Tampa Bay sends Longoria to Giants
The San Francisco Giants found the offense-producing third baseman they sought this offseason, acquiring Evan Longoria and cash from the Tampa Bay Rays yesterday for outfielder Denard Span, infielder Christian Arroyo and two minor league pitchers.
The 32-year-old Longoria leaves Tampa Bay as the longest-tenured player in franchise history, after spending nearly 10 seasons in a Rays uniform. He is the club’s all-time leader with 1,435 games played, 261 home runs and 892 RBI. In the 30 postseason games in Rays history, Longoria started each one at third.
Longoria batted .261 with 20 homers and 86 RBI last season. He is expected to fill a significant void for the Giants at third, where they mixed and matched during a surprising last-place season in 2017.
In November 2012, Longoria received a $136.6 million, 10-year contract with Tampa Bay that added six guaranteed seasons and $100 million to his previous deal. It includes a team option for 2023 that could make the agreement worth $144.6 million.
The 33-year-old Span has hit .283 with 60 homers and 432 RBI over a 10-year career. Arroyo was one of the Giants’ top prospects but didn’t play in the majors after June 2 because of a broken left hand . . . .
Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton ruptured his right Achilles tendon in offseason training, a significant injury that could cause him to miss part of the 2018 season. The team said Britton was injured Tuesday while training in California. He had 15 saves and a 2.89 ERA with the Orioles last season . . . .
According to a source, the Washington Nationals agreed to a $4 million, one-year deal with first baseman Matt Adams. Adams hit .274 last season with 20 home runs and 65 RBI with St. Louis and Atlanta.
Soccer: Nashville gets new MLS team
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber said Nashville has been granted the first of two expansion franchises.
Nashville and Sacramento were viewed as the favorites for the league’s newest teams, with Cincinnati and Detroit the other finalists. A decision on the second area picked is expected within a few weeks.
Atlanta United and Minnesota United came on board this year as MLS’ latest expansion teams.
Misc.: Russia is on Olympic uniforms
The word “Russia” will appear on the Olympic uniforms worn by the athletes granted an exemption from the country’s doping ban. More than 200 athletes are set to compete in Pyeongchang as an “Olympic Athlete from Russia” if they can prove they aren’t tainted by doping. Russia was banned came after the country was found to have run a sophisticated doping program at the 2014 Sochi Olympics . . . .
Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney was forced to sign a confidential settlement with the group that trains U.S. Olympic gymnasts to keep allegations that she was sexually abused by team doctor Larry Nassar a secret, according to a lawsuit filed yesterday in Los Angeles. Maroney reached a settlement with USA Gymnastics in December 2016. Terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed . . . .
No charges will be filed against tennis star Venus Williams or the other driver for a crash in June in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that fatally injured the other driver’s husband, police said yesterday.