Nats pick up reliever for international cash
Right-handed reliever Kyle Barraclough was acquired by Washington from Miami in the Nationals’ first offseason move to rebuild their bullpen. Washington sent the Marlins $1 million in international slot allotment as part of the deal.
Barraclough went 1-6 with 4.20 ERA and 10 saves in 17 chances during 61 appearances this year. He allowed one hit in 36 at-bats in June, when he was chosen NL reliever of the month, but struggled with his command the rest of the season.
He has a 3.21 career ERA with 279 strikeouts and 134 walks in 2182⁄3 innings over four seasons, all with Miami.
Miami obtained greater financial flexibility to pursue 22-year-old Cuban outfielder Victor Victor Mesa, an international amateur free agent who showcased for major league scouts at Marlins Park last week.
Golf Hall tabs Goosen, four others
Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen and three-time major champion Jan Stephenson are among five people selected for induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Fla.
A 16-member panel of mostly golf administrators also selected retired Augusta National chairman Billy Payne, LPGA charter member and renowned teacher Peggy Kirk Bell and Dennis Walters, who has been inspiring golfers through clinics despite being paralyzed from the chest down since he was 24.
Goosen recovered from a lightning strike to win 33 times worldwide, including U.S. Opens at Southern Hills and Shinnecock Hills. Stephenson won the LPGA Championship, U.S. Women’s Open and du Maurier Classic among her 16 titles on the LPGA Tour.
The induction will be June 10, the Monday of the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach . . . .
The PGA Championship will remain with CBS Sports and pick up a powerful partner in ESPN for weekday rounds. That’s part of an 11-year agreement in which the networks will combine to deliver 175 hours of coverage across broadcast, cable and digital platforms.
Names: JJ, Knaus to split up
Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus will end their working relationship — the longest pairing of a driver and crew chief in present day NASCAR — after this season in a personnel shakeup at Hendrick Motorsports.
Knaus and Johnson have been together 17 seasons, since Johnson’s 2002 rookie year. The duo won seven Cup titles together and made NASCAR’s version of the playoffs in all 15 years of its existence.
Knaus next year will crew chief William Byron and the No.24 team. Kevin Meendering will return to Hendrick Motorsports after a stint as crew chief for Elliott Sadler in the Xfinity Series to lead Johnson and the No. 48 team . . . .
Matt DiBenedetto will drive for Leavine Family Racing next season and the team will field Toyota Camrys . . . .
Roger Federer, the defending champion, beat Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the second round despite being broken late in the second set, while both Juan Martin del Potro and Alexander Zverev had to overcome illness to advance at the Shanghai Masters.