LeMahieu out with injury

 

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu's season debut will be delayed a bit longer, as an MRI revealed a non-displaced fracture in his right foot, manager Aaron Boone said Saturday, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

LeMahieu will undergo more imaging in two weeks.

The 35-year-old hasn't played since fouling a ball off his foot in a Grapefruit League game on March 16. New York called his injury a right foot contusion when he was placed on the injured list before the regular season began and only discovered the fracture once the swelling in his foot went down.

Mostert signs contract extension

 

The Miami Dolphins and running back Raheem Mostert agreed to a contract extension that keeps the rusher with Miami through the 2025 season, his agencyannounced Friday.

It's a new two-year, $9-million deal beginning this season, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Mostert was set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2024 season. He signed a two-year, $5.5-million deal last offseason after playing on a one-year contract with the Dolphins in 2022.

Avalanche clinch playoffs

 

The Colorado Avalanche clinched a Stanley Cup Playoffs berth Saturday with a 7-4 comeback win against the Nashville Predators.

The Avalanche join the Dallas Stars as Western Conference teams to have punched a ticket to the postseason so far.

Quick makes history

 

New York Rangers veteran Jonathan Quick made U.S. hockey history Saturday night by becoming the NHL's winningest American-born goalie.

Quick made 27 saves in an 8-5 win over the Arizona Coyotes for his 392nd victory, one more than Ryan Miller in second place.

Jaguars sign Oluokun

 

The Jacksonville Jaguars are signing Foyesade Oluokun to a three-year extension, the linebacker's agency announced Friday.

The deal is worth $45 million with $22.5 million guaranteed, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Oluokun was entering the final year of a three-year, $45-million deal he signed in 2022 and had no guaranteed salary remaining. The new contract will lock him up through the 2027 campaign.

Cole lands on 60 day IL

 

The New York Yankees placed right-hander Gerrit Cole on the 60-day injured list ahead of their season opener.

Cole is expected to miss 10-to-12 weeks with an elbow injury but isn't expected to need Tommy John surgery. The 33-year-old won't be eligible to be activated until May 27.

The move clears up a spot on the 40-man roster for right-handed reliever Nick Burdi.

Panthers sign Clowney

 

The Carolina Panthers announced Wednesday they signed veteran pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney.

Terms were not announced, but ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the deal is for two years and $20 million. It reportedly also includes $4 million in incentives.

Rangers clinch Playoffs

 

The New York Rangers became the first team to clinch a berth in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Rangers emphatically booked their postseason ticket Tuesday with Adam Fox's overtime winner against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Diamondbacks sign Montgomery

 

The Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a one-year, $25-million deal with free-agent left-hander Jordan Montgomery, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Montgomery's deal, which is pending a physical, pays him $25 million in 2024 and includes an opt-out and vesting player option for 2025 that pays him $20 million next season if he makes 10 starts, $22.5 million if he reaches 18 starts, and $25 million at 23 starts, Passan adds.

Steelers sign Patterson

 

The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to terms with former Atlanta Falcons returner Cordarrelle Patterson on a two-year contract, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The two-year deal is worth $6 million, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport. 

The signing comes on the heels of the NFL approving a new kickoff format for 2024, which was implemented to increase the number of returns.

Trevor Zegras returns to lineup

 

Trevor Zegras is in the lineup for the Anaheim Ducks for the first time in months.

The talented forward is facing the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night, the Ducks confirmed. He's slotting in on Anaheim's third line, head coach Greg Cronin said, according to Bally Sports West's Alyson Lozoff.

Zegras hasn't played since breaking his ankle early in a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators on Jan. 9.

LeBron James out with ankle injury

 

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James won't play Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks due to an ankle injury.

James is averaging 25.4 points, 8.1 assists, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game in 62 contests this season. This is the most games he's played since 2019-20, his second campaign with the franchise.

The 39-year-old missed the team's win over the Bucks earlier in March due to "severe soreness" in his ankle.

Ippei Mizuhara steals from Ohtani

 

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani addressed gambling allegations involving his former interpreter Monday, claiming Ippei Mizuhara stole money from him and lied.

