Bautista at work on deal with Jays
Jose Bautista and the Toronto Blue Jays are “working really hard” to bring the right fielder back to the Major League Baseball club, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told the Associated Press yesterday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because negotiations are ongoing. The sides are discussing one-, twoand three-year agreements.
The Blue Jays’ failure earlier this offseason to re-sign fan favorite Edwin Encarnacion did not go over well in Toronto, which led the AL in attendance. The designated hitter/first baseman signed a three-year, $60 million deal with the Cleveland Indians. . . .
Corner outfielder Michael Saunders and the Philadelphia Phillies agreed on a oneyear, $9 million free agent contract. . . .
The Kansas City Royals announced a five-year, $65 million contract with pitcher Danny Duffy.
Colleges: ’Nova reclaims No. 1
Villanova returned to No. 1 in the AP men’s basketball poll, leapfrogging Kansas after a week out of the top spot. The Wildcats, who fell to third last week after five weeks at No. 1, moved back on top following No. 1 Baylor’s loss in its only week ever as a top-ranked team. Villanova received 28 first-place votes and 1,580 points from the 65-member national media panel while Kansas remained No. 2 despite getting more first-place votes (32). . . .
Fresh off its record-breaking 91st consecutive victory, UConn remained the unanimous No. 1 in the AP women’s basketball poll. The Huskies bettered their own NCAA mark. Baylor remains No. 2. . . .
Greg Byrne will leave Arizona to take over for the retiring Bill Battle as Alabama athletic director.
Tennis: Serena starts strong
For five games in the second set, Serena Williams played almost flawless tennis in her first-round match at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia.
Then came the rustiness that tends to follow a lengthy layoff, giving Belinda Bencic a glimmer of hope, before Williams regained her composure to win 6-4, 6-3. The six-time Australian Open champion improved her impressive record in the first round of Grand Slam tournaments to 65-1.
Four-time champion Roger Federer returned from a six-month layoff to beat fellow 35-year-old Jurgen Melzer to open up play at the Australian Open. The 17-time major winner hadn’t played at tour level since Wimbledon, giving his injured left knee time to heal. Federer served 19 aces and had only one double fault in a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win.
In his first Grand Slam match as No. 1 in the world, Andy Murray beat Illya Marchenko 7-5, 7-6 (5), 6-2.
Soccer: Arena brings in Rowe
Goalkeeper Brian Rowe replaced an injured Stefan Frei (ankle) on new coach Bruce Arena’s U.S. training camp roster leading to exhibitions against Serbia and Jamaica. Rowe has never played for the U.S. national team, but he did play for Arena with Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy before the coach departed in November for a second stint with the federation. . . .
Ivory Coast’s Europe-based stars stumbled in the heat of northern Gabon in their African Cup of Nations opening match, with the defending champion held by Togo at 0-0. Four of the Cup’s first six games have been draws, with Ivory Coast’s fellow title challenger, Algeria, held 2-2 by Zimbabwe.
Misc.: McIlroy withdraws
Rory McIlroy withdrew from golf’s Abu Dhabi Championship this week because of a rib injury. McIlroy played with the injury for the final three rounds in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he lost the SA Open in a playoff to Graeme Storm. ...
Valtteri Bottas will race in Formula One alongside three-time champion Lewis Hamilton for Mercedes. Bottas will fill the seat left by the retirement of world champion Nico Rosberg.