A-Rod, Lore near deal to buy Timberwolves

Former baseball star Alex Rodriguez and e-commerce mogul Marc Lore signed a letter of intent Saturday to buy the Timberwolves and keep the NBA franchise in Minnesota, owner Glen Taylor said.

The agreement, which also includes the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, opens a 30-day window for negotiations to be finalized.

Under the conditions of the deal, Taylor would keep control of the club for the next two years and bring on Rodriguez and Lore as partners until a handover in 2023. The Athletic first reported the sale, which would be worth $1.5 billion.

Taylor, who put the teams on the market last year, said he was first approached by Rodriguez and Lore a week ago. The pair traveled to meet Taylor and his wife at their winter home in Naples, Florida.

In a phone interview with The Associated Press, Taylor said he told all interested parties throughout the sale process that keeping the franchises in town was a prerequisite for purchase.

College hockey: Filip Lindberg had 25 saves, Aaron Bohlinger scored his first career goal, and Massachusetts beat St. Cloud State 5-0 on Saturday night to win the program’s first NCAA title.

NHL: The defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning acquired defenseman David Savard from the Blue Jackets in a threeteam trade Saturday that also involved the Red Wings. The Lightning gave up a 2021 first-round pick and a 2022 third-rounder to the Blue Jackets for Savard and sent a 2021 fourth-rounder to the Red Wings . ... The NHL says the Canucks will reopen team facilities Sunday and resume play Friday after a COVID-19 outbreak in which 21 players and four staff members tested positive for the virus . ... The Avalanche acquired goaltender Devan Dubynk from the Sharks for defenseman Greg Pateryn and a fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft.