BASEBALL
Early negotiations possible
Baseball players and management appear headed to early labor negotiations that could lead to significant economic changes in the collective bargaining agreement and possibly a new deal past the current expiration of December 2021. Management backed off its desire for a pitch clock this year in a proposal to the players' association on Tuesday, putting off most on-field changes to 2020 at the earliest. The union quickly made a counteroffer Wednesday, and the biggest alterations still being discussed for this year are a single trade deadline, most likely on July 31, and lowering the number of mound visits without a pitching change from six to five. Details were disclosed to The Associated Press by people familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because talks were ongoing. Many aspects of management's latest proposal were first reported by ESPN. Among the items put off until 2020 at the earliest are several where an agreement could be reached soon: a three-batter minimum for pitchers; increasing active rosters from 25 to 26, including a maximum of 13 pitchers, and dropping them from 40 to 28, including a maximum 14 pitchers, from Sept. 1 through the end of the regular season; increasing the minimum regular injured list and option recall period for pitchers from 10 days to 15; and a new rule that position players could pitch only from the ninth inning on, or from the sixth inning on when their team trails by seven runs or more.
Wieters, Cards deal
Catcher Matt Wieters has agreed to a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. If added to the 40-man roster, the 32-year-old would get a one-year contract calling for a $1.5 million salary while in the major leagues. He would have the chance to earn $500,000 in performance bonuses based on games: $100,000 each for 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80. A four-time All-Star with Baltimore from 2009-16, Wieters will compete with Francisco Pena for the backup job behind Yadier Molina, the only catcher on the Cardinals' 40-man roster. Wieters spent the past two seasons with Washington. He hit .238 with 8 home runs and 30 RBI last year, when he was sidelined between March 31 and April 12 with a strained left oblique muscle and between May 10 and July 9 with a strained left hamstring. His contract with the Nationals paid $21 million over the last two years. St. Louis announced the deal Wednesday.
BASKETBALL
Iowa coach suspended
Iowa has suspended Coach Fran McCaffery for two games for yelling at an official in a hallway heading to the locker room following Tuesday's loss at Ohio State. Hawkeyes Athletic Director Gary Barta announced the move on Wednesday, which will sideline McCaffery for upcoming games against Rutgers and Wisconsin. The Big Ten said it supports McCaffery's suspension, and it tacked on a $10,000 fine for the university along with a public reprimand. Barta called McCaffery's comments "unacceptable," adding that they didn't represent the values of the school. McCaffery is in his ninth season at Iowa. The Hawkeyes, who were ranked 22nd in Monday's poll, have three regular season games left. McCaffery was suspended a game for arguing with officials in 2014.
FOOTBALL
Canadians drop Manziel
The Canadian Football League ended its relationship with Johnny Manziel on Wednesday, with the league saying the quarterback "contravened the agreement which made him eligible to play in the league." Manziel, 26, was released by the Montreal Alouettes and the CFL told its teams it would not approve another contract for the embattled quarterback. Before Manziel signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in May, he met with CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie, who cleared the quarterback to sign with the league in late 2017. Manziel would have to "meet a number of conditions in order to remain eligible," Ambrosie said in a statement then. "These conditions, while extensive and exacting, remain confidential." Montreal General Manager Kavis Reed on Wednesday declined to elaborate on what conditions of that agreement Manziel had violated.
Foles now free agent
The Philadelphia Eagles will let quarterback Nick Foles go to free agency and will not use a franchise tag on him, top executive Howie Roseman said Wednesday. The Eagles had until March 5 to use the franchise tag on Foles if they wanted to trade him, but Roseman said after speaking with the Super Bowl MVP, they decided to let him sign elsewhere in search of a starting job. Roseman would not comment on whether they tried to trade him or what the market might have been. Roseman said "a lot" went into the decision. The Eagles had already determined Carson Wentz will be their starting quarterback, so the only question was whether they would try to trade Foles or let him leave in free agency. The Eagles will likely receive a compensatory pick as high as the third round in 2020 for Foles.
TENNIS
Federer advances
Roger Federer maintained his perfect record against Fernando Verdasco to reach the Dubai Championships quarterfinals on Wednesday, while top-seeded Kei Nishikori was eliminated. Federer converted his first match point when Verdasco sent a forehand wide, finishing off a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory that improved his record against the Spaniard to 7-0. Nishikori, though, lost 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 against Hubert Hurkacz of Poland. This was win No. 50 for Federer in Dubai, having won the tournament seven times. He's only three matches away from a 100th tournament title and will next face Marton Fucsovics of Hungary, who beat Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany 6-4, 6-2. Hurkacz will next play fifth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, who eased past Belarusian qualifier Egor Gerasimov 6-3, 6-1 in less than an hour.
Del Potro withdraws
Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro has withdrawn from next month's BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif., because of a knee injury. Del Potro said Wednesday through tournament officials that he's been advised to rest by his doctors and he hopes to return to action soon. He defeated Roger Federer to win his first Masters 1000 title last year in the Southern California desert. The fourth-ranked Argentine lost in the quarterfinals of last week's Delray Beach Open in Florida. It was del Potro's first tournament since injuring his knee at the Shanghai Masters in October. Del Potro had already pulled out of this week's Mexican Open in Acapulco, which he won last year. He also missed the Australian Open in January. With del Potro's withdrawal, Taro Daniel of Japan moves into the men's draw. The women's draw already lost two-time winner Maria Sharapova, who withdrew with a shoulder injury. The tournament runs March 6-17 at Indian Wells.
HORSE RACING
Preakness to stay at Pimlico
The Preakness Stakes will remain at Pimlico Race Course in Maryland at least through 2020 as the track's owner seeks to ready a "super track" at Laurel Park that could host the iconic second leg of horse racing's Triple Crown in the future. The owner of the race and the 149-year-old Pimlico track said Wednesday that Laurel Park would not be ready to host the Preakness in 2020 -- even if the Maryland General Assembly approved a change of venue. "It has to be run [at Pimlico] this year. It has to be run there next year," said Tim Ritvo, chief operating officer of The Stronach Group's racing division. "We couldn't hold the Preakness at Laurel in the condition it's in. It needs the upgrades," Ritvo said in an interview. State law says the Preakness can be moved from Pimlico to another track in Maryland "only as a result of a disaster or emergency," so the company would need legislative support to move the Preakness to Laurel on any other basis. This year's Preakness is May 18. Until now, it was uncertain what The Stronach Group's plans were beyond 2019 -- other than the company's often-stated desire to move the race to Laurel at some point in the future.
Sports on 02/28/2019