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Outfielder Teoscar Hernández and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a three-year, $66 million contract, sources told ESPN on Friday, reuniting the World Series standout with the team he helped capture the championship. "I'm Back," Hernández wrote on Instagram. Almost immediately in the aftermath of the World Series victory, Hernández declared his desire to return to the Dodgers after a one-year engagement proved successful for both parties. Coming together on a new, mutually agreeable contract took almost two months, with the Dodgers signing outfielder Michael Conforto and engaging in trade discussions for outfielders while Hernández considered other offers. Editor's Picks MLB offseason grades: Tigers sign Torres, Dodgers bring back Hernandez 13m Bradford Doolittle and David Schoenfield MLB free agency tracker: Keep up with the offseason moves 29m ESPN The number that will decide 2025 for all 15 National League teams 13h David Schoenfield Eventually, the sides struck a deal that includes a club option of $15 million for the 2028 season with a $6.5 million buyout, $23.5 million in deferred money and a $23 million signing bonus. Hernández, 32, signed with the Dodgers for one year and $23.5 million -- with $8.5 million of it deferred -- after the free agent market valued him too low to sign long term. He made the risk count, hitting .272/.339/.501 with a career-high 33 home runs and 99 RBIs. His two-run double in the championship-winning Game 5 of the World Series capped the New York Yankees ' nightmare inning, and a Game 2 home run off Carlos Rodon staked Los Angeles a lead it wouldn't yield. Beyond the returns from injury expected among their pitchers, the Dodgers have spent the winter adding. First came Blake Snell , the two-time National League Cy Young winner, for five years and $182 million. They brought back Blake Treinen , another Game 5 hero, for two years and $22 million. And Conforto hopes to follow Hernández's example by going to the most successful franchise in the game on a one-year deal and thriving like so many do. Before coming to Los Angeles, Hernández was one of the more consistent outfielders in baseball after not getting full-time at-bats until his age-25 season. Among the 125 hitters with at least 2,500 plate appearances since 2018, Hernández ranks 17th in home runs, 21st in RBIs and 40th in OPS+. He adds another big bat to a lineup filled with them and another body to an outfield mix that includes Conforto, Andy Pages , Chris Taylor , James Outman and Tommy Edman , who can play center field and shortstop, where former outfielder and MVP Mookie Betts plans to play every day. Los Angeles continued its use of deferrals, in which portions of salaries are paid years down the road. While the majority of Los Angeles' $1 billion-plus of deferred money belongs to Shohei Ohtani -- $680 million of his $700 million contract is deferred a decade down the road, leaving Los Angeles to pay around $46 million a year into an escrow account to cover it -- others with deferrals in their deals include Betts, Snell, Edman, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith . Players often use deferred money, as well as signing bonuses, to lessen their tax burden, particularly in California, where one legislator introduced a bill to close what he called "an obscure tax loophole." Hernández's deferrals aren't as delayed as Ohtani's, starting in six years rather than a decade.Fundamental Global Inc. Declares Cash Dividend on Its 8.00% Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series AMILWAUKEE — David Joplin scored 27 points and Kam Jones and Damarius Owens each added 14 to lead No. 10 Marquette to a 94-59 win over Stonehill on Wednesday night. Joplin made his first five shots, including three 3-pointers, and was 10 for 12 from the field. Joplin poured in a career-high 29 in the Golden Eagles’ previous game, an 80-69 win Saturday over Georgia in the Bahamas. Owens, a freshman, had scored five points in his first three games. He went 3 of 3 from 3. Amir Nesbitt led Stonehill (4-5) with 14 points, Hermann Koffi scored 13 and Chas Stinson added 10. Josh Morgan, who averages 15.4 points per game and is the Skyhawks' leading score, didn’t play because of a foot injury. Takeaways Stonehill: The Skyhawks, who entered Division 1 in 2022, are trying to figure how to win away from home as they lost their 26th straight road game. Marquette: The Golden Eagles (7-0) remain one of two undefeated Big East teams after No. 22 Xavier (6-1) fell 78-53 to Michigan, and Providence (5-1) lost 79-77 to Oklahoma. Key moment Stonehill stayed close until 8:53 in the first half when Ethan Meuser’s second straight 3-pointer cut Marquette’s lead to 27-21. Then, Marquette went on a 24-10 run to claim a 51-31 halftime lead. Stonehill's Chas Stinson tries to get past Marquette's Stevie Mitchell during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Milwaukee. Credit: AP/Morry Gash Key stat The Golden Eagles shot 60.7% (37 for 61) from the floor and scored 52 points in the paint. Up next Marquette hosts Western Carolina on Saturday, and Stonehill hosts Quinnipiac on Sunday.WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has chosen Keith Kellogg, a highly decorated retired three-star general, to serve as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, who is one of the architects of a staunchly conservative policy book that lays out an “America First” national security agenda for the incoming administration, will come into the role as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its third year in February. Trump, making the announcement on his Truth Social account, said, “He was with me right from the beginning! Together, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!” Kellogg, an 80-year-old retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as national security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence , was chief of staff of the National Security Council and then stepped in as an acting security adviser for Trump after Michael Flynn resigned. As special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Kellogg will have to navigate an increasingly untenable war between the two nations. The Biden administration has begun urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and revamping its mobilization laws to allow for the conscription of those as young as 18. The White House has pushed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s February 2022 invasion and expects to send billions more before Biden leaves office in less than two months. The U.S. has recently stepped up weapons shipments and has forgiven billions in loans provided to Kyiv. Trump has criticized the billions the Biden administration has spent in supporting Ukraine and has said he could end the war in 24 hours, comments that appear to suggest he would press Ukraine to surrender territory that Russia now occupies. As a co-chairman of the American First Policy Institute’s Center for American Security, Kellogg wrote several of the chapters in the group’s policy book. The book, like the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025,” is designed to lay out a Trump national security agenda and avoid the mistakes of 2016 when he entered the White House largely unprepared. Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” Trump's proposed national security adviser , U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida, tweeted Wednesday that “Keith has dedicated his life to defending our great country and is committed to bringing the war in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution.” Kellogg featured in multiple Trump investigations dating to his first term. He was among the administration officials who listened in on the July 2019 call between Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which Trump prodded his Ukrainian counterpart to pursue investigations into the Bidens. The call, which Kellogg would later say did not raise any concerns on his end, was at the center of the first of two House impeachment cases against Trump, who was acquitted by the Senate both times. On Jan. 6, 2021, hours before pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Kellogg, who was then Pence’s national security adviser, listened in on a heated call in which Trump told his vice president to object or delay the certification in Congress of President Joe Biden ’s victory. He later told House investigators that he recalled Trump saying to Pence words to the effect of: “You’re not tough enough to make the call.” Baldor reported from Washington. AP writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.
