Yankees’ Montas needs surgery, out most or all of season
Frankie Montas needs shoulder surgery and will miss most or all of the New York Yankees’ season.
As pitchers and catchers reported to spring training on Wednesday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the 29-year-old right-hander will have right shoulder surgery on Feb. 21. Boone said Montas could possibly return in the season’s second half.
“He was building back up and just still wasn’t quite right,” Boone said. “Now we’ve gotten to the point where they’re going to go in and they’ll scope it. Best case is he woild be back late in the season but we’re really going to know a lot after the 21st.”
Montas was acquired from Oakland on Aug 1. and went 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA in eight starts with the Yankees. He didn’t pitch after Sept. 16 due to inflammation in his pitching shoulder.
Montas left a July 3 start at Seattle after 13 pitches with shoulder tightness — his velocity was down about 3 mph. He returned July 21 and had a 2.25 ERA in starts against Detroit and Houston. CLEVINGER REPORTS AS MLB PROBES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES >> Mike Clevinger reported among Chicago White Sox pitchers to spring training on Wednesday while facing allegations of domestic violence.
White Sox general manager Rick Hahn told reporters the team’s “only option”
was to allow Clevinger to report while awaiting results of Major League Baseballs investigation into the allegations.
MLB began the investigation following allegations made public by Olivia Finestead in an Instagram post on Jan. 24. The White Sox said they were not aware of the allegations when the 32-year-old right-hander agreed to a $12 million, oneyear contract as a free agent that was announced on Dec. 4.
RANGERS HOLD DEGROM OUT OF FIRST SPRING WORKOUT >>
Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom was held out of the first spring training workout for the Texas Rangers on Wednesday because
their top free-agent acquisition felt some tightness in his left side.
Each of deGrom’s past two seasons with the New York Mets were shortened substantially by injuries, but Rangers general manager Chris Young insisted the decision to hold out deGrom was precautionary. It was an unusually chilly day in Arizona and some fields were slick from overnight rain.
NFL
HAMLIN: ‘I MEANT NO RELIGIOUS DISRESPECT FOR WEARING JACKET’ >>
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin said Wednesday he never intended to offend anyone for attending the Super Bowl wearing a jacket that critics deemed to feature an offensive depiction of Jesus.
“After talking with my parents I understand how my coat could have offended some people,” Hamlin wrote in a note posted on his Twitter account. “It was never my intentions to hurt or disrespect anyone, the coat is abstract art to me.”
Auto racing NASCAR’SSUÁREZSIGNSMULTIYEAR DEAL WITH TRACKHOUSE RACING >>
Daniel Suárez has signed a second extension in six months with Trackhouse Racing, getting a multiyear deal done after landing a one-year contract last August.
The team announced Suárez’s latest extension Wednesday as NASCAR kicked off Speedweeks with Daytona 500 media day and pole qualifying. The team declined to release details but will keep the 31-year-old Mexican behind the wheel for a third season and beyond for coowners Justin Marks and Pitbull.
ALEX BOWMAN SIGNS 3-YEAR EXTENSION WITH HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS >>
Alex Bowman has a new contract as he chases his first Daytona 500 victory.
Bowman received a three-year extension from Hendrick Motorsports on Wednesday that will keep the driver — who missed five races last season with a concussion — with the team through the 2026 season.