Newsmakers
Agreed The Kansas City Royals agreed to a $32 million, four-year contract with left-hander Jason Vargas. Vargas was 6-4 with a 3.65 ERA for the Los Angeles Angels last season before going on the disabled list with a blood clot in his arm that required surgery.
• Free agent left-hander Javier Lopez has reached agreement on a $13 million, three-year contract to stay with the San Francisco Giants. The deal is pending a physical, likely to take place next week.
• The Tigers agreed to a non-guaranteed, one-year, $1.9 million contract with left-handed pitcher Phil Coke, a deal that avoided salary arbitration. Coke was 0-5 with a 5.40 ERA in 49 games this year for Detroit, who sent him to Triple-A Toledo in late August after one of his many poor outings.
Finalized Catcher Carlos Ruiz and the Philadelphia Phillies have completed their $26 million, three-year contract. Ruiz, an All-Star in 2012, hit .268 with five homers and 37 RBIs in 92 games last season after serving a 25-game suspension for using a banned amphetamine. Ruiz will make $8.5 million in each of the next three years. Philadelphia holds a $4.5 million club option for 2017 with a $500,000 buyout.
Hired The WNBA’s Atlanta Dream have named former NBA player Michael Cooper as their new coach. Cooper won five NBA titles as a player with the Los Angeles Lakers and guided that city’s WNBA team, the Sparks, to consecutive championships in 2001 and 2002 as their head coach.
Failed Former NBA star Rasheed Wallace attempted to make a $35,000 payment on a property tax bill on a house he owns in Portland, but when the county tried to collect the money it was told the account was not valid. Multnomah County spokesman David Austin tells KGW-TV that as a result, a $25 returned check fee will be added to the $150,000 bill.
Volunteered Florida State QB Jameis Winston volunteered a DNA sample last week to the Tallahassee (Fla.) Police Department as part of the sexual assault investigation, his attorney said, adding that he believes Winston will be exonerated and any DNA does not prove guilt. Winston’s lawyer Tim Jansen said that the sex between his client and the accuser “absolutely” was consensual, but then retreated when pressed by reporters who asked him to confirm what he just said. ESPN first reported Wednesday night that Winston’s DNA matched a sample taken from the underwear of the accuser.