Off the wire

BASEBALL Phillies sign Robertson

The Philadelphia Phillies finally landed the high-leverage arm they had sought this offseason, signing right-handed relief pitcher David Robertson to a two-year deal Thursday. Robertson, who represented himself this winter after parting ways with his agent, will earn $10 million in 2019 and $11 million in 2020. The Phillies can exercise a $12 million club option for 2021. Robertson, who will turn 34 in April, had a 3.23 ERA last season in 69 games with the Yankees and struck out 11.8 batters per 9 innings. The ever-consistent Robertson has pitched 60 or more innings in each of the last nine seasons and has never registered a strikeout rate lower than 10.4. His career strikeout rate, 11.97, is the best among pitchers with at least 600 innings pitched. Robertson was an All-Star in 2011 and has spent his entire 11-year career in the American League.

FOOTBALL Elway on interview circuit

Denver Broncos General Manager John Elway continued his latest coaching search Thursday by interviewing Zac Taylor, 35, the Los Angeles Rams’ quarterbacks coach who is long on football pedigree but short on experience. Elway and player personnel director Matt Russell flew to Los Angeles to interview Taylor near the Rams’ headquarters in Thousand Oaks, Calif., a day after meeting with former Colts coach Chuck Pagano in Denver. Elway also plans to speak with Bears assistant Vic Fangio, Patriots assistant Brian Flores and Steelers assistant Mike Munchak. With the Rams off this weekend, Taylor also is expected to meet with the Arizona Cardinals about their head coaching vacancy. Elway is searching for his fourth head coach in six seasons after firing Vance Joseph on Monday with a two-year record of 11-21.

Ex-Saint receives medal

President Donald Trump has signed legislation awarding former New Orleans Saints and Washington State football player Steve Gleason the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress. Gleason, 41, has ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and Congress sought to honor him for his work as an advocate for people with the paralyzing neuromuscular disease. Gleason is the first NFL player to receive a Congressional Gold Medal. He became famous for blocking a punt in 2006 on the night the Superdome reopened after Hurricane Katrina. He retired from the NFL in 2008 and was diagnosed with ALS in 2011. He has since spearheaded efforts through the Team Gleason foundation to develop and provide technology to help ALS patients live longer, more fulfilling lives. Those include devices that track eye movements to help paralyzed people type words that can be transformed into speech. Gleason has used the technology to communicate, post messages on social media, address lawmakers from around the world and give motivational speeches to athletes.

BASKETBALL Bulls, Grizzlies swap

The Chicago Bulls began what they hope is a busy trade season a month ahead of the Feb. 7 deadline when they acquired shooting guards MarShon Brooks and Wayne Selden Jr. on Thursday, plus second-round picks in 2019 and 2020 from the Grizzlies for Justin Holiday. The Bulls need to waive one player and are still shopping Jabari Parker and Robin Lopez in the hopes to acquire future draft picks. But the Holiday deal is a start. In his second tour with the Bulls, Holiday has started all 38 games and is averaging 11.6 points.