"I never bet on baseball, or any other sports. I never have asked anybody to do that on my behalf. I never went through a bookmaker to bet on sports," Ohtani said at a press conference, according to J.P. Hoornstra of Dodger Nation.

"Just to go over the result, in conclusion, Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies," Ohtani addedthrough an interpreter.

Sam Reinhart reaches 50 goals

 

Sam Reinhart scored two goals to reach 50 on the season, Brandon Montour added three assists and the Florida Panthers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday night.

“Very cool,” Reinhart said. “It’s obviously a number I never really thought about.”

Trevor Etienne arrested

 

Georgia running back Trevor Etienne was arrested early Sunday on drunken driving, reckless driving and other charges, jail records show.

Etienne, the Bulldogs' projected starting running back, was booked into the Athens-Clark County Jail at 4:35 a.m. and released less than an hour later on bonds totalling about $1,800. The other charges include failure to maintain a lane or improper driving as well as affixing materials that reduce visibility through the windows or windshield, according to the records.

Ezequiel Tovar signs 7 Years

 

The Colorado Rockies and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar agreed to a seven-year contract extension, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Tovar's deal is worth $63.5 million in guaranteed money, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. It reportedly includes an eighth-year club option, which, if exercised, will max his earnings at $84 million.

Jackson Holliday reassigned to minors

 

The Baltimore Orioles reassigned No. 1 prospect Jackson Hollidayto minor-league camp, the club announced Friday.

Holliday went deep twice while recording six RBIs and a .954 OPS over 15 spring games. He also played solid defensively at second base.

"He's going to be a better player and a more complete player when he comes up," Orioles general manager Mike Elias said

Miami Dolphins theft

 

A Kansas City, Missouri, man is facing a felony charge after allegedly stealing more than $46,000 worth of equipment from the Miami Dolphins in January.

Police met with a Dolphins representative on Jan. 14, a day after Miami's wild-card round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and were informed that a box truck holding team gear and equipment had been broken into and items were missing, WDAF-TV's Brian Dulle reports.

The stolen goods included football pads, gloves, shoes, game film, and other miscellaneous items, according to Dulle, citing court documents.

Tom Wilson hearing for high sticking

 

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson was offered an in-person hearing for high-sticking Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor during Wednesday's game.

Wilson could face a suspension greater than five games.

New York Mets sign JD Martinez

 

The New York Mets agreed to a one-year, $12-million deal with designated hitter J.D. Martinez, reports the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

The deal, which is still pending a physical, pays Martinez $4.5 million this season and $1.5 million in deferred money per year from 2034-38, a source told SNY's Andy Martino. The pact's structure lessens the Mets' luxury tax for the upcoming campaign.

Texas Rangers sign Lorenzen

 

The Texas Rangers are signing right-hander Michael Lorenzento a one-year contract worth $4.5 million, reports The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

The agreement is pending a physical. Lorenzen reportedly can earn an additional $2.5 million in incentives.

Shohei Ohtani interpreter Ippei Mizuhara fired

 

Shohei Ohtani's interpreter Ippei Mizuhara is being accused of stealing money from the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar to place bets with a bookmaker who's under investigation by the federal government, according to Gustavo Arellano, Nathan Fenno, Adam Elmahrek, and Paul Pringle of the Los Angeles Times.

Millions of dollars are believed to be involved, two sources told the Times.

Aaron Judge returns to the lineup

 

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was in the posted lineup for Wednesday night’s game against Pittsburgh after sitting out nine days with an abdominal injury.

Judge hadn’t played since March 10, when he struck out in both at-bats against Atlanta. He had an MRI the following day.

Judge started feeling discomfort with his abdomen during his swing’s follow-through a couple weeks ago.

Shohei Ohtani bomb threat

 

South Korean police received a report of a bomb threat directed at Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani ahead of MLB's season-opening games Wednesday and Thursday at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome, according to Kim Hyun-soo of Yonhap News.

Authorities have confirmed the threat was false, a source told Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Police said an email was sent Wednesday morning from someone threatening to detonate a bomb at the stadium during a game between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres, Kim reports. Officials added the message specifically mentioned Ohtani as a target.

