Fowler has $9.5M deal with Cubs
The Chicago Cubs avoided arbitration with recently acquired outfielder Dexter Fowler, reaching agreement Friday on a one-year, $9.5 million contract.
The Cubs had offered $8.5 million and Fowler wanted $10.8 million. Fowler, who will become a free agent after the 2015 season, made $7.35 million last year.
The 28-year-old switch-hitter was obtained in a trade this week with the Houston Astros for pitcher Dan Straily and infielder Luis Valbuena.
Last season with the Astros, Fowler batted .276 with eight home runs in 116 games. He is projected as the Cubs’ regular center fielder in 2015.
With Fowler reaching agreement, the Cubs’ last arbitration-eligible player is pitcher Pedro Strop.
Lakers’ Bryant likely done for season
Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a torn rotator cuff, ESPN.com reported Friday.
Bryant sustained the injury during the second half of a 96-80 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night in New Orleans. Sources told ESPN that he has been dealing with this shoulder injury since the preseason.
The Lakers announced Thursday that the findings were the result of a preliminary MRI taken in San Antonio.
On Friday, the team said the initial diagnosis was confirmed after another examination and Bryant was discussing options with doctors. He is scheduled to be examined by Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Monday, and a decision about surgery is expected to be made then.
Penguins’ Crosby takes injection to treat lower-body injury
Sidney Crosby has taken an injection for a lower-body injury that will keep him out of this weekend’s NHL All-Star Game, the team said on Friday.
The Penguins said Crosby, the NHL’s reigning most valuable player and face of the league, is expected to resume skating on Tuesday in hopes of returning either Wednesday at Washington or Friday at New Jersey.
According to the Penguins, Crosby was hurt during a game against the Montreal Canadiens and has attempted to play through the injury the past two weeks.
Crosby’s absence from Sunday’s All-Star Game in Columbus, Ohio, will mark the fourth time that he has been selected to the exhibition but has not appeared.
NFLPA appeals conduct policy
The NFLPA filed a grievance against the NFL over the new personal conduct policy.
Because the policy was not collectively bargained under the terms of the, the players’ union requested its expedited grievance be heard immediately.
Owners unanimously approved the policy changes last month. Commissioner Roger Goodell said when trumpeting the completion of the multi-faceted plan with harsher penalties for domestic violence that he had discussions with NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith.
The extent of those talks is not known, but the grievance filed Friday implies they were insufficient for players.
Kearse, Wilfork latest to be fined by NFL
Two heroes from the conference title games last weekend were fined by the NFL on Friday, adding to a fine-filled week from those games.
Wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, who caught the winning touchdown pass in overtime in Seattle’s 28-22 win over the Green Bay Packers, became the fourth Seahawk to be fined out of that NFC Championship Game.
The league penalized him the standard $5,512 for throwing the football into the stands after the score. He had referred to it as a release of frustration after a tough day that saw two balls go off his hands for interceptions.
From the AFC title game, New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork was fined $8,268 for a late hit in his team’s 45-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts.