Anderson, Indians avoid arbitration

Pitcher Cody Anderson avoided arbitration and signed a one-year contract on Dec. 19, the Indians announced.

Anderson, 28, had Tommy John surgery in 2017 and has not pitched in a major league game since 2016. Anderson was 7-3 in 2015 and 2-5 in 2016.

Anderson’s one-year deal is worth a reported $641,250.

“Cody Anderson finished the year healthy and we expect him to have a normal offseason and a normal spring training,” Indians manager Terry Francona said in a season wrap-up interview in October.

Anderson is expected to work out of the bullpen if he makes the Indians’ 25-man roster out of spring training.

Swimming

FIVE-TIME OLYMPIC

CHAMP FRANKLIN RETIRES AT 23 >> Five-time Olympic champion Missy Franklin is retiring from swimming at age 23, citing chronic shoulder pain that has affected her for the last 2 years.

She announced her plans Wednesday in a letter posted on ESPN. com. Franklin’s spokeswoman says the swimmer is with her family in Colorado for the holidays and isn’t commenting further for now.

Franklin’s success and bubbly personality made her a darling of the 2012 London Olympics. At age 17, she became the first woman to win four gold medals in a single Olympics in any sport.

“It took me a long time to say the words, `I am retiring,”’ Franklin wrote. “A long, long time. But now I’m ready. I’m ready to not be in pain every day. I’m ready to become a wife, one day a mother. I’m ready to continue growing each and every day to be the best person and role model I can be. I’m ready for the rest of my life.”

Franklin’s last competitive race was in the 200 free at the U.S. nationals in July. She finished third in the C final.

She is the current world record holder in the 200 backstroke and won 27 career medals in international competition.

NFL

SHOULDER SIDELINES NEWTON >> Cam Newton is headed to the bench with a sore shoulder.

The Panthers made the decision to shut down the 2015 league MVP for at least one game and possibly the remainder of the season due to a lingering right shoulder problem.

Coach Ron Rivera said Taylor Heinicke will make his first career start when Carolina hosts the Falcons on Sunday. Kyle Allen will be Carolina’s backup and Newton will be inactive.

Rivera said he made the decision to sit Newton after meeting with owner David Tepper, general manager Marty Hurney, team doctors and Newton on Wednesday morning before practice.

“It was a good conversation with Cam and he understood our thinking behind this,” Rivera said.