Bruins sign forward Hayes, two others
The Boston Bruins signed forward Jimmy Hayes to a three-year contract through the 2017-18 season.
The deal is worth $6.9 million ($2.3 million salary cap hit), the team announced Monday.
The Bruins also signed right winger Brett Connolly to a one-year deal worth $1.025 million and forward Brandon DeFazio to a one-year, two-way contract worth $575,000 at the NHL level.
Hayes, 25, played in 72 games for the Florida Panthers during the 2014-15 season and recorded 19 goals (third on the team) and 16 assists.
Connolly, 23, has skated in 139 career NHL games for Tampa and Boston and registered 18 goals and 16 assists with 82 penalty minutes.
DeFazio, 26, skated in two games for the Vancouver Canucks last season, including his NHL debut on Nov. 9, 2014.
Harper to skip Home Run Derby
Washington Nationals slugger Bryce Harper will skip the Home Run Derby next week because his father is not available to pitch to him.
The outfielder’s father, Ron Harper, is recovering from rotator cuff surgery after a snowboarding accident. Ron Harper pitched to his son in the 2013 derby when he finished second to Yoenis Cespedes.
“Not having Dad is a huge issue for me,” Harper told reporters Monday.
The 22-year-old Harper, in his fourth season with the Nationals, has 25 home runs this season and is among the league leaders in almost every offensive category. He is hitting .347 with 60 RBIs, 61 walks and an on-base percentage of .474.
Mariners’ Cano hindered by stomach ailment
Robinson Cano finished fifth in American League MVP voting last season, his first year with the Seattle Mariners, but the second baseman has played nowhere close to that level this season.
And now we know at least part of the reason: Cano told USA Today he is dealing with a debilitating stomach condition that has made it hard for him to remain nourished and has sapped him of energy. In addition, his grandfather and “No. 1 fan” died in March.
In 2014, after signing a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Mariners, Cano hit .314 with 14 homers and 82 RBIs and was selected to his fifth straight All-Star team.
But he told USA Today in an interview published Sunday that he began to experience stomach trouble in August and was diagnosed with a parasite. That ailment was treated with antibiotics, which left him with extreme acid reflux that has bothered him ever since.
Cano, 32, is hitting just .248 this season, with five homers and 27 RBIs.
Titans QB Mariota remains unsigned
The Tennessee Titans open training camp July 30 but still don’t have first-round quarterback Marcus Mariota signed to his rookie contract.
Mariota, the second overall pick, is the only unsigned first-round pick from the 2015 NFL Draft, but there doesn’t appear to be panic on either side.
Mariota recently told FOX Sports he is “not worried about it at all.”
“Obviously, it’s a business deal,” said Mariota, who was in Berea, Ohio, last month as part of the NFL’s mandatory Rookie Symposium for all incoming draft choices. “It’s going to take some time. That’s why you hire your agent.
The delay in finalizing the Mariota deal could be a disagreement over what is known as offset language of fully guaranteed payments to be made from 2015 through 2018.
Fury to meet world champion Klitschko in October
LONDON — Unbeaten British boxer Tyson Fury will get a shot at the world heavyweight title in October after agreeing terms for a meeting with champion Wladimir Klitschko.
The 39-year-old Ukrainian’s WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO crowns will be on the line when the pair meet in the German city of Duesseldorf.
“Don’t matter where this fight is, Ukraine, Deutschland, Japan, it will be the same outcome,” Fury said on his Twitter account on Monday. “The Gypsy King will come out of this fight as the best heavyweight on the planet.”
The 26-year-old has a 24-0 record while Klitschko has not lost for 11 years.
“Done deal,” said Klitschko on his Twitter account. “Looking forward to the fight on October 24th.”