Nov 6, 2023 3 min read

Pirates lose Andujar

Miguel Andujar was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics on Monday from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 28-year-old outfielder and infielder hit .250 with four homers and 18 RBI in 90 plate appearances in his second season with the Pirates, who claimed him off waivers from the New York Yankees in September 2022. Andujar batted .338 with 16 homers and 86 RBI in 103 games this year with Triple-A Indianapolis.

In the NHL

Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said it’s unlikely Nicklas Backstrom plays again this season after the Swedish center stepped away from the team last week, citing the ongoing issues with his surgically repaired left hip.

MacLellan stopped short of ruling Backstrom out for the remainder of the season or saying the franchise cornerstone had played his final NHL game.

n Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen is out indefinitely after medical tests found a blood clotting issue.

In baseball

The Atlanta Braves exercised a $20 million option for pitcher Charlie Morton on Monday, bolstering a shaky rotation for the NL East champions, but they declined a $9 million option for outfielder Eddie Rosario.

n Domingo Germán became a free agent Monday when he refused an outright assignment to the minor leagues from the New York Yankees, five months after he pitched MLB’s 24th perfect game and three months after he entered alcohol abuse treatment.

Germán pitched the perfect game at Oakland on June 28, part of a season in which he went 5-7 with a 4.56 ERA in 19 starts. His season ended Aug. 2, when he was placed on the restricted list. The Yankees said they made the move as he was entering treatment.

In the NFL

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is going to miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his right knee, marking the second time in three years he’s been sidelined by an injury.

Jones had an MRI Monday and it showed the season-ending injury.

n Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers ruptured his left Achilles tendon in another blow to a banged-up offense, a season-ending injury confirmed by coach Kevin O’Connell.

n The Nevada Supreme Court has pushed back to Jan. 10 the date for oral arguments in a contract interference and conspiracy lawsuit filed against the NFL by former Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden.

In golf

There’s a new golf league starting up with team play and shorter events and fans acting like they’re at a ballpark instead of a library.

And this time, Rory McIlroy is fully on board.

Unlike LIV Golf, which aimed its Saudi Arabian bankroll directly at the PGA Tour, TGL will be squeezed into the schedule on Monday nights from January to March. And McIlroy, who was one of the most vocal opponents of LIV’s efforts to cannibalize the regular tour, said that makes all the difference.

“This wasn’t adversarial at all,” the four-time major champion said Monday at a Fenway Park news conference to unveil the Boston TGL entry.

GL will be an arena-based mini-tour with six, four-person teams representing U.S. cities. McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, Adam Scott, and Tyrrell Hatton will make up Boston Common Golf.