Superior Court jury has convicted a Southington, Conn., therapist of conspiracy charges in the 2003 attempted shooting and the 2002 beating of Celtics star Ray Allen's stepfather. Ernest Garlington, 39, who counseled at-risk youths in the Waterbury area, faces up to 65 years in prison after being convicted Wednesday of several crimes, including conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault. Prosecutors said Garlington and other men took part in the plots to attack psychologist Derek Hopson . . . Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford was cleared to play tomorrow against Oklahoma State. Bradford, the nation's top-rated passer, sustained a concussion last weekend at Texas Tech . . . The International Association of Athletics Federation will meet today in Paris to discuss Marion Jones's doping case, including whether to officially erase her Olympic and world championship results. Jones's relay teammates could also lose their medals.