Arizona

Righthander Brandon McCarthy reached agreement with the Diamondbacks on a $15.5 million, 2-year contract, according to a source. The deal is pending a physical, which will be especially important for McCarthy, who was Oakland's opening day starter last season. McCarthy was hit in the right side of the head by a line drive off the bat of the Los Angeles Angels' Erick Aybar on Sept. 5. The 29-year-old pitcher sustained an epidural hemorrhage, brain contusion and skull fracture, then underwent a 2-hour surgery.

NASHVILLE , Tenn. - Ruben Amaro Jr. is about 2 weeks away from the 3-year anniversary of what's likely the defining move of his tenure as Phillies general manager. In December 2009, Amaro ended his long, calculated pursuit of Roy Halladay by trading for the longtime Toronto ace. But in doing so, he made a companion deal with Seattle that sent Cliff Lee out west. Despite Halladay's prowess, the trade wasn't very popular with a fan base that saw Lee beat the Yankees twice in the World Series just 2 months earlier.

The Soul announced their Arena Football League schedule Tuesday, and the season opener is March 23 in Arizona. The home opener at the Wells Fargo Center is April 20 against the Cleveland Gladiators.   Home games, in capitals, will be played at the Wells Fargo Center. March 23    at Arizona Rattlers   9 p.m. BYE   April 6    at Orlando Predators   7:30 13    at Iowa Barnstormers   8:05 20    CLEVELAND GLADIATORS   7:05 27    JACKSONVILLE SHARKS   7:05   May 4    at Chicago Rush   8 11    PITTSBURGH POWER   7:05 18    ORLANDO PREDATORS   7:05 25    at Tampa Bay Storm   7:30   June 1    ARIZONA RATTLERS   7:05 8    NEW ORLEANS VOODOO   7:05 15    at Pittsburgh Power   7 22    IOWA BARNSTORMERS   7:05 29    at Cleveland Gladiators   7   July 6    CHICAGO RUSH   7:05 12    UTAH BLAZE   7:35 20    at San Jose SaberCats   10:30 27    at San Antonio Talons   8:30 Times are subject to change

THE SOUL'S 2013 schedule isn't particularly friendly, but it is sprinkled with some early intrigue. Philadelphia opens the season on the road with a rematch against Arizona, the team that rolled the Soul in the most recent AFL Championship Game. The March 23 game in Phoenix is followed by a bye and then games in 17 consecutive weeks as the AFL again will play an 18-game schedule. "The task of making a return to the ArenaBowl is always a difficult one, but one that we will be prepared to tackle," Soul coach Clint Dolezel said in a release.

PHOENIX - A search is under way after authorities say a man being held on attempted murder and robbery charges escaped from an Arizona jail. Maricopa County authorities say they've launched a manhunt for Adan Orduno Jr., 26, who is described by Sheriff Joe Arpaio as a violent "troublemaker. " Sheriff's spokesman Officer Christopher Hegstrom says Orduno was being housed in the county jail's psychiatric unit and was discovered missing just before 9 a.m. Sunday. Authorities originally thought Orduno might have been hiding somewhere at the sprawling south Phoenix jail, which also houses Arpaio's famous "tent city" lockup.

AVONDALE, Ariz. - When the fighting stopped, the oil had dried and the last of the wrecked cars had been towed away, Brad Keselowski found himself on the brink of a first Sprint Cup title for himself and team owner Roger Penske. Only he wasn't in a celebratory mood. He entered Sunday's race at Phoenix International Raceway trailing five-time champion Jimmie Johnson by seven points and had the better car all day. And moments after Keselowski raced his way into the lead, a blown tire caused Johnson to crash and take his battered car to the garage for repairs.

PEORIA, Ariz. - There is a sense of urgency, but, at the same time, patience is evident. While the Phillies deal with the revolving-door issue at third base, Cody Asche (ASH-ee) waits in the wings. There's a temptation to move Asche and other prospects through the organization quickly and address critical needs. Yet the Phillies brass realizes players such as Asche are not ready for the major leagues at this point and must bide their time. Though the organization remains cautious, Asche, at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, may not be far from claiming Citizens Bank Park as his summer residence.

The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired reliever Heath Bell and infielder Cliff Pennington in a pair of trades Saturday that sent outfielder Chris Young to the Oakland Athletics. Arizona obtained Pennington and minor-league infielder Yordy Cabrera from Oakland for Young and cash, then sent Cabrera to the Miami Marlins for Bell and cash. Earlier in the day, Arizona exercised a $6.5 million option on closer J.J. Putz. Arizona general manager Kevin Towers said Bell provides a righthanded power arm to help set up Putz and Pennington gives the team experience at shortstop and second base.

NICK FOLES normally strides into the Eagles' NovaCare practice facility sometime around 7 o'clock each morning. Once settled, his normal routine involves somewhere around 5 or 6 hours of studying, which surrounds a morning walk-through and an afternoon practice. Through his first 6 weeks as an NFL quarterback, Foles has relied on veterans Michael Vick and Trent Edwards and used his time to tackle the intricacies of Andy Reid's complicated offense. "I've studied so much since I got here that sometimes I feel like I'm back in school," Foles said last week as the Eagles prepared for the Lions.

THAT WOULD be State, as in Beavers, who are 4-0 for the first time since 2002, when they lost their next three and finished 8-5. Even in 2000, when they went 11-1, they lost their fifth game (33-30 at Washington). They haven't been 5-0 since 1939, when they lost their sixth game and ended up 9-1-1. The Beavers, after going 3-9 last season, were picked to finish last in the Pac-12 North. But Mike Riley, in his 12th season, might at least be strengthening his job security. Nobody's suggesting this team will make it to the Rose Bowl, something OSU's done only three times.