Astros extend Hinch’s contract

That new contract A.J.

Hinch got from the Houston Astros also came with a huge set of expectations.

"When I hired A.J., at the press conference, I said, 'A.J.'s going to be our manager when we win the first World Series for Houston,'" general manager Jeff

Luhnow said Thursday. "I'm now telling you that A.J. is going to be the manager when we win the second and hopefully the third World Series for Houston," he said.

The reigning champion Astros — and current AL West leaders — rewarded the Midwest City native with a deal that extends his run in the dugout through the 2022 season. His contract had been set to expire after this year with a club option for 2019.

West retires from NBA

David West, a key big man off the bench for the Golden State Warriors' past two championship seasons, announced his retirement on Thursday.

West, 38, left the Spurs following the 2015-16 season for a chance to chase a championship with the Warriors, and wound up winning his first career title and then a second one this past June.

He averaged 13.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists over a 15-year career with New Orleans, Indiana, San Antonio and the Warriors.

Kaepernick, NFL to meet in court

An arbitrator is sending Colin Kaepernick's grievance with the NFL to trial, denying the league's request to throw out the quarterback's claims that owners conspired to keep him out of the league because of his protests of social injustice.

The former 49ers quarterback argues that owners have colluded to keep him off any NFL roster since he hit free agency in 2017.

Patriots' Gronk gets pay raise

Rob Gronkowski's agent says the Patriots star is the NFL's highest paid tight end after New England reworked his contract to add $4.3 million this season.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus said Thursday that Gronkowski's deal for the next two seasons adds $1 million in per game bonuses and

$3.3 million in incentives for things like catches, playing time and touchdowns.

Rosenhaus says Gronkowski's base salary stays at $8 million, with the additions boosting the potential value to more than $13 million.