JUPITER, Fla. -- St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado reported to spring training Sunday, showing up to play for a team that spent much of the offseason trying to trade him.

The eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner is owed $74 million for the next three seasons.

Colorado will pay St. Louis $5 million this year, the final installment of the $51 million the Rockies agreed to pay to offset the $199 million remaining on Arenado's nine-year, $275 million contract to finalize a trade four years ago.

The Cardinals could not move him and his contract, which gives Arenado a full no-trade provision.

"I'm not going to talk about who the teams were because it doesn't really matter anymore, but so, yeah, there was about five teams, five or so," Arenado said. "I got a family now, and to be willing to pick up my family and move them, it has to be something that is worth it.

"So that's kind of why the list was fairly small, and I don't see myself really changing that list ever."

Arenado is coming off a season that was not up to his standards, hitting .272 with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs.

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Wednesday that "the pink elephant" in the room was what the team was going to do with Arenado, and he expected there to be a moment of awkwardness when he arrived for spring training.

Four days later, Arenado showed up a day before position players were due to report.

"We went into this offseason knowing that we were going to try to explore trades, which we did," Mozeliak said. "We didn't get to the point where he was no longer a Cardinal, so he's certainly welcome back.

"Simply put, with Nolan on our team, we feel we're a better team."

The 33-year-old Arenado has hit .285 over his career with 341 home runs and 1,132 RBIs with the Cardinals and Rockies. His most recent season as an All-Star was 2023.

"I'm excited to get to work," he said. "I'm a ballplayer, and I'm really focusing on getting ready for the season."

Arenado, though, did acknowledge that he wished the Cardinals were committed to contending instead of rebuilding to set the franchise up for success in 2026 and beyond.

St. Louis has not signed any free agents to major league contracts after missing the playoffs for the second straight season following a four-year run of postseason appearances. Four-time Gold Glove first baseman Paul Goldschmidt left as a free agent to sign with the New York Yankees.

"Do I wish the direction was all-in? Of course," Arenado said. "But is this what's probably best for the Cardinals? Probably."

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- On top of the $40 million-a-year salary and love of hitting at Fenway Park, Alex Bregman said he chose to sign with the Boston Red Sox because he believes the organization can do something it has struggled to in recent years: win.

"I'm a winning player. This is a winning organization," Bregman said at Sunday's news conference introducing him after he signed a three-year, $120 million contract. "Those players are winning players. We have winning coaches here. I plan on winning here after talking with some of the guys over the last two days. I can see that there's something special here."

While Bregman has opt-outs after each of the first two seasons, he spoke like he plans on remaining with the organization long term. Boston drafted Bregman in the 29th round out of high school in 2012 but didn't sign him. Now, after nine seasons with the Houston Astros -- the last eight of which included postseason appearances, with two World Series championships -- Bregman was the piece de resistance for a Boston offseason that included trading for ace Garrett Crochet and adding right-hander Walker Buehler.

The Red Sox were 81-81 last year after consecutive last-place finishes and have made the playoffs once in the past six years after winning the 2018 World Series.

"We entered the offseason with a pretty clearly defined punch list of things that we were hoping to achieve," Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said. "We talked about adding to the top of our rotation. We talked about rebuilding our whole pen, improving our infield defense and adding a right-handed bat to balance out our lineup. And as the offseason progressed, it just became clearer and clearer that Alex was the perfect fit for what we were trying to accomplish."

Boston's last-minute push for Bregman included a significant bump in salary to $40 million annually, a threshold only four others in MLB exceed. While the present value of the salary is closer to $30 million per year because of deferrals, according to ESPN's Buster Olney, it helped the Red Sox leap past the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs, who were also pursuing Bregman as spring training opened.

Where Bregman will play, manager Alex Cora said, depends on the Red Sox's needs. The 30-year-old won his first Gold Glove at third base last year, and if top prospect Kristian Campbell breaks camp with the team, he could play second base and Bregman third while incumbent third baseman Rafael Devers shifts to designated hitter. Should the Red Sox keep Campbell at Triple-A for more seasoning, Bregman would likely slot in as Boston's full-time second baseman.

"He can play second, he can play short, he can play third," Cora said. "He's going to help us. So I think in the upcoming weeks we're going to have decisions to make as far as the roster. Injuries come into play, competitions come into play, so we'll make the decision whenever we have to."

Regardless of where he plays, Bregman will play a significant role in Boston's offense, with Cora expecting him to hit second, between All-Star outfielder Jarren Duran and Devers. Bregman's offensive numbers have dipped over the past two seasons, hitting .260/.315/.453 in 2024, but his career numbers at Fenway are too good to ignore: .375/.490/.750 with seven home runs in 98 plate appearances.

"We're getting an offensive profile that fits our park almost perfectly," Breslow said. "And perhaps most importantly, we're getting a champion, a winner, a leader, someone who will serve as a mentor to our emerging young group and someone who will have a lasting impact on this organization."

Boston's pursuit of Bregman included a helping hand from his favorite player, former Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who called Bregman and encouraged him to leave Houston for a city that mercilessly booed him after the revelation that the 2017 World Series champion Astros had engaged in a sign-stealing scheme.

