The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Obama celebrates champion Cubs
President Barack Obama welcomed the Chicago Cubs to the White House on Monday to celebrate their World Series win and speak to the power of sports to unite a divided nation.
President Barack Obama celebrated the World Series champion Chicago Cubs on Monday and spoke about the power sports has to unite people.
“Throughout our history, sports has had this power to bring us together even when the country is divided,” Obama said at a White House ceremony for his hometown team. “Sports has changed attitudes and culture in ways that seem subtle but that ultimately made us think differently about ourselves.”
“It is a game and celebration,” he said, and noted that “there’s a direct line between Jackie Robinson and me standing here.” Robinson, a second baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers, broke Major League Baseball’s color line to become its first black player.
The White House event came four days before Obama hands the presidency over to Donald Trump following one of the most divisive elections in recent memory.
Obama has a home in Chicago, but is a longtime White Sox fan. He rooted for the Cubs after the Sox failed to reach the playoffs.
His wife, first lady Michelle Obama, however, is a lifelong Cubs fan. She greeted Cubs players before the ceremony, which Obama noted was her first appearance at some of the roughly 50 events he has hosted for championship college and professional sports teams.
The Cubs gave Obama two baseball jerseys — home and away — with the number 44, among other gifts. Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo also wears the number, and Obama referred to Rizzo as “my fellow 44.” Obama is the nation’s 44th president.
Duffy gets extension
The Royals and Danny Duffy have agreed to a $65 million, five-year contract that will keep the popular lefthander in Kansas City.
Duffy will make $5 million this year, $14 million in 2018, $15.25 million each in 2019 and 2020 and $15.5 million in 2021.
Duffy was eligible for arbitration this offseason and would have been eligible for free agency after the World Series. Now, he will remain with the team that chose him in the third round of the 2007 amateur draft, helped him to recover from Tommy John surgery and gave him a chance to be a World Series champion.
Saunders to Phillies
Outfielder Michael Saunders and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed on a $9 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Saunders’ deal was first reported by MLB.com. MLB Network reported Saunders has an option for 2018 worth $11 million with escalators that can make it reach $14 million, and the deal includes a $1 million buyout.
A 2016 AL All-Star with Toronto, Saunders hit a careerbest 24 homers and batted .253 with 57 RBIs last season.
The left-handed hitting Saunders gives the Phillies a much-needed power threat at a spot they sorely lacked it. Peter Bourjos led Philadelphia’s corner outfielders with only five homers last year.