NEWSMAKERS
Buchanan edges Sinclair as top player
Defender Kadeisha Buchanan capped a remarkable campaign overseas Thursday with a domestic triumph, earning Canadian female soccer player of the year honours for the second time in three years. The 22-year-old from Brampton, Ont., became the first Canadian international to hoist the Champions League trophy in June when Lyon outlasted Paris Saint-Germain 7-6 in a penalty shootout in the final of the European women’s club soccer showcase. Buchanan already has 72 caps for Canada. On Wednesday, Atiba Hutchinson was named male player of the year for a record sixth time. Buchanan edged Christine Sinclair, who won last year for the 13th time, for the women’s award.
Astros take flyer on former Blue Jay Gose
The Houston Astros have added former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Gose, hoping he can develop as a left-handed pitcher. The World Series champions took Gose from the Texas Rangers’ system Thursday in the annual winter meeting draft of players left off 40-man rosters. Now 27, Gose began pitching last season in the minors for Detroit. He was 0-2 with a 7.59 ERA in 11 relief appearances in the single-A Florida State League, striking out 14 in 102/3 innings. The speedy Gose hit .240 as an outfielder over five seasons with Toronto and Detroit. Texas signed him to a minor-league contract two weeks ago, offering him a chance to pitch and play the outfield.
Piscotty joins A’s to be closer to ailing mom
Stephen Piscotty has been traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Oakland Athletics for two infield prospects, allowing the outfielder to be near his family’s home in Pleasanton, Calif., following his mother’s diagnosis of Lou Gehrig’s disease. Gretchen Piscotty was diagnosed in May with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease that attacks nerve cells. St. Louis receives Yairo Munoz and Max Schrock in the deal.
The 26-year-old Piscotty hit .235 with nine homers and 39 RBIs in 107 games last season.
Bills’ McCoy rushing toward NFL milestone
LeSean McCoy never envisioned having the opportunity to reach 10,000 yards rushing. In his ninth season, McCoy has 9,961 yards rushing and is on the cusp of becoming the 30th player to reach 10,000 in a milestone he can hit as early as Sunday, when Buffalo (7-6) hosts Miami (6-7). McCoy made it clear he has even loftier objectives before he’s done. How about 12,000 yards? It’s not lost on McCoy that 13 of the 16 players who have topped 12,000 yards rushing are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And two of those not inducted are still playing: Indianapolis’ Frank Gore (13,827 yards rushing) and Arizona’s Adrian Peterson (12,276). Edgerrin James (12,246) is the other.
Toronto team joining NBA’s virtual league
Toronto’s virtual entry in the NBA 2K League next season will be known as the Raptors Uprising Gaming Club (GC). The first year of the basketball video game circuit will feature 17 teams, each with their roster of gamers. Competition is slated to start in May. Each team will draft gamers to compete as unique characters in 5-on-5 play against the other teams in a mix of regular-season games, tournaments and playoffs. The first stage of qualifying for the NBA 2K League runs through January. All prospective players, 18 years or older, need to win 50 games in NBA 2K18’s Pro-Am mode on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One and complete an online application by Jan. 31.
Armstrong under fire for guest appearance
Authorities in Belgium have criticized an invitation to disgraced former cyclist Lance Armstrong as a special guest at next year’s Tour of Flanders cycling classic. Armstrong won seven Tour de France titles, but the American was stripped of all of them because of doping. Regional sports minister Philippe Muyters called it a “totally wrong signal” to aspiring riders and cycling at large.