"Yeah," Bregman said, chuckling at the memory. "But it's all good."

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- More than two months after signing the richest contract in professional sports history, Juan Soto reported to work Sunday for the first time as a member of the New York Mets not yet having fully digested the life-changing, $765 million commitment.

"Not yet," Soto said with a smile. "I'm still thinking about it and everything. It's unbelievable. I'm really happy for that. I'm really happy to know where I'm going to be for the next 15 years."

Soto arrived for his first day of spring training a little after 7 a.m. ET on Sunday, the day Mets position players were asked to report. He underwent the usual physical before putting on a uniform and emerging for a workout to a horde of media and fans.

He chatted with manager Carlos Mendoza by the bullpen mounds. He stretched on one of the several back fields, bantering with his new teammates and hearing greetings from fans.

"Welcome to the team!" one man exclaimed a few times. "Bring us to glory!"

Soto took batting practice in a group with veterans on the main field at Clover Park, and effortlessly lined balls around the diamond. He launched one ball nearly over the batter's eye in straightaway center field. It was business as usual even if it wasn't.

"It's exciting," Mendoza said. "You could see it. All the people. There's a lot more cameras. As soon as he stepped on the field, he was walking toward the cage, you could just feel it. And when he stepped in that batting cage with all the boys who were there ... heads turned around. It was like, 'OK. Here he is.'''

For Soto, Sunday represented the beginning of some long-awaited stability. The Mets are his fourth franchise in fewer than three years. His impending free agency had been a subject that lingered over him from the moment it was leaked that he had turned down a 15-year, $440 million contract extension from the Washington Nationals -- the organization that signed him out of the Dominican Republic as a teenager, called him up for his major league debut at 19 and won a World Series with him in 2019.

In July 2022, the Nationals traded him to the San Diego Padres, who traded him to the New York Yankees in December 2023. Soto's one season in the Bronx was a tremendous success. He clubbed a career-high 41 home runs with a .989 OPS, helped fuel the Yankees to their first World Series appearance in 15 years and finished third in the American League MVP race, setting the stage for a free agent frenzy at age 26. In December, he chose to cross over to Queens, marking the end of the uncertainty.

"It feels pretty good to be sitting here, that I'm going to be here for a long time and be sitting in the same chair for a long time," Soto said. "It's really exciting. I can't wait to see how it goes through the years and how we can enjoy it and embrace it every year."

For Starling Marte, Soto's arrival represented a demotion. Marte, the Mets' primary right fielder the previous three seasons, enters spring training slated for a lesser role in a platoon at designated hitter against left-handed pitchers, with the occasional start in the outfield for the final year of his four-year, $78 million contract.

The 36-year-old Marte said the team was transparent with him during the offseason, informing him after signing Soto that he could be traded. But a move for the 13-year veteran never happened.

"Nobody wants to be traded from a team where they've spent some years," Marte said in Spanish. "The comfort that you feel with the team and the staff, you get used to that. But at the same time, you want to play every day. ... Wherever they need me, I'll be here doing my best each day."

Soto, meanwhile, will replace Marte as the team's every-day right fielder, with some designated hitter sprinkled into his workload, Mendoza said. Where Soto will hit in the lineup is less clear: Mendoza said he expects him to bat either second -- behind All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor -- or third. Soto said he'll bat wherever the team prefers.

"I started that conversation today," Mendoza said.

Off the field, Soto, who was surrounded by older stars in his previous stops, will take the next step as a franchise cornerstone and veteran leader, given his status and contract, even if he doesn't seek it.

"I'm here to be the same guy I've been since day one," Soto said. "That is Juan Soto. Now I'm just with a different uniform, but I'm going to be the same guy."

That guy, the Mets hope, will help the organization win its first World Series in nearly 40 years in 2025, and more championships beyond that. For now, he's the new guy again, introducing himself to everybody and beginning what he expects to be his final transition to a new club for years to come.

Amanda Anisimova claimed the biggest title of her career with victory over Jelena Ostapenko at the Qatar Open.

The American beat Latvia's former French Open champion 6-4 6-3 at the WTA 1,000 event in Doha.

It is Anisimova's first title since January 2022 and caps her impressive return following a mental health break from the sport.

Anisimova has spoken openly, external about burnout and said it became "unbearable" being at tournaments, leading her to take an eight-month hiatus from May 2023.

She subsequently dropped outside of the top 400 but, after coming out on top in a battle of the big-hitters, will move into the top 20 for the first time in her career.

"There's been a lot of hard work, a lot of tears and a lot of good moments," Anisimova, 23, said.

"With tennis you kind of experience it all but that's also why I love it."

The final was twice interrupted by rain, with the two players trading breaks before Anisimova held steady to take the first set.

Ostapenko, who thrashed world number one Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals, missed break points for a 2-0 lead in the second set and was left furious after then being broken by Anisimova.

She made a member of her team leave her player box and reeled off the next seven points but could not keep up the momentum after another rain delay.

Anisimova was superb on return and closed out the match on her second championship point with a thumping backhand winner.

The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) has criticised the apparent inconsistencies between recent doping cases.

