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Pitcher Brandon Webb calls it a career

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Brandon Webb, who won the 2006 National League Cy Young Award but then developed chronic shoulder issues, pursued another comeback attempt but instead announced Monday that he was retiring from baseball at age 33.

The right-hander was one of the most dominant pitchers in the major leagues from 2005 to 2008. He was 70-37 with a 3.23 earned-run average during that span with the Arizona Diamondbacks and was selected to the All-Star team three times.

In 2006, he won the Cy Young Award after posting a 16-8 record and a 3.19 ERA. He combined to go 40-17 the following two seasons and finished second in the Cy Young voting in each of those seasons.

In 2009, Webb started on opening day but was removed after four innings because of a shoulder injury. The next day he was put on the disabled list. That would prove to be his last major league appearance.

The Texas Rangers took a chance with Webb and signed him to a one-year, $3-million deal in January 2011. But once again he would have a setback and underwent a second right rotator cuff surgery.

Webb retired with an 87-62 record and 3.27 ERA after seven seasons.

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The Oakland Athletics acquired infielder Jed Lowrie and right-hander Fernando Rodriguez from the Houston Astros for first baseman Chris Carter and two minor leaguers.

Right-hander Brad Peacock and catcher Max Stassi also went to Houston in the deal between franchises that will be playing in the same division for the first time following the Astros’ move from the NL Central to the AL West in 2013.

Lowrie batted .244 with 16 home runs and 42 RBIs in 97 games with Houston, sitting out two months because of ankle and thumb injuries. Despite the limited playing time, Lowrie tied for the fourth-most home runs among all shortstops last year.

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The Detroit Tigers agreed to a one-year, $6,725,000 contract with right-hander Max Scherzer and avoided salary arbitration.

Scherzer was 16-7 last season with a 3.74 ERA and struck out 231, a total that trailed only teammate Justin Verlander’s.

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Individual game tickets for the Angels will go on sale Saturday at 9 a.m. at the stadium ticket office, at (800) 745-3000, at Ticketmaster Ticket Centers and at angels.com.

ETC.

Galaxy’s Gonzalez is on U.S. roster

Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez was among 24 players named to the U.S. soccer team’s roster ahead of the final World Cup qualifier round, which begins Wednesday in Honduras.

The U.S. team trained in Miami on Monday morning before flying to San Pedro Sula for its first game in the six-team, 10-match Hexagonal stage of qualifying for Brazil 2014.

The U.S. must finish in the top three in the stage — which also includes Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Panama — to guarantee itself a place in Brazil.

Kevin Baxter

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Scottsdale, Ariz., police said Phoenix Suns forward Michael Beasley was cited last month on suspicion of speeding, driving on a suspended Arizona license and driving without a vehicle license plate or registration.

The Suns issued a statement saying they discussed the matter with Beasley “and at this time do not believe any further action by the club is warranted.”

A police report said Beasley was stopped Jan. 25 on suspicion of driving 71 mph in a 45-mph zone.

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The New York Rangers traded rugged forward Mike Rupp to the Minnesota Wild for forwards Darroll Powe and Nick Palmieri.

The Rangers have been looking for depth at forward to complement their top line of Rick Nash, Brad Richards and former Wild star Marian Gaborik.

New York is also dealing with the loss of captain Ryan Callahan, who is sidelined because of a dislocated shoulder.

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Walt Sweeney, a standout offensive lineman for the San Diego Chargers in the 1960s and 1970s, has died at 71.

The Chargers website says Sweeney died Saturday of pancreatic cancer.

Sweeney was a second-round pick from Syracuse in the 1963 AFL draft, and stayed with the Chargers through the 1970 NFL merger. He was eventually inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame.

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