Former Raiders defensive end Anthony Smith was found guilty of three murders in a Los Angeles County court on Thursday.
Smith, 48, was convicted of the shooting deaths of two brothers in 1999 and the stabbing death of a man in 2001. He was also tried on a fourth murder charge from 2008 but the jury deadlocked.
Smith faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. Sentencing was set for Dec. 21.
Smith played seven seasons with the Raiders from 1991-97. He had 10 or more sacks in each of his first three NFL seasons and retired with a total of 57.
Howell sticks with Dodgers
Reliever J.P. Howell will stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016 after exercising his $6.25 million player option.
Howell, 32, could have become a free agent by refusing the option year on a contract he signed in December 2013. He made $4 million in each of the past two seasons and received a $3 million signing bonus after leaving the Tampa Bay Rays.
In 2015, the left-hander posted a 6-1 record with a 1.43 ERA in 44 innings spanning 65 games out of the bullpen for the Dodgers.
Fielder, Harvey comeback players of year
Texas Rangers designated hitter Prince Fielder and New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey won the 2015 Comeback Player of the Year Awards.
Fielder was the American League recipient and Harvey the National League winner out of 30 total candidates, one per team, voted on my MLB.com employees.
Fielder, in his second season with the Rangers, hit .305 with 23 home runs, 98 RBI, 28 doubles, 78 runs scored, a .378 on-base percentage and a .463 slugging percentage over 158 games as he helped Texas to its first AL West Division title since 2011. Fielder, 31, played just 42 games in 2014 following surgery for a herniated disc in his neck, was selected to his sixth All-Star Game, including his third in the AL.
Harvey went 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA over 29 starts, helping lead the Mets to their first NL East Division title since 2006 and their first World Series appearance since 2000. The right-hander, who missed the entire 2014 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, tossed 189.1 innings in the regular season, permitting 62 runs (57 earned) on 156 hits with 37 walks and 188 strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a .222 batting average.
Ramirez ends 18-year career
Longtime major league third baseman Aramis Ramirez made his retirement official on Thursday.
Ramirez said before the 2015 season that he expected it to be his last one and he followed through with his plans after 18 years in the major leagues.
The 37-year-old Ramirez called it a career after batting .283 with 386 home runs, 2,303 hits, 495 doubles and 1,417RBIs in 2,194 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers.
Granderson undergoes thumb surgery
New York Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson underwent surgery earlier this week to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.
Granderson reportedly had the procedure done on Tuesday and is expected to be ready for spring training, according to the Mets.
Despite the injury, Granderson hit three homers in the World Series against the Kansas City Royals as the Mets lost in five games.
Granderson, who hit 26 homers in the regular season, suffered the injury on a slide in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs.
Wild’s Dalpe undergoes hip surgery
Minnesota Wild center Zac Dalpe had successful surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip on Thursday, the team announced.
The procedure was performed by Dr. Chris Larson in Edina, Minnesota. The 26-year-old Dalpe is expected to return to the ice in about five months.
Dalpe was signed by the Wild in July after playing in 21 games (one goal, two assists) for the Buffalo Sabres last season.