Reports: Jays, Springer strike $150M deal
Multiple outlets reported late Tuesday that the Blue Jays and free-agent outfielder George Springer agreed to terms on a sixyear, $150 million contract, pending a physical. The team didn’t immediately confirm the deal.
Springer, 31, was a three-time All-Star in seven seasons with the Astros and was voted the most valuable player of their 2017 World Series victory against the Dodgers after hitting .379 with five home runs and a 1.471 OPS.
In his career, Springer has hit .270 with 174 homers, 458 RBI and an .852 OPS. He hit .265 with 14 homers, 32 RBI and an .899 OPS in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, helping the Astros reach the American League Championship Series before falling to the Rays in seven games.
♦ MLB.com reported the Angels agreed to terms with former White Sox and Cubs lefthander Jose Quintana, 31, on a one-year, $8 million contract, pending a physical.
Quintana, who made only four appearances for the Cubs in 2020 because of injuries, is 83-77 with a 3.73 ERA in nine seasons. He was traded from the Sox to the Cubs at the All-Star break in 2017 for a package that included outfielder Eloy Jimenez and righthander Dylan Cease.
NU gets transfer QB from S. Carolina
Former South Carolina quarterback Ryan Hilinski announced on Twitter that he is transferring to Northwestern. He likely will be among several players competing to take over for Peyton Ramsey, who guided the Wildcats to a 7-2 record in 2020.
Hilinski, a sophomore, started for the Gamecocks as a true freshman in 2019 and passed for 2,357 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. But he lost his job to Colorado State transfer Collin Hill during the offseason in 2020 and played in only two games this past season.
♦ ESPN, citing sources it didn’t identify, reported Northwestern will hire Raiders defensive backs coach Jim O’Neil as their defensive coordinator.
O’Neil, a former defensive coordinator for the 49ers and Browns, will replace Mike Hankwitz, who retired after 51 years as a college coach, the last 13 with the Wildcats. He and NU coach Pat Fitzgerald worked together as defensive assistants under thenWildcats coach Randy Walker in 2003-04.
COVID postpones Canes-Preds game
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the NHL to postpone its first game since the season began, with the league calling off the game between the Hurricanes and Predators in Nashville, Tennessee, after the Hurricanes won the first of a two-game set Monday.
The NHL didn’t specify which team prompted the postponement and didn’t announce when the game would be made up. The teams aren’t scheduled to play again in Nashville until May 7-8.
Kyrie back with Nets after 7 games away
Guard Kyrie Irving rejoined the Nets, saying he took a leave of absence because he ‘‘just needed a pause.’’ Irving practiced with the team and might play Wednesday against the Cavaliers. He has missed the Nets’ last seven games — five while away from the team and two more while regaining his conditioning after he was eligible to return.
♦ The Trail Blazers said guard CJ McCollum has a hairline fracture in his left foot and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. He was averaging a career-best 26.7 points when he was hurt Saturday.
♦ Pacers guard Caris LeVert said he is waiting for results of additional tests to determine whether a small mass on his left kidney discovered in a routine physical last week is cancerous.
Tiger has another back surgery
Tiger Woods announced on Twitter that he had a fourth microdiscectomy to alleviate pain in his lower back and won’t compete in PGA Tour events next week in San Diego or next month in Los Angeles. He previously had the procedure once in 2014 and twice in 2015.
Red Stars to play in international event
The Red Stars said they will play in the inaugural International Women’s Cup in August in Louisville, Kentucky. They will join NWSL expansion team Racing Louisville and two UEFA Champions League clubs to be named for games Aug. 18 and Aug. 21.