Sanchez, Twins agree to a deal

Catcher Gary Sánchez and the Minnesota Twins agreed Thursday to a $9-million, one-year contract, avoiding an arbitration hearing that had been scheduled for next week.

The agreement was at the midpoint of the $9.5 million the twotime All-Star had asked for and the $8.5 million offered by the Twins. A hearing had been scheduled for Tuesday.

Etc.

Catcher Willson Contreras and the Chicago Cubs avoided an arbitration hearing, agreeing to a oneyear contract for $9.625 million . ... Cincinnati Red catcher Tyler Stephenson is expected to miss four to six weeks after a foul ball broke his right thumb . ... Lawyers for Ángel Hernández claim Major League Baseball manipulated the umpire’s evaluations, renewing the allegation in an attempt to reinstate the racial discrimination lawsuit he lost last year.