January 14, 2023 4:09 am
Looks like Andrew McCutchen will be back in black and gold. According to reports, the now 36 year old is returning to the Pirates on a free agent contract. Various outlets are reporting the deal which is pending a physical. No official word yet from the Pirates. McCutchen was the Buc’s first round pick in the 2005 MLB draft. He spent nine seasons in Pittsburgh from 2009 to 2017. He won the National League MVP Award in 2013. Since leaving the Pirates, he has played for the Giants, Yankees, Phillies and spent last season with Milwaukee. McCutchen hit .237 with 17 Home Runs and 69 RBI with the Brewers.
January 14, 2023 4:18 am
The Pirates avoided arbitration and signed four right-handed pitchers Friday–JT Brubaker, Mitch Keller, Duane Underwood, Jr., and Robert Stephenson. All were signed to one-year contracts for the 2023 season.
January 14, 2023 4:12 am
CLEVELAND — Brian Flores landed in the AFC North last season. He might be ready to make a move inside the division. Flores, who joined coach Mike Tomlin’s staff in Pittsburgh following his messy departure in Miami, is interviewing with the Cleveland Browns on Thursday to be their new defensive coordinator. Flores is the second candidate to meet with the Browns this week. On Wednesday, they interviewed former Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz, who spent the past two seasons as a defensive senior adviser with Tennessee. Flores is on the radar of several other teams, and it’s possible he could be looking to get another shot as a head coach. The 41-year-old went 24-25 in three seasons with the Dolphins before being fired. The Browns missed the playoffs for the second straight year after going 7-10, and their defense was a major reason for the down season.
January 13, 2023 3:46 am
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) – The Baltimore Ravens are still practicing without Lamar Jackson. But Thursday did include one significant development. There was an update from the star quarterback’s Twitter account. Jackson tweeted that he’s suffered a grade 2 PCL sprain. He says there’s still inflammation surrounding his knee and his knee remains unstable. Jackson hasn’t practiced since injuring his knee in a Dec. 4 win over Denver. He missed the final five games of the regular season. Now the Ravens face the prospect of playing their postseason opener at Cincinnati without him Sunday night.
January 13, 2023 3:45 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be the neutral site if Buffalo and Kansas City meet in the AFC championship game. The NFL decided to put that potential matchup in a neutral city after the Bills’ Week 17 game against Cincinnati was canceled when Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field. The Chiefs are the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but played one more game than the second-seeded Bills. The league brokered the neutral site deal because Buffalo could have been the top seed with a victory over the Bengals.
January 13, 2023 3:49 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Trevor Bauer was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who cut ties after the pitcher’s unprecedented 324-game suspension over sexual misconduct allegations was reduced by an arbitrator. Los Angeles designated Bauer for assignment on Jan. 6, the last day to restore him to the roster, after arbitrator Martin Scheinman cut the suspension imposed by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to 194 games. The Dodgers placed the pitcher on waivers Thursday and any team can claim Bauer by Friday. Bauer is owed about $22.5 million from the remainder of his $102 million, three-year contract, making a waiver claim unlikely.
January 13, 2023 3:47 am
HONOLULU (AP) – Jordan Spieth is playing about how he expects, and that’s a good thing. Spieth opened with a 64 and shares the lead in the Sony Open with Chris Kirk and PGA Tour rookie Taylor Montgomery. Spieth says he is feeling more confident that has swing changes are now becoming routine. The conditions are ideal for scoring at Waialae with a moderate breeze and plenty of sunshine. Harris English and Slovakian silver medalist Rory Sabbatini are among those at 65. The first round did not finish because of darkness at Waialae Country Club.
January 12, 2023 3:52 am
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) – First-year big man Kyle Filipowski had a season-high 28 points and matched his season high of 15 rebounds to help No. 24 Duke rally from 12 down to beat Pittsburgh 77-69. The 7-footer was the center of the offensive effort, making 8 of 14 shots and 11 of 13 free throws. Fellow freshman Tyrese Proctor added 14 points for Duke, including a pair of tough driving scores that helped the Blue Devils hold their late lead. Duke pushed to a 15-0 run during the game-turning stretch. Jamarius Burton scored 16 points to lead the Panthers.
January 12, 2023 3:48 am
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) – Lamar Jackson was again absent from practice during the portion open to reporters. The Baltimore star hasn’t practiced since injuring his knee in a Dec. 4 win over Denver. There was no sign of him Wednesday as the Ravens prepared for Sunday night’s playoff opener at Cincinnati. Jackson missed the final five games of the regular season. Tyler Huntley started the first four of those, but he has been dealing with shoulder issues and did not play in the regular-season finale. Anthony Brown started that game.
January 12, 2023 3:47 am
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) – Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel says quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol and has been ruled out for Sunday’s playoff game against the Buffalo Bills. Tagovailoa has not yet been cleared to return to football activities. The Dolphins are preparing for rookie Skylar Thompson to be their starter when they face the Bills for the third time this season. Backup Teddy Bridgewater is working his way back to full strength after dislocating his pinky finger.
