Newsmakers

Staying The National Finals Rodeo is staying in Las Vegas after all. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Las Vegas Events announced they reached a deal to keep the 10-day event in Las Vegas through 2024. The PRCA was considering leaving for Florida after 29 years in Nevada.

Signed The San Jose Sharks signed captain Joe Thornton and franchise-leading goal scorer Patrick Marleau to three-year contract extensions. ESPN first reported the deals that will pay Thornton an average of $6.75 million over the three years and Marleau $6.66 million.

• The Chicago Cubs agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million contract with All-Star pitcher Travis Wood, avoiding arbitration.

• The Atlanta Braves agreed to a minor league contract with right-hander Freddy Garcia and invited him to their big league spring training camp. Garcia, 37, went 1-2 with a 1.65 ERA in six games (three starts) for the Braves after he was acquired from Baltimore last year.

• Daisuke Matsuzaka is staying with the New York Mets. The 33-year-old right-hander agreed to a minor league contract and was invited to big league spring training camp.

• The Los Angeles Dodgers signed infielder Chone Figgins to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. The 36-year-old last played in the majors in 2012 with Seattle.

• Third baseman Ty Wigginton signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins and has been invited to their spring training camp.

• The Seattle Mariners added two more pitchers to their spring training camp, signing left-hander Joe Beimel and right-hander Mark Rogers to minor league deals.

Investigated An attorney for former NFL star Darren Sharper said there is no evidence to support an allegation that he sexually assaulted a woman in New Orleans last September. Police said the unidentified woman said she was assaulted by a man who took her to his apartment the night of Sept. 23 after she consumed a large amount of alcohol. The complaint came to light last week after Sharper was arrested in Los Angeles on a suspicion of rape charge in a case unrelated to the Louisiana allegations.

Traded The San Francisco Giants acquired left-hander David Huff from the New York Yankees for cash, two days after he was designated for assignment.

Hired Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly hired former Washington Redskins quarterbacks coach Matt LaFleur to hold the same position.