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Braves ink Bautista to minor league deal
Six-time All-Star Jose Bautista and the Atlanta Braves have agreed to a minor league contract
Under the deal announced Wednesday, Bautista would receive a $1 million, one-year deal if added to the 40-man major league roster. He will report to the Braves extended spring training complex in Kissimmee, Florida, to work himself into game condition while playing third base.
The 37-year-old Bautista earned $18 million under a oneyear deal with Toronto last season but put up subpar numbers for the second straight year, hitting .203 with 23 homers and 65 RBIs in 157 games. He batted .240 with 40 homers, 114 RBIs and 110 walks in 2015, then dropped to .234 with 22 homers and 69 RBIs in 116 games the following year.
Alvarez suspended six months on doping
Nevada boxing regulators have suspended Canelo Alvarez for six months for doping violations.
Neither Alvarez nor representatives from Golden Boy Promotions appeared Wednesday during the Nevada Athletic Commission’s monthly meeting, where the suspension was handed down. Alvarez lawyer Ricardo Cestero represented his client via phone.
Caroline Bateman, a Nevada deputy attorney general, suggested a punishment of six months from the date of Alvarez’s first positive test, on Feb. 17.
Alvarez also must undergo drug tests. No fine was recommended because past ones have been based on future purses. With Alvarez’s May 5 rematch with Gennady Golovkin canceled, there is no forthcoming purse.
Ukraine backs down on boycott of Russia
Ukraine has backed down on a sports boycott of neighboring Russia, a month after banning its athletes from competing there.
The Ukrainian government announced the boycott last month, citing Russian involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine and its record of doping in sports.
However, with the national wrestling team due to compete at the upcoming European championships in Russia, the boycott measure has been changed.
An updated version of the government decree, published last week, says only that the government does not recommend and will not fund the participation of Ukrainians in Russian competitions.