PITTSBURGH — Left-handed reliever Jack Taschner has signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and will be invited to spring training.

The 31-year-old Taschner was 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA and a .317 opponents batting average in 24 games with Philadelphia last season. He was 9-5 with a 5.00 ERA in 202 appearances the last five seasons, spending the 2005-08 seasons with the Giants.

Taschner is among six non-roster players invited to spring training by Pittsburgh. The Pirates are seeking relievers after releasing closer Matt Capps last week.

The dark shadow that performance-enhancing drugs continue to cast on baseball was picked as the sports Story of the Year by members of The Associated Press, even surpassing the Tiger Woods sex scandal.Some of the biggest names in the game — Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and David "Big Papi" Ortiz — were linked to performance-enhancing drugs this year, which swayed editors to pick the steroid scandal over Woods' fall from grace.In fact, the Woods scandal finished fifth in the top story voting. Jimmie Johnson's historic fourth straight NASCAR championship was second.

NEW YORK — TCU's Gary Patterson was voted The Associated Press College Football Coach of the Year for leading the Horned Frogs to a perfect regular season and their first BCS appearance.No. 3 TCU plays No. 6 Boise State (13-0) in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 4.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Pau Gasol agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers. Gasol's deal extends through the 2013-14 season, and could be worth more than $60 million depending on future salary caps.

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball ensured its first decade of labor peace since the 1960s by agreeing to a five-year contract with umpires that runs through 2014.The deal is subject to ratification by owners and umpires next month.