CINCINNATI -- The Reds announced Monday they reached an agreement to return to their former regional sports network partner for the upcoming season.

The Reds will have their games air locally on FanDuel Sports Network Ohio.

Both sides announced in November they were ending their joint venture while Diamond Sports Group was in bankruptcy proceedings. The Reds had a 20% stake in what is now FanDuel Sports Network Ohio. Diamond bought back the team's stake for $1.

Diamond emerged out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy Jan. 2 as Main Street Sports Group. The Reds had planned to have their games produced and distributed by Major League Baseball until changing course.

As part of the agreement, cable and satellite subscribers in the Reds' TV territory can stream games and other programming on the FanDuel Sports Network app. Subscribers to FanDuel Sports Network on a direct-to-consumer basis will also have access to the games.

Doug Healy, the Reds' chief operating officer and chief financial officer, said the decision helps provide continuity for fans to watch games as they had in previous seasons.

"The decision to stay with Sports Network provides continuity for our fans to watch Reds games as in previous seasons, and now with a direct-to-consumer streaming product available through the Sports Network app."

It is the second time in two weeks a team has decided to return to the regional sports network model instead of MLB. The Milwaukee Brewers announced Dec. 31 they were also going back to FanDuel Sports Network after their deal expired at the end of the 2024 season.

Main Street Sports has the rights for nine MLB teams for the upcoming season. MLB will produce and distribute games for five teams in 2025.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

SEATTLE -- Infielder Donovan Solano and the Seattle Mariners finalized a $3.5 million, one-year contract on Monday.

Solano can earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses for plate appearances: $200,000 each for 300, 350, 400, 450 and 500.

The 37-year-old Solano hit .286 with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 96 games with San Diego last year, including .302 (32 for 106) with four home runs against left-handers.

He is a .279 career hitter with 40 homers and 279 RBIs in 11 major league seasons with Miami (2012-15), the New York Yankees (2016), San Francisco (2019-21), Cincinnati (2022), Minnesota (2023) and San Diego.

Since 2019 Solano is hitting .294 with 31 homers and 180 RBIs.

"Donovan has been among the most underrated hitters in the game over the past six years," Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said in a statement.

Solano also gets a hotel suite on road trips. He would receive $50,000 for election to the All-Star team and $25,000 for selection. Solano also can earn $150,000 for MVP, $100,000 for World Series MVP and $50,000 each for League Championship Series MVP, Gold Glove or Silver Slugger.

Left-hander Austin Kitchen was designated for assignment to open a roster spot. He made his major league debut for Miami at Tampa Bay on July 30, went 0-1 with a 14.14 ERA in one start and three relief appearances and was claimed off waivers by Seattle on Sept. 9.

SAN FRANCISCO -- For the first time in nearly two decades as a major league pitcher, Justin Verlander didn't take an offseason break from throwing.

He needed to keep a baseball in his hand so his shoulder would cooperate. He needed the routine to maintain a rhythm.

"I've always been somebody who, I set down the ball, I don't pick it up again for a few months and then I've always been very lucky that I just pick it up and start throwing," Verlander said Monday. "Well, at 41, that caught up with me. So that was an adjustment that I've made that I feel is paying big dividends already."

The star right-hander finalized a one-year, $15 million contract with the San Francisco Giants last weekend, and he's determined to show he can still pitch at the highest level after a forgettable, injury-plagued 2024 season.

New president of baseball operations Buster Posey and the Giants believe Verlander can still bring it and are counting on him to help them contend again in the talented National League West.

The three-time American League Cy Young Award winner said he's "miles ahead" of where he was last year at this time and he's trying not to overdo it ahead of spring training, which begins next month.

Verlander went 5-6 with a 5.48 ERA in 17 starts for the AL West champion Houston Astros last year. He opened the season on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation. He also was on the IL from June 18 to Aug. 21 because of neck discomfort.

"Last year was difficult," he said. "It was worst-case scenario for me. You could never get in a groove, pitched about as bad as I felt like I could. Positives were, I was able to learn a lot. You can't play this game for very long if you don't learn from injuries."

Verlander will receive a full no-trade provision and a hotel suite on road trips.

