Arrieta set to join Phillies for $75M

Two people familiar with the deal tell The Associated Press that free agent ace Jake Arrieta and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a three-year deal.

Both people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Sunday because the contract is pending a physical. The deal is reportedly worth $75 million.

NBC Sports Philadelphia first reported the agreement.

The 32-year-old righty was among several top free agents didn’t get a deal for six or seven years in a changing freeagent market. The Phillies, who have plenty of money to spend, waited until the price was right for them.

Arrieta won the 2015 NL Cy Young Award with the Chicago Cubs and helped them win the World Series the next season. He was 1410 with a 3.53 ERA last year.

Arrieta was 68-31 with a 2.73 ERA in five seasons in Chicago. He’ll join Aaron Nola atop the Phillies’ rotation on a team that finished last in the NL East.

The Phillies haven’t had a winning season since 2011, but now have added veteran slugger Carlos Santana, Arrieta and quality relievers to a young nucleus that could show considerable improvement over last season’s 66-96 mark.

NFL

SHERMAN SIGNS DEAL

WITH 49ERS » Star cornerback Richard Sherman signed a three-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, two days after being released by the rival Seattle Seahawks.

The deal reportedly is worth up to $39.15 million.

“Richard is one of the premier competitors Kyle and I have ever encountered,” 49ers general Manager John Lynch said, referring to coach Kyle Shanahan. “We look forward to him sharing his wealth of experience and his passion for the game of football with our team.”

Sherman played an integral role in the fierce NFC West rivalry between Seattle and San Francisco earlier this decade. With the Seahawks retooling their defense, he became expendable.

College basketball

USC, NOTRE DAME HIGHLIGHT NIT FIELD » Southern California, Notre Dame, Baylor and Saint Mary’s are the No. 1 seeds for the National Invitation Tournament.

USC (23-11) finished second to Arizona in the Pac-12 this season and lost 75-61 to the Wildcats in the conference tournament final Saturday night, making the Trojans one of the most notable snubs for the NCAA Tournament field.

USC will play UNC Asheville on Tuesday night in its first appearance in the NIT since 1999.

Notre Dame takes on Hampton, Baylor plays Wagner and Saint Mary’s faces Southeastern Louisiana in the first round. The Irish also had a strong case for a spot in the NCAA tourney after preseason All-American Bonzie Colson returned from a broken left foot.

Auto racing

BOURDAIS WINS AGAIN » Sebastien Bourdais wept as he crossed the finish line Sunday for his second consecutive victory at St. Petersburg.

The win was a milestone for him in his recovery from serious injuries suffered in a crash at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Across the paddock, Robert Wickens fumed at the disastrous turn of events that had cost him a victory in his IndyCar debut.

He dominated the season-opening event and had the win in his grip until contact with Alexander Rossi on a restart took him out of contention.

“It would have been a fairy tale to finish that well, but sometimes it’s just not meant to be,” Wickens said.

Wickens led a racehigh 69 of the 110 laps.