Prospect McKenna in final vote for Fall Stars Game
Orioles prospect Ryan McKenna is in the final vote for the Arizona Fall League’s Fall Stars Game this weekend despite being one of the top offensive performers on the circuit. McKenna, the team’s No. 8 prospect according to Baseball America, was batting .378/.500/.649 with seven extra-base hits and a 1.149 OPS, good for second in the league, entering Monday’s game. But when the Fall Stars roster was announced Monday, McKenna and the Orioles’ other six entrants into the league — infielder Steve Wilkerson, catcher Martin Cervenka and pitchers Chris Lee, Jay BASEBALL: Agent Brodie Van Wagenen has agreed to switch roles and become the Mets’ general manager, team spokesman Harold Kaufman confirmed. Kaufman said chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and Van Wagenen have settled on contract terms, although no paperwork had been signed. Van Wagenen, 44, has represented highprofile players all around the majors, including current Mets stars Jacob deGrom, Yoenis Cespedes and Todd Frazier. ... The Diamondbacks picked up the $14.5 million option on Paul Goldschmidt’s contract for the 2019 season. ... The Nationals exercised their $6 million club option for 2019 on lefty closer Sean Doolittle. ... Adam Wainwright became a free agent, then finalized a $2 million, one-year contract with the Cardinals that allows him to earn $8 million in performance bonuses as a starting pitcher, $3 million for relief appearances and $4 million more for games finished. ... The A’s announced contract extensions for manager Bob Melvin, executive vice president Billy Beane and GMDavid Forst. COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said he’s not interested in the NFLright now. The question came up on the day the Browns fired coach Hue Jackson. Riley coached Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield at Oklahoma but said, “I love Oklahoma. I love coaching here. I love college football. I certainly don’t have that itch right now.” ... Ohio State coach Urban Meyer addressed speculation that he could step down at the end of the season, saying he feels fine and definitely will be back next year. ... Illinois defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson resigned, citing personal “healthrelated circumstances beyond my control.” In year three under coach Lovie Smith and Nickerson, the Illinois defense has allowed 52.6 points per game during the last three weeks in blowout losses to Purdue, Wisconsin and Maryland. ... Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer is in a concussion protocol and his status is uncertain for Saturday’s home game against Oklahoma State. ... North Carolina State coach Dave Doeren says receiver Stephen Louis will have season-ending surgery due to a high ankle sprain. ... Florida State will be without leading receiver Nyqwan Murray and reserve linebacker Zaquandre White for the first half Saturday at North Carolina State. Coach Willie Taggart announced the suspensions for throwing punches at Clemson players in separate second-half incidents Saturday. HORSERACING: Accelerate, the Californiabased 5-year-old who has won five of six starts this year, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Classic after drawing the far outside No. 14 post for the $6 million race at Churchill Downs. West Coast, one of two entries trained by Bob Baffert, is the 5-1 second choice after drawing the No. 7 post. He will start to the right of stablemate McKinzie, the co-third choice with Mind Your Biscuits at 6-1. SOCCER: In just months, Julen Lopetegui has lost two of the most high-profile coaching jobs in the world. Lopetegui was fired by Real Madrid less than five months after he was sacked by Spain before the World Cup for not telling federation officials he accepted the Madrid job. Santiago Solari, coach of Real Madrid B, will take charge for the Copa del Rey match against thirddivision club Melilla on Wednesday.