He would earn $200,000 for winning his second MVP award, $150,000 for finishing second in the voting and $50,000 for third -- and would get the same bonuses for Cy Young Award voting.

In addition, Verlander's deal calls for him to make $100,000 for an All-Star selection, $150,000 for World Series MVP and $100,000 for League Championship Series MVP.

Verlander clearly remembers the electric atmosphere in San Francisco during the 2012 World Series, when the Giants swept his Detroit Tigers.

That included Posey on the other side -- and now the retired star catcher did the recruiting of the veteran pitcher.

And the Giants aren't adding him just to be a mentor or an example for their young pitchers but rather a top-tier starter to complement Logan Webb and Robbie Ray.

"Justin's track record speaks for itself," Posey said. "I was lucky enough to get to compete against him for a number of years and have always admired the way that he takes care of himself. When we started having the conversation a couple of weeks ago, it was very evident just how motivated he is, and you don't get to the level of greatness that he's accomplished in his career without having just the utmost fortitude and desire to be the best."

Star Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki plans to sign with either the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres or Toronto Blue Jays at some point over the next week or so, sources told ESPN on Monday, with a cadre of big-name teams informed in recent days they are no longer in consideration for one of the most talented pitchers in the world.

The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers were told they are out on Sasaki, sources said, leaving the two favorites from the beginning -- Los Angeles and San Diego -- along with a surprise entrant in Toronto.

The 23-year-old Sasaki, whose 100-mph-plus fastball and devastating split-fingered fastball made him among the best pitchers in Japan, was posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines in December, opening a 45-day window for him to sign. Because Sasaki is under 25, he must sign as an international amateur. The new international signing period opens Wednesday, though Sasaki is not expected to sign until perhaps closer to Jan. 23, when his posting window closes.

The emergence of Toronto comes on the heels of Sasaki's visit there Thursday and Friday, which was first reported by The Athletic. Sasaki also visited San Diego over the weekend, bringing even closer the conclusion of a process that has engaged teams across baseball.

The prospect of signing Sasaki is alluring. Doing so at a steeply discounted price -- international signings are hard-capped, putting a ceiling of around $10 million on Sasaki's signing bonus -- offers teams immense value as Sasaki would play the next three seasons making around the league minimum salary and then spend three more years in an arbitration system that dampens salaries. The finalists, understanding the rarity of a player such as Sasaki, are exploring trading for extra bonus money beyond their allotted amount in case they are chosen.

High-ranking MLB executives were regular attendees of Sasaki's games with Lotte over the past two seasons. In 111 innings last year, Sasaki struck out 129 and walked 32 while logging a 2.35 ERA. He put up even better numbers the previous two seasons, and Lotte posted him despite understanding that if he had remained with the team for two more years, he would have been in line for a nine-figure contract that would include a significant posting fee paid to the team.

With Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers already employ two of Sasaki's Samurai Japan teammates and are coming off a World Series win. While they have been the public favorites from the jump, sources cautioned that the Padres -- with right-hander Yu Darvish, who has played a mentor role to Sasaki -- were every bit a threat to sign him.

The Blue Jays being the third team stunned front offices around the game. Toronto is coming off a last-place finish in the American League East, has a below-average farm system, has not come to terms on a contract extension with its foundational player, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and has been turned down by a number of high-profile free agents, from Ohtani to Juan Soto to Corbin Burnes.

Nevertheless, Toronto emerged from its meeting with Sasaki confident and hopeful, sources said, that as one of the biggest baseball decisions in recent memory approaches, the feelings are reciprocated.

The European Squash Federation (ESF) has teamed up with leading sport streaming platform provider Sportall to launch its own digital platform, European Squash TV.

European Squash TV will give the ESF and its 46 member nations control over their own online squash content, allowing them to build their fan base across Europe and beyond. It will raise the profile of Europes elite squash players, ESF competitions and the sport of squash in general.

Squash is a sport on the up, with increased participation in many major nations and the exciting prospect of its forthcoming Olympic debut at the LA2028 Games.

European Squash TV undertook a successful pilot from 2-6 January when it screened five days of live coverage from the European junior circuits platinum event, the British Junior Open in Birmingham.

The ESFs media team used the live streaming to produce edited highlights which were distributed on social media and to member nations for their own use.

