Hader agrees to deal with Astros
Hard-throwing reliever Josh Hader and the Houston Astros agreed to a $95 million, five-year contract on Friday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Yankees cut SS Jeter Downs
NEW YORK — Jeter Downs’ career with the New York Yankees could end before it started.
Downs was designated for assignment one month after the Yankees claimed the shortstop off waivers from the Washington Nationals.
Carpenter returns to Cards
ST. LOUIS — Matt Carpenter is returning to the St. Louis Cardinals, agreeing Friday to a one-year contract with his team from 2011-21.
Caps extend Aliaksei Protas
Washington signed forward Aliaksei Protas to a five-year extension worth $16.875 million.
Pinto signs deal with Senators
OTTAWA, Ontario — Shane Pinto signed a contract with the Ottawa Senators on Friday, paving the way for the first modern NHL player suspended for gambling to make his season debut Sunday at Philadelphia.
Pinto, now 23, was banned 41 games back in October after an investigation found he violated the league’s sports gambling policy.
Layoffs at Sports Illustrated
The jobs of people who produce Sports Illustrated were in limbo Friday after the company that paid to maintain the iconic brand's print and digital products told staff that its license was revoked.
In an email to employees Friday morning, the Arena Group, which operates Sports Illustrated and related properties, said that because of the revocation, "we will be laying off staff that work on the SI brand.”
Authentic later said in a statement it intends to keep Sports Illustrated going.
Gators investigated by NCAA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida is under NCAA investigation a year after a failed name, image and likeness deal worth more than $13 million with former signee Jaden Rashada.
Judge reinstates Illini star
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A federal judge on Friday reinstated Illinois basketball star Terrence Shannon Jr., who had been suspended from the team since he was charged with rape in Kansas.
More join lawsuit vs. NCAA
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Department of Justice, three more states and the District of Columbia have joined a lawsuit against the NCAA’S transfer eligibility rule.
Ohio State hires Bill O’brien
Ohio State has hired former Houston Texans and Penn State head coach Bill O’brien as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the program confirmed in a statement Friday.
‘Bama signee Sayin to portal
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama five-star freshman quarterback Julian Sayin has entered the transfer portal, the latest player to look elsewhere after Kalen Deboer replaced the retired Nick Saban as coach.
Sporting K.C. fires Wilkinson
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Sporting Kansas City has agreed to part ways with sporting director Gavin Wilkinson after only eight days, citing an “impassioned response from our fans” regarding the controversial hire, the team announced Friday.
USWNT’S Mewis retired
Samantha Mewis, who played for the U.S. squad that won the 2019 Women’s World Cup, has retired from soccer because of a knee injury that has sidelined her from the national team since the Tokyo Olympics.