Jul 28, 2019 3 min read

Mets acquire Stroman

The New York Mets completed a trade to acquire All-Star pitcher Marcus Stroman from the Toronto Blue Jays.

New York sent the Blue Jays two of its top pitching prospects, 24-year-old left-hander Anthony Kay and 18-year-old right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson.

Stroman posted a tweet that read: “Toronto, I love you…forever!” It was followed by a Canadian flag.

A 28-year-old right-hander who made his first All-Star team this season, Stroman is 6-11 in 21 starts despite a 2.96 ERA that is fifth-best in the American League. He has a $7.4 million salary and is not eligible for free agency until after the 2020 season.

The 5-foot-7 Stroman is 47-45 with a 3.76 ERA in six big league seasons. He grew up on Long Island near Mets starter Steven Matz, about 50 miles from Citi Field.

Bengals’ Green

to miss time

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green will likely be sidelined six to eight weeks with torn ligaments in his left ankle.

Green is not expected to be ready for the regular-season opener Sept. 8 at Seattle.

He was carted off the field Saturday during practice.

UConn to rejoin

Big East

The University of Connecticut has agreed to pay a $17 million exit fee to the American Athletic Conference, so the school can rejoin the Big East next year.

AAC bylaws stipulate any school seeking to leave the conference must give 27 months’ notice and pay a $12 million fee, but the sides negotiated the higher fee for UConn to leave sooner.

UConn Athletic Director David Benedict in a statement Friday thanked AAC Mike Aresco and his staff for their professionalism during the transition process.

Aresco praised Benedict for helping the sides reach a “swift and amicable resolution.”

The Huskies will join the Big East in all sports except football, men’s and women’s ice hockey and rowing. UConn also announced Friday its football program will become an independent in the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2020.

Clippers unveil

arena plans

The Los Angeles Clippers have unveiled the first visual renderings of the arena complex they’re hoping to build in Inglewood.

The Clippers took the next step Thursday in their plans for an 18,500-seat arena and a billion-dollar development project they’re hoping to occupy in 2024.

The team says the complex will be funded entirely by owner Steve Ballmer. The Microsoft billionaire is the wealthiest owner in U.S. team sports, and he says he wants “the Clippers to have the best home in all of sports.”

The Clippers hope to build their arena just south of the lavish new football stadium nearing completion in Inglewood. Billionaire Stan Kroenke is building that project, which will house his Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers.