IN BRIEF
BASEBALL: The Braves added a pair of free agents following their first division title in five years, agreeing to one-year contracts with 3B Josh Donaldson and C Brian McCann. Donaldson agreed to a $23 million, one-year contract pending a successful physical, a person familiar with the agreement said. McCann got a $2 million, one-year deal. Donaldson was the AL MVP with the Blue Jays in 2015 but has struggled since. A three-time All-Star who turns 32 next month, Donaldson hit .246 with eight homers and 23 RBIs in 52 games this season for the Blue Jays and Indians. ... The Twins claimed 1B C.J. Cron off waivers from the Rays, adding a replacement for the retired Joe Mauer. ... RHP Parker Bridwell was claimed off waivers from the Angels by the Yankees, who opened a roster spot by designating Ronald Torreyes for assignment. ... The Royals claimed Conner Greene off waivers from the Cardinals and designated fellow RHP Burch Smith for assignment.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: North Carolina is negotiating with Mack Brown on a deal to return to Chapel Hill as its next coach, two people with knowledge of the situation said. One said the deal is being finalized. North Carolina has moved quickly to replace Larry Fedora, who was fired Sunday after seven seasons. Brown, 67, coached the Tar Heels from 1988-97 before spending 16 seasons at Texas. ... DE Rashan Gary is entering the NFL draft and skipping his senior season at Michigan. It was not immediately clear if Gary plans to play for the eighth-ranked Wolverines in their bowl game. He is projected to be a first-round draft pick. ... Arizona State WR N’Keal Harry will skip his senior season to enter the draft. Harry leads the Sun Devils with 73 receptions, 1,088 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
SOCCER: The most anticipated Copa Libertadores final in years might not be decided on the pitch. The disciplinary committee of South American soccer body CONMEBOL will decide Tuesday whether to disqualify River Plate, force the second leg with archrival Boca Juniors to be played behind closed doors, or transfer the match to a neutral stadium. The first leg was drawn 2-2. River fans attacked the Boca team bus near River’s stadium on Saturday, pelting it with rocks, bottles and wood, and shattering windows. Several players were injured and had trouble breathing because of tear gas and pepper spray used by police to quell the fan violence. CONMEBOLpostponed the final from Saturday to Sunday, then postponed it indefinitely when it was obvious the Boca team was in no fit state to play what Argentines had been hyping as “the final of the century.” ... Barcelona says Luis Suarez will be sidelined for two weeks because of a right knee injury. The club said Suarez will undergo stem cell treatment on the injury.
TENNIS: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are the top three in the year-end ATP rankings for the first time since 2014. It is the seventh time that trio has finished 1-2-3 to close a season. Never before, though, had each spent time in the top spot during the year. It is the fifth time Djokovic has closed a year No. 1. Only Pete Sampras, with six No. 1 finishes, has more. No. 2 Nadal is in the top two for the 10th time, trailing only Federer’s 11. Federer is in the top three for a record 14th time.