Quick Hitters
Padres to pay Blue Jays $1.5M in Richard trade
TORONTO — The San Diego Padres will pay Toronto $1.5 million on Aug. 15 as part of last weekend’s trade that sent left-hander Clayton Richard to the Blue Jays for Canadian outfielder Connor Panas.
That cash will cover half of Richard’s $3 million base salary in the final season of a $6 million, two-year contract.
The 35-year-old Richard was 7-11 with a 5.33 ERA in 27 starts for San Diego last season. He is 68-79 with a 4.46 ERA in 10 seasons in the majors with the Padres and Chicago White Sox and Cubs, with a National League-best 60.3 ground-ball percentage over the last four years.
Panas, 25, hit .232 with nine home runs, and 39 RBIs in 105 games last season for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the Class AA Eastern League.
Ex-USC coach Tony Bland pleads guilty
NEW YORK — Former University of Southern California assistant basketball coach Tony Bland has pleaded guilty in a criminal case in which prosecutors said bribes were paid to steer top athletes to certain schools.
Bland pleaded guilty on Wednesday in Manhattan federal court to a single count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
Prosecutors say the coaches teamed up with a top Adidas executive and others to trade hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to influence star athletes’ choice of schools, shoe sponsors, agents and even tailors.
Joakim Soria gets closer bonuses in deal with A’s
OAKLAND, Calif. — Relief pitcher Joakim Soria gets $6.5 million this year and $8.5 million in 2020 as part of his $15 million, two-year contract with the Oakland Athletics.
Soria can earn bonuses of $250,000 each for 35 and 40 games finished as part of the deal announced Dec. 21.
He would get a $750,000 assignment bonus the first time he is traded.
The 34-year-old right-hander is expected to serve a setup man for closer Blake Treinen.
Serena Williams wins 3rd straight in singles at Hopman Cup
PERTH, Australia — Serena Williams stepped up her Australian Open preparations with a straightsets victory over Britain’s Katie Boulter on Thursday to complete an unbeaten Hopman Cup campaign.
Williams cooled off after a strong start but prevailed with a 6-1, 7-6 (2) victory in 78 minutes to level the tie between the United States and Britain in Group B.
The 37-year-old’s hopes for a record third Hopman Cup title ended when the United States were eliminated after losses to Greece and Roger Federer-led Switzerland.