Zimmerman coming back to Nats
First baseman Ryan Zimmerman is returning to the Nationals after sitting out the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, agreeing in principle to a $1 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with v the negotiations told AP on Friday.
A second person confirmed to the AP there is an agreement in principle in place, without describing the terms. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.
Zimmerman, 36, has played 15 seasons in the majors, all for the Nationals.
Former Mets manager Davey Johnson is in a Florida hospital with COVID-19. Johnson, 77, was a four-time All-Star second vbaseman and managed the Mets to their last World Series title in 1986 . ... Jurickson Profar is staying with the Padres, agreeing to a three-year, $21 million. Profar, who turns 28 on Feb. 20, was acquired by from the Athletics in Dec. 2019 and hit a careerbest .278 in the pandemic-shortened season with seven homers and 25 RBIs . ... The Blue Jays finalized a one-year, $5.5 million deal with RHP Kirby Yates and a one-year, $3 million deal with RHP Tyler Chatwood . ... vC Jason Castro and the Astros finalized a two-year, $7 million contract . ... The Angels finalized a one-year, $8 million deal with ex-Cubs LHP Jose Quintana.
Golf: Sungjae Im shot a 7-under 65 at The American Express to take a one-stroke lead over first-round leader Brandon Hagy and four others in La Quinta, Calif. Im, the PGA Tour’s rookie of the year in 2019, had seven birdies in the bogey-free round on the Stadium Course at PGA West, highlighted by three in four holes around the turn . ... Danielle Kang continued to sail along at the LPGA Tour’s season-opening Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, shooting a 6-under 65 to stretch her lead to two shots in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. A five-time LPGA Tour winner ranked fifth in the world, Kang had a 13-under 129 total at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando. Nelly Korda was second after a 66. ... Tyrrell Hatton moved five shots ahead of Rory McIlroy in the second round of the season-opening Abu Dhabi Championship. The Englishman was at 12 under overall when play was stopped.
Media: NBC Sports Network, which is best known for its coverage of the NHL and English Premier League, will be going away at the end of the year. NBC Sports Chairman Pete Bevacqua said in a memo that Stanley Cup playoff games and NASCAR races would be moving to USA Network this year.
NFL: The Bears promoted safeties coach Sean Desai to replace retired defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano. The longest-tenured member of the Bears’ coaching staff, Desai was hired as a quality control coach in 2013 under Marc Trestman.
NHL: Maple Leafs F Joe Thornton will miss at least four weeks because of a fractured rib. He was hurt during Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to the Oilers . ... The Jets placed F Patrik Laine (upper body) and Nate Thompson (lower body) on injured reserve.
Soccer: Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane tested positive for the coronavirus. The announcement came two days after Zidane coached the team in a 2-1 loss at third-tier Alcoyano in the Copa del Rey.