European Squash TV also features a library of previous tournaments which all ESF member nations can access to use and distribute as they wish.

The vision is for all 46 member nations to have their own European Squash TV landing page which they can design and organise to their own requirements. They will have easy access to all European Squash TV content from which they can select matches involving their own players, tournaments they have hosted or anything else they wish to use.

ESF President Thomas Troedsson said: We are delighted to launch European Squash TV in what is an important period for squash and our organisation in the run-up to the 2028 Olympic Games. This will be a vital resource for our member nations and will help to raise awareness of our wonderful sport and athletes.

The project is being led by ESF Vice-President Otto Kalvo, who said: Owning our own content is crucial to the future of the European Squash Federation, our member nations and the sport of squash.

Once we have custody of our content, it opens up potential to do all kinds of value-adding by editing, distributing, embedding with advertising and much more.

Our aim is to build a catalogue of as much high quality content as possible, which is continually updated and augmented by professional live coverage which our Championships and circuit of junior and Masters events has needed and deserved for many years.

Thierry Boudard, Sportalls CEO, added: We are proud to help an international federation of a new Olympic sport increase its global digital visibility and to support European Squash Federation in opening their streaming platform to their member nations.

Ireland flanker Peter O'Mahony will be monitored for selection before Munster's final European Pool match as he continues his recovery from a calf injury.

Munster travel to Northampton Saints, who have already qualified, in the final round of Pool Three fixtures in the Investec Champions Cup.

The Irish province say O'Mahony, 35, will "increase his training load" and a decision on his availability will be made "later in the week".

The potential return of O'Mahony will be a boost to Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby, who names his Six Nations squad on Wednesday.

However, Munster will be without wing Shane Daly, who is following return to play protocols after failing a head injury assessment during Saturday's win over Saracens.

Scrum-half Conor Murray, back row Jack O'Donoghue and hooker Diarmuid Barron are all available for selection after returning to action in the 17-12 win over the English side, which put Munster into second place in the Pool.

Wing Diarmuid Kilgallen has also returned to full training following a wrist injury and prop Mark Donnelly has recovered from an ankle injury sustained on Emerging Ireland duty in September.

Victory over Northampton would secure a place in the knock-out stages and a home last-16 tie.

Former Scotland rugby union captain Peter Brown has died aged 83 following a long illness.

Born in Troon to a sporting family, Brown played at club level for West of Scotland and Gala, making his international debut in a home win against France on 4 January 1964.

Brown's father Jock was a football goalkeeper who won the Scottish Cup with Clyde in 1939, his uncle Jim played for the United States at the 1930 World Cup and his younger brother Gordon was a fellow Scotland rugby international, who also represented the British and Irish Lions on eight occasions.

A versatile forward, Brown split his 27 caps between lock and number eight and was an effective goal-kicker - his 66 points for Scotland remains a record for a member of the pack.

He remained heavily involved with Gala after retiring from playing, and also had a successful career in accountancy.

In a statement, Brown's family said: "Peter underwent several years of chemotherapy treatment for myeloma, supported wonderfully by the haematology team at the Western General.

"Earlier this week, he was admitted to the Royal Infirmary following a fall at home. Peter passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday 12 January.

"The family would like to express their gratitude to the Acute Medical Unit for their care and compassion."

The Philadelphia 76ers will partner with Comcast Spectacor, their current landlord, to build a new arena in South Philadelphia and abandon a deal with the city to move downtown.

The stunning reversal comes as a relief to critics of the plan to put a $1.3 billion arena near City Hall at the edge of Chinatown. Mayor Cherelle Parker, on Monday, called the proposal "a win, win, win, win for Philadelphia."

"Philly, this is a lot. This is a curveball that none of us saw coming, but nevertheless, we are here," Parker said at a midday news conference.

But some critics and City Council members felt betrayed after two years of fraught negotiations over the downtown plan. City Council member Jim Harrity told a news station he felt "completely bamboozled."

Parker was joined Monday by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who appeared remotely, and team and Comcast leaders who promised the new plan would bring vibrancy and a new vision to both locations. The parties also pledged to work with the city to try to bring a WNBA team to Philadelphia.

