Vikings, agent stand firm regarding Peterson
The Minnesota Vikings and agent Ben Dogra reiterated their stances regarding running back Adrian Peterson on Monday.
At the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix, general manager Rick Spielman said, “Adrian’s a member of our football team. He is under contract with us, and we are focused on the 2015 season and expect Adrian to be a part of that.”
Spielman would not say whether Peterson has asked for a trade or whether the Vikings are considering parting with him.
Meanwhile, Dogra told Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports: “I don’t think it’s in the best interests of Adrian Peterson to play for the Minnesota Vikings.”
Those words come days after Dogra reportedly declined a request by Spielman for a dinner meeting in Phoenix this week.
Minor league catcher suspended 50 games
Dusty Brown, a minor-league catcher who is a free agent, was suspended for 50 games Monday, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced.
Brown tested positive a second time for a drug of abuse in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, the commissioner’s office said.
The will be effective once he signs with a major-league organization.
Brown, 32, has spent 14 seasons in the minor leagues, hitting .258 with 65 homers with 286 RBIs.
In 24 major-league games with the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates, he has hit .163 with one home run, three RBIs and 12 strikeouts.
Kovalchuk considers return to NHL
Former New Jersey Devils left winger Ilya Kovalchuk reportedly is considering a return to the NHL as soon as the 2016-17 season.
Kovalchuk, 31, has told his Kontinental Hockey League team, SKA St. Petersburg, of his intent, according to Finnish newspaper Iltalehti.
Kovalchuk, who retired from the NHL after the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, has two options if he wants to play in the NHL: He could apply for reinstatement and hope that all 30 teams allow him back into the league for the 2016-17 season, or he could wait until the 2018-19 season and sign with a team as an unrestricted free agent.
At the time of Kovalchuk’s retirement, he had 12 years and $77 million left on a deal he signed with New Jersey in 2010.
Rooftop bar owners argue Cubs’ signs would kill business
CHICAGO — Owners of rooftop venues with views into Chicago’s historic Wrigley Field asked a federal judge on Monday to block the Chicago Cubs baseball team from putting up signs over right field, saying they would block views and destroy their businesses.
The businesses sell tickets to eat, drink and watch the ballgame to fans on top of residential buildings outside the 101-year-old ballpark. They have permission under a 2004 contract which requires them to pay the Cubs 17 percent of their revenue.
The contract was made under a former owner, and the current owner, the wealthy Ricketts family, plans $375 million in renovations to the ballpark, including new signs and rebuilt bleachers.
Two rooftop owners sued, claiming a planned video board and another sign in right field would violate the contract and pose an antitrust violation.
Nationals’ Scherzer gets opening day start
The Washington Nationals named right-hander Max Scherzer as the team’s opening day starter on April 6 against the New York Mets at Nationals Park.
Manager Matt Williams made the announcement Monday.
It will be the first Opening Day start of Scherzer’s career. Washington’s last three Opening Day starts have gone to right-hander Stephen Strasburg.
Scherzer, who won the American League Cy Young Award in 2013, joined the Nationals this offseason after signing a seven-year, $210 million contract in January.
In 2014 for the Detroit Tigers, Scherzer went 18-5 with a 3.15 ERA and 252 strikeouts in 220 1/3 innings over 33 starts. He has recorded at least 230 strikeouts in three straight season, at least 15 wins in four straight seasons and at least 30 starts in six straight seasons.