Sports briefs
Wild Things sign pitcher
The Wild Things announced Friday the signing of righthanded pitcher Spencer Johnston, who was acquired Dec. 13 in a trade with the Joliet Slammers.
Johnston started nine games in 2022 for Joliet as a rookie and logged 51.2 innings and a 2.79 ERA. He struck out 34 and walked only eight. Four of the nine starts were quality starts, including an outing of six shutout innings against Schaumburg.
“We really liked what we saw from Spencer when he threw against us last summer, which is why when the trade came about we specifically asked for him in return,” said manager Tom Vaeth. “He had a good first year in Joliet and pitched really well against some very good clubs. … We are excited to see him come in and compete for a spot in our rotation.”
Johnston spent two seasons at Frank Phillips Junior College before playing two years at East Central University and one at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He was 4-6 with a 4.19 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) in 2022 with Arkansas-Monticello and had a shutout in 86 innings.
Johnston becomes the eighth pitcher under a new contract for the 2023 season.
In the NBA
The Dallas Mavericks waived veteran guard Kemba Walker on Friday, moving on before his guaranteed salary kicked in and possibly creating more chances for rookie Jaden Hardy.
Walker signed in November after going the first six weeks without a team coming off a season with the New York Knicks.
The 32-year-old Walker has been plagued by knee issues in recent years. He scored 32 points while playing 42 minutes in an overtime loss to Cleveland but ended up missing two games not long after for injury recovery.
Walker scored in double figures just one other time and played more than 10 minutes once in his final seven games with Dallas.
n Julius Randle had 32 points and 11 rebounds, Mitchell Robinson had 10 points and 18 rebounds before fouling out and the New York Knicks won their fourth straight game, beating the Toronto Raptors 112-108 on Friday night.
In baseball
The Colorado Rockies claimed reliever Nick Mears off waivers from Texas.
The right-hander was on the injured list for a good portion of the 2022 season after elbow surgery. Mears threw in 29 games over two stops through Pittsburgh’s minor-league system. He had a combined 4.80 ERA and 34 strikeouts with Triple-A Indianapolis and Single-A Bradenton.
In October, Mears appeared in two games for the Pirates and gave up no runs over two innings.
The 26-year-old Mears has appeared in 36 career games with the Pirates, posting a 4.75 ERA.
n The Los Angeles Dodgers are cutting ties with pitcher Trevor Bauer, whose unprecedented 324-game suspension over sexual misconduct allegations was reduced two weeks ago, allowing him to resume his career.
A person familiar with the situation said Friday that the 31-year-old right-hander was designated for assignment, which means the Dodgers have seven days to release or trade him, which is unlikely.
If the 2020 NL Cy Young Award winner is released, Los Angeles would remain responsible for the more than $22.5 million remaining on his contract.
In the NHL
Ryan McDonagh scored the go-ahead goal late in the third period, Kevin Lankinen made 30 saves and the Nashville Predators beat the Washington Capitals 3-2 Friday night for their third straight win.