BASEBALL
Source: Cards sign Gregerson
A person familiar with the negotiations said reliever Luke Gregerson and the St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to an $11 million, two-year contract. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because the agreement was subject to a physical and had not yet been announced. Gregerson would get $5 million in each of the next two seasons, and the deal includes a $6 million team option for 2020 with a $1 million buyout. A 33-year-old right-hander, Gregerson struck out 70 in 61 innings for Houston, going 2-3 with a career-high 4.57 ERA in 65 relief appearances. He did not allow a run in five postseason appearances as the Astros won their first title. Gregerson, a specialist used against right-handed hitters, struck out Chris Taylor to strand two runners in the fourth inning in Game 5. He got the first two outs in the eighth inning of Game 6, allowing a walk and a single. Gregerson has pitched in nine big-league seasons for San Diego (2009-2013), Oakland (2014) and Houston (2015-2017), which signed him to an $18.5 million, three-year contract. He played for the U.S. at this year's World Baseball Classic.
Cubs sign Morrow
In their latest quest to upgrade their pitching staff, the Chicago Cubs reached a two-year agreement Sunday with free agent reliever Brandon Morrow. A source at the winter meetings confirmed the agreement, as the Cubs have been looking to secure the services of Morrow and possibly fill a void in the closer's role due to the potential departure of fellow free agent Wade Davis. Morrow, 33, has posted a 1.96 ERA in 63 appearances over the past two seasons with the Padres and Dodgers. Since making the conversion from starter to reliever, Morrow's velocity has hovered in the upper 90-mph range. Morrow helped the Dodgers advance to the 2017 World Series by posting a 6-0 record and 2.06 ERA in 46 appearances, striking out 50 in 43 2/3 innings. Morrow hasn't allowed a home run since Sept. 8, 2016, to Cristhian Adames of the Rockies. The agreement will be official once Morrow passes a physical examination. Morrow has endured an array of injuries dating back to his days as a starter and reliever with the Mariners and Blue Jays, but he showed his endurance by pitching in all seven games of the 2017 World Series. Jon Heyman of FanRagSports.com said Morrow's deal is worth $10 to $11 million annually.
GOLF
Sharma leads Joburg Open
India's Shubhankar Sharma had a four-stroke lead in the Joburg Open at Johannesburg with 11 holes left Sunday when lightning and heavy rain forced the suspension of play. Making his 10th European Tour start, Sharma was 22 under at Randpark. Sharma birdied two of the first seven holes at Firethorn before play was stopped for the day. South Africa's Erik van Rooyen was second. Play was suspended with Sharma on the eighth green, and Van Rooyen looking at a tap-in birdie on the ninth after birdieing four of the first eight. Forty-two players were unable to complete the round. The top three players who are not already exempt will earn spots in the British Open.
FOOTBALL
Jewell receives Lott award
Josey Jewell of Iowa has won the Lott IMPACT Trophy as the college defensive player having the biggest influence on his team. The other finalists were Micah Kiser of Virginia, Harrison Phillips of Stanford and Minkah Fitzpatrick of Alabama. Jewell received the award Sunday night from Ronnie Lott at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Calif. It goes to a player with strong academic work, community involvement and team leadership. The senior linebacker from Decorah, Iowa, had 136 tackles, 13.5 tackles for losses and 11 passes broken up this season. He was an All-Big Ten selection and also was an academic All-Big Ten selection, with a 3.0 GPA as an environmental studies major. Iowa will receive $25,000 for its general scholarship fund. The Hawkeyes play Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 27.
SOCCER
Stanford wins NCAA title
Sam Werner scored in the second overtime to lead Stanford to its third consecutive NCAA men's soccer title with a 1-0 victory over Indiana on Sunday at Chester, Pa. The goal was blasted over goalkeeper Trey Muse's head from close range after an Indiana turnover in the box, setting off a wild celebration. Werner ripped off his shirt and raced the length of the field. Indiana was the only team in the country without a loss heading into the championship game. The Hoosiers were denied their first undefeated season in program history and their ninth national championship. The Cardinal is just the second men's soccer program to win three consecutive titles. Virginia, under former U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena, won four in a row from 1991 to 1994. The Cardinal women won the national championship last weekend, making Stanford the first school to ever win both soccer titles in the same season.
WINTER SPORTS
Hirscher wins slalom
Marcel Hirscher recovered from a disappointing opening run to win a men's World Cup slalom in dense snowfall on Sunday at Val D'Isere, France. The six-time overall champion from Austria was more than half a second behind in fifth after the first leg. He changed his equipment before posting the second-fastest time in the final run. He beat Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway by 0.39 seconds, while Andre Myhrer of Sweden was another 0.01 behind in third. Stefano Gross of Italy, who led after the first run, dropped to sixth. It was Hirscher's 47th career victory and first in a slalom race since breaking his left ankle in a practice run in August.
Speedskating records set
Japan's Nao Kodaira and Canada's Ted-Jan Bloemen set world records Sunday on the final day of the World Cup speedskating event at the Utah Olympic Oval at Kearns, Utah. Kodaira finished in 1 minute, 12.09 seconds in the women's 1,000 meters, her third race victory in three days. American Brittany Bowe held the previous record of 1:12.18. Japan's Miho Takagi was second in 1:12.63, and Russia's Yekaterina Shikhova followed in 1:13.23. Bloemen finished in 6:01.86 in the men's 5,000. Dutch skater Sven Kramer held the previous record of 6:03.32. Germany's Patrick Beckert was second in 6.07.02, and countryman Moritz Geisreiter followed in 6:07.31. Bowe improved on a pair of 13th-place finishes in the 500s. She finished in 1:13.55 to place sixth in the 1,000.
WRESTLING
Swann arrested, held
Wrestler Rich Swann is being held without bail in a Florida jail after he was arrested and charged with battery and false imprisonment. Swann, who is 26 and a former WWE cruiserweight champion, was arrested Saturday. According to Gainesville police, Swann was arguing with his wife, who is also a wrestler. His wife -- whose name is Vannarah Riggs but goes by Su Yung -- had wrestled earlier in the evening in the northwest Florida city. The couple lives in Orlando. A police report said Swann "critiqued" her performance and the pair began arguing. A witness told police that Riggs jumped out of Swann's slowly moving car. The report says the witness also saw Swann put Riggs in a headlock and dragged her back to his vehicle. Riggs "screamed for help as (Swann) put her back in the car," the officer wrote in the report. The car drove off and a witness saw Riggs exit the vehicle a second time. Riggs told officers that "she was afraid of (Swann) because he has a temper sometimes." She added that she was trying to get away from him so the argument wouldn't escalate into physical violence. Swann told officers that he didn't touch his wife and that she got into the car on her own. Swann will appear in court today. No attorney is listed in county records.
Sports on 12/11/2017