Rugby Don't miss out on the headlines from Rugby. Followed categories will be added to My News. Rising Australian star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will return to the Wallabies starting line-up in one of six changes for their match against Scotland at Murrayfield on Monday morning (AEDT).. Suaalii has been promoted from the bench following Australia’s 52-20 rout of Wales in Cardiff last weekend. The rugby league convert was named man-of-the-match in a 42-37 win over England at Twickenham earlier this month — his first senior game of professional rugby union. Suaalii will make his second Test start in midfield alongside Len Ikitau, who takes back the No 12 jersey now Samu Kerevi’s tour is over following his red card against Wales. Harry Potter, meanwhile, will make his Test debut after being selected on the left wing in place of Max Jorgensen, who drops to the bench. Whether he can provide the wizardry associated with his famous fictional namesake remains to be seen. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is back in the Wallabies’ starting side. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) Samu Kerevi was suspended for his red card in the Wales game. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) The 26-year-old former Western Force man was born in London before moving to Melbourne as a child. After struggling to break through in Super Rugby, he returned to England and helped Leicester win a Premiership title. Wallabies captain Harry Wilson is back at No 8, while Carlo Tizzano will start at openside flanker, with Rob Valetini moving back to blindside flanker. In the second row, Jeremy Williams has been recalled to partner Will Skelton. Jake Gordon has been brought back at scrum-half to partner Noah Lolesio. Australia are halfway to matching the celebrated 1984 Wallabies’ Grand Slam, a clean sweep of wins over the Home Nations — England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales — on one tour. Scotland thrashed emerging nation Portugal 59-21 last weekend but will be looking to end their 2024 with a morale-boosting win over the Wallabies after pushing world champions South Africa hard in a 32-15 loss at Murrayfield on November 10. Wallabies legend Campese believes Australia will beat Scotland, and praised Suaalii and the team’s style of play under coach Joe Schmidt. “What impresses me the most about him (Suaalii) is that he is not a selfish player,” Campese told Vision4Sport . “He got the ball and did what he had to do as a centre with his passing and offloading. He demonstrated that he is a team player. “Playing at the top level of State of Origin gives you great confidence. Suaalii was at school three years ago. He has learned rapidly and he is only going to get better. Australia Head Coach Joe Schmidt at a training session at Murrayfield Stadium. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) “Tom Wright is another player from rugby league. He has always been a good player and he is thriving in this new atmosphere and environment. “So is Len Ikitau. Eddie Jones didn’t rate him, but Joe Schmidt does. They are all playing with smiles on their faces which is great. The more you enjoy your rugby the better you are going to play.” “I can’t understand why Scotland played Portugal in the lead up to facing Australia,” Campese added. “I know people weren’t taking Australia seriously a couple of weeks ago. I can’t see Scotland beating us this weekend. “At this level, you need to have consistency, not least selection and play with each other week in week out as far as you can. Scotland have made it very difficult for themselves by not playing their full team. It’s going to be very interesting. Australia will win by 10-15 points.” Harry Potter will make his Wallabies debut. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) “The week has been complicated, with the freezing conditions ruling out training fields but the group have adapted well to the situation,” Schmidt said. “The core of the Scotland team has been together for a number of years. “They’re cohesive and combative and we will need to be at our best on Sunday.” Australia (15-1): Tom Wright; Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter; Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson (capt), Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini; Will Skelton, Jeremy Williams; Allan Alaalatoa, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Isaac Kailea, Zane Nonggorr, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Max Jorgensen Coach: Joe Schmidt More Coverage ‘World class already’: Scots blown away by code-hopper Fans say same thing about Wallabies win Matthew Sullivan Originally published as Joseph Suaalii returns as Wallabies make mass changes for Scotland clash More related stories Rugby Harry Potter to make Wallabies debut, Suaalii recalled The Wallabies will hand a cap to flying winger Harry Potter while also adding Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to the starting side as they look to overcome a Scotland team which has proved an unlikely thorn in their sides of late. Read more Rugby 28 staff gone: Inside RA overhaul behind Wallabies’ stunning rebuild The Wallabies’ turnaround in form comes on the back of a Rugby Australia rebuild that has seen a staggering 28 staff members leave the organisation and fresh blood enter a streamlined system. Read moreTibbetts: It's time to crown some Buffalo Bills midseason MVPs