SF keeps dealing, adds CF
Center fielder Austin Jackson agreed to terms on a two-year, $6 million contract with the San Francisco Giants yesterday, filling the Major League Baseball team’s top remaining void just a few weeks before pitchers and catchers report to spring training.
San Francisco finished a surprising last in the NL West in 2017 and was seeking an offense-producing center fielder who also plays stellar defense. Last week, the Giants traded for right fielder Andrew McCutchen.
“He is a talented and versatile player who will strengthen our roster and provide additional depth at all three outfield positions,” general manager Bobby Evans said.
Jackson, who turns 31 on Feb. 1, batted .318 with seven homers and 35 RBI in 85 games for the Cleveland Indians last season. He will join manager Bruce Bochy’s new-look lineup that includes McCutchen, acquired in a trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates, and third baseman Evan Longoria, acquired in a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays in December. Bochy spoke to Hunter Pence about a move from right field to left — setting the outfield with a veteran threesome.
A source told The Associated Press the Chicago Cubs are having active talks with free agent pitcher Yu Darvish. The talks come amid reports the Cubs agreed to a minor league deal with catcher Chris Gimenez, who regularly worked with Darvish while they were together with the Texas Rangers.
Tennis: Mertens certain
Elise Mertens upset fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0 in the Australian Open quarterfinals to extend her winning streak to 10 matches and be the first woman through to the semifinals in the season’s first major in Melbourne. The No. 37-ranked Mertens successfully defended her Hobart International title two weeks ago, and has now won five matches at Melbourne Park.
Mertens dominated against Svitolina, who also entered her first quarterfinal in Australia on a nine-match winning roll after winning the Brisbane.
Mertens raced out to a 5-2 in the first set before Svitolina got her only service break. The second set was no contest. Mertens won a 27-point rally while holding serve in the fourth game, then hit a backhand winner into the open corner to break Svitolina in the next game for a 5-0 lead.
Svitolina framed an overhead and hit it over the baseline to give Mertens match point. Mertens duly finished it with a backhand crosscourt winner.
Mertens will play either secondseeded Caroline Wozniacki or Carla Suarez Navarro in the semis.
In men’s quarterfinals, top-seeded Rafael Nadal was playing No. 6 Marin Cilic and No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov faced Kyle Edmund.
Colleges: ’Nova solid No. 1
The top three of Villanova, Virginia and Purdue remained the same in The Associated Press’ Top 25 men’s basketball poll, with the Wildcats remaining firmly in place by collecting 63-of-65 first-place votes. Duke inched up a spot to No. 4, while Kansas jumped five spots to No. 5 . . . .
In the AP women’s basketball poll, UConn remains the unanimous No. 1 choice after again garnering all 32 firstplace votes. Mississippi State moves up to No. 2 for its best ranking eve, and Baylor, Louisville and Notre Dame follow to round out the top five . ...
The UMass men’s basketball team will finish the season without Rashaan Holloway, who was ruled academically ineligible. The junior started 13 games this season and played in 15 overall, with averages of 9.9 points and 4.9 rebounds . . . .
Patrick Chun is leaving Florida Atlantic University to be the new athletic director at Washington State. Chun will be the first Asian-American AD to lead a Power 5 school.
Misc.: Patrick finds ride
Danica Patrick found a ride for the Daytona 500 that helps complete the closing of the driver’s racing career in appropriate fashion. She will drive for Premium Motorsports in next month’s Daytona 500, her final NASCAR race, and also plans to drive in the Indianapolis 500 in May ahead of retirement . . . .
Scott Blackmun, the CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee, was diagnosed with prostate cancer and will not travel to South Korea for the opening ceremony next month. The 60-year-old will have surgery later this week.