Giants sign LHP Madison Bumgarner through 2017
Giants sign LHP Madison Bumgarner through 2017
SAN FRANCISCO — Madison Bumgarner had no intentions of waiting for free agency.
The quiet left-hander with a loud fastball and a dominating presence on the mound has risen rapidly through the ranks for the San Francisco Giants. No reason to put off a pay raise, either.
Bumgarner and the Giants agreed to a new $35.56 million, six-year contract through the 2017 season Monday, locking up the lefty through arbitration and his first year of free agency.
The deal includes $560,000 in base salary this season, $35 million in new money over the next five years and $12 million options for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The options can escalate to $14 million if he finishes in the top three for the NL Cy Young Award or $16 million if he wins the honor, said his agent, Tom Little.
NBA awards 2014 All-Star game to New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS — The NBA’s All-Stars will be back in the Big Easy two seasons from now.
Three days after Saints owner Tom Benson agreed to buy the Hornets and sign a lease extension at New Orleans Arena, NBA Commissioner David Stern came down to the bayou and announced that New Orleans will host the 2014 All-Star game as “a reward to the good citizens of this city and the sponsors and ticket holders” who helped solidify the team’s financial footing before it was sold.
Ogwumike taken No. 1
by Sparks in WNBA draft
BRISTOL, Conn. — Nnemkadi Ogwumike is excited to be staying in California.
The Stanford senior was picked No. 1 in the WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks on Monday.
Ogwumike helped guide the Cardinal to the Final Four during all four of her seasons at the school, including this year’s loss to eventual champion Baylor. The 6-foot-2 forward, who averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds this past season, is the first Stanford player to be taken with the No. 1 pick. Previously three Cardinal players have been drafted third overall.
Verdasco, Melzer, Dolgopolov win at Monte Carlo
MONACO — Fernando Verdasco of Spain, Jurgen Melzer of Austria and Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine advanced to the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Monday.
The 13th-seeded Verdasco rallied past Olivier Rochus of Belgium 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 and will next play Ivan Dodig of Croatia.
Dolgopolov defeated Juan Igancio Chela of Argentina 6-2, 6-2, setting up a match against Bernard Tomic of Australia.
The 19-year-old Tomic was happy with his 6-4, 6-3 win against Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan.
Melzer downed Lukasz Kubot 6-2, 7-5 after breaking the Pole five times. He will play Julien Benneteau of France, who topped Spain’s Marcel Granollers 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
Albert Montanes advanced with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 against big-serving Milos Raonic of Canada, who hit nine aces.
Pitino’s son replacing Isiah Thomas as FIU coach
MIAMI — Richard Pitino has been hired to replace Isiah Thomas at Florida International, signing a five-year contract Monday afternoon to take over a program that has not posted a winning season in 12 years.
The 29-year-old Pitino is the son of Louisville coach Rick Pitino. The younger Pitino spent this past season as Louisville’s associate head coach under his father, helping the Cardinals reach the Final Four.
By wire sources