White Sox waive ex-Jay Lawrie
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Brett Lawrie has been put on waivers by the Chicago White Sox, who plan to release the infielder.
Unless Lawrie is claimed, which is unlikely, he would receive $573,770 in termination pay rather than the $3.5 million salary in the non-guaranteed contract he agreed to in December.
Chicago announced the move Friday. The 27-year-old was acquired in a December 2015 trade with Oakland. He hit .248 with 12 homers and 36 RBIs in 94 games in his only season with the White Sox.
The former Blue Jay was part of a five-player deal with Oakland that brought 2015 American League MVP Josh Donaldson to Toronto.
Lawrie, a native of Langley, B.C., has struggled with injuries throught his career and hadn’t played since July 21. The Associated Press
GREG BEACHAM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAS VEGAS — Khabib Nurmagomedov’s UFC interim lightweight title bout with Tony Ferguson was cancelled Friday after Nurmagomedov was hospitalized due to problems making weight.
One of the most anticipated bouts of the year was scrapped one day before UFC 209 at T-Mobile Arena.
Nurmagomedov was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center on Thursday night, the mixed martial arts promotion said. He was treated and discharged, but the UFC still cancelled the fight on the recommendation of Nurmagomedov’s doctors.
Nurmagomedov (24-0) and Ferguson (23-3) have been matched in two previous bouts that also were cancelled due to medical problems for both fighters. Nurmagomedov has won all eight of his UFC bouts, but the Dagestanborn Russian missed two full years of competition before April 2016 due to a persistent knee injury.
Although Ferguson and Nurmagomedov traded angry insults throughout their promotion for UFC 209, Ferguson tweeted condolences at Nurmagomedov on Friday morning: “I Hope U Feel Better Khabib, I Pray For Your Recovery, I Mean It, Get Better.”
The 33-year-old Ferguson has won nine straight fights, and this matchup was the biggest showcase of his career.
Ferguson alluded to Nurmagomedov’s possible problems making weight during a faceoff between the fighters at media day on Thursday, with Ferguson telling Nurmagomedov to “have fun with that weight cut, sucking air.”
Ferguson made weight on Friday morning at 1541/2 pounds.
The winner of the bout was likely to be among the top contenders for the next big-money fight with Conor McGregor, who won the regular UFC lightweight title last November with a victory over Eddie Alvarez. McGregor hasn’t announced when he will fight next, and he could also meet longtime antagonist Nate Diaz or even Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a boxing match.
UFC 209 is headlined by Tyron Woodley’s welterweight title rematch with Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.
The UFC is likely to promote an undercard bout onto the payper-view portion of the show, but didn’t immediately choose the fight. The pay-per-view card also includes a heavyweight matchup between Mark Hunt and Alistair Overeem.