SOURCE: NUGGETS’ GRANT TO OPT OUT OF $ 9.3M PLAYER OPTION

What had long been reported became official Monday afternoon.

Nuggets forward Jerami Grant will opt out of his $ 9.3 million player option and become an unrestricted free agent, a league source confirmed. The Post reported in late September that Grant was expected to opt out of his contract and test free agency. Retaining Grant remains the top priority for Denver this offseason.

Veteran forward Paul Millsap will be an unrestricted free agent as well.

Schilling, Clemens, Bonds leading candidates on Hall ballot.

NEW YORK » Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds are the leading candidates returning to baseball’s

Hall of Fame ballot in a year without any favorites among the new names. Schilling was third behind Derek Jeter and Larry Walker with 278 of 397 votes last year, finishing at 70% and 20 votes shy in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Clemens had 242 votes for 61% and Bonds 241 for 60.7%, both well short of the 75% needed.

Pitchers Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, Mark Buehrle and A. J. Burnett, and outfielder Torii Hunter are among the top newcomers on the ballot announced Monday.

Padres’ Clevinger needs TJ surgery, out 2021; gets 2- year deal.

SAN DIEGO » Padres pitcher Mike Clevinger will miss the 2021 season because of Tommy John surgery, the team announced Monday after reaching agreement with the right- hander on an $ 11.5 million, two- year contract.

San Diego said Clevinger’s surgery will be performed Tuesday in Cincinnati. The Padres acquired Clevinger on Aug. 31 in a trade with Cleveland.

LHP Smyly, Braves agree to $ 11M, 1- year contract. ATLANTA » Left- hander Drew Smyly became the first of the 181 free agents to switch teams when he agreed Monday to an $ 11 million, one- year contract with the Atlanta Braves, who bolstered a rotation that was depleted by injuries and disappointing performances. The

31- year- old pitched seven games last season for San Francisco, making five starts. He went 0- 1 with a 3.42 ERA.

Miami has 3 games PPD by virus; A& M on pause for 2nd week. No. 12 Miami had its remaining three games rescheduled Monday because of COVID- 19 cases in the program, forcing the ACC to shuffle six games over the last month of the season. Georgia Tech at Miami scheduled for Saturday is now set for Dec. 19. The number of games across major college football scheduled for this weekend that have already been called off is up to six, after three went down Monday, including Mississippi at No. 5 Texas A& M.

Gioacchini, Soto score 2 goals each as U. S. routs Panama 6- 2. Nicholas Gioacchini and Sebastian Soto each scored their first two international goals in a 6- 2 exhibition rout of Panama for the U. S. Men’s National Team Monday night at Wiener Neustadt, Austria, the second of two matches for the Americans following a 10month pandemic break.

Lightning lay off 30 workers. Just months after winning the Stanley Cup, officials with the Tampa Bay Lightning said Monday that they are eliminating 30 positions. The positions were across the company and effective immediately, team officials said.

Darnold out again for Jets. NEW YORK » New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold was ruled out Monday for a second straight game as he recovers from an injured right shoulder. Coach Adam Gase said Joe Flacco will start in Darnold’s place when the winless Jets take on the Chargers in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Mavs’ Porzingis to miss start of season after knee surgery. DALLAS Kristaps Porzingis will miss the start of the season as the Dallas Mavericks star continues recovery from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.