Quick hits
Warriors’ Curry breaks left hand after collision with Suns’ Aron Baynes
SAN FRANCISCO — Warriors guard Stephen Curry exited Wednesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns in the third quarter with a broken left hand.
The Warriors confirmed the news on Twitter after performing X-rays on Curry.
Three-and-a-half minutes into the quarter, Curry drove for a layup and was fouled by Suns center Aron Baynes when he fell head first into the restricted area. The 6foot-10, 260 pound Baynes fell with him, and landed on Curry.
Curry laid on the ground for about 15 seconds, grimacing as he grabbed his left wrist, before being helped up by Warriors forward Draymond Green. He then stood for a while, hunched over in apparent pain.
After a short sit on the bench, Curry went to the locker room. Because Curry did not shoot his free throws, he was not eligible to return to the game (the Suns elected center Willie Cauley-Stein to shoot his free throws in his absence).
Patriots to release Gordon from the injured reserve
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — It looks like Josh Gordon’s time with the Patriots has come to an end.
According to multiple reports, the Patriots released Gordon from the injured reserve. The wide receiver lasted just eight days on the IR. Now, he’ll go through the waiver-wire process where each team has a chance to claim the 28-year-old.
The fact the Patriots released Gordon so quickly shows the team wanted to part ways with the troubled receiver. There’s also some strategy involved. Although Gordon did have a knee injury, it wasn’t enough to end his season. Had the Pats released the receiver last week, he would’ve been open to sign with any team — including a number of top contenders in the AFC.
Since the Patriots released Gordon after the trade deadline, Gordon is now subjected to waivers. That means teams with the worse records have a better chance of landing the former Pro Bowl receiver.
The Patriots acquired Gordon last year in a deal with Cleveland. He was productive, catching 40 passes for 720 yards and three touchdowns. However, Gordon’s offfield issues came to light in December when he left the team and was suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
— Mark Daniels, The Providence
Journal (Providence, R.I.)
Mike Matheny hired as Royals’ manager
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Royals hired Mike Matheny as their 17th manager in franchise history Thursday.
Matheny, 49, a former major league manager with the St. Louis Cardinals, takes over for Ned Yost, who retired after the 2019 season.
“I truly see something very, very special about to happen here,” Matheny said after he put on a Royals jersey and cap during his introductory news conference at Kauffman Stadium, “and I want to be a part of it.”
General manager Dayton Moore brought Matheny onto his staff as an adviser for player development in November after he was fired by the Cardinals during the 2018 season.
Moore said he went into the process of selecting Yost’s replacement “with an open mind.” Matheny said he views taking the Royals manager job as “a privilege and a trust.”
“Our entire organization is delighted to announce and celebrate the hiring of Mike Matheny,” Moore said in a release announcing the move. “Every department has had the pleasure to work and interact with him this past season.
Gerrit Cole heads to free agency with the Yankees among expected suitors
HOUSTON — Gerrit Cole at first didn’t bring the warm and fuzzy about his time with the Astros after Game 7 of the World Series.
In fact, minutes after his team’s loss to the Nationals in Game 7, Cole was already describing that team in the past tense.
“I mean, I’m not employed,” Cole said to an Astros public relations official in the home clubhouse, according to the Houston Chronicle. “I’m not employed.”
The official was asking Cole, a free agent this offseason whom the Yankees have an interest in and who is just about guaranteed to become one of the game’s highest-paid players, to address the group of reporters wanting to talk to him.
The righthander, sporting not an Astros cap but one with the logo of Boras Corp – founded and run by Cole’s agent, Scott Boras – eventually gave in.
“All right,” Cole said, “as an affiliate of myself.”
The 29-year-old, coming off one of the best seasons any player has ever had going into free agency – 20-5 with a 2.50 ERA, including 11-0 with a 1.51 ERA in his last 13 regular-season starts – then answered questions amiably enough.
“A lot of good friendships,” Cole said of the two seasons with the Astros, in which he went 35-10 with a 2.68 ERA. “Learned a lot about pitching from my teammates, from my pitching coaches and staff, learned a lot more about the game from (manager) AJ (Hinch) and it was just a pleasure to play in the city of Houston.”