Free-agent pitcher Darvish finds a home with the Cubs
The winter-long dance is over. Yu Darvish is joining the Chicago Cubs.
Darvish has agreed to a $126 million, six-year contract with Chicago, giving the Cubs one of the deepest rotations in baseball and taking one of the top players off the slow-moving free agent market.
The 31-year-old Darvish met with Cubs officials way back in December and the sides remained in contact while the right-hander listened to other potential suitors. Texas, Milwaukee, Minnesota and the New York Yankees also reportedly expressed some level of interest, but Chicago’s approach paid off with the agreement just days before the start of spring training.
A person with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed the contract to The Associated Press on Saturday on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement. The move was first reported by The Athletic.
The addition of Darvish gives the Cubs a big boost as they try to return to the World Series after winning the title two years ago for the first time since 1908. He joins a formidable rotation that includes Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, Jose Quintana and Tyler Chatwood, who agreed to a $38 million, three-year contract in December.
Darvish finished last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, helping them knock out the defending champion Cubs in the playoffs to reach the World Series. The Japanese star is expected to take the rotation spot of Jake Arrieta, who became a free agent after a successful run in the Windy City.
Cycling RIDER DIES IN CRASH >>
A car seen driving down a road at twice the speed limit barreled into cyclists racing in California’s Tour de Palm Springs, killing one person and seriously injuring another, police said.
The driver was also injured in the morning crash near Indio Hills.
California Highway Patrol Sgt. Isaiah Kee told the The Desert News that the car was seen going 100 mph along the 100-mile charity bike ride route. It veered off the road onto the dirt shoulder then back into the path of cyclists, he said.
Cyclists said the sedan’s rate of speed might have meant the driver didn’t have time to avoid the cyclists, Kee said.
The names of the cyclists and driver involved have not been released.
This is at least the second death in the race in recent years.
Soccer U.S. HIRES NEW LEADER >>
Carlos Cordeiro insists he’s the right choice to lead the U.S. Soccer Federation, which must chart a new course after its men’s national team failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup.
The 61-year-old business executive won the governing body’s presidential election Saturday. He succeeds Sunil Gulati, who led the organization since 2006.
Cordeiro was Gulati’s right-hand man the past two years. Now, he’s charged, among other things, with running the U.S. end of a bid with Mexico and Canada for the right to host the 2026 World Cup.
BALOTELLI COMPLAINS ABOUT RACIST FANS >>
French club Nice says striker Mario Balotelli was shown a yellow card for complaining about racist abuse he received from Dijon fans.
Nice tweeted the Italian forward, who was booked in the 74th minute of a 3-2 away defeat by referee Nicolas Rainville, was cautioned after remonstrating with fans about the abuse.
Motorsports SELF WINS CRASH-FILLED RACE >>
Michael Self survived two multi-car melees in the closing laps to win the crash-filled ARCA Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway.
Self pulled away from the field on a third and final one-lap shootout. He stayed out front without any challenges and won the three-plus-hour race to kick off Speedweeks.
MILLICAN TOPS NHRA QUALIFYING >>
Clay Millican had a Top Fuel national time record of 3.628 seconds at 322.04 mph to take the No. 1 qualifying position in the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals.
Millican broke his own record of 3.631 set last year in Madison, Illinois.
Matt Hagan topped Funny Car qualifying, and Vincent Nobile led the Pro Stock field.
Hagan had a 3.822 at a track-record 336.32 during his second pass of the day. Nobile ran a 6.529 at 210.41 in the first qualifying pass of the day.
ROOKIE FASTEST AT DAYTONA >>
Hendrick Motorsports rookie William Byron has posted the fastest lap in practice for the Daytona 500.
Byron turned a lap of 210.681 mph in the afternoon’s practice.
Tennis
U.S. STARTS STRONGLY IN FED CUP >>
Venus Williams used her 1,000th career singles match to get the United States off to a strong start in its Fed Cup title defense.
CoCo Vandeweghe needed to stage a comeback to make sure that momentum continued.
Williams and Vandeweghe won their singles matches to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead over the Netherlands in the best-of-5 event. One of those matches proved much closer than the other.
Williams beat Arantxa Rus 6-1, 6-4 in to improve her career singles record to 776-224.
Vandeweghe had to rally from a set and a break down to win her match 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3 over Richel Hogenkamp.
Sunday’s Fed Cup action features the return of Serena Williams after more than a year away from the game while becoming a mother.
Golf
CALCAVECCHIA LEADS BY TWO >>
Mark Calcavecchia birdied the last three holes to take a two-stroke lead over Bernhard Langer into the final round of the PGA Tour Champions’ Boca Raton Championship.
Calcavecchia shot a 6-under 66 at The Old Course at Broken Sound, rebounding from bogeys on Nos. 14 and 15 with the late birdie run.
Langer, the 2010 winner in his home event, had his second straight 66.
NFL STEELERS INK NIX >>
Pittsburgh has signed Pro Bowl fullback Roosevelt Nix to a four-year contract.
The 25-year-old Nix played in all 16 games for the AFC North champions this season.
Swimming and diving CARDINAL SENIORS EXCEL >>
Seniors left their mark with a trio of pool records at Avery Aquatic Center on Senior Day as the No. 1 Stanford women topped No. 4 Cal (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12) 186-110.
Stanford (8-0, 7-0) finished the dual-meet season unbeaten for the third straight year. The Cardinal has won 23 straight dual meets.
Next up is Pac-12 championships on Feb. 21-24 in Federal Way, Washington. The NCAA championships are in Columbus, Ohio, on March 14-17.