Quick Hitters

Catcher Caleb Joseph, D-Backs agree to $1.1M, 1-year deal

PHOENIX — Catcher Caleb Joseph and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a one-year contract that calls for a $1.1 million salary in the major leagues and a $250,000 salary in the minors.

Arizona opened a roster spot by placing right-hander Taijuan Walker on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old Joseph played five seasons with Baltimore and is ninth among active catchers with a caught-stealing percentage of 29.4. He threw out 32.2 percent of attempted base stealers last season and tied for the major league lead among catchers with 11 double plays, but he hit just .219 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 280 plate appearances. He became a free agent when the Orioles failed to offer a contract by the Nov. 30 deadline.

Joseph is a career .224 hitter with 31 homers and 122 RBIs.

Walker is recovering from Tommy John surgery after tearing his right ulnar collateral ligament last April against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Heavyweight champ Joshua to make U.S. debut

LONDON — The Anthony Joshua roadshow is finally heading to the United States. Not to fight the only other heavyweight champion, though.

The four-title champion will make his American boxing debut when he defends his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts against Jarrell Miller at Madison Square Garden on June 1.

“I plan to embrace the culture and leave with an appetite for more,” said Joshua, whose 22 professional fights have all taken place in Britain. He has won all of those bouts, 21 by knockout.

His last five fights have been in stadiums, with nearly 400,000 spectators attending in total. The highest-profile bout was against Wladimir Klitschko in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in April 2017.

But Joshua has been increasingly aware that he needs to fight in the United States to raise his global profile.

“AJ has created an incredible ‘Lion’s Den’ atmosphere in the U.K. and we plan to bring that energy to New York,” said Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn.