Bauer rejects Reds’ offer

Right- hander Trevor Bauer rejected the Reds’ $ 18.9 million qualifying offer but remains open to returning to Cincinnati and has interest in all other teams in free agency.

Bauer, 29, who went 5- 4 with a National League- leading 1.73 ERA in 11 starts last season and is a finalist for the National League Cy Young Award, was one of six players in MLB to receive the qualifying offer.

The right- hander, who turns 30 in January, made a prorated $ 17.5 million in 2020.

† Catcher Bruce Maxwell, the only MLB player to kneel during the national anthem in 2017 to protest racial injustice, agreed to a minor- league contract with the Mets and will report to spring training.

† After working as a Brewers first- base or third- base coach for the last 14 seasons, Ed Sedar is moving into a new role as an adviser to the team’s coaching staff.

Sixers targeting Rockets star Harden

The Sixers reportedly are interested in trading for Rockets guard James Harden, according to The Athletic. Harden, 31, led the league in scoring last season at 34.3 points, and has averaged 30- plus points in three consecutive seasons.

Nadal reaches milestone in Paris

Rafael Nadal became only the fourth man to reach 1,000 career wins after beating fellow Spanish veteran Feliciano Lopez 4- 6, 7- 6 ( 5), 6- 4 in the second round of the Paris Masters. The 20- time Grand Slam champion joined Jimmy Connors ( 1,274), Roger Federer ( 1,242) and Ivan Lendl ( 1,068) as the only male players to reach the 1,000- win mark since the Open era began in 1968.

† Stars center Tyler Seguin ( hip) and goaltender Ben Bishop ( knee) both will need about five months to recover from their surgeries.

† Blue Jackets forward Gustav Nyquist will miss five- to- six months after shoulder surgery.

† The Islanders signed defenseman Ryan Pulock to a two- year contract.