Last month it launched a new scheme offering players facing allegations of doping or corruption access to pro bono legal support.

The scheme was co-founded by former British doubles player Tara Moore, who served a two-year absence because of a doping ban which was later overturned.

Reacting to the news of Sinner's ban, Moore posted on X: "Can someone explain how a negotiation was possible?"

A PTPA statement read: "The 'system' is not a system. It's a club. Supposed case-by-case discretion is, in fact, merely cover for tailored deals, unfair treatment, and inconsistent rulings.

"It's not just the different results for different players. It's the lack of transparency. The lack of process. The lack of consistency...

"This bias is unacceptable for all athletes and shows a deep disrespect for every sport and its fans."

Former Wimbledon champion Simona Halep has previously accused the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) of double standards - a claim it has strenuously denied.

Halep was given a four-year ban for two separate doping offences in 2022 which was later reduced to nine months.

Halep was critical when it was announced world number two Swiatek would serve a one-month doping ban in November, posting on Instagram at the time: "I stand and ask myself, why is there such a big difference in treatment and judgment?

"I can't find and I don't think there can be a logical answer. It can only be bad will from the ITIA, the organisation that has done absolutely everything to destroy me despite the evidence."

In Pool C, Ealing qualified for the quarter-finals, beating local rivals London Scottish 35-15 at Trailfinders Sports Ground. The home team never looked troubled scoring early tries through Francis Moore and Will Montgomery, before a further effort from Craig Hampson in the second half.

Like Gloucester, they await the result of tomorrow's match to determine who they will play in the next round.

Saracens' 29-30 victory over local rivals Harlequins was not enough to qualify for the quarter-finals.

After repeated Quins phases, Wyn Jones drove over for the first points of the day, before Tobias Elliott fed Brandon Jackson for a quick-fire response.

Stephan Lewis restored Quins' lead with a close-range effort before Alex Dombrandt ran through two Sarries defenders to dive over in the corner.

Tries for Max Eke and Elliott either side of half-time put Sarries ahead, before Tyrone Green broke down the wing to restore Quins' lead.

Jack Bracken responded for the away side, before a late penalty kick from Louie Johnson sealed Sarries' victory.

Ulster failed to score a point in the second half as three yellow cards hampered their efforts in a 34-19 loss to Benetton.

The province scored three first-half tries through Nathan Doak, Mike Lowry and Jacob Stockdale and led 19-10 after 30 minutes.

But David McCann, Nick Timoney and Stewart Moore were all sent to the sin bin in the second half as the hosts fought back to claim a bonus-point win.

Ulster have lost seven of 11 games in the United Rugby Championship (URC) this season and sit 14th in the table.

With Irish internationals Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale and James Hume all back from injury for Ulster, Simon Easterby also released Rob Herring and Cormac Izuchukwu from Six Nations camp.

Prop Tom O'Toole also returned from a six-game ban and a bolstered Ulster side made a strong start to the contest.

There were only five minutes on the clock when Doak touched down at the base of the posts from close range after a spell of pressure.

A sharp line-out move from the visitors minutes later looked set to open the Italian side up again but instead produced a levelling try.

Timoney palmed the ball down for a charging Stockdale to create the line-break but Ulster forced the offload and Matt Gallagher hacked forward three times to go down the other end and score.

Argentina international Tomas Albornoz added the extras but would have a hand in Ulster restoring their lead as his pass was picked off by Lowry who went over untouched.

Despite losing Izuchukwu to injury, Ulster extended their lead when the returning Stockdale exchanged possession with Doak and stepped inside Benetton's covering defence to mark his comeback with a try.

Ulster's discipline was wavering, however, most especially at scrum time. And it was from a quick penalty after a Lowry knock-on that Benetton grabbed their second score through Ignacio Mendy just before half-time.

Connacht: Piers O'Conor; Shayne Bolton, Hugh Gavin, Cathal Forde, Chay Mullins; Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy; Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan, Jack Aungier, Josh Murphy, Joe Joyce, Cian Prendergast, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle.

Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jordan Duggan, Oisin Dowling, Sean Jansen, Matthew Devine, J Hanrahan, Santiago Cordero.

Cardiff: Cameron Winnett; Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Rey Lee-Lo, Rory Jennings, Harri Millard; Callum Sheedy, Johan Mulder; Rhys Barratt, Liam Belcher, Rhys Litterick, Josh McNally, Seb Davies, Alex Mann, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence.

Replacements: Efan Daniel, Danny Southworth, Will Davies-King, Rory Thornton, Ben Donnell, Thomas Young , Callum Braley, Jacob Beetham.

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

Assistant referees: Keane Davison & Tomas O'Sullivan (IRFU)

TMO: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Backs (17): Bundee Aki, Caolin Blade, Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Stuart McCloskey, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash, Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Jacob Stockdale, Garry Ringrose

Forwards (23): Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Boyle, Thomas Clarkson, Jack Conan, Gavin Coombes, Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Rob Herring, John Hodnett, Ronan Kelleher, Diarmuid Mangan, Gus McCarthy, Joe McCarthy, Peter O'Mahony, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Nick Timoney, Josh van der Flier