Giants sign righthander Hicks for $44 million
Righthander Jordan Hicks and the San Francisco Giants finalized a $44 million, four-year contract Thursday, a deal that includes performance bonuses for innings that could increase the total to $52 million. He spent most of his time in the bullpen during five major league seasons, saving 32 games in 44 chances. Hicks was 3-9 with a 3.29 ERA and 12 saves in 15 chances over 65 outings spanning 65„ innings last year with St. Louis and Toronto.
White Sox eyeing new home
The Chicago White Sox are in “serious” discussions about building a new ballpark with the owner of a 62acre plot of land in the city’s South Loop closer to downtown and a few miles north of the team’s longtime home at Guaranteed Rate Field, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. The White Sox and mayor Brandon Johnson issued a statement saying they are working together to keep the team in Chicago but did not acknowledge specific talks about the South Loop location.
NHL Wild’s Spurgeon out for season
Wild defenseman and captain Jared Spurgeon will miss the rest of the season because of injuries to his hip and back that will require separate surgeries. Spurgeon is expected to be ready for training camp in September. The 34-year-old Spurgeon has played in only 16 games this season because of his injuries. Spurgeon has spent his entire 14-year career with the Wild.
SOCCER Pulisic named player of the year
Christian Pulisic was voted the US Soccer Federation’s Male Player of the Year for the fourth time, matching Landon Donovan for the most times receiving an award that began in 1998. Pulisic, who is in his first season with AC Milan, received 53 percent of the vote. Kevin Paredes was voted Young Male Player of the Year . . . Egypt lost Liverpool star Mohamed Salah to injury before coming from behind twice to draw, 2-2, with Ghana in their potentially decisive men’s Africa Cup of Nations match in Ivory Coast. Salah, the most high-profile player in the tournament, limped off the field holding the back of his left thigh . . . The lucrative Saudi league lost one of its high-profile players when England midfielder Jordan Henderson quit Al-Ettifaq to sign for struggling Dutch powerhouse Ajax . . . The youngest player at last summer’s Women’s World Cup as a forward for South Korea signed with Angel City of the National Women’s Soccer League. Sixteen-year-old Casey Phair was signed through 2026 via the league’s under-18 entry mechanism.
COLLEGES Miami TE gets a ninth season
Miami tight end Cam McCormick, 25, announced he will return to college for what is believed to be an unprecedented ninth season of eligibility. It’ll be one final football season from a career that was derailed multiple times by season-ending injuries . . . In men’s basketball, Landon Glasper scored 24 of his career-high 35 points in the second half and North Carolina A&T (5-13, 3-2 Colonial Athletic Association) beat Northeastern (7-11, 2-3), 7265. Chris Doherty led the Huskies with 23 points . . . In women’s basketball, Boston College (11-8) beat Wake Forest (4-14), 68-65, for the Eagles’ ninth straight home victory... Jasmyne Roberts, Shayeann Day-Wilson, and Lashae Dwyer scored 18 points each and Miami’s women’s team upset No. 4 North Carolina State, 73-59, in Coral Gables, Fla.
MISCELLANY Canadian pole vaulter dies at 29
Shawn Barber, the Canadian pole vault record-holder and 2015 world champion, died from medical complications. He was 29. Barber died Wednesday at home in Kingwood, Texas, his agent, Paul Doyle, confirmed to the Associated Press. A cause of death was not known yet . . . Driver Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus will be inducted into NASCAR’s Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., together Friday in a fitting celebration for one of the most dominant pairings in history. The duo won a record-tying seven Cup titles that included an unprecedented five straight championships. Donnie Allison, an original member of the “Alabama Gang,” will be joining his brother, Bobby, in the Hall.