Off the wire

Royals sign 1B Santana

The Kansas City Royals and veteran first baseman Carlos Santana agreed to a $17 million, two-year contract that plugs one of their biggest offensive holes while providing some clubhouse leadership for a rebuilding club. The 34-year-old Santana was an All-Star two years ago in Cleveland, when he hit a career-best .281 with 34 home runs and 93 RBI. He slid to .199 with 8 home runs and 30 RBI while playing 60 games during the shortened 2020 season, resulting in the Indians declining his $17.5 million option for the upcoming season. The Royals were middle-of-the-road with a .244 team average last season, but they hit just 68 home runs and were tied with the Indians for the sixth-worst scoring offense in the majors.

White Sox add talent

The Chicago White Sox reunited with outfielder Adam Eaton and finalized a trade with the Texas Rangers for workhorse starter Lance Lynn on Tuesday. Eaton agreed to a one-year deal that guarantees him $8 million and fills Chicago’s hole in right field. Eaton’s salary for next season is $7 million. The White Sox hold an $8.5 million option for 2022, with a $1 million buyout. The signing of Eaton comes one day after the White Sox agreed to acquire Lynn from Texas for pitchers Dane Dunning and Avery Weems. That trade was announced Tuesday. Eaton played for Chicago from 2014-16. He was dealt to the Washington Nationals at the 2017 winter meetings for current ace Lucas Giolito, Dunning and pitcher Reynaldo Lopez. That trade happened a day after the White Sox sent former ace Chris Sale to Boston for infielder Yoan Moncada and pitcher Michael Kopech, launching a rebuild that helped vault them to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2008. Chicago finished second in the AL Central at 35-25. Lynn was 22-14 in 46 starts the past two seasons for the Rangers, with 335 strikeouts over 292 1/3 innings. The right-hander has an $8 million salary in 2021, the final season of a $30 million, three-year contract he signed with Texas two winters ago.

Giants sign RHP Wisler

Right- hander Matt Wisler agreed to a $1.15 million, one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. He became a free agent last week when the Minnesota Twins failed to offer him a contract for next year. Wisler could earn an additional $500,000 in performance bonuses. The 28-year-old Wisler went 0-1 with a 1.07 ERA and 1 save over 18 outings with 4 starts covering 25 1/3 innings for Minnesota.

Players not for bubble

The NFL players believe the season can be completed on time without the league moving into a version of a postseason bubble like other sports have as long as everyone follows the rules already in place meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus. NFLPA President JC Tretter, a center with the Cleveland Browns, and Executive Director DeMaurice Smith held a virtual news conference Tuesday to discuss the challenges the players have felt this season while playing during a global pandemic. Both Tretter and Smith said that the rules in place requiring players and staff to be tested daily, wear masks, socially distance and have tracers for contact tracing have helped prevent the spread of the virus. They believe if everyone adheres to those rules over the next two months there would be no need for teams to sequester in hotels to avoid contact with the public.

Titans put WR on IR

The Tennessee Titans put wide receiver Adam Humphries on injured reserve Tuesday, two days after he played his first game after a month in the concussion protocol. Humphries got a concussion when he was hit in a loss to Cincinnati on Nov. 1, and he missed the next four games before clearing the concussion protocol last week. He has 23 catches for 228 yards and 2 TDs this season. Humphries will be able to return to the active roster for the regular-season finale Jan. 3 at Houston.

Gamecocks LB declares

South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones is declaring for the NFL Draft. The 6-2, 230- pound junior has led the Gamecocks in tackles the past two seasons. He announced his decision on social media Tuesday. Jones is the third defensive starter in the past few weeks to move on to the NFL. Defensive backs Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu both opted out of the final three games of the season after coach Will Muschamp was let go last month. South Carolina wrapped up its season with six straight defeats to finish 2-8. Jones had a team-high 97 tackles in 2019 and followed that up with 86 stops this season.

TENNIS

Kenin named top player

Sofia Kenin collected the WTA player of the year award Tuesday after winning the Australian Open in January for her first Grand Slam title and finishing as the runner-up at the French Open in October. The 22-year-old from Florida went 16-2 at the three major tournaments played in 2020 and ended the abbreviated season with a career-best ranking of No. 4. In other honors announced Tuesday and based on voting by international media members, Victoria Azarenka was picked as comeback player of the year, Iga Swiatek was named most improved, Nadia Podoroska was the newcomer of the year, and Kristina Mladenovic and Timea Babos were the doubles team of the year. Kenin entered this year with an 11-11 career mark in Grand Slam tournaments and zero trips beyond the fourth round at any of the sport’s top four events. She announced her arrival as an ascending star early in the season by beating No. 1-ranked Ash Barty in the semifinals and former No. 1 Garbine Muguruza in the final at Melbourne Park.