"Though plans have changed, the one thing that has not changed is our commitment to do something good for the Sixers, our fans and most importantly, our city," said David Adelman, a partner in the 76ers ownership group, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment.

The City Council had voted only weeks ago to approve the team's plan to open its proposed 76 Place downtown by 2031, despite opposition from residents of the city's nearby Chinatown and others. The team, which shares space with the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL in an arena owned by Comcast, had said it wanted to own its own facility when its lease expired.

But the rival sides started talking two weeks ago before looping in city leaders in the high-stakes talks over the past three days.

The team, whose ownership group is led by investor Josh Harris, said it had formed a 50-50 joint venture with Comcast to replace its arena in the South Philadelphia stadium district by 2031. Comcast will also take a minority stake in the team and work together on the WNBA bid, the parties said in a joint statement Monday.

And they pledged to invest in the abandoned site, Market East, a once-bustling downtown retail corridor that has struggled for many years despite repeated attempts to revive it.

The partners, who also own the NHL's New Jersey Devils and have a controlling interest in the NFL's Washington Commanders, had vowed not to seek any city subsidies for the downtown project, which they said would reap $2 billion in economic growth for Center City. They did not immediately disclose financial terms of the new project.

Chinatown activist Vivian Chang said the community was cautiously optimistic but troubled that "our city was held captive by the developers" and lost time it could have spent on other pressing issues.

"We have been saying all along that they were playing people," Chang told The Associated Press. "These billionaire developers didn't have anyone's interests in mind, in terms of the community. They just had their profits in mind."

Economist Victor Matheson, a Holy Cross professor who studies stadium financing issues, said it's not unusual for team owners to change course as they hunt for the best deal. Last year, in Washington, the NBA's Wizards and the NHL's Capitals decided to stay in the city after a deal to move to the northern Virginia suburbs, with $515 million in public financing, imploded.

"This happens all the time," Matheson said, noting that the 76ers "played New Jersey against Philadelphia" in the hunt for public subsidies.

He says he believes the team planned to "pick up some subsidies along the way, and then when that didn't happen, they ended up of course back where they started."

Supporters of the downtown plan had hoped a glitzy, 18,500-seat arena would be the catalyst to revive Market East, which runs for eight blocks from City Hall to the Liberty Bell. "The way they reached this decision reflects a profound lack of respect for city leaders, stakeholders, and residents," council members Jamie Gauthier and Rue Landau said in a statement. "It was shameful for 76DevCo to pit working-class Philadelphians against one another and pressure city council to consider a half-baked proposal on an artificially rushed timeline."

Inter Miami on Monday completed the second training session of the 2025 campaign with Lionel Messi present and under new head coach Javier Mascherano on Monday in Ft. Lauderdale, giving players a taste of what's to come under the new leadership.

Players underwent the medical examinations on Jan. 11 before officially reporting for training on Jan. 13.

"We started on Saturday with the tests and from yesterday we started training with the squad. The feelings are very good," he said. "We are happy with how they have returned from the holidays. We know that it is not easy to be so long standing, beyond that everyone can do their specific work. When you reincorporate and do the group work, they have returned very well from the holidays and that has allowed us to demand a little more from the first day. So we are very happy."

Mascherano and his coaching staff will work towards getting the roster in shape for the preseason tour across North, South and Central America.

"I'm very quiet. Obviously, I like to work with intensity in the training sessions," said Mascherano. "I like my teams to play with intensity and courage but we know what we are starting now and we need to be calm so we are happy with the guys. They are working a lot and they are working really well so we keep going forward."

Though the team has only been together a few days, Yannick Bright admits the roster can already begin to feel the impact of Mascherano's leadership.

"He's an experienced coach and obviously was an experienced player, he knows what he's doing, he played in the best spotlights and best games possible. He definitely knows football, I am excited to start working and learning," Bright said. "I did see flashes of intensity here and there during training, but I love it. It's what I am about, I want to embrace it and learn."

Inter Miami will not be complete for the first preseason friendly against Club América on Jan. 18 in Las Vegas, Nevada, as goalkeeper Drake Callender and midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi join the United States men's national team for the January camp.

The USMNT is currently training at Inter Miami's facilities in Ft. Lauderdale, offering Argentina countrymen Messi, Mascherano and USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino the chance to meet.