……….(Baseball)………..

Padres…Sign FA-P-Mark Melancon-ex Giants-Pirates-Braves closer..(205-career saves (2.85-ERA)

Padres…Likely losing closer Trevor Rosenthal…Cubs were negotiating with him over weekend.

Padres..Invite 33-non roster players to camp including top rookies P-Mackenzie Gore…SS-CJ Abrams..OF-Robert Hassell.

Padres…Manager Jayce Tingler arrives at Spring Training camp:
..Ha Kim will concentrate on playing 2B in Cactus League
..P-Chris Paddack spent off season working on mechanics
..OF-Brian O’Grady will play all 3-OF positions
..May have ‘closer’ by committee…use all 4-in closers role
..Will be cautious ramping up pitchers since this is 162G-schedule..compared to 60G last year

Dodgers…Re-sign FA-3B-Justin Turner (2Y-34M) with 3rd year option-ends 3-months of talks…Turner had 2Y-offer from Milwaukee….Career (.305) hitter over 7Y with Dodgers….(.295) career playoff average.

Dodgers..Sign C-Austin Barnes to (2Y-4.3M) extension.

Dodgers-A’s…Trade…LA deals P-Adam Kolarek (0.95-ERA) and OF-Cody Thomas (23HR-AA) to A’s for P-Gus Varland (1.54-ERA-A)..3B-Sheldon Neuse (.317-AAA)

Dodgers-Miami..Trade…LA ships P-Dylan Floro (3.10-ERA) to Marlins for P-Alex Vesia (1.62-ERA-A)..Kyle Hurst.

Dodgers…Indicate they will allow (2,400) fans per game at Camelback Ranch for spring training games.

Angels..Indicate they will allow (2,000) fans at Diablo Stadium for Cactus League games.

————–

(Roster Moves)

Tampa Bay..Sign FA-P-Rich Hill-ex Twins-Dodgers
Tampa Bay..Sign FA-P-Collin McHugh-ex Astros-Red Sox (58-43)
Tampa Bay..Sign FA-P-Brian Moran-ex Marlins

Mariners..Sign FA-P-James Paxton-ex Yankees
Mariners..Sign FA-P-Ken Giles-ex Astros-Blue Jays closer

Arizona..Sign FA-SS-Asdrubal Cabrera-ex Indians-Mets
Cubs..Sign FA-P-Jake Arrieta-ex Phillies
Orioles..Sign FA-P-Matt Harvey-ex Mets-Reds-Angels
Yankees..Sign FA-OF-Jay Bruce-ex Reds-Phillies-Indians-Mets
Yankees..Open talks with FA-P-Justin Wilson-ex Mets-Cubs
Phillies..Sign FA-SS-Brad Miller-ex Mariners
Blue Jays..Sign FA-2B-Joe Panik-ex Giants
Texas..Sign FA-3B-Brock Holt-ex Red Sox-Brewers
Texas..Sign FA-P-Hyeon-Jong Yang..(147-95)-Kia Tigers-Korea
Red Sox..Sign FA-C-Chris Herrmann-ex Arizona
Cardinals..Sign FA-OF-Matt Szczur-ex Cubs-Padres
White Sox..Sign FA-2B-Matt Reynolds-ex Royals-Mets
White Sox..Sign FA-P-Mike Wright-ex Orioles-Red Sox

Mets-Cardinals..Trade-NY deals C-Ali Sancez to Cards
Yankees..Release P-Ben Heller

——————-

(Injuries)

Mets…P-Seth Lugo undergoes elbow bone spur surgery..out 4W

—————-

(MLB)

MLB….Spring training protocols…Ban games against college teams…Ban split squad games…Teams must dress in home clubhouse-take batting practice-then travel to game…

MLB..Divides Grapefruit Circuit into 3-regions….East-West-Southwest…will limit travel.

MLB..Renames all minor leagues.
..Pacific Coast League will be known as AAA-West
..International League becomes AAA-East
..Texas League is AA-Central
..Midwest League is now High A-Central
..California League becomes Low A-West

=======================

………………(Basketball)……………

Lakers-Denver….LA led (24-22) late in 1st quarter at Press time…late Sunday game….Lakers (21-6)

Clippers-Cleveland…Clippers led (24-18) late opening quarter….late.Sunday game…LA (19-8)

Clippers-vs-Miami…Monday President’s Day game.

