MLB: Upton’s no-trade clause nixes deal to M’s
Justin Upton used the no-trade clause in his contract to reject a proposed deal that would have sent the Diamondbacks outfielder to the Mariners, sources said. Upton’s contract allows him to block deals to four teams — Seattle, Toronto, Boston and the Cubs.
Left-hander Chris Narveson and the Brewers agreed to an $840,000, one-year contract. Milwaukee also OK’d a deal with 36-year-old right-hander Kelvim Escobar, who last pitched in the majors in 2009 with the Angels. … Infielder Luis Valbuena agreed to a $930,000, one-year contract with the Cubs.
HOOPS: High-scoring hotshot done for season
Jack Taylor, the Grinnell College (Iowa) hotshot who set the NCAA scoring record with 138 points in a game in November, is out for the season after breaking his wrist Wednesday night during a 119-117 win over Cornell (Iowa). Taylor likely will have surgery within a week and be out 2-3 months, costing the sensational sophomore the rest of the season. He was averaging 36.3 points for the Division III Pioneers (9-3).
TENNIS: Aussie Open draw favors Serena
Serena Williams and defending champion Victoria Azarenka are in the same half of the draw at next week’s Australian Open, meaning they could meet in the semifinals. Top-ranked Azarenka has lost 11 of her 12 matches against Williams, the No. 3 seed who increased her career haul to 15 Grand Slam titles last year by winning at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
No. 2-ranked Maria Sharapova is on the other half of the draw and could meet Venus Williams in the third round. Novak Djokovic’s bid for a third consecutive Australia Open title got a boost when Roger Federer and U.S. Open champ Andy Murray in the other half of the draw.
Top-seeded David Ferrer beat Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-2 today to reach the final of the Heineken Open in Auckland, New Zealand. Ferrer will meet Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber in tomorrow’s final. … Juan Martin del Potro beat Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 6-1 to set up a final against Lleyton Hewitt at the Kooyong Classic in Sydney, Australia
FOOTBALL: Sandusky bids for new trial
Jerry Sandusky emerged from prison to attend a hearing in Bellefonte, Pa., at which his lawyers argued he deserves a new trial on child molestation charges because they didn’t have enough time to prepare for the first one.
Mario Cristobal is returning to Miami as the Hurricanes’ associate head coach. He was fired by Florida International last month after six seasons.
DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson’s record-setting receiver, is heading to the NFL and skipping his final season of college. Also turning pro is Joseph Randle, Oklahoma State’s All-Big 12 running back.
SOCCER: KC lands MLS All-Star Game
MLS commissioner Don Garber announced that Kansas City, Kan., will play host to the league’s All-Star Game on July 31 game between MLS All-Stars and an international club still to be determined.