Yankees’ Montas needs surgery, out most or all of season

Frankie Montas needs shoulder surgery and will miss most or all of the New York Yankees’ season.

As pitchers and catchers reported to spring training on Wednesday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the 29-year-old righthander will have right shoulder surgery on Feb. 21. Boone said Montas could possibly return in the season’s second half.

“He was building back up and just still wasn’t quite right,” Boone said. “Now we’ve gotten to the point where they’re going to go in and they’ll scope it. Best case is he woild be back late in the season but we’re really going to know a lot after the 21st.”

Montas was acquired from Oakland on Aug 1. and went 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA in eight starts with the Yankees. He didn’t pitch after Sept. 16 due to inflammation in his pitching shoulder.

Montas left a July 3 start at Seattle after 13 pitches with shoulder tightness — his velocity was down about 3 mph. He returned July 21 and had a 2.25 ERA in starts against Detroit and Houston.

CLEVINGER REPORTS AS MLB

PROBES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES >> Mike Clevinger reported among Chicago White Sox pitchers to spring training on Wednesday while facing allegations of domestic violence.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn told reporters the team’s “only option” was to allow Clevinger to report while awaiting results of Major League Baseballs investigation into the allegations.

MLB began the investigation following allegations made public by Olivia Finestead in an Instagram post on Jan. 24. The White Sox said they were not aware of the allegations when the 32-year-old right-hander agreed to a $12 million, one-year contract as a free agent that was announced on Dec. 4.

RANGERS HOLD DEGROM OUT

OF FIRST SPRING WORKOUT >> Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom was held out of the first spring training workout for the Texas Rangers on Wednesday because their top freeagent acquisition felt some tightness in his left side.

Each of deGrom’s past two seasons with the New York Mets were shortened substantially by injuries, but Rangers general manager Chris Young insisted the decision to hold out deGrom was precautionary. It was an unusually chilly day in Arizona and some fields were slick from overnight rain.

NFL HAMLIN: ‘I MEANT NO RELIGIOUS DISRESPECT FOR

WEARING JACKET’ >> Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin said Wednesday he never intended to offend anyone for attending the Super Bowl wearing a jacket that critics deemed to feature an offensive depiction of Jesus.

“After talking with my parents I understand how my coat could have offended some people,” Hamlin wrote in a note posted on his Twitter account. “It was never my intentions to hurt or disrespect anyone, the coat is abstract art to me.”

Auto racing NASCAR’S SUÁREZ SIGNS

MULTIYEAR DEAL WITH TRACKHOUSE RACING >> Daniel Suárez has signed a second extension in six months with Trackhouse Racing, getting a multiyear deal done after landing a oneyear contract last August.

The team announced Suárez’s latest extension Wednesday as NASCAR kicked off Speedweeks with Daytona 500 media day and pole qualifying. The team declined to release details but will keep the 31-year-old Mexican behind the wheel for a third season and beyond for co-owners Justin Marks and Pitbull.

ALEX BOWMAN SIGNS 3-YEAR

EXTENSION WITH HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS >> Alex Bowman has a new contract as he chases his first Daytona 500 victory.

Bowman received a three-year extension from Hendrick Motorsports on Wednesday that will keep the driver — who missed five races last season with a concussion — with the team through the 2026 season.

Hendrick also locked in Bowman’s sponsor, Ally, to a five-year extension through 2028. The financial-services firm has a full-season primary sponsorship with Bowman and the No. 48 Chevrolet. Ally has been the primary sponsor of the No. 48 team for five years.

Skiing AMERICAN SKIER SHIFFRIN

SPLITS WITH LONGTIME COACH AT WORLDS >> American skiing standout Mikaela Shiffrin had an unexpected split with her longtime coach, Mike Day, during the middle of the world championships after informing him that she planned to take a new direction with her staff at the end of the season.

“Mikaela wants to do something different going forward. She wants a new challenge. And she informed Mike and Mike decided to go home,” U.S. Alpine director Patrick Riml told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “It’s a shock for me that he took off.”

NHL OVECHKIN AWAY FROM CAPITALS DUE TO DEATH OF FATHER

>> Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin says his father, Mikhail, has died at age 71.

Ovechkin delivered the news Wednesday on social media along with family photos and video.

