Pirates demote Hansen to Triple A

Righthander Craig Hansen, struggling with his control since being traded to Pittsburgh last month, was optioned to Triple A Indianapolis yesterday. Hansen, obtained from Boston in the three-team trade that sent outfielder Jason Bay to the Red Sox July 31, was 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA in nine games with Pittsburgh . . . The St. Louis Cardinals added a power bat to their bench, purchasing Josh Phelps's contract from Triple A Memphis. Phelps, 30, was batting .291 with 31 home runs and 97 RBIs. He has been stuck in the minors because his best position is first base, where the Cardinals have Albert Pujols.

Golden State guard Monta Ellis will be sidelined for at least three months after severely spraining his ankle during an offseason workout. Ellis, who got a six-year contract extension worth $66 million July 24, sprained his ankle and tore a deltoid ligament while working out in his hometown of Jackson, Miss., last Thursday, said Chris Mullin, the Warriors' top basketball executive. Ellis underwent surgery in Birmingham, Ala., yesterday to repair the ligament. "He's one of our main guys, but we don't think it's a season-ending injury," Mullin said . . . Former University of Connecticut standout Svetlana Abrosimova signed with the WNBA's Connecticut Sun (16-10). The former Minnesota Lynx player averaged 7 points during the Olympics, helping Russia to a bronze medal . . . Oklahoma City's new NBA franchise will unveil its name and colors on its website and at a downtown event Sept. 3. Television station KOCO has reported the name will be Thunder.

The Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors will travel to China in October to play two exhibition games, the NBA and Chinese Basketball Association announced. The NBA China Games tip off with the Bucks and Warriors meeting Oct. 15 in Guangzhou and Oct. 18 at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena as part of Sichuan Province earthquake relief efforts . . . Oregon officials say an autopsy shows former Portland Trail Blazers center Kevin Duckworth, 44, died of "hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure."

The Colorado Avalanche signed Joe Sakic to a one-year, $6 million contract after he decided to play a 20th season in the NHL rather than call it a career. "Ultimately it came down to the fact that I still enjoy playing and competing," the 39-year-old captain said in a statement. Sakic was coming off his most difficult season, having missed 38 games following hernia surgery before returning to the lineup to help the team reach the playoffs after a one-year absence.

NASCAR placed points leaders Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards on probation for the next six races in the Sprint Cup Series for their on-track bumpings last Saturday at the conclusion of the race at Bristol Motor Speedway. That means NASCAR will be keeping close tabs on their actions . . . Joey Logano will drive in seven Sprint Cup races this fall as a tuneup before the 18-year-old star begins his full-time ride at Joe Gibbs Racing. Logano, who will replace two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart in the No. 20 Toyota in 2009, will make his debut Sept. 6 at Richmond International Raceway. Among his other races is the New Hampshire Motor Speedway event Sept. 14.

Dara Torres, the US swimmer who won three silver medals in Beijing at age 41, had surgery on her right shoulder in Boynton Beach, Fla. Dr. Joseph Chalal shaved the outer end of Torres's collarbone during the arthroscopic procedure . . . Eric Shanteau, 24, had surgery to remove a cancerous testicle after fulfilling his goal of swimming in the Olympics. The breaststroker underwent the operation in Atlanta, said his agent, Evan Morgenstein. Shanteau was diagnosed in June. Even though doctors normally would perform immediate surgery, he was cleared to compete . . . Mike Candrea, the Arizona softball coach whose bid to lead the United States to a second gold medal ended with a loss to Japan in the Beijing title game, stepped down as coach of the national team. Candrea had guided the Americans since 2002 and went 17-1 in Olympic play . . . Jorge Barcellos, the coach who led Brazil's women's national team to a silver medal, will lead the St. Louis team in the new Women's Professional Soccer league.

Oscar De La Hoya has nearly wrapped up a deal to finish his boxing career Dec. 6 against Filipino star Manny Pacquiao, two people with knowledge of the negotiations told the AP. The unnamed sources said the stalled talks recently revived when the sides found an acceptable way to split the possible $100 million in revenue. An announcement is expected today.