AP Sports Summary for December 11th, 2024:
Left-hander Max Fried agrees to $218 million, 8-year contract with Yankees, AP source says
DALLAS (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Max Fried and the New York Yankees have agreed to a $218 million, eight-year contract, the largest deal for a left-handed pitcher in baseball history. New York made the move two days after outfielder Juan Soto left for a pending $765 million, 15-year contract with the rival Mets. Fried, who turns 31 in January, gets the fourth-highest contract among pitchers behind the Los Angeles Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Yankees' Gerrit Cole and Washington's Stephen Strasburg. Fried broke the mark for lefties set by David Price at $217 million.
Rangers agree on $75 million, 3-year deal to keep RHP Nathan Eovaldi, AP source says
DALLAS (AP) — The Texas Rangers and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi have agreed on a $75 million, three-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the deal was subject to a successful physical. Bringing back Eovaldi was one of the primary goals for the Rangers this offseason. He became a free agent after declining a vested $20 million player option for the 2025 season. The two-time All-Star was the winning pitcher in their World Series-clinching game at Arizona in 2023. He was also part of Boston's 2018 title.
Guardians trade Gold Glove 2B Andrés Giménez to Blue Jays, get RHP Luis Ortiz in deal with Pirates
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Guardians pulled off two trades at the winter meetings, first sending three-time Gold Glove second baseman Andrés Giménez to the Toronto Blue Jays. Giménez, considered one of baseball's best defensive middle infielders, was dealt by the Guardians along with reliever Nick Sandlin to Toronto for infielder Spencer Horwitz and outfielder Nick Mitchell. Cleveland then shipped Horwitz to the Pittsburgh Pirates for three pitchers: right-hander Luis Ortiz and lefties Michael Kennedy and Josh Hartle. Ortiz could slide immediately into a starting slot after going 7-6 with a 3.32 ERA last season. The Guardians re-signed ace Shane Bieber last week, but he may not be ready to pitch until June.
US Biathlon officials ignored sexual harassment and abuse of female racers for decades, athletes say
Sexual abuse and harassment by coaches and others who held positions of power over women on the U.S. Biathlon team were ignored or excused over decades by officials more concerned with winning medals than holding offenders accountable. That's according to Olympians and other biathletes interviewed by The Associated Press. While the men climbed the sport's ranks, these women say they were forced to end their careers early. The women and others describe a culture of misogyny and say they faced retaliation for speaking up. Three of the men denied allegations they were either part of the abuse or ignored allegations of abuse. A fourth did not respond to AP requests for comment.
FIFA prepares to give Saudi Arabia its biggest sports win yet as host of the 2034 World Cup
ZURICH (AP) — Saudi Arabia will be confirmed by FIFA as host of the men's soccer 2034 World Cup on Wednesday, giving the oil-rich kingdom its biggest prize yet for massive spending on global sports driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Human rights groups warn FIFA's lack of safeguards around the World Cup will put the lives of migrant workers at risk building stadiums and transport networks. FIFA and Saudi officials say hosting the 2034 tournament can accelerate change, including more freedoms and rights for women. FIFA also will award the 2030 World Cup to Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Gilgeous-Alexander scores 39 as Thunder beat Mavericks 118-104, advance to NBA Cup semifinals
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 39 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Dallas Mavericks 118-104 on Tuesday night in an NBA Cup quarterfinal. Jalen Williams scored 18 points and Isaiah Hartenstein added 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Thunder, who will play Wednesday's Golden State-Houston winner in a semifinal. Oklahoma City's largest lead was 20 points in a rematch of last season's Western Conference semifinals series that Dallas won 4-2. The Thunder held Luka Doncic to 16 points on 5-for-15 shooting. Naji Marshall and Klay Thompson each scored 19 points and Kyrie Irving added 17 for the Mavericks.
Mbappe, Vinicius and Bellingham on target as Real Madrid beats Atalanta 3-2. Liverpool wins again
Real Madrid's big stars turned on the style to revive the Spanish giant's faltering Champions League title defense. Galacticos Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham all scored in a 3-2 win at Italian league leader Atalanta. It was only Madrid's third win in the competition's revamped league phase and leaves the 15-time champion in the unseeded playoff positions in 18th place. In contrast Liverpool leads the way after maintaining its perfect record in Europe this season after a 1-0 win against Girona. Mohamed Salah scored his 50th Champions League goal to seal it for Liverpool.
Lanier scores 22 points as No. 1 Tennessee beats Miami 75-62 at Jimmy V Classic
NEW YORK (AP) — Chaz Lanier scored 22 points, and No. 1 Tennessee beat struggling Miami 75-62 on Tuesday night at the Jimmy V Classic in Madison Square Garden. Igor Milicic Jr. added 16 and nine rebounds for the Volunteers, who took the top spot in the AP Top 25 this week for the first time since February 2019. Zakai Zeigler added 13 points and nine assists for Tennessee, which pulled away late in the first half and withstood a Miami comeback attempt for its first 9-0 start since 2000-01. Lynn Kidd scored 14 as the Hurricanes (3-8) dropped their seventh straight game.
Analysis: After Juan Soto's megadeal, could MLB see a $1 billion contract? Probably not soon
For the second straight Major League Baseball offseason, a norm-shattering contract has been the talk of the winter, with Juan Soto agreeing with the New York Mets on a $765 million, 15-year deal that's the richest in baseball history. It comes almost exactly one year after the Los Angeles Dodgers forked out a princely sum of $700 million on a 10-year, heavily deferred deal for two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. The way it's going, a contract approaching $1 billion doesn't seem out of the question. But several factors are working against it — at least in the near future.
Joe Burrow's home broken into during Monday Night Football in latest pro-athlete home invasion
ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (AP) — Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's home was broken into during Monday Night Football in the latest home invasion of a pro athlete in the U.S. Authorities said Tuesday no one was injured in the break-in, but the home was ransacked. Deputies weren't immediately able to determine what items were stolen. Both the NFL and NBA issued alerts to players following prior break-ins, urging them to take precautions. The homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were broken into in October. In the NBA, Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. had their homes broken into.
AP-Scorecard
Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Milwaukee 114 Orlando 109
Final Oklahoma City 118 Dallas 104
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Philadelphia 5 Columbus 3
Final Carolina 3 San Jose 2
Final OT Toronto 2 New Jersey 1
Final Colorado 6 Pittsburgh 2
Final Los Angeles 3 N-Y Islanders 1
Final Calgary 4 Nashville 3
Final Winnipeg 8 Boston 1
Final Edmonton 2 Tampa Bay 1
Final SO Minnesota 5 Utah 4
Final OT St. Louis 4 Vancouver 3
Final SO Florida 2 Seattle 1
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TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (1)Tennessee 75 Miami 62
Final (4)Duke 72 Incarnate Word 46
Final Arkansas 89 (14)Michigan 87
Final (15)Houston 62 Troy 42
Final Illinois 86 (20)Wisconsin 80
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TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Atlanta at New York 7 p.m.
Golden State at Houston 9:30 p.m.
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
N-Y Rangers at Buffalo 7 p.m.
Anaheim at Ottawa 7:30 p.m.
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TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Colgate at (5)Kentucky 8 p.m.
Cal Baptist at (23)San Diego St. 10 p.m.
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