Cleveland decides to drop Indians name, report says

For more than a century of mostly futile seasons, Cleveland’s baseball team has been called the Indians.

Now, two years after dumping the cartoonish Indian logo that had decorated its caps, the team plans to dump the Indians name.

It was unclear Sunday night when the team might announce the decision, when it might take effect or what the new team nickname might be. The New York Times f irst reported the decision. The team did not confirm it.

The Indians’ decision comes f ive months after the NFL’s Washington Redskins dropped their nickname. That team has deferred a decision on a new nickname and has played this season as the Washington Football Team.

The Indians and Redskins are two of the teams targeted by Native Americans who say such nicknames do not honor tribes but instead demean them. The Atlanta Braves, whose tomahawk chop was criticized by a St. Louis Cardinals pitcher of Native American heritage, have said they intend to retain their nickname.

In 2018, the Indians said they would keep their name but would drop the Chief Wahoo logo. In July — amid a heated summer of national protest over racial injustice and police brutality, and after the Redskins said they would change their name — the Indians said they would review theirs.

— Bill Shaikin

Jared Porter and the New York Mets f inalized a four- year contract that makes him the team’s 14th general manager. The Mets are scheduled to introduce him Monday. Porter, 41, spent the last four seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks as senior vice president and assistant general manager.