Sports

Veteran right-hander Walker Buehler agreed to a minor-league deal with the San Diego Padres and will attend major-league camp on a non-roster invitation. The move places him among several recent low-cost acquisitions as the team evaluates rotation options.

Tony Vitello said media reports accelerated events around his departure from Tennessee and that the coverage complicated his decision-making as he began his first week as the San Francisco Giants' manager.

At Yankees spring training Ryan Weathers touched 98.5 mph in live batting practice and says his primary focus is staying healthy after a string of arm and lat issues.

Commissioner Adam Silver said the league is discussing a wide range of measures, including rethinking the draft and lottery, to curb tanking; the NBA recently fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000.

The U.S. men's hockey team defeated Germany 5-1 to complete a 3-0 preliminary record and finish atop its group in Milan. The Americans have a day off before facing the winner of Sweden vs. Latvia in the quarterfinals on Feb. 18.

Nick Castellanos said he has no regrets about how his time in Philadelphia ended and that he learned from a dugout incident; the Padres signed him after his release and expect him to serve mainly as a DH while also getting some outfield and occasional first-base work.

Nick Castellanos signed with the San Diego Padres for the major-league minimum after a high-profile exit from the Philadelphia Phillies; he has trained at first base in the winter and will compete for playing time during spring workouts.

Chris Sale is entering the final year of his contract with the Atlanta Braves in 2026 and says he is focused on the present while recovering from a rib injury that cost him the second half of the 2026 season.

After a down offensive season, Royce Lewis hired Houston-based hitting coach Jeremy Isenhower this offseason and has begun coordinating that work with the Twins' new hitting coach as spring training opened.

The U.S. men's hockey team is 2-0 in Group C at the 2026 Winter Olympics after wins over Latvia and Denmark, and coach Mike Sullivan said overcoming setbacks has helped galvanize the group.

Liam Hendriks signed a minor-league deal with the Minnesota Twins and reported to spring training as he works to regain form after cancer treatment and several arm surgeries. He has completed a new offseason program and thrown multiple bullpen sessions while aiming to compete for a bullpen role.

The Colorado Rockies signed Michael Lorenzen, Tomoyuki Sugano and Jose Quintana as part of an offseason plan to recruit pitchers willing to pitch at Coors Field, and team president Paul DePodesta says the club will rethink its pitching approach, including how pitches are called.

Gerrit Cole completed a bullpen session at Steinbrenner Field about 11 months after Tommy John surgery, with his fastball registering 94–96 mph. The Yankees and Cole say the 14–18 month recovery timeline remains on track.

Jordan Montgomery has reunited with the Texas Rangers in Surprise, Ariz., about 10 months after his second Tommy John surgery, and said he is happy to be back. The team says it hopes to have him back in the rotation shortly after the Aug. 3 trade deadline, though timelines remain fluid.

The Marlins have chosen Sandy Alcántara to make a franchise-record sixth Opening Day start on March 27; the team said he looks physically strong and is planning to pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

Trevor Story has chosen to remain with the Boston Red Sox and says he will take on a larger leadership role while building on a healthy 2025 season.

Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia spoke at spring training about the death of his daughter, Sterling Sol Vesia, who died shortly after birth on Oct. 26, and described wide support from teammates, opponents and fans as he begins grief counseling and returns to pitching.

Reds president Nick Krall told the Cincinnati Enquirer he has not discussed bringing back Nick Castellanos after the outfielder was released by the Phillies, and Krall said he was unsure if Castellanos would fit the current roster, which recently added Eugenio Suárez.

Oneil Cruz reported to Pirate City in Bradenton for early Spring Training and has been intentionally facing left-handed pitchers after a difficult 2025 season.

Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines won the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach at a ceremony in Hot Springs, Arkansas. His unit ranked among the FBS leaders in several defensive categories and helped Indiana capture its first national championship.

Justin Verlander has signed a one-year contract to rejoin the Detroit Tigers, and he and Tarik Skubal are now teammates at spring training and speaking publicly about their roles.

Paul Goldschmidt will take a supporting, mentoring role while Ben Rice is expected to receive the majority of playing time at first base for the Yankees this season; Goldschmidt is projected to be used mainly against left-handed pitchers and as a late-inning defensive substitute.

Nikola Topić entered Thursday's game for the Oklahoma City Thunder and scored his first NBA points after undergoing treatment for testicular cancer; he finished with two points in a 110-93 loss.

De'Aaron Fox was named an All-Star as a replacement for Norman Powell, marking the second All-Star selection of his career; he will join USA Stripes for the new round-robin All-Star format.

Brayan Bello has shifted into the fourth spot in the Red Sox rotation and is working to refine his changeup while reviving a curveball as he reports early to spring camp and prepares to pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

Freshman Layla Hays wore assistant coach Randi Henderson's name during Iowa's annual Pink Out breast cancer awareness game, and Iowa beat Washington 65-56 to snap a three-game losing streak.

Left-hander Framber Valdez signed a reported $115 million deal with the Detroit Tigers and was introduced at a Lakeland, Fla., press conference; his journey from the Dominican Republic and a long Houston tenure were central to the presentation.

Mohamed Diawara began playing after watching his sister as a child and has worked into the New York rotation, including a 14-point game in a win at Philadelphia.

The Minnesota Twins signed reliever Liam Hendriks to a minor-league contract with an invitation to big-league camp, according to team sources. The 37-year-old spent much of 2025 sidelined by injuries and underwent elbow surgery after returning from Tommy John.

The Red Sox acquired infielder Caleb Durbin, a 5-foot-7 player the club sees as a defensive presence who could play second or third as Boston evaluates its infield during spring camp.