Rivera expects call from Hall
Mariano Rivera figures to make quick work of his Hall of Fame ballot appearance, just as he did of opposing batters, and could even set another record when voting is announced Tuesday: for highest percentage of ballots.
No one has ever been a unanimous Hall of Fame selection. Ken Griffey Jr. holds the mark for the top percentage at 99.32 when he was on 437 of 440 ballots two years ago. Rivera was picked by all 217 voters totaled through Monday afternoon by Ryan Thibodaux’s Hall of Fame vote tracker, about half the expected ballots.
Roy Halladay also appeared headed to election in his first appearance on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot, while Edgar Martinez seemed likely to join them in his 10th and final appearance. Mike Mussina also could gain the honor, but Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling probably will fall short.
Rivera set the career saves record with 652 in 19 seasons plus 42 more in the postseason. He broke the previous mark of 601 saves, set by 2018 inductee Trevor Hoffman.
Halladay’s election will be tinged with melancholy. The two-time Cy Young Award winner died in November 2017 in a crash of a small airplane. He went 203-104 with a 3.38 ERA in 12 seasons with Toronto and four for Philadelphia.
Elsewhere: The Yankees traded pitcher Sonny Gray to Cincinnati after the 29-year-old right-hander agreed to a contract with the Reds adding $30.5 million in three future years. New York received infield prospect Shed Long and a high pick in this year’s amateur draft, then flipped Long to Seattle for 21-year-old outfielder Josh Stowers. The Yankees sent the Reds left-hander Reiver Sanmartin. … Reliever Cody Allen and the Angels finalized a one-year contract for $8.5 million. … Infielder Wilmer Flores and the Diamondbacks finalized a one-year contract that guarantees $4.25 million.
ETC.
Skiing: It seemed like destiny played a role when Mikaela Shiffrin won what could turn out to be Lindsey Vonn’s last race.
In the space of about a half hour, Vonn said she was considering moving up her retirement after failing to finish a World Cup super-G on knees so worn down that she describes them as “bone on bone,” then fellow American Shiffrin came down nine racers later and won her first speed race at the premier stop on the women’s circuit at Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy. Vonn has 82 World Cup victories, best all-time among women.
Soccer: Cristiano Ronaldo had a penalty saved but it mattered little as Juventus beat lastplaced Chievo Verona 3-0 to extend its advantage in Serie A. Ronaldo is expected to enter a guilty plea Tuesday to tax fraud related to his time at Real Madrid. … Eibar shut out Espanyol 3-0 to end a sevenmatch winless streak and move further away from the relegation zone in the Spanish league.
Figure skating: More South Korean female skaters are accusing their coaches of sexually abusing them, a group representing the athletes disclosed following claims by two-time Olympic champion Shim Suk-hee that her former coach had repeatedly raped her.