THE HOT CORNER

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BASEBALL:

The Houston Astros have picked up the option for the 2021 season on manager Dusty Baker’s contract. Baker, 71, was hired in January to replace AJ Hinch, who was fired by the team after he and general manager Jeff Luhnow were initially suspended for one year by Major League Baseball for their roles in Houston’s sign-stealing scandal. Luhnow also was fired.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL:

Louisville received a 45-day extension to respond to an NCAA Notice of Allegations that accused the men’s basketball program of committing a Level I violation for an improper recruiting offer and several Level II violations. The notice included an accusation that former coach Rick Pitino failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance.

PRO FOOTBALL:

General manager John Lynch has agreed to a new five-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers that will keep him locked up through the 2024 season. The new deal for Lynch comes about six weeks after coach Kyle Shanahan replaced his original six-year deal signed in 2017 with a new six-year contract that takes him through 2025.

RUGBY:

The first two stops on the 2021 World Sevens Series rugby circuit have been canceled because of the pandemic. World Rugby says the joint events in Dubai from Nov. 26-28 and in Cape Town from Dec. 4-6 have been cut because of the “ongoing and dynamic global nature of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

CYCLING:

Three riders competing at the Vuelta a Burgos cycling race in Spain have been dropped from the event after being in contact with someone infected with the coronavirus, their team said. UAE Team Emirates said Colombian riders Sebastian Molano, Cristian Munoz and Camilo Ardila did not start the second stage.