Angels bring back Guerrero, Lackey

The Angels said yesterday they will exercise their 2009 options on outfielder Vladimir Guerrero and pitcher John Lackey, but will decline the option on outfielder Garret Anderson. The 32-year-old Guerrero, an eight-time All-Star who batted .303 with 27 homers and 91 RBIs in 2008, will earn $15 million next year. He had surgery on the medial meniscus in his left knee Oct. 10 but is expected to be ready for spring training. Lackey (12-5) will earn $9 million in 2009. The Angels could have bought out his contract for $500,000. The 36-year-old Anderson, whose option price was $14 million, will receive a $3 million buyout and become eligible for free agency. Anderson hit .293 with 15 homers and 84 RBIs in 145 games this season. The team also announced that 34-year-old outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. had surgery to repair the patella tendon in his left knee, and catcher Mike Napoli will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Friday - his 27th birthday . . . Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik has started his remodel of the franchise, removing Bob Fontaine as vice president of scouting. Fontaine came to Seattle with former general manager Bill Bavasi. He served as scouting director since December 2003 and previously worked with the White Sox, Padres, Expos, and Angels . . . Former Indians and Yankees scout Jim Benedict was hired by the Pirates as a special assistant to general manager Neal Huntington . . . The Athletics announced that first baseman Daric Barton had surgery on his right hip, and lefthanded starter Greg Smith had an operation to remove loose bodies from the elbow on his throwing arm . . . The Astros are freezing 2009 ticket prices at 2008 levels. The ticket prices at Minute Maid Park will range from $7 for adults and $1 for children in the upper deck to $48 for dugout-level seats.

Officers who responded to Isiah Thomas's home after his apparent overdose on sleeping pills say they found a man passed out on the floor, gave him oxygen until an ambulance arrived, and were given a bottle of prescription pills, said Harrison, N.Y., Police Chief David Hall. Authorities have not identified Thomas as the victim, but a person familiar with the case, speaking on condition of anonymity because of privacy concerns, has confirmed it was the former NBA star and Knicks coach. Hall criticized Thomas for not acknowledging he had been treated for a sleeping pill overdose and for claiming it was his 17-year-old daughter, Lauren, who had a medical issue. "As parents, you try to protect your kids; you don't say they did something when it was you who did it," Hall said. "We know the difference between a 47-year-old man and a teenager." . . . Jazz point guard Deron Williams will miss tonight's season opener against the Nuggets because of a second-degree sprain in his left ankle. Forward Matt Harpring also will miss the game because of an infection incurred during ankle surgery this summer . . . Jason Caffey, who won two NBA championships with the Bulls, had his bankruptcy case dismissed by a Mobile, Ala., judge, clearing the way for several women to sue him for thousands of dollars in child support. Caffey has 10 children with eight women.

Roger Federer ended speculation over his Davis Cup plans and announced he will play for Switzerland against the United States next March. It will be the first time in five years the 13-time Grand Slam singles winner has broken up his early-season schedule for the Davis Cup. "I am excited to once again join my fellow Swiss teammates, who I have a great friendship with," Federer said on his website. "I look forward to what I am sure will be a tough weekend." The World Group first-round series will be played March 6-8 in the US at a venue to be chosen by the US Tennis Association in the next six weeks . . . Seventh-seeded Andy Roddick beat Feliciano Lopez, 6-3, 6-4, in the second round of the Paris Masters, boosting his chances of qualifying for next month's Masters Cup. He is chasing a spot for the season-ending, eight-man Masters Cup in Shanghai. Roddick was sixth in the standings entering the tournament.

Former Bruin and current Harvard coach Ted Donato, who played 13 seasons in the NHL, has been selected to the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame along with 10 other inductees. Donato starred at Catholic Memorial High and Harvard, where he ranks 12th all time in scoring with 50 goals and 94 assists. Also among those being inducted are former Bruins Hall of Famer Milt Schmidt, former Celtics owner and Bruins president Walter A. Brown (posthumously), and ex-US women's team star Stephanie O'Sullivan . . . Islanders defenseman Andy Sutton, who missed the first eight games of the season following hand surgery, is expected to play tomorrow at Philadelphia . . . Hunter Mahan beat Ryder Cup teammate Anthony Kim on the second playoff hole to win the Kiwi Challenge in Wellington, New Zealand. Mahan shot 7-under 65 on the Cape Kidnappers course on New Zealand's North Island to tie Kim at 7 under after the second and final round of the four-man tournament. Mahan earned $1.5 million for the victory. Brandt Snedeker (71) finished third, one stroke back, and Adam Scott (75) was fourth . . . Erik Compton, who advanced through the first stage of PGA Tour qualifying five months after his second heart transplant, has been given an exemption to play in the Children's Miracle Network Classic at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Nov. 6-9. The tour will allow Compton to use a cart during the event . . . Diego Maradona has been asked to coach Argentina's national team by Julio Grondona, head of the country's soccer association. Maradona would not confirm whether he accepted the position. "We have to keep talking," Maradona said. "There are things to resolve. This is just beginning."