Chris Simon dead at 52

 

Former NHL grinder and Stanley Cup champion Chris Simon died at the age of 52, the league confirmed Tuesday.

Simon played 15 seasons in the NHL through 2007-08, racking up 1,824 penalty minutes, 144 goals, and 161 assists over 782 games with seven organizations.

Jose Berrios will start Opening Day

 

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander José Berríos will start Opening Day against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on March 28, the club announced Tuesday.

"He embodies what we’re talking about when we talk about stuff, durability, teammate, professionalism," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said

Bengals sign Trent Brown

 

Free-agent offensive tackle Trent Brown plans to sign a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals after visiting with the team Tuesday, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Brown has split time between left tackle and right tackle throughout his career, which began in 2015 as a seventh-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers.

Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh

 

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas doesn't just want Sidney Crosby to finish his career with the team. He wants the club to compete for a Stanley Cup in the process.

"I think everyone's been pretty clear on where they stand on the fact everyone would like to see him end his career in Pittsburgh," Dubas told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, "And it's my intention that in those years that we're back and definitely contending."

Amid a disappointing campaign that sees Pittsburgh on the outside of the playoff picture, the Penguins traded Crosby's long-time linemate Jake Guentzel before the deadline.

Alex Ovechkin reaches another milestone

 

Alex Ovechkin became the third player in NHL history to score 20 goals in 19 consecutive seasons on Monday.

The veteran Washington forward scored two power-play goals in the second period to lead the Capitals to a 5-2 victory over the Calgary Flames.

Giants sign Blake Snell

 

The San Francisco Giants agreed to a two-year, $62-million deal with left-hander Blake Snell, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

The contract contains an opt-out after the 2024 season, adds Heyman.

Snell's deal includes a $17-million signing bonus, and he'll earn a $15-million salary in 2024, according to the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser.

The southpaw shared an image of himself in a Giants uniform on Instagram moments after the deal was reported.

Mike Trout looking for support

 

Mike Trout is committed to winning with the Los Angeles Angels - and he wants the club's front office to help him do it.

His ask is simple: Sign one of the remaining big-ticket free agents. "I'm in their ear every day," Trout told the New York Post's Jon Heyman. "I don't know what's going on with the market right now. It's pretty crazy."

Trout has a lot on his shoulders this campaign. Shohei Ohtani's departure left him as the focal point of the team, which is expected to start four players under the age of 26 and is projected to win 73 games by PECOTA.

Despite the bleak outlook, Trout said the Angels have "a lot of confidence," but he'd still like to see them make additions before the regular season.

"There's guys out there who hit 30 home runs," Trout said. 

Of the remaining free agents, the Angels have been connected to slugger J.D. Martinez, who hit 33 homers last season, as well as reigning NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell. Trout specifically mentioned outfielder Tommy Pham as a player he thinks could help the Angels, according to Heyman.

Shohei Ohtani starts throwing

 

Shohei Ohtani may be more than just a designated hitter this season, after all.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Ohtani — ruled out this year as a pitcher after his second surgery on his right elbow — will soon start a throwing program that might allow him to play in the field this season.

Bryce Elder to AAA

 

The Atlanta Braves optioned All-Star pitcher Bryce Elder to the minors on Monday, deciding to open the season with Reynaldo Lopez as their fifth starter.

López, who signed a $30 million, three-year deal with the Braves in November, earned the rotation spot by allowing just four earned runs over 16⅔ innings in five spring appearances. He surrendered 10 hits, walked six and struck out 13.

Wayne Simmonds announces retirement

 

Wayne Simmonds announced his retirement from the NHL on Monday.

Simmonds, 35, will sign a one-day contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on April 13, the team announced. He played eight years with the Flyers, racking up 203 goals and 378 points in 584 games.

"It's hard to describe my emotions on a day like this, but one of my very first thoughts as I look back is my life in Philadelphia and playing for the Flyers," Simmonds said. "Taking the ice in a Flyers sweater is a special feeling and it's one that I'm truly proud of. The history of this franchise and standard of being a Flyer that was set is unique and one that I hold in the highest regard.

