MLB union to have camp for free agents
The baseball players’ union will open its own spring training camp for the first time since the end of the 1994-95 strike, inviting free agents to work out at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Union head Tony Clark said Thursday the camp will open Tuesday and that workouts will start the following day under Bo Porter, the Houston Astros’ manager in 2013-14.
The camp is scheduled to run through March 4, and the union has the option to extend it through the end of the month.
More than 100 players who exercised their right to become free agents last November are without agreements. Teams start spring training workouts Wednesday.
Agent Scott Boras represents 15 free agents seeking jobs, a group that includes J.D. Martinez, Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer and Jake Arrieta. His company has its own training facilities in North Miami, Fla., and Newport Beach and he is not sure whether his clients will work out at his facilities or IMG. WHEELER WINS CASE » Right-hander Zack Wheeler beat the New York Mets in salary arbitration, and reliever Justin Grimm lost to the Chicago Cubs, leaving players with a 7- 4 record about halfway through this year’s hearings.
Wheeler gets a raise from $800,000 to $1.9million instead of New York’s $1.5million offer. Grimm was given a hike from $1,825,000 to $2.2 million. He had asked for $2,475,000. WHITE SOX HIRE DUN
CAN » The Chicago White Sox hired longtime major league pitching coach Dave Duncan as a consultant. Chicago said Duncan will evaluate video and provide feedback on pitchers throughout the organization. He worked the past four years with Arizona as an assistant to the GM and pitching consultant.
NFL
COLTS WANT TO INTERVIEW FRAZIER » A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Associated Press the Indianapolis Colts have sought permission to interview Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier for their head-coaching vacancy.
The Colts have been forced to resume their coaching search after Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels reneged on an agreement to accept the job by electing to stay in New England on Tuesday.
The 58-year-old Frazier completed his first season in Buffalo, and served as a mentor to first-year coach Sean McDermott.
Frazier has spent the past 19 seasons coaching at the NFL level, including a stint as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2010-13. CHIEFS CUT REVIS » The Chiefs cut veteran cornerback Darrelle Revis, amove that was long expected with his pricey tag next season and the franchise’s tight salary cap situation.
Revis signed an incentive-laden, two-year con- tract in November, providing the Chiefs with some help down the stretch and in the playoffs. He started twice and made 10 tackles in five regular-season games.
Colleges
NEW MEXICO SUSPENDS DAVIE FOR 30 DAYS» The University of New Mexico suspended head football coach Bob Davie for 30 days without pay, following multiple investigations that examined whether he and coaching staff interfered with criminal investigations or misconduct cases involving players.
The suspension comes after an initial investigation requested by university officials had found through confidential interviews with players that Davie had told them in an all-team meeting to“get some dirt” on a student who had reported that a fellow player had raped her. However, a report released by the university showed a follow-up probe conducted by a Chicago-based law firm could not confirmthe same allegations.
COUPLE FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST PASTNER » A Tucson, Ariz.-area couple has filed a lawsuit against Georgia Tech basketball coach Josh Pastner, claiming sexual assault and sexual battery by the former University of Arizona standout.
Tucson TV station KOLD reports the suit was filed by former Georgia Tech booster Ron Bell and his girlfriend, Jennifer Pendley.
Last month, Pastner filed a defamation lawsuit against Bell and Pendley, saying the couple was trying to defame and blackmail him by accusing him of breaking NCAA rules.
Legal
SWIMMER ACCUSES COACH OF SEX ABUSE » World champion swimmer Ariana Kukors has accused a U.S. Olympic team coach of sexually abusing her starting when she was 16.
Kukors, now 28, also told authorities in Seattle that Sean Hutchison took thousands of sexually explicit photographs of her, according to a search-warrant document filed by a federal agent.
She told officers that he kissed and touched her when she was 16 and engaged in sexual activity with her when she was 17 at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, the document said.
Hutchison denies abusing Kukors and has not been charged with a crime.
Basketball
TEAM USA ANNOUNCES CAMP ROSTER » USA Basketball has invited 14 players to the training camp it will use to select its roster for the next stage of qualifying games for the Basketball World Cup.
The players include Larry Drew II, Semaj Christon and Travis Wear, who all played for the Americans in the fall, when they won their first two qualifying games. Also attending will be Terrence Jones of the Santa Cruz Warriors. All but Christon play in the NBA’s G League.