Kershaw rejoins Dodgers heading into injury-delayed season
LOS ANGELES — Free-agent pitcher and longtime Los Angeles Dodgers icon Clayton Kershaw agreed to a new contract Tuesday to return to the team, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation. The agreement keeps the veteran lefthander in Los Angeles as he embarks upon the most uncertain stretch of his decorated 15-year career.
The terms of Kershaw's contract were not immediately known. He is scheduled to have a physical later this week. Starting Thursday, teams can place players on the 60-day injured list — which would make sense timingwise for Kershaw given he will miss much of the upcoming season after having offseason shoulder surgery.
After experiencing shoulder troubles late last season — when he managed a sterling 2.46 ERA in 24 regular-season starts before being battered in the playoffs by Arizona — Kershaw underwent a procedure in November.
Astros give Altuve extension:
José Altuve and the Houston Astros agreed to a $125 million, five-year contract that covers 2025-29.
Altuve, 33, has a $26 million salary for 2024 in the final season of a $163.5 million, sevenyear deal.
The eight-time All-Star second baseman will have salaries of $30 million annually from 2025-27 and $10 million apiece in 2028 and '29.
A three-time batting champion, Altuve hit .311 with 15 homers, 51 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 90 games last year.
ELSEWHERE Woods to make 2024 debut in L.A.
Tiger Woods confirmed Wednesday he will make his first PGA Tour start since the Masters at the Genesis Invitational next week at Riviera Country Club, a tournament he hosts.
Woods posted on social media that he was “excited to be a playing host” when the PGA Tour's next signature event with a $20 million purse starts Feb. 15.
A year ago, Woods tied for 45th in the Genesis. He next played the Masters, making the cut and then withdrawing during a rainy weekend, had ankle surgery and did not return to golf until December.
Woods will be playing on a sponsor exemption as part of the Genesis' limited field.
WNBA: The Las Vegas Aces resigned two-time MVP Candace Parker on Wednesday, a missing piece late last season when they won their second consecutive WNBA title. Parker averaged 9.0 points and 5.4 rebounds last season before undergoing foot surgery, causing her to miss the rest of the season.
NBA: The Minnesota Timberwolves struck a deal to address their bench scoring needs ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline, acquiring guard Monte Morris from Detroit in exchange for Troy Brown Jr., Shake Milton and a second-round pick.
Swimming and diving: China turned in another dominant diving performance as Wang Zongyuan and Xie Siyi finished 1-2 in the men's 3-meter, while Chen Yiwen and Chang Yani captured their third straight gold medal in women's synchronized springboard at the World Aquatics Championships in Qatar.