SPORTS BRIEFS

Major League Baseball suspended Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer a total of 324 games — effectively two full seasons — without pay on Friday for violating the league's domestic violence policy.

The ban is effective immediately and would last into the 2024 season.

While the Commissioner's Office did not issue any additional statements upon concluding its investigation into allegations made against Bauer, the pitcher immediately took to social media to announce his intention to appeal the decision.

“In the strongest possible terms, I deny committing any violation of the league's domestic violence & sexual assault policy,” Bauer wrote on Twitter. “I am appealing this action and expect to prevail. As we have throughout this process, my representatives & I respect the confidentiality of the proceedings.”

Bauer, 31, was due to earn US$32 million this year and in 2023 as part of a threeyear, $102 million deal signed prior to the 2021 season. He is suing the woman who accused him of sexual assault, contending her motive was to destroy his “reputation and baseball career, garner attention for herself, and extract millions of dollars” from him.

Zion Williamson said he wouldn't hesitate to sign an extension with the New Orleans Pelicans this off-season.

“Of course,” the forward said Friday, per ESPN. “I couldn't sign it fast enough.”

Williamson, 21, who missed the entire 2021-22 season with a broken right foot, addressed the media for the first time since September.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Williamson is eligible to sign a five-year, $181 million max rookie extension this summer.

Williamson, an all-star in 2020-21, has played in just 85 career games, averaging 25.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

Juergen Klopp said he hopes that his decision to extend his contract will guarantee stability for Liverpool, adding that he wants to keep the Premier League club successful “forever.”

The 54-year-old German manager, who joined Liverpool from Borussia Dortmund in October 2015, signed a two-year extension on Thursday that will keep him at Anfield until 2026.

“We want to try and make this club successful for as long as possible, if not forever,” Klopp told reporters on Friday, ahead of Liverpool's league trip to Newcastle United. “That doesn't mean I will be here forever of course!”