CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Pitcher Aaron Nola and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a $45 million, four-year contract, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for this week. The 25-year-old right-hander set career bests last year when he was a first-time All-Star, going 17-6 with a 2.37 ERA. He would have been eligible for free agency after the 2021 season.
DENVER (AP) — Isaiah Thomas says his surgically repaired hip has mended enough to allow him to soon make his Denver Nuggets debut. The point guard's first appearance in a Nuggets jersey could be tonight against the Sacramento Kings. Thomas said he will be a game-time decision but feels like he's ready. Thomas, who turned 30 last week, hasn't played in an NBA game since suiting up for the Los Angeles Lakers last March.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Center Enes Kanter has joined the Portland Trail Blazers. Kanter was waived by the New York Knicks along with Wesley Matthews following the trade deadline last week. Kanter announced today on Twitter that he had signed with the Blazers for the rest of the season. The center from Turkey averaged 14 points and 10.8 rebounds in 115 games over two seasons. He was once a starter for the Knicks but the team turned its focus to younger players.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that the Denver Broncos have agreed to acquire Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco for a fourth-round pick in this year's draft. Flacco, the MVP of the 2013 Super Bowl, became expendable in Baltimore with the emergence of rookie Lamar Jackson.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Gamblers betting on the NFL playoffs during the January run-up to the Super Bowl helped make more than $385 million in sports bets in New Jersey. It was the highest monthly total yet for the state whose U.S. Supreme Court victory cleared the way for legal sports betting across the U.S. Figures released by the state Division of Gaming Enforcement show nearly $305 million of that was made by gamblers online or on their smartphones.
