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From Jack Harris: It lurked within the background all through Main League Baseball’s three-month lockout.
Freddie Freeman’s reported frustration with the Atlanta Braves. His seemingly pure match in the midst of the Dodgers’ lineup. And the likelihood that, at any time when baseball got here again, he may come to Los Angeles in one of many greatest splashes of the offseason.
On Wednesday, all of it got here to fruition, with Freeman agreeing to phrases on a cope with the Dodgers, in response to folks with information of the scenario. The contract, which is value six years and $162 million, is the end result of a once-quiet offseason for the crew that's ending with a seismic bang, giving the Dodgers 4 former MVPs on their roster.
It was solely final October that Freeman was reverse the Dodgers, one of many driving forces behind a Braves crew that knocked off the Dodgers in six video games within the Nationwide League Championship Collection en path to a World Collection championship. Although Freeman is initially from Orange County, he was hailed as a hero in Atlanta. And going into the winter, his return to the Braves felt near being a foregone conclusion.
However as soon as free company opened, a gulf developed between Freeman and the Braves, who have been reportedly reluctant to supply him a sixth 12 months. When the lockout started at first of December, the 32-year-old was nonetheless a free agent. And from there, rumors of his frustration with the membership — particularly after the Braves’ 2021 income of $111 million have been made public final month — continued to construct.
That opened the door for the Dodgers, who have been in want of one other left-handed bat in the midst of the order after Corey Seager’s departure to the Texas Rangers. The Dodgers weren’t the one suitor for Freeman, with the New York Yankees, Boston Crimson Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays additionally linked with the extremely coveted first baseman.
However, the enchantment to return house to Southern California, with a crew constructed for a World Collection run, proved to be an excessive amount of for Freeman, who most likely will take over because the Dodgers’ on a regular basis first baseman and slide Max Muncy both to second base or designated hitter.
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Hernández: Dodgers present Freddie Freeman the love that the Braves wouldn’t
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NCAA MEN’S TOURNAMENT
From Ben Bolch: He was flying excessive over the Rocky Mountains with America’s darling faculty basketball crew … and so they have been all about to die.
What sounded just like the fictional Rolling Stone journal story involving the rock band Stillwater in “Virtually Well-known” was terrifyingly actual for Mick Cronin. His UCLA Bruins have been about 90 minutes right into a chartered flight to Milwaukee to play Marquette in December when a jarring announcement came visiting the loudspeakers: The airplane wanted diverting.
No motive was given, however phrase shortly unfold to Cronin within the coach’s seat close to the entrance of the transformed Boeing 737. The cockpit windshield had shattered. The airplane wanted to land instantly.
The Bruins’ bid to achieve a second consecutive Ultimate 4 has hardly ever been the-seatbelt-sign-is-now-off clean. There have been some wacky setbacks, main scorer Johnny Juzang falling off a scooter, middle Myles Johnson by accident elbowing two teammates within the face and ahead Mac Etienne getting cited by police for allegedly spitting at taunting Arizona followers.
Three gamers went down due to critical knee accidents, two misplaced for the season. Guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. always handled dangerous ankles. High defender Jaylen Clark sustained a number of blows to the pinnacle that sidelined him for prolonged stretches. The crew didn’t play for 26 days after a COVID-19 outbreak.
Some would possibly say the Bruins have performed nicely simply to make it this far. Fourth-seeded UCLA (25-7) will open the NCAA match on Thursday night on the Moda Middle in opposition to Thirteenth-seeded Akron (24-9) after pushing by way of a slew of difficulties, none extra dire than the disaster at 30,000 ft.
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NCAA match bracket picks: J. Brady McCollough’s prediction for each recreation
Roundtable: Right here’s what UCLA and USC have to do to earn NCAA match success
Outcomes and schedule
First 4
at Dayton, Ohio
Wednesday’s outcomes
South: No. 16 Wright State 93, No. 16 Bryant 82
West: No. 11 Notre Dame 89, No. 11 Rutgers 87 (2 OT)
First Spherical
At this time
West
No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 16 Georgia State, 1:15 p.m., TNT
No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Vermont. 6:20 p.m., TNT
No. 5 Connecticut vs. No. 12 New Mexico State, 3:50 p.m., TNT
No. 8 Boise State vs. No. 9 Memphis, 10:45 a.m., TNT
East
No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 16 Norfolk State, 11 a.m., TBS
No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 15 Saint Peter’s, 4:10 p.m., CBS
No. 4 UCLA vs. No. 13 Akron, 6:50 p.m., TBS
No. 5 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 12 Indiana, 4:20 p.m., TBS
No. 7 Murray State vs. No. 10 San Francisco, 6:40 p.m., CBS
No. 8 North Carolina vs. No. 9 Marquette, 1:30 p.m., TBS
Midwest
No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 16 Texas Southern, 6:57 p.m., truTV
No. 4 Windfall vs. No. 13 South Dakota State, 9:40 a.m., truTV
No. 5 Iowa vs. No. 12 Richmond, 12:10 p.m., truTV
No. 8 San Diego State vs. No. 9 Creighton, 4:27 p.m., truTV
South
No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 14 Longwood, 11:45 a.m., CBS
No. 6 Colorado State vs. No. 11 Michigan, 9:15 a.m., CBS
Friday
West
No. 2 Duke vs. No. 15 CS Fullerton, 4:10 p.m., CBS
No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 14 Montana State, 10:45 a.m., TNT
No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 11 Notre Dame/Rutgers winner, 1:15 p.m., TNT
No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 Davidson, 6:40 p.m., CBS
East
No. 3 Purdue vs. No. 14 Yale, 11 a.m., TBS
No. 6 Texas vs. No. 11 Virginia Tech, 1:30 p.m., TBS
Midwest
No. 2 Auburn vs. No. 15 Jacksonville State, 9:40 a.m., truTV
No. 3 Wisconsin vs. No. 14 Colgate, 6:50 p.m., TBS
No. 7 USC vs. No. 10 Miami, 12:10 p.m., truTV
No. 6 LSU vs. No. 11 Iowa State. 4:20 p.m., TBS
South
No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 Wright State, 4:27 p.m., truTV
No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 15 Delaware, 11:45 a.m., CBS
No. 4 Illinois vs. No. 13 Chattanooga, 3:50 p.m., TNT
No. 5 Houston vs. No. 12 Alabama Birmingham, 6:20 p.m., TNT
No. 8 Seton Corridor vs. No. 9 Texas Christian, 6:57 p.m., truTV
No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Loyola of Chicago, 9:15 a.m., CBS
NCAA WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT
Schedule and outcomes
First 4
Wednesday’s outcomes
No. 16 Howard 58, No. 16 Incarnate Phrase 51
No. 11 Dayton 88, No. 11 DePaul 57
At this time
No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s vs. No. 16 Longwood, 4 p.m., ESPN2
No. 11 Florida State vs. No. 11 Missouri State, 6 p.m., ESPN2
First spherical
Friday
Spokane Area
No. 5 Virginia Tech vs. No. 12 Florida Gulf Coast, 11:30 a.m. ESPNU
No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Delaware, 2 p.m., ESPNU
No. 7 Utah vs. No. 10 Arkansas, 2:30 p.m., ESPNews
No. 8 Kansas vs. No. 9 Georgia Tech, 4:30 p.m., ESPNU
No. 2 Texas vs. No. 15 Fairfield, 5 p.m., ESPN2
No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 16 Montana State, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Wichita Area
No. 7 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 South Dakota. 10:30 a.m., ESPN2
No. 8 Nebraska vs. No. 9 Gonzaga, 12:30 p.m., ESPNews
No. 2 Baylor vs. No. 15 Hawaii, 1 p.m., ESPN2
No. 1 Louisville vs. No. 16 Albany, 3 p.m., ESPN2
