Bichette, Jays avoid arbitration
Shortstop Bo Bichette avoided arbitration on Tuesday night, agreeing to a three-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, according to multiple reports.
Bichette, who had an arbitration hearing scheduled for later this week, is on track to be a free agent after the 2025 season.
Bichette, 24, hit .290 for Toronto last season, finishing with 24 home runs and 93 RBIS.
Tucker, Astros still have gap
Outfielder Kyle Tucker went to salary arbitration with the Houston Astros on Wednesday, asking for $7.5 million rather than the team’s $5 million offer.
Moore, Mariners finalize deal
Dylan Moore and the Seattle Mariners finalized a three-year contract worth $8,875,000.
He gets a $250,000 signing bonus as part of the deal announced Wednesday and salaries of $2 million this year, $3.05 million in 2024 and $3,575,000 in 2025.
Moore’s 2025 salary would increase by $250,000 if he has 400 or more plate appearances in 2024.
The 30-year-old utilityman would have been eligible for free agency after the 2024 World Series.
Missouri MLB teams make trade
The St. Louis Cardinals acquired left-hander Anthony Misiewicz from the in-state rival Kansas City Royals for cash considerations on Wednesday. To make room on the 40-man roster, St. Louis designated righthander James Naile for assignment.
USA Boxing plans to skip worlds
Locked in a dispute with the federation that oversees amateur boxing globally, USA Boxing announced Wednesday that its fighters will not take part in the world championships this spring.
IBA’S women’s world championships will be held in March in New Delhi, while the men’s championships are scheduled for May in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Lue joins USA Basketball staff
Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue will replace Phoenix’s Monty Williams on the USA Basketball men’s national team coaching staff for this year’s World Cup and next year’s Paris Olympics.
Lue joins head coach Steve Kerr of Golden State and fellow assistants Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat and Mark Few of Gonzaga on the staff.
Williams stepped down because of family commitments, U.S. men’s national team managing director Grant Hill said Wednesday.
Griner not in camp, but in touch
Brittney Griner is back in Arizona, choosing to skip USA Basketball’s camp in Minnesota so she can be with her wife and recover from her time in a Russian jail.
She returned to the U.S. in December after a dramatic prisoner swap. Griner has said she'll play for the Phoenix Mercury again this season, although she's still an unsigned free agent.
USA Basketball coach Cheryl Reeve said Monday that she hasn't talked to Griner yet, but the organization made it clear that she could take all the time she needed to decide if she wanted to play for the U.S. again.