WACO, Texas — The NCAA put Baylor on three years of probation after an investigation turned up hundreds of impermissible telephone calls and text messages sent to prep recruits by coaches and assistants on the basketball teams.

The violations were considered to be major infractions, and they were announced less than a week after the Lady Bears won the national championship with the first 40-0 season in NCAA history.

Still, it could have been much worse for Baylor. All of the penalties were proposed by the school and accepted by the NCAA after a review of nearly 900,000 phone and text message records found that 738 texts and 528 calls were against the rules.

The NCAA said men's coach Scott Drew failed to monitor his program and will be suspended for two Big 12 games next season, in addition to recruiting restrictions. Women's coach Kim Mulkey also received recruiting restrictions.

WASHINGTON — Steroid use shouldn't keep baseball's best sluggers and pitchers out of the Hall of Fame, the head of the players' union said.Michael Weiner told the National Press Club he thinks the Hall “is for the best baseball players that have ever played.” The executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association also said he thinks Pete Rose should be in the Hall despite Rose's history of gambling — just as team executives aren't barred for engaging in collusion against the players in the 1980s.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Ian Kinsler and the Texas Rangers finalized a $75 million, five-year contract through 2017 that locks up another one of the team's key players and makes the leadoff hitter one of the best-paid second basemen.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Top prospect Nerlens Noel announced he’s joining Kentucky, bolstering the Wildcats’ hopes of defending their recent national championship and finishing with a fourth consecutive No. 1 recruiting class.The 6-foot-10 center from the Tilton School in New Hampshire selected the Wildcats over Syracuse and Georgetown.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tiger Woods is taking a three-week break before returning to golf at the Wells Fargo Championship.Woods announced he will resume an up-and-down season May 3-6 at Quail Hollow, where he won in 2007. He also committed to The Players Championship the following week. A year ago, he injured his left Achilles tendon and withdrew after nine holes at TPC Sawgrass. Woods missed the next three months.