KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Two people familiar with the deals tell The Associated Press that right-handers Seth Lugo and Chris Stratton have agreed to deals with the Kansas City Royals. The people spoke Tuesday to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deals were pending physicals. Lugo will make $45 million over three seasons and can opt out after the 2025 season, one of the people said, while Stratton will make $3.5 million this season with a $4.5 million player option for 2025, another person said. Lugo is coming off a strong season with the Padres, where he proved he could be a regular start, while Stratton helps solidify what was one of the worst bullpens in baseball last season.
NEW YORK (AP) — In his first public comments since the Yankees acquired him from San Diego, three-time All-Star Juan Soto deflected questions about a possible long-term deal with the Yankees. The 25-year-old outfielder said the team could deal with his agent, Scott Boras. Soto spoke six days after he was acquired by the Yankees from San Diego along with Gold Glove center fielder Trent Grisham for right-handed pitchers Michael King, Jhony Brito, Randy Vásquez and Drew Thorpe plus catcher Kyle Higashioka. Soto hit .275 with 35 homers, 109 RBIs and a .930 OPS in his only full season with the Padres.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that South Korean outfielder Jung Hoo Lee and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a $113 million, six-year contract. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced. Lee, a South Korean MVP and the son of a former MVP, can terminate the deal after four years and $72 million to become a free agent again. The 25-year-old was posted by South Korea’s Kiwoom Heroes on Dec. 4, and if he stays for the entire contract, the Giants would owe an $18,825,000 posting fee.
COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Justin Herbert has had surgery to repair the broken index finger on his right hand. He will miss the Los Angeles Chargers’ remaining four games. Herbert visited two hand specialists on Monday after he suffered the injury during the second quarter of Los Angeles’ 24-7 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Herbert is the seventh starting quarterback in the league to be lost for the season because of an injury, provided the Jets’ Aaron Rodgers does not return from his torn Achilles tendon. Herbert's backup, Easton Stick, will get his first NFL start on Thursday night at Las Vegas.
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Warren Washington scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Darrion Williams recorded his third triple-double of the season and Texas Tech fought off Oral Roberts for an 82-76 win. Jailen Bedford scored 26 points and Kareem Thompson 21 for Oral Roberts which has lost all five of its road games. Washington made a layup with 3:20 remaining for a 77-66 Red Raiders lead which proved to be Texas Tech’s last field goal of the night. DeShang Weaver made a 3-pointer for ORU and Thompson made two foul shots to bring the Golden Eagles within 77-71 with 1:27 left. Texas Tech proceeded to turn it over on its next three possessions, but Issac McBride’s missed two 3 attempts — the second off an offensive rebound by Thompson - and Williams made a pair of foul shots with 32 seconds left to clinch it.
CINCINNATI (AP) — CJ Fredrick scored 14 points, Aziz Bandaogo added 12 points and matched a career best with 17 rebounds, and Cincinnati pulled away in the second half to beat Bryant 85-53. Cincinnati (8-1), which had its best start to a season since 2017-18 end after an 84-79 loss to Xavier, shot 59% (16 of 27) in a 55-point second half against Bryant and had a 57-33 rebound advantage. Connor Withers scored 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting with three 3-pointers to lead Bryant (6-6),
UNDATED (AP) — Top-ranked Arizona plays No. 3 Purdue in Indianapolis on Saturday in the marquee game of a busy upcoming weekend in the Top 25. Fifth-ranked UConn heads across the country to play No. 10 Gonzaga on Friday night before a packed slate of games on Saturday headlined by the Wildcats and Boilermakers. It includes Kansas visiting Indiana, Baylor taking on Michigan State and ninth-ranked North Carolina facing No. 16 Kentucky on a neutral floor in Atlanta.
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Utah is still trying to adapt to the loss of second-leading scorer Gianna Kneepkens, who was lost for the season with a foot injury suffered against BYU. Roberts said that Kneepkens, who injured the foot against BYU on Dec. 5, had successful surgery last Thursday and that the guard has been “blowing up her teammates' phones.” Star forward Alissa Pili has raised her level of play lately, averaging 34 points while shooting 67.5% from the field and 60% from behind the 3-point line in the two games last week. Pili scored 37 points in a loss to No. 1 South Carolina on Sunday.
TUESDAY SCORES
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (12)Tennessee 74 Georgia Southern 56
Final (21)Duke 89 Hofstra 68
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Boston 120 Cleveland 113
Final Dallas 127 L.A. Lakers 125
Final Denver 114 Chicago 106
Final Phoenix 119 Golden State 116
Final L.A. Clippers 119 Sacramento 99
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Carolina 4 Ottawa 1
Final Toronto 7 N-Y Rangers 3
Final Pittsburgh 4 Arizona 2
Final Detroit 6 St. Louis 4
Final OT Nashville 3 Philadelphia 2
Final Vancouver 4 Tampa Bay 1
Final Seattle 4 Florida 0
Final OT Vegas 5 Calgary 4
Final Edmonton 4 Chicago 1
Final San Jose 2 Winnipeg 1