Record money for two
NEW YORK — MLB third basemen Josh Donaldson and Kris Bryant set records Friday when they were among 145 players who agreed to oneyear contracts rather than swap proposed salaries in arbitration with their teams. Donaldson and Toronto agreed at $23 million, the largest oneyear deal for an arbitration-eligible player. The 32-year-old, a three-time All-Star, topped the $21,625,000, one-year deal covering 2018 agreed to last May by outfielder Bryce Harper and Washington. Donaldson, the 2015 AL MVP, got a $6 million raise after rebounding from an injury-slowed 2016 to hit .270 last season with 33 home runs and 78 RBIs in 113 games. Bryant settled with the Chicago Cubs at $10.85 million, the most for a player eligible for arbitration for the first time. The previous mark was held by Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard, who was awarded $10 million by a three-person panel in 2008. Bryant made $1.05 million last season. Baltimore third baseman Manny Machado — like Donaldson, eligible for free agency after this season — agreed at $16 million, while Houston pitcher Dallas Keuchel agreed to a $13.2 million deal. Just 27 players remain on track for hearings next month.
› The Atlanta Braves signed
Arodys Vizcaino to a oneyear, $3.4 million contract to avoid going to arbitration with their top closer candidate, but they didn’t agree to a deal with arbitration-eligible starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz before Friday’s deadline. That means Foltynewicz is likely to become just the second arbitration hearing in 17 years for the Braves, with a relatively paltry difference of only $100,000 between the salary figures filed by the two sides. The Braves filed at $2.2 million and Foltynewicz at $2.3 million. The Braves also avoided arbitration with relievers
Dan Winkler, who signed a $610,000 deal Friday, and Sam Freeman, who signed for $1.075 million Thursday.
FOOTBALL
› COLUMBIA, S.C. — Marcus Lattimore, the running back who set program records in his time at South Carolina, is returning to the Gamecocks as their director of player development and life skills. On Friday, head coach Will Muschamp announced the hirings of Lattimore and an NCAA-approved 10th on-field assistant coach, Kyle Krantz. Lattimore will also oversee the Gamecocks’ Beyond Football program, which exposes players to off-field careers. Lattimore set the school mark with 38 rushing touchdowns from 2010 to ’12. He was the Southeastern Conference freshman of the year in 2010 with 1,197 rushing yards, but his career was cut short by two serious knee injuries his sophomore and junior years. After two seasons as a defensive analyst, Krantz will now work with special teams, linebackers and nickel backs.
› CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis said the 2018 season will be his last. Davis confirmed his decision during an appearance on NFL Network on Friday. While the Panthers didn’t make an official announcement, they posted a picture of Davis with the word “Respect” on their Twitter page. Davis, 34, said he made his decision when the team signed him to a contract extension through 2018. He had been seeking an extension through 2019. The former Georgia Bulldog was a first-round draft pick in 2005 and has spent his entire pro career with the Panthers. He’s seventh in team history with 13 career interceptions and eighth with 28 sacks.