Ex- Cardinals exec pleads guilty to hacking Astros
The former scouting director of the St. Louis Cardinals pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to hacking into the player database and email system of the Houston Astros in an unusual case of hightech cheating involving two Major League Baseball clubs.
Chris Correa pleaded guilty to five counts of unauthorized access of a protected computer from 2013 to at least 2014, the same year he was promoted to director of baseball development in St. Louis. Correa, 35, was fired last summer and faces up to five years in prison on each charge when he is sentenced April 11.
MLB could discipline the Cardinals, possibly with a fine or a loss of draft picks, but said only that it looked forward to getting details on the case from federal authorities.
Cubs minor- league pitcher P. J. Francescon was suspended 50 games under baseball’s minorleague drug program after a second positive test. The suspension will begin at the start of the 2016 season.
Francescon, 27, went 4- 2 with a 1.47 ERA in 45 games last season, mostly with Class AA Tennessee. He finished the year at Class AAA Iowa after earning Southern League All- Star honors for the second consecutive season.
Former White Sox left- handed reliever Hector Santiago avoided salary arbitration with the Los Angeles Angels, agreeing to a oneyear, $ 5 million contract.
The Washington Nationals traded reliever Drew Storen to the American League East champion Blue Jays for outfielder Ben Revere.
NFL
Seahawks RB Lynch out
Seattle Seahawks running back
Marshawn Lynch will miss the wild- card game Sunday at Minnesota. After Lynch was questionable earlier Friday, the Seahawks said he didn’t travel with the team.
Lynch was listed as a full participant in practice all three days this week. He had abdominal surgery Nov. 25 and rejoined the team after spending most of his recovery in the Bay Area with personal trainers.
The Detroit Lions agreed to a deal in principle with BobQuinn to be their general manager, hoping to replicate some of the New England Patriots’ success.
The San Diego Chargers gave Mike McCoy a one- year contract extension through 2017.
Khalil Mack became the first selection at two positions in the same year, while Adrian Peterson and J. J. Watt were unanimous choices for the 2015 Associated Press NFL All- Pro Team.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Utley, Brooks, Davis join Hall
Former-Washington State offensive lineman Mike Utley, who suffered a spinal cord injury during an NFL game and was paralyzed, was one of 14 players to be selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Florida State’s Derrick Brooks, Iowa State’s Troy Davis, Purdue’s Rod Woodson, LSU’s Bert Jones and UNLV’s Randall Cunningham were among the other notable players who joined the class.
MISCELLANEOUS
UIC suffers third straight loss
Dikembe Dixson had 22 points and Najeal Young 15 as UIC ( 2- 11, 0- 2 Horizon) fell to Detroit 87- 69, their third consecutive loss.
The Wolves ( 16- 14- 1- 2) lost to the host Texas Stars 3- 1. Defenseman Jeremie Blain scored for the Wolves with 56 seconds left.
Jordan Spieth finished with a 9- under 64 for a four- shot lead after the second round in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, Hawaii.