Out 6-8 weeks; Jose, Jays agree
Chris Paul will have surgery today to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
The Clippers said their All-Star guard will continue to undergo treatment and evaluation by the club’s medical staff.
Paul was injured on a first-half play involving Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook in Monday night’s victory over the Thunder. Paul didn’t return in the second half.
JOEY BATS RETURNS
Jose Bautista has agreed to a one-year contract to return to the Blue Jays, ESPN reports. The deal will pay Bautista $18 million in 2017. If all options are exercised, Bautista could earn $60 million over three years. Bautista, 36, rejected a one-year, $17.2 million qualifying offer from the Blue Jays in November.
l First baseman Wil Myers and the Padres have finalized an $83 million, six-year contract, the largest deal in the team’s history. The 26-year-old Myers hit 28 homers and drove in 94 runs last season and also stole 28 bases.
l Slugger Josh Hamilton is getting another shot with the Rangers, who have agreed to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training for the oft-injured 2010 AL MVP.
Hamilton was released in August, closing the books on a $125 million, five-year deal signed with the Angels in free agency after the 2012 season. The Angels traded Hamilton back to Texas after two injury-plagued years.
KERBER MOVES ON
Angelique Kerber smiled and waved her arms like an orchestra conductor as the Rod Laver Arena crowd sang “Happy Birthday” after her 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-2 secondround victory today at the Australian Open. The defending champion didn’t enjoy the entire performance on her 29th birthday, angrily swiping her racket in the second set in a burst of frustration that momentarily threw her off her game — and allowed Carina Witthoeft back into the match.
COLLEGE HOOPS BRAWL
Siena beat visiting Rider, 78-68, in a game marred by a fight near the end of the fourth quarter. After a foul was called with 2:03 to play, a scuffle ensued culminating with a Rider’s Anthony Durham punching Siena’s Marquis Wright. The players were ejected and technical fouls were called on Siena’s Khalil Richard and coach Jimmy Patsos. Rider coach Kevin Baggett and Stevie Jordan were also assigned technical fouls.
l Schadrac Casimir came off the bench to score 21 points as Iona dominated in the second half, beating Manhattan, 82-67.
NO. 92 FOR UCONN
Katie Lou Samuelson scored a careerhigh 34 points to help visiting UConn beat Tulsa, 98-58, for the Huskies’ 92nd consecutive victory.
OREGON STRENGTH COACH SUSPENDED
Oregon suspended football strength and conditioning coach Irele Oderinde one month without pay after three players were hospitalized following a series of intense workouts last week.
The Oregonian reported that the mother of one of the players said her son has been diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a condition that occurs when muscle tissue breaks down and leaks into the blood stream. The condition can cause kidney damage.