Tigers release Sheffield and his 499 HRs

The Detroit Tigers released nine-time All-Star Gary Sheffield on Tuesday, leaving him without a team as he closes in on becoming the 25th player to reach 500 home runs. The World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies, however, quickly called the slugger to see if there was a fit.

“I wouldn’t say I’m shocked, but I am surprised,” Sheffield told the Oakland (Mich.) Press. “To do this when somebody is one home run away . . .

“I don’t know how to react to it.”

Any team can sign Sheffield for the $400,000 minimum, with Detroit paying the rest of his $14-million salary.

Chipper Jones and the Atlanta Braves agreed to a $42-million, three-year contract extension through 2012, a deal with an option that could become worth up to $61 million over four seasons. . . . Geoff Jenkins, who had a key hit for Philadelphia in the resumption of Game 5 of last year’s World Series, was released by the Phillies, who also named Chan Ho Park their fifth starter.

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PRO FOOTBALL

Cutler on block

The Denver Broncos said they will grant Jay Cutler his request and try to trade the disgruntled Pro Bowl quarterback. There is no shortage of teams interested in the 25-year-old quarterback whose unhappy off-season began with Mike Shanahan’s firing and has haunted new Coach Josh McDaniels’ budding regime.

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen released a statement saying both he and McDaniels had been unable to get Cutler to call them back over the last 10 days. Bowlen said he spoke with Cutler’s agent, Bus Cook, on Tuesday and came away convinced “that Jay no longer has any desire to play for the Denver Broncos.”

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TENNIS

Federer, Nadal win

Serving at 2-2, Roger Federer overcame eight break points in a remarkable sequence to take the lead for good, and he beat American Taylor Dent, 6-3, 6-2, at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla.

Second-seeded Federer will play Andy Roddick in a quarterfinal tonight. The No. 5-seeded Roddick also left the baseline behind as he beat Gael Monfils, 7-6 (2), 6-4.

In the last match, top-seeded Rafael Nadal outlasted Stanislas Wawrinka, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4).

Filippo Volandri’s three-month ban for using an asthma drug has been lifted after an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Switzerland-based court also ruled that Volandri will be restored the ATP points and earnings he lost, the Italian tennis federation said.

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JURISPRUDENCE

Golfer arrested

PGA Tour winner and rising star Dustin Johnson was arrested Monday and charged with driving under the influence in South Carolina, police said. Johnson, who won the AT&T; Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February for his second PGA Tour victory in five months, was booked into the J. Long Detention Center in Myrtle Beach, and released 22 minutes later, according to the facility’s website.

A gun possession case against New York Giants star Plaxico Burress was adjourned until June unless he reaches a plea agreement with prosecutors to resolve the matter sooner. Burress accidentally shot himself in the thigh with an unlicensed gun he’d stuffed into his waistband at a Manhattan nightclub last year.

A New York Police Department spokesman told the Associated Press that New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma is not believed to be involved in the slaying of two men at a condominium in Woodbury, N.Y., owned by Vilma.

Michael Vick has agreed to pay the Atlanta Falcons at least $6.5 million as part of his bankruptcy case, moving closer to cutting ties with a team that doesn’t want him back.

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WINTER SPORTS

Jitloff wins slalom

Tim Jitloff blazed down the course in Girdwood, Alaska, with the two fastest times of the day and won his second straight giant slalom championship at the U.S. Alpine Championships.

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PASSINGS

Herman Franks, 95

Former major league player and manager Herman Franks has died of congestive heart failure at his home in Salt Lake City. He was 95. Franks managed the San Francisco Giants in 1965-68, and played for the Cardinals, Dodgers, Athletics and Giants over six seasons.

Gus Cifelli, a star tackle who helped lead Notre Dame to three national championships and the Detroit Lions to the 1952 NFL title, has died. He was 84.