Yankees add Walker to mix
Joining the New York Yankees caused Neil Walker to smile, despite a hefty drop in salary.
The infielder agreed yesterday to a $4 million, one-year MLB contract, a 77 percent pay cut in a free agent deal that allows prospects Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar more time to mature in the minor leagues. Walker earned $17.2 million last season, which he started with the New York Mets and finished with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Walker likely will start at second base for the Yankees and Brandon Drury, acquired from Arizona last month, will play third. The Yankees released infielder, Danny Espinosa, and sent another, Kyle Holder, to minor league camp . . . .
The Minnesota Twins finalized a $12 million, oneyear contract with starter Lance Lynn, another lowrisk move toward strengthening the 2017 wild card team’s pitching staff that ranked 19th in the majors in 2017 with a 4.59 ERA. After missing the 2016 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, he made 33 starts for the St. Louis Cardinals last year . . . .
The Oakland Athletics landed a new starting catcher, finalizing a $6.5 million, one-year contract with free agent Jonathan Lucroy. The two-time AllStar split last season with the Texas Rangers and Colorado Rockies. He has been traded at the July 31 deadline each of the past two seasons, after opening 2016 with the Milwaukee Brewers . . . .
The Colorado Rockies finalized a $5 million, oneyear contract to bring back three-time All-Star outfielder and popular clubhouse leader Carlos Gonzalez. The free agent deal includes $3 million in bonuses based on days on the active roster. Gonzalez had a $20 million salary last year in the final season of an $80 million, seven-year contract.
Soccer: Greece suspends play
Greece indefinitely suspended its soccer league, a day after the gun-toting PAOK Thessaloniki owner Ivan Savvidis marched onto the field following a disputed goal in a match. Savvidis walked onto the field twice accompanied by bodyguards, and appeared to be carrying a pistol in a holster around his waist. He made no move to use the weapon at any time . . . .
German Bundesliga side Hamburger SV fired Bernd Hollerbach as coach after he failed to win any games since replacing Markus Gisdol midseason. Christian Titz will coach the remaining matches . . . .
Former FIFA vice president Jeffrey Webb lost his appeal against a $1.05 million fine for bribery. He did not appeal his life ban from the sport.
Misc.: Woods’ one to watch
As he continued a comeback from back surgeries, Tiger Woods was 1 shot away from a chance to win, and the PGA Tour had its largest television audience in five years. NBC Sports Group said the final round of the Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla., earned a 5.11 overnight rating, up 190 percent over 2017 and the highest-rated PGA Tour broadcast since Woods won The Players Championship in 2013 . . . .
Former NBA star Dennis Rodman was sentenced to three years’ probation after pleading guilty to two misdemeanors stemming from a DUI arrest in Southern California.