“Today my father passed away,” Ovechkin posted in Russian on his Instagram account. “I thank everyone for their support but ask that you be understanding and not disturb my family at such a hard time for us! Thank you.”

MMA Fighting

SLAP FIGHTING SAFETY SUBJECT

OF ATHLETIC COMMISSION MEETING >> The Nevada Athletic Commission is scheduled Wednesday to discuss potential rules changes for slap fighting competitions, including those backed by the UFC, the top mixed martials arts promotion in the United States.

The commission in October unanimously approved sanctioning slap fighting, in which competitors take turns forcefully slapping each other in the face. The commission, which regulates boxing and other combat sports in the state, asserted the approval was given to prevent unregulated matches and so competitors had safety precautions in place.

NBA NBA’S BRYN FORBES ARRESTED

ON FAMILY VIOLENCE CHARGES >> Bryn Forbes, an NBA free agent who has played for four teams over seven seasons, was arrested early Wednesday on a family violence charge in San Antonio, police records show.

Forbes, who was released last week by the Minnesota Timberwolves, was arrested on suspicion of assault with bodily injury, a misdemeanor, after a verbal argument with a female companion turned physical, according to police records.

JEWEL, POST MALONE, VIN

DIESEL TO PERFORM ALL-STAR GAME >> Utah native and Grammy nominee Jewel, along with Post Malone and actors Vin Diesel and Ben Affleck, will be among the performers at this weekend’s NBA All-Star events in Salt Lake City.

Jewel will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the All-Star Game on Sunday, Diesel will be welcoming fans and Post Malone will perform a medley

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after LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo draft their teams for the game.

The halftime show will feature three Nigerian artists — Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and producer Burna Boy, Grammywinning and Oscar-nominated singer Tems and rapper Rema — doing an Afrobeats-themed performance.

MICHAEL JORDAN DONATES

$10M TO MAKE-A-WISH FOR 60TH BIRTHDAY >> Six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan is celebrating his 60th birthday on Friday by making a $10 million donation to Make-A-Wish.

It is the largest donation ever received from an individual in the organization’s 43-year history.

CAVS SIGN DANNY GREEN

WITH EYE ON POSTSEASON >> Danny Green was best known for his sideline dance routines during his first stint with the Cavaliers.

He has picked up some new moves since then.

Green rejoined Cleveland’s roster Wednesday after agreeing to a one-year, $2 million contract with the Cavaliers, who believe the three-time NBA champion can help them in the postseason.

Soccer AUDIT DENOUNCES FRENCH

SOCCER BOSS LE GRAËT FOR HARASSMENT >> Noël Le Graët no longer has legitimacy to remain as French soccer federation president because his management style and behavior toward women are “incompatible with the exercise of his functions,” a government audit released Wednesday found.

The 81-year-old Le Graët is currently under judicial investigation for alleged sexual and “moral” harassment as part of a probe being carried out by a special police unit dedicated to crimes against individuals.

MINISTER TO LEAD SOCCER FEDERATION >> Former Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt was recommended on Wednesday to become the next president of the country’s soccer federation.

Reinfeldt was prime minister from 2006-14 as leader of the Moderate Party and has no previous links to soccer.

“It is an exciting assignment because throughout my life I have tried to find socially useful assignments and for me soccer is just that,” Reinfeldt said. “It is also beneficial to society because it covers all of Sweden, soccer is in every corner of Sweden.”

BRAZIL PICKS MENEZES AS

INTERIM NATIONAL TEAM COACH >> Ramon Menezes will serve as Brazil’s interim coach while the search continues for a permanent successor to Tite, who stepped down after the World Cup.

The 50-year-old Menezes guided Brazil’s Under-20 team to the South American championship title on Sunday and will be in charge for a friendly against World Cup semifinalist Morocco in Tangier on March 25, the Brazilian Football Confederation said Wednesday.

College football BILL TO SET ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE

FOR MARSHALL PLANE CRASH >> A bill has won final legislative approval in West Virginia that would establish an annual day of recognition for the worst sports disaster in U.S. history, a plane crash that killed most of Marshall University’s football team.

On Nov. 14, 1970, the chartered jet crashed in fog and rain into a hillside upon approach to an airport near Huntington as the team was returning from a game at East Carolina, killing all 75 on board. The victims included 36 football players and 39 school administrators, coaches, fans, spouses and flight crew.