Greensboro Area
No. 8 Miami vs. No. 9 South Florida, 8:30 a.m., ESPN2
No. 7 Colorado vs. No. 10 Creighton, 10:30 a.m. ESPNews
No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 16 Howard, 11 a.m., ESPN
No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 15 Illinois State, 1 p.m., ESPN
No. 6 Georgia vs. No. 11 Dayton, 4:30 p.m., ESPNews
No. 3 Iowa State vs. UT Arlington, 7 p.m., ESPNU
Saturday
Spokane Area
No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 11 Florida State/Missouri State winner, 11:30 a.m., ESPNU
No. 3 LSU vs. No. 14 Jackson State, 2 p.m., ESPNU
Wichita Area
No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Villanova, 10 a.m., ESPNews
No. 4 Tennessee vs. No. 13 Buffalo, Midday, ABC
No. 3 Michigan vs. No. 14 American, 12:30 p.m., ESPN2
No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 Belmont, 2:30 p.m., ESPN2
Greensboro Area
No. 5 North Carolina vs. No. 12 Stephen F. Austin, 4:30 p.m., ESPNews
No. 4 Arizona vs. No. 13 UNLV, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Bridgeport Area
No. 8 Washington State vs. No. 9 Kansas State, 8:30 a.m., ESPN2
No. 2 Connecticut vs. No. 15 Mercer, 10 a.m., ABC
No. 3 Indiana vs. No. 14 Charlotte, 10:30 a.m., ESPN2
No. 1 North Carolina State vs. No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s/Longwood winner, 11 a.m., ESPN
No. 7 Central Florida vs. No. 10 Florida, 12:30 p.m., ESPNews
No. 6 Kentucky vs. No. 11 Princeton, 1 p.m., ESPN
No. 5 Notre Dame vs. No. 12 Massachusetts, 4:30 p.m., ESPN2
No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 IUPUI, 7 p.m., ESPNU
LAKERS
From Dan Woike: The Lakers can’t discover the correct beginning lineup. They'll’t discover the correct model of play. They'll’t discover the mandatory effort, urgency or depth.
And, someway, they will’t even discover all-time low.
Sometime, they’ll run out of struggle. Sometime, they received’t discover the rope. Sometime, these video games can be each bit as embarrassing as they’ve been beginning out.
Following horrific opening quarters in opposition to the Phoenix Suns and the Toronto Raptors, the Lakers have been, someway, simply as dangerous Wednesday in Minnesota.
They missed practically every part that wasn’t proper on the rim, all 10 three-point pictures failing to undergo the basket to open the sport. They waved their arms and hung their heads as a youthful, hungrier, extra athletic crew highlighted all of the issues the Lakers aren’t.
Minnesota led by as many as 25 … however the Lakers didn’t stop. The crew reduce that lead all the way down to 4 earlier than crumbling late, drained and annoyed, in a 124-104 loss to the Timberwolves.
It’s not saying a lot, asking a crew to carry out it’s best and most essential job – to compete – however beneath the crippling disappointment of this season, there’s a silly optimism in the way in which the Lakers maintain getting up.
It’s emblematic of what this season has been – mere moments of positivity surrounded by unsolvable issues.
CLIPPERS
From Broderick Turner: The chuckle got here first after which the pinnacle shake was subsequent, maybe that being the one approach for Clippers coach Ty Lue to return to grips together with his crew’s unrelenting schedule.
They performed their seventh recreation in 11 nights, the Clippers at the least at house dealing with the surging Toronto Raptors at Crypto.com Area on Wednesday night time.
Because the Clippers have performed a lot this season, they obtained down huge, rallied to get again within the recreation and had an opportunity to tie the sport, however Marcus Morris Sr. had his potential game-tying three-pointer blocked Treasured Achiuwa with 1.3 seconds left, sending LA to a 103-100 defeat to the Raptors.