Lakers-W-Memphis…LA trailed (22-2) in first quarter..Anthony Davis (35P) in comeback win on Friday

Clippers-W-Chicago…Kawhi Leonard (33P) in win on Friday

Brooklyn..coach Steve Nash mandates James Harden will be point guard-Kyrie Irving-shooting guard when both on floor at same time.

NYKnicks..C-Mitchell Robinson-fractured hand
Golden State..C-James Wiseman-setback in wrist rehab
Charlotte…F-Caleb Martin..G-Cody Martin-positive covid tests
Brooklyn..F-Kevin Durant-reinstated from covid list…strains hamstring Sunday in second game back

Aztecs…off weekend..don’t play till Thursday at Fresno State.
U Maine-Howard U-Bethune Cookman-shutdown rest of basketball season-Covid issues
Syracuse..University President furious report 50-athletes from Orange programs threw a party on Saturday night off campus…did not wear face masks.

==========================

…………(Football)……………

Chargers…Veteran Pro Bowl C-Mike Pouncey retires after missing last year with neck surgery

Chargers..Hire Cody Cijda-assistant special teams coach-ex Northwestern…Bolts have 7-college coaches on 14-man staff of new coach Brandon Staley.

—————————–

(Roster Moves)

Houston…Stuns NFL-Release DE-JJ Watt after 9Y-career..5X-Pro Bowler…(101-career sacks)…Clears (17.5M) cap space

Raiders..Release WR-Tyrell Williams-missed last year injuries…(197R-23TD-16YPC) in career
Raiders..Release S-LeMarcus Joyner…clear (9.6M) cap space

Tampa Bay..Sign FA-RB-CJ Prosise-ex Seattle-Houston
Denver..Sign FA-DT-Isaiah Mack-ex Patriots
Saints..Release DT-Nick Easton

Patriots…Talking to 49ers-Jim Garoppolo…Raiders-Marcus Mariota about possible deal for QB
Eagles..Trade talks for QB-Carson Wentz stall..Colts-Bears refuse give up #1 pick in deal
Washington..Ask QB-Alex Smith to take paycut from (24.4M) contract due next year
Saints..Cannot franchise tag DE-Trey Hendrickson (14.1M) because salary cap issues
JJ Watt…Contacted by Steelers-Bills-Detroit-Browns-Titans in first days after release from Houston
Dak Prescott..Cowboys would use (37.7M) franchise tag if they cannot get multi year deal done

CFL-Toronto Argonauts…sign FA-WR-Kendall Wright-ex #1 pick-Tennessee Titans
———————–

(Coaches)

Arizona..Hire Devin Fitzsimmons-Special Teams-ex Vanderbilt
Atlanta..Hire Chris Olsen-Director FB Ops-ex Houston
Bengals..Hire Justin Hill-RB coach-ex Tulsa
Jets..Hire Steve Scarnecchia-Asst OL coach-ex Patriots
Eagles..Hire Tracey Rocker-DL coach-ex South Carolina

————————–

(NFL)

Matthew Stafford…Donates 1M to Detroit Education centers
Baltimore..CB-Jimmy Smith robbed of cash-jewels in hotel near LAX

Jacksonville…Strength Coach Chris Doyle resigns a day after his hiring in firestorm of controversy over his firing at Iowa for degrading treatment of black players in Hawkeyes program….Fritz Pollard Alliance called hiring ‘unacceptable’ and demanded NFL void the hiring.

Jacksonville..Coach Urban Meyer broadsided at press conference…8-straight questions from media about hiring of controversial strength coach Chris Doyle-incidents at Iowa..Doyle resigned hours later.

St Louis…City-County-State ask for 1.1B-damages in lawsuit against NFL..Rams..32-teams for reloction of Rams franchise to Los Angeles in 2016…Judges deny transfer of suit to another city…deny NFL request case go to arbitration.

———————————–

(College Football)

Clemson..QB-Trevor Lawrence impressive passing performance on Pro Day…Jaguars coaches Urban Meyer..Brian Schottenheimer…Darrell Bevell all took part in meetings with Lawrence and Coach Dabo Swinney.

Clemson..QB-Trevor Lawrence will need 5-months rehab on surgery for rotator cuff

Oregon..QB-Tyler Slough will transfer…Started 7G (1559P-13TD) for Ducks.

