Yankees trade for Paxton
Left-hander James Paxton was acquired by the Yankees from the Seattle Mariners for a trio of prospects Monday, bolstering the thin starting rotation that contributed to New York’s loss to Boston in the American League Division Series.
New York sent left-hander Justus Sheffield to the Mariners along with right-hander Erik Swanson and outfielder Dom Thompson-Williams.
Paxton, who turned 30 on Nov. 6, went 11-6 with a 3.76 ERA in 28 starts last season, including a nohitter at Toronto on May 8.
He joins a rotation projected to include righthanders Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka and left-hander CC Sabathia.
Paxton made $4.9 million last season and is eligible for salary arbitration. He can become a free agent after the 2020 season.
Sheffield is rated among the top minor-league prospects, made his big-league debut in September and pitched in three games for the Yankees. He had a 2.48 ERA in 25 minor-league appearances in Class AA and Class AAA in 2018, striking out 123 in 116 innings and allowing just four home runs.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Karan Higdon didn’t mind going there. Asked directly Monday if he’d guarantee a Michigan win over Ohio State, the Wolverines’ senior captain and running back said he had no problem doing exactly that.
“Yeah, I do. I do,” Higdon said. “That’s how I feel. I believe firmly in my brothers, this team and this coaching staff.
“As a captain, I’ll take that stand. Why not?” Higdon’s comments were perhaps the most indicative of the Wolverines’ confidence heading into their biggest game of the year.
No. 4 Michigan can win the Big Ten East for the first time in program history and advance to the conference championship game with a win Saturday against 10th-ranked Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Marsha Howard’s layup with three seconds remaining gave host Wisconsin a 65-64 overtime victory over IUPUI. Howard had 13 points and seven rebounds for UW (4-0). Imani Lewis added 12 points and 11 rebounds.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Poll voters don’t often replace the No. 1 team when said No. 1 team doesn’t actually lose. But it happened in men’s college basketball — and in unanimous fashion, a testament to just how dominant the new top-ranked squad has looked over the first couple of weeks.
Duke takes over the top spot in the USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll. The voters slotted the Blue Devils at No. 3 in the preseason. But the lineup of mostly five-star freshmen has been as good as advertised, opening the campaign with a dominant outing against then-No. 2 Kentucky en route to a 4-0 start.
Kansas is also 3-0 to begin the year, but the preseason No. 1 team was demoted to No. 2 thanks to the young Blue Devils.
Marquette dropped out of the Associated Press poll.