The Clippers trailed by 17 factors within the third however closed to inside 4 on the finish of the quarter.
The Clippers once more obtained down by double-digits within the fourth however rallied from the 10-point deficit to path 101-100 on a three-pointer by Nicolas Batum with 35.1 seconds left.
Fred Van Vleet missed the second of two free throws, however he obtained his personal offensive rebound.
The Clippers allowed the Raptors to get 13 offensive rebounds, an issue they couldn’t resolve.
RAMS
From Gary Klein: The Rams will try and run it again with out exterior linebacker Von Miller.
On Wednesday, the Rams misplaced a key a part of their Tremendous Bowl-winning crew when Miller introduced he was signing with the Buffalo Payments. Miller revealed the information on his Instagram account. The six-year contract averages $17.5 million per 12 months for the primary 4 years, in response to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Miller, who will flip 33 this month, was traded from the Denver Broncos to the Rams final October in trade for second- and third-round draft picks. Miller, a three-time All-Professional, had 5 sacks in eight regular-season video games for the Rams and added 4 extra within the playoffs, together with two within the Tremendous Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
After the Tremendous Bowl, star defensive lineman Aaron Donald mentioned the Rams may “run it again” in the event that they stored their “tremendous” crew in place, and that included Miller.
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Rams’ Tremendous Bowl LVI starter Darious Williams makes cope with Jaguars
How the Broncos have been capable of maintain the Russell Wilson commerce with Seahawks a secret
DODGERS
From Jack Harris: David Value’s tenure with the Dodgers didn’t begin as he anticipated.
After being traded with Mookie Betts in 2020 from the Boston Crimson Sox, the previous Cy Younger Award winner sat out his first season in L.A. due to considerations concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, he was requested to serve in a swingman position final 12 months, making 11 begins and 28 appearances out of the bullpen — he had a 4.03 ERA general — because the Dodgers tried to work round accidents on their pitching workers.
This spring, the 36-year-old is hoping to rediscover extra of his previous kind. And early in camp, he’s at the least getting ready for a possible return as a full-time starter.
“I’m getting ready that approach, yeah,” Value mentioned. “I believe it’d be foolish of me to organize to be a reliever and [then] I’m requested to start out. So getting ready to be a starter till in any other case.”
Value appears more likely to be the odd man out of the five-man rotation, behind Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urías, Andrew Heaney and Tony Gonsolin.
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Kenley Jansen’s absence from Dodgers is noticeable. Will it change into everlasting?
ANGELS
From Mike DiGiovanna: Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon performed all of 17 video games collectively final season, Trout struggling a season-ending proper calf pressure on Might 17 and Rendon enjoying by way of minor accidents for 3 months earlier than struggling a season-ending proper hip impingement in early July.
Ohtani, after all, had a spectacular season, mashing 46 homers and going 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 23 begins on the mound, a two-way efficiency that made him a unanimous option to win the American League most dear participant award.
Trout, a three-time AL MVP who hit .291 with a 1.083 on-base-plus-slugging proportion, 45 homers and 104 RBIs in his final full season in 2019, mentioned he felt “nice” upon reporting to camp this week and has had “no points” with the calf.
Rendon, who hit .319 with a 1.010 OPS, 34 homers and 126 RBIs in his final full season to assist the Washington Nationals win the 2019 World Collection, underwent hip surgical procedure final August and accomplished his rehabilitation by mid-January.
The distinction between how he feels this spring and final season is “night time and day,” Rendon mentioned after Wednesday’s exercise. “I don’t really feel anyone stabbing me within the groin anymore, that’s good.”
If Ohtani, Trout and Rendon can keep comparatively wholesome all season, they may kind certainly one of baseball’s most deadly middle-of-the-order trios.
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Perry Minasian will get followers’ frustrations that Angels haven’t added affect participant
ANGEL CITY FC
From Kevin Baxter: Angel Metropolis will kick off the tenth NWSL common season on April 29 in opposition to the North Carolina Braveness at Banc of California Stadium.