Denny Hamlin wins at Bristol

 

Denny Hamlin won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, passing Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr. in the final laps for his fourth victory at the famed short track.

Hamlin also won at NASCAR’s bullring last September.

This one was much different. Tire issues hampered most everyone all afternoon as only five cars finished on the lead lap — the first time that has happened in the Cup Series in 20 years. The Gibbs cars were the class of the field.

Scottie Scheffler wins Players Championship

 

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler hung on to win the Players Championship by a single stroke over Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark, and Brian Harman on Sunday.

Scheffler pulled off the biggest final-round comeback in Players history after trailing by five following Round 3, and he became the first to win the tournament in consecutive years.

Clark had a chance to force a playoff on the 72nd hole, but his birdie putt lipped out.

Martin St. Louis takes indefinite leave

 

Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis is taking an indefinite leave from the team for family reasons, Montreal announced Saturday.

Assistant coach Trevor Letowski will handle head coaching duties in St. Louis' absence.

St. Louis joined the Canadiens as bench boss in his first NHL coaching role of any kind when they fired Dominique Ducharme in February 2022. The rebuilding squad has gone 70-94-21 with St. Louis at the helm.

Astros chasing Blake Snell

 

The Houston Astros could be major benefactors of the slow free-agent starting pitching market.

Houston is "engaged and in a serious pursuit" of left-hander Blake Snell, sources told Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome of The Athletic. 

The Astros and San Francisco Giants were among the teams that attended a simulated start from Snell earlier Friday in Seattle

Gerrit Cole out 3-4 Weeks

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole won't throw for three-to-four weeks after he was diagnosed with nerve irritation and edema in his elbow.

"Three-to-four weeks no throw, and we'll go from there," Cole said on Saturday, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.

"I think we determined that we just got a little too hot a little too quick this spring."

Rams sign Jimmy Garoppolo

 

The Los Angeles Rams have agreed to terms with veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on a one-year contract, Mike Garafolo and Peter Schrager of NFL Network report.

The NFL recently suspended Garoppolo two games for violating the league's PED policy. The 32-year-old spent the 2023 campaign with the Las Vegas Raiders but was recently released after just one year with the team.

Las Vegas signed Garoppolo to a three-year contract in 2023, giving him an opportunity to work with then-head coach Josh McDaniels again. However, the Raiders struggled for most of last year and fired McDaniels midway through the campaign. Garoppolo began as QB1 but lost the starting role in the season's second half. He finished the campaign with only seven touchdowns against nine interceptions in seven appearances (six starts).

RJ Barrett mourning death of brother

 

Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett is mourning the death of his younger brother, Nathan Barrett.

The Barrett family said in a statement that Nathan died Tuesday. The statement, released Thursday by the Raptors and Canada Basketball, did not disclose a cause of death or Nathan's age.

RJ and Nathan’s father, Rowan Barrett, is Canada Basketball’s general manager.

Vanderbilt fires Jerry Stackhouse

 Vanderbilt dismissed head coach Jerry Stackhouse, the school announced on Thursday.

Stackhouse had been in charge of the Commodores since 2019-20, registering a 70-92 combined overall record and a 28-60 mark in the SEC through five seasons. Vanderbilt went 4-14 in conference play this year and its season ended with Wednesday's 90-85 overtime loss to Arkansas in the first round of the SEC Tournament.

He never took the program to the NCAA Tournament. The school hasn't made the tourney since 2017 when Bryce Drew led Vanderbilt to a first-round exit in his first of three seasons in charge.

Chiefs sign Brown

The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing in a high-profile wide receiver as they try to pull off a historic three-peat.

Kansas City is signing Marquise Brown to a one-year contract worth up to $11 million, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 26-year-old confirmed the agreement on social media Thursday.

Brown spent the last two years with the Arizona Cardinals and saw his contract expire at the end of the 2023 campaign. While playing in a Cardinals offense that didn't have quarterback Kyler Murray for half of the season, Brown posted one of his least productive campaigns with 51 receptions, 574 yards, and four touchdowns in 14 games. Those numbers, however, would've ranked second among Chiefs wide receivers - and third on the team - last year.