SPORTS SHORTS
MLB: Bautista signs with Braves
Jose Bautista and the Braves agreed to a minor league contract on Wednesday. Under the terms, Bautista would receive a $1 million, one-year deal if added to the 40-man major league roster. He will report to extended spring in Kissimmee, Fla., to work himself into game condition while playing third base. The deal was announced before Ryan Flaherty, the person Bautista is trying to replace, hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs, Brandon McCarthy outpitched Vince Velasquez and the Braves beat the Phillies 7-3. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Eddie Rosario scored the winning run in his homeland in the bottom of the 16th inning, coming around on Ryan LaMarre’s single to lift the Twins over the Indians 2-1 to split their two-game series. Diamondbacks right-hander Taijuan Walker will undergo Tommy John surgery, the team announced.
BOXING: Canelo suspended 6 months
Nevada boxing regulators gave Canelo Alvarez a reduced penalty for doping violations Wednesday, potentially allowing him to return to the ring in September against Gennady Golovkin.
Alvarez was given a six-month suspension instead of the standard one year for first-time violators. With the Nevada Athletic Commission suspension retroactive to February he would be available for a possible fight with Triple-G in September. Golovkin, meanwhile, announced he would fight Vanes Martirosyan in Carson, Calif., on the May 5 date he was supposed to meet Alvarez.
ETC.: Hester, Forte to retire as Bears
Record-setting return specialist Devin Hester and running back Matt Forte, a former Jet, will sign one-day contracts with the Bears and retire with organization for which they starred. Novak Djokovic and defending champion Rafael Nadal needed a combined 14 match points to reach the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters in Monaco. After Djokovic finally converted his 10th match point to beat Borna Coric 7-6 (2) 7-5, Nadal required four in a 6-1, 6-3 win against Aljaz Bedene 6-1, 6-3. Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey was suspended for one game by the NHL for crosschecking Wild forward Eric Staal. Olympian McKayla Maroney said on “Today” she was molested “hundreds” of time by former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.