Mookie Betts could have signed a $300-million extension last year. Credible reports had the Red Sox offering him the decade-long deal in the offseason, the latest in a string of attempts to keep him in the fold for the long term. For the best position player in Major League Baseball not named Mike Trout, however, the numbers were nowhere close to what he felt he deserved. And so he countered with $420 million over 12 years, figures that then compelled his employers to reject as untenable. Instead, they inked him to a single-season deal worth $27 million last February, and, as expected, promptly looked around for trade partners.

MCLAREN’s Lando Norris felt the absence of cheering fans more than most as the Briton celebrated his first Formula One podium finish in front of empty grandstands at Austria’s Red Bull Ring on Sunday.

SURPRISED by the decision of big man Greg Slaughter to “take a break” from the Philippine Basketball Association after helping the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings to the Governors’ Cup title early this year, Coach Tim Cone said the team is still in steady form and that they are confident of the talents they have on hand when the league resumes from the forced hiatus because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

FOLLOWING the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) last week to allow it to resume some activities, particularly the holding of team practices, the Philippines Football League (PFL) is now working on its next moves to take.

FOUND to have violated government quarantine rules, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) fined veteran Japeth Aguilar and rookie Adrian Wong P20,000 each and told them to take a swab test.

SIDETRACKED after one of the protagonists in its headlining fight was rendered a no-go after testing positive for COVID-19, “UFC 251” is once again on track with Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal stepping in just six days’ notice to challenge reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship champ Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title.

AS THE National Basketball Association begins welcoming teams to ESPN Wide of Sports Complex near Orlando this week for the resumption of the 2019–20 season, the league has reportedly set the protocols for players unable to travel with the rest of their team.

CLEVELAND INDIANS manager Terry Francona said Sunday that he is in favor of the team changing its name.

GOT the breakthrough it was angling for after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) gave its nod for the league to resume practices, the Philippine Basketball Association said it would use the next few weeks building further traction towards a possible resumption of action.

LONDON — Formula One drivers expressed unity in the fight against racism on Saturday but said taking a knee before Sunday’s season-opening Austrian Grand Prix would be a matter for each to decide.

LOS ANGELES — Clippers point guard Landry Shamet tested positive for the coronavirus and is unlikely to travel with the team to Florida, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Saturday.

ROME — Veteran forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, starting his first match since the coronavirus stoppage, converted a penalty to help AC Milan to an emphatic 3-0 win at Lazio on Saturday, severely denting the Serie A title hopes of its ragged opponent.