Dodgers' Bauer suspended 2 seasons over alleged assault
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer was suspended Friday for two full seasons without pay by Major League Baseball for violating the league's domestic violence and sexual assault policy, which he denies.
Bauer's lengthy suspension comes after a San Diego woman, whom the pitcher had met through social media, alleged that Bauer beat and sexually abused her last year. She later sought — but was denied — a restraining order. Los Angeles prosecutors said in February there was insufficient evidence to prove the woman's accusations beyond a reasonable doubt.
Bauer repeatedly has said that everything that happened between the two was consensual.
If the suspension is upheld, Bauer will lose about $60 million in salary.
Golf
RAHM GRABS 2-SHOT LEAD AT MEXICO OPEN >> Jon Rahm faced the wind and handled it just as well in the Mexico Open, making eight birdies on his way to a 5-under 66 that staked the world's No. 2 player to a two-shot lead over Alex Smalley.
Rahm birdied all four of the par 5s, including the 18th hole at Vallarta Vidanta with a 4-iron from light rough to just short of the green, a pitch to 6 feet and one last putt.
He was at 12-under 130 going into the weekend.
Smalley finished with a 66 and will be in the final group with Rahm.
Rahm was two shots higher then his opening round, in which the Spaniard never had to deal with the wind until the final four holes. This was one felt even better.
STRICKER SHARES THE LEAD AT INSPERITY >> Steve Stricker played his first round in 201 days and it seemed as though he was healthy as ever, opening with a 5-under 67 to share the lead in the Insperity Invitational on the PGA Tour Champions.
Stricker dropped only one shot on a windy day at The Woodlands and was tied with Steven Alker and Ernie Els, who drove into a hazard and took bogey on the final hole.
Pro football
RAIDERS DECLINE OPTIONS ON THREE 2019 1ST-ROUND PICKS >> The Las Vegas Raiders are declining the fifth-year options on all three of their 2019 firstround picks as the new regime doesn't want to commit to players inherited on the roster.
General manager Dave Ziegler announced that the team will let defensive end Clelin Ferrell, running back Josh Jacobs and safety Johnathan Abram play out the final year of their rookie contracts instead of extending them through 2023.
The options were worth $11.5 million for Ferrell, and about $8 million each for Jacobs and Abram.
Tennis
BECKER GETS 2 1/2 YEARS IN PRISON FOR BANKRUPTCY OFFENSES >> Tennis great Boris Becker was sentenced to 21/2 years in prison for illicitly transferring large amounts of money and hiding assets after he was declared bankrupt.
The three-time Wimbledon champion was convicted earlier this month on four charges under the Insolvency Act and had faced a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
Becker will have to serve at least 15 months before being eligible for release. OSAKA WINS TO REACH 2ND ROUND AT MADRID OPEN >> Naomi Osaka kicked off her clay campaign with a comfortable 6-3, 6-1 win over qualifier Anastasia Potapova in the first round on the Madrid Open center court.
“I'm honestly trying to be more positive with myself,” the 36th-ranked Osaka said. “This year I came a week early to train on red clay, so just trying to give myself more chances to do better . ... To be able to do it in two sets, for me, it's a really good starting block.”
The four-time Grand Slam champion withdrew from the French Open last year and took a break from competition after saying she “suffered long bouts of depression” and experienced “huge waves of anxiety” before speaking to the media.
Soccer
RATCLIFFE RIVALS U.S. OFFERS WITH LATE $5B BID FOR CHELSEA >> British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe launched a late bid to buy Chelsea for $5.3 billion as rival offers featuring American investors were already being assessed as the sale process nears a conclusion.
The offer from Ratcliffe would be the highest price ever paid for a sports team.
Chelsea was put up for sale in March after Russia owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the British government over his ties to President Vladimir Putin following the invasion of Ukraine.