Yanks, McCann near $85M deal
Free-agent catcher Brian McCann and the New York Yankees are about to complete a five-year deal worth around $85 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press on Saturday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal, which is pending a physical, wasn’t finalized.
The Yankees made finding a catcher a priority, and McCann was the best available. The seventime All-Star played his first nine big-league seasons with the Atlanta Braves and hit at least 20 home runs for a sixth consecutive season before choosing to test the market after the World Series.
McCann, 29, returned from offseason shoulder surgery in April to hit .256 with 20 homers and 57 RBI in 356 at-bats for the National League East champion Braves.
NBA
Grizzlies lose Gasol indefinitely
An MRI exam revealed Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. He won’t require surgery, but he will be out indefinitely.
Gasol, the reigning NBA defensive player of the year, suffered the injury in the second quarter of a game Friday against the San Antonio Spurs. Replays indicated there was little, if any, contact before he grabbed his knee under the Spurs’ basket. He immediately went to the Grizzlies’ locker room and didn’t return.
LeBron James made the tiebreaking basket with 15.1 seconds left, and the Miami Heat rallied from a 16-point deficit in the second half to escape with a 101-99 victory against the visiting Orlando Magic.
Dwyane Wade had 27 points and James 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Heat, which won its sixth game in a row. Glen Davis led six players in double figures with 20 points for the Magic.
GOLF
Day wins in wake of tragedy
Jason Day closed with a 1-under-par 70 to earn a two-stroke victory over Thomas Bjorn in the World Cup in Melbourne, Australia. Day completed 72 holes at 10-under 274 in his first tournament since finding out eight relatives, including his grandmother, died in Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines on Nov. 9.
Charl Schwartzel shot a 3-under 69 to open a one-stroke lead over Morten Orum Madsen and Marco Crespi after three rounds of the South African Open in Johannesburg. Schwartzel finished 54 holes at 15-under 201.
Natalie Gulbis shot a 7-under 65 to move into a three-way tie for the lead with Gerina Piller and Pornanong Phatlum after the third round of the LPGA Titleholders in Naples, Fla. All three completed 54 holes at 11-under 205.
BOXING
Pacquiao takes easy decision
Former multidivision champion Manny Pacquiao (55-5-2) ended a two-fight losing streak with a dominant 12-round decision over Brandon Rios (31-2-1) in a welterweight bout in Macau, China. Pacquiao won by scores of 120-108, 119-109 and 118-110.