MLB
MIAMI — Right-hander Brad Ziegler’s $16 million, two-year contract with the Miami Marlins has been finalized after he passed a physical.
Ziegler reached an agreement last week on the deal, the latest involving the Marlins’ bid to upgrade their bullpen. They also gave right-hander Junichi Tazawa a $12 million, two-year contract.
Ziegler is a nine-year veteran with a career ERA of 2.44 and 85 saves. He has pitched for three teams, including Arizona and Boston last year, and is expected to compete with incumbent A.J. Ramos for the closer’s job.
Miami is hoping a deep bullpen will give manager Don Mattingly lots of options to help compensate for a rotation weakened by the loss of ace Jose Fernandez, killed in a boating accident in September.
DETROIT — The Tigers are bringing back catcher Alex Avila with a $2 million, one-year contract.
Avila tells The Associated Press he is excited for the opportunity to back up James McCann. He says his family, including Tigers general manager Al Avila, will have something other than Christmas to celebrate this weekend.
Detroit drafted Avila in 2008 and he hit .242 with 66 homers and 282 RBIs with the Tigers from 2009-15. He had career highs with a .295 batting average, 19 homers and 82 RBIs in 2011, when he was an All-Star.
The 29-year-old, left-handed hitter departed Detroit as a free agent after the 2015 season. He played in 57 games for the Chicago White Sox this year, hitting .213 with seven homers and 11 RBIs.
ATLANTA — Outfielder Ender Inciarte has avoided salary arbitration with the Atlanta Braves, agreeing to a $30,525,000, five-year contract.
The deal, announced Friday, covers four years of arbitration eligibility and one year of free agency, and gives Atlanta a club option for 2022.
Inciarte gets a $3.5 million signing bonus payable on Jan. 15 and salaries of $2 million next year, $4 million in 2018, $5 million in 2019, $7 million in 2020 and $8 million in 2021. The Braves’ 2022 option is for $9 million or a $1,025,000 buyout.
He would earn $25,000 bonuses for winning a Gold Glove or being voted League Championship Series MVP, and $50,000 for becoming an All-Star or winning World Series MVP, Comeback Player of the Year or a Silver Slugger.
With 2 years, 157 days of major league service, the 26-year-old Enciarte was eligible for arbitration for the first time. He earned his first NL Gold Glove this season.
NFL
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — If the Tennessee Titans make the playoffs, they won’t have quarterback Marcus Mariota.
Mariota broke his right leg in a 38-17 loss at Jacksonville on Saturday, a crushing setback for a team that had so many things go right while winning three in a row and seven of 10 previously.
With the Titans (8-7) trailing 25-10 late in the third quarter, Mariota was carted off the field with an air cast on his fractured fibula. Rookie Sheldon Day sacked Mariota as he scrambled on first down and grabbed him around the lower legs. Mariota signaled to the sideline as he pounded the ground. Trainers rushed to his side, put on the air cast and lifted Mariota onto a cart. Teammates and even some Jaguars patted Mariota on the shoulders before he excited.
Journeyman Matt Cassel replaced Mariota and completed 13 of 24 passes for 124 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Cassel will be the starter the rest of the way, Mularkey said.
Associated Press
