BASEBALL
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes is joining the ownership group of the Kansas City Royals.
The Royals announced the addition of Mahomes, the star quarterback who led the Kansas City Chiefs to a Super Bowl title last season, on Tuesday. Mahomes was once a baseball prospect and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2014.
“I’m honored to become a part owner of the Kansas City Royals,” Mahomes said in a statement. “I love this city and the people of this great town. This opportunity allows me to deepen my roots in the community, which is something I’m excited to do.”
Mahomes’ decision to focus on football certainly worked out for him, but his baseball ties run deep. His father Pat pitched in more than 300 big league games, mostly as a reliever.
“He loves football, but he also grew up loving the game of baseball,” said John Sherman, principal owner of the Royals. “We look forward to many years of a winning partnership.”
HOUSTON (AP) - The Houston Astros have picked up the option for the 2021 season on manager Dusty Baker’s contract.
Baker was hired in January to replace AJ Hinch, who was fired by the team after he and general manager Jeff Luhnow were initially suspended for one year by Major League Baseball for their roles in Houston’s sign-stealing scandal. Luhnow also was fired.
The 71-year-old Baker is in his 23rd year as a manager after starting in 1993 with the San Francisco Giants. A three-time National League Manager of the Year, Baker came to the Astros after managing the Washington Nationals, who let him go after a 97-65 season in 2017.
Baker is thrilled to get another year on his contract after managing a season more than once without a deal for the next year.
“I’ve been a lame-duck manager probably four or five times,” Baker said. “I was one of the lamest ducks walking around. So it feels pretty good not to be a lame duck, and this is the best that I’ve been treated in quite a while.”
The Astros also picked up the contract options for next season for third base coach Gary Pettis and pitching coach Brent Strom, who were both retained after Hinch’s dismissal.
NFL
BOSTON (AP) - The New England Patriots were already going to have a different look after longtime quarterback Tom Brady departed for Tampa Bay.
Now the COVID-19 pandemic has added more complications to New England’s efforts to rebuild its roster heading into the 2020 season.
Linebacker Dont’a Hightower said Tuesday that he is opting out of the 2020 season, highlighting a list of several Patriots who will sit out because of health concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.
“This wasn’t an easy decision, or one I made lightly, but I do feel it’s the best decision for my family at this time,” Hightower wrote in a post on Twitter. “I am so grateful for the support of my teammates and coaches, and I will continue to lead and help as much as I can.”
The NFL and the players association agreed last week to an opt-out clause for the upcoming season, with those who choose to voluntarily sit out receiving a $150,000 stipend and those with medical opt outs receiving $350,000 rather than their contractual salary.
NHL
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Left wing Sonny Milano has agreed to a two-year, $3.4 million contract extension with the Anaheim Ducks.
The Ducks announced the deal Tuesday night.
Anaheim acquired Milano from Columbus last February in a trade for Devin Shore. Milano contributed two goals and three assists in nine games with the Ducks before the coronavirus pandemic ended their season.
Milano spent parts of five seasons with the Blue Jackets, recording 20 goals and 22 assists in 116 games. He was eligible for restricted free agency this summer.
Columbus chose Milano with the 16th overall pick in the 2014 draft, and the Long Island native reached the NHL as a 19-year-old in March 2016. He scored a career-best 14 goals for the Blue Jackets during the 2017-18 season, and he has impressed the Ducks’ coaches during his brief stint in Anaheim with his speed and offensive creativity.
WNBA
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) - Breanna Stewart had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and the Seattle Storm beat the Minnesota Lynx 90-66 to spoil a record-breaking night by Sylvia Fowles.
Fowles, who went into the game needing seven rebounds to become the WNBA’s career leader, grabbed a missed 3-point shot by Stewart in the closing seconds of the first half to move past former teammate and current Lynx assistant coach Rebekkah Brunson into first with 3,357 rebounds.
Damiris Dantas led Minnesota (1-1) with 18 points. Fowles finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
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