With Angel Metropolis and the San Diego Wave becoming a member of the league this season, NWSL will discipline a document 12 groups enjoying a balanced schedule, dealing with the 11 different groups twice, as soon as on the highway and as soon as at house. Angel Metropolis will conclude its inaugural common season in Chicago on Oct. 2.
San Diego will open its first season Might 1 on the highway in opposition to the Houston Sprint. The Wave will play their house opener Might 7 in opposition to NY/NJ Gotham at their short-term house on the College of San Diego. The Wave will play their remaining recreation at house in opposition to North Carolina on Sept. 30.
THIS DATE IN SPORTS
1897 — Bob Fitzsimmons knocks out Jim Corbett within the 14th spherical to win the world heavyweight title in Carson Metropolis, Nev. It’s the primary boxing match photographed by a movement image digital camera.
1908 — Tommy Burns knocks out Jene Roche in 80 seconds on the Royal Theatre in Dublin, Eire, to retain the world heavyweight title.
1939 — Villanova wins first recreation of the boys’s NCAA basketball match, defeating Brown 42-30 in Philadelphia. Ohio State beats Wake Forest 64-52 within the second recreation of the doubleheader.
1940 — For the primary time in NHL historical past, one line — The Kraut Line of Milt Schmidt, Woody Dumart and Bobby Bauer — end 1-2-3 in NHL scoring when the Boston Bruins rating 5 targets within the third interval to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 7-2.
1955 — Canadien followers riot within the streets of Montreal protesting NHL President Clarence Campbell’s suspension of Maurice “Rocket” Richard yesterday. The Canadiens forfeit the sport to the Detroit after a smoke bomb goes off within the Discussion board and crowds spill into the streets, setting fires, smashing home windows and looting.
1961 — Manhattan District Legal professional Frank S. Hogan arrests two skilled gamblers, Aaron Wagman and Joseph Hacken, and implicates Hank Gunter and Artwork Hicks of Seton Corridor in a collegiate point-shaving scandal.
1993 — Dallas snaps a 19-game shedding streak with a 102-96 win over visiting Orlando. The Mavericks have been one recreation away from tying the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers for the longest single-season shedding streak in NBA historical past.
2001 — Connecticut cruises to a 101-29 win over Lengthy Island College within the first spherical of the East Regional, one of the best defensive effort within the historical past of the ladies’s NCAA match. Connecticut’s 72-point victory additionally ties the second-biggest margin in match historical past.
2006 — Jermaine Wallace hits a fadeaway 3-pointer with a split-second left, and little Northwestern State pulls off a shocker with a livid rally, beating No. 3 seed Iowa 64-63 within the first spherical of the boys’s NCAA match.
2012 — Lindsey Vonn units a ladies’s document for probably the most World Cup factors in a season after ending eighth in a slalom received by Austria’s Michaela Kirchgasser at Schladming, Austria. Vonn reaches 1,980 factors to beat the mark of 1,970 set by Janica Kostelic of Croatia in 2006.
2016 — Little Rock advances with an out-of-nowhere comeback that results in an 85-83 double-overtime victory over Purdue within the first spherical of the NCAA match.
2018 — The UConn Huskies open their NCAA Girls’s Event with a record-setting 140-52 rout of Saint Francis (Pa.). The match’s high seed units a document for factors in a match recreation and all-time NCAA information for factors in a interval (55 within the first) and a half (94 within the first).
Provided by the Related Press
And at last
Fifteenth-seeded Northwestern State upsets No. 2 Iowa in 2016. Watch and hear right here.
Till subsequent time...
That concludes immediately’s publication. You probably have any suggestions, concepts for enchancment or stuff you’d prefer to see, e-mail me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com, and observe me on Twitter at @latimeshouston. To get this text in your inbox, click on right here.
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