Central Florida..offer head coaching job to ex-Auburn coach Gus Malzahn…went (68-35) at Auburn..would replace Josh Heupel-who took Tennessee Vols job.

Texas..new coach Steve Sarkisian lands West Coast QB-Maalik Murphy-from Gardenia Juniperro High.

UCLA…Vetran QB-coach Dana Bible rtires (67Y)
Alabama..Hires Jay Valai-DB Coach..has just been hired by Eagles.

=========================

……………(Hockey)……………

Kings-Minnesota….LA (4-6-3).game postponed because of Covid issues with Wild

Ducks-San Jose…Monday holiday game..Anaheim (6-6-3)
Ducks..Send G-Anthony Stolarz..F-Vinnie Littieri..F-Andrew Aggozino to Gulls-AHL

Gulls-W-Colorado Eagles (4-1)..Vinnie Littieri 2-goals in 1st game..Gulls (4-0)…..Saturday game
Gulls-W-Colorado (3-2) OT…Jamie Drysdale scores (:17) into overtime after Eagles had tied game with (:13) left in regulation….G-Lukas Dostal (43-saves)…Gulls now (5-0) …Sunday game

Ottawa-Carolina…Trade..Senators ship F-Alex Gaalchenyuk-F-Cedric Paquette to Hurrricane for F-Ryan Dzingel.

Pittsburgh…Incoming President Hockey Operations Brian Burke says Penguins need to play ‘ugly-long pants hockey’…toughen up team.

Vancouver…Owner Francesco Aquillini gives vote of confidence to GM-Jim Benning and Coach Travis Green after team got off to (6-11) start…Canucks respond outshooting Calgary (46-19) in Saturday night win.

Tampa Bay…C-Steve Stamkos placed on Covid list

Colorado Avalanche…Callup 6-Colorado Eagles players from AHL because of covid outbreak on NHL team.

AHL…Canadian government informs Toronto Marlies-Bellville Senators they can begin AHL season after clearing provincial protocols.

NHL…Confirms it is contemplating changes to NHL entry draft..guaranteeing most troubled teams get picks 1-2-3 rather than lotery of all non playoff teams.

Toronto..Long time hockey columnist Frank Orr-Toronto Star passes away in that city (79Y)

======================

……………..(General)…………………

Daytona 500…..Denny Hamlin drove from back of pack to front after 6-hour rain delay…maintained lead late Sunday night at press time…16-car crash wiped out leaders on 15th lap..then heavy rains moved in while wreckage was being cleared…Red flag lasted for 6-hours.

Formula 1…Driver Fernando Alonso has surgery for fractured jaw after cycling accident in Switzerland

PGA…ATT-Pebble Beach…Daniel Berger eagled the 18th hole for emotional win
..(-18)..Daniel Berger surges from behind to win..had 4-eagles in 4-days
..(-16)..Mav McNealy-4 birdies in 5-holes on back nine
..(-15)..Patrick Cantlay-Jordan Spieth
..(-14)..Nate Lashley fell apart-lost lead on 16th-took a “7”…hit bunker-hi grass-missed 2-2 foot putts.

FC-Barcelona…Legendary Spanish soccer team-NY Times reports has 1.1B-debts….Team lost 600M in revenues last year because of pandemic….owes 771M-in salaries to players…is seeking advanced TV money from EPL-wants to sell off non-soccer businesses.

English Premier League…Scoreboard
..Leicester-W-Liverpool..Jamie Vardy goal..Liverpool-4th loss in 2-weeks.
..Manchester City-W-Hot Spur..Ilkay Gundogan 2-goals for City
..Manchester United-Tie-West Brom…Man U gives up goal in 2′
..Wolverhampton-W-Southampton..Pedro Neto game winner in 46’
..Arsenal-W-Leeds..Pierre Aubameyang 3-goals for Gunners
..Everton-L-Fulham..Josh Maja 2-goals in upset win
..Burnley-W-Crystal Palace…Score 2-goals in first 5-minutes of game

..Aston Villa-Brighton…(0-0) tie

..Chelsea-Newcastle..Monday game
..West Ham-Sheffield..Monday game

Tennis..Australian Open…
..#1-Novak Djokovic grinds to 4-set win over Miles Raonic
..#2-Simona Halep come from behind win
..Serena Williams-Naomi Osaka post 4th round wins
..#3-Dom Thiem-upset loser

==========================

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