GMs like James as MVP, Cavs for title
LeBron James was chosen as Most Valuable Player and the Cleveland Cavaliers were picked as NBA champions in a survey of league general managers released Tuesday.
NBA.com conducted the survey, in which GMs were forbidden from selecting their own team or personnel.
LaMarcus Aldridge, who signed a five-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs, was named the most impactful free agent acquisition on 79.3 percent of ballots.
After James was identified by 50 percent of voters in 2014 as the player they’d choose to start a franchise with, New Orleans Pelicans center Anthony Davis was the overwhelming favorite in that category this year at 86.2 percent.
Yanks’ Tanaka has surgery
New York Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka underwent surgery on Tuesday to remove a bone spur from his pitching elbow.
The Yankees added that the spur was a pre-existing condition from Tanaka’s career in Japan before he came to the United States to pitch in the major leagues. The recovery is expected to take six weeks.
Blackhawks’ Keith sidelined
Defenseman Duncan Keith underwent knee surgery Tuesday to repair a torn meniscus and is expected to return to the Chicago Blackhawks in four to six weeks.
The team said Keith’s surgery was successful and projected his return to all hockey activities as early as the final week of November.
Keith, 32, is the top defenseman for the Blackhawks. Chicago has pressing concerns about depth and is especially thin along the blue line.
Agent gets insurance protection for Mets’ Harvey
Agent Scott Boras purchased injury protection insurance of an undisclosed amount on New York Mets right-handed pitcher Matt Harvey to reclaim a potential loss in earnings that would result from reinjury.
Boras had a public beef with the Mets about overextending Harvey in his first year back to the mound after Tommy John elbow surgery. Harvey is on pace to set a record for innings pitched in his first season back to the mound after the ligament replacement operation if the Mets reach the World Series. The record of 215 innings was set by John Lackey.
Boras made a similar move on behalf of Max Scherzer, but the policy was not used. Harvey is under contract with the Mets until 2018, including arbitration this winter. He made a salary of $614,125 this season.
NHL veteran Glencross retires at 32
Veteran NHL forward Curtis Glencross decided to retire after failing to land a contract this season as an unrestricted free agent.
The 32-year-old last played for the Washington Capitals during the 2014-15 regular season and the playoffs. Glencross joined the Toronto Maple Leafs on a tryout deal before this season and wasn’t offered a contract and then went to the Colorado Avalanche camp but was not signed to a contract.
In nine NHL seasons, Glencross played for the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and the Capitals. He totaled posted 275 points in 507 career games.