CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Philadelphia Phillies have signed manager Pete Mackanin to a two-year contract through 2017.
Mackanin’s new deal includes a club option for 2018. The 64-year-old Mackanin had signed a one-year contract last September after replacing Ryne Sandberg in June.
Mackanin led the Phillies to a 37-51 record after Sandberg abruptly resigned. The rebuilding Phillies are 14-7-2 in Mackanin’s first spring training.
Mackanin was Philadelphia’s bench coach under Charlie Manuel from 2009-12. He spent 2013 as a pro scout with the Yankees before returning as third-base coach in 2014.
Mackanin’s career managerial record is 90-104, including stints as interim manager with Pittsburgh in 2005 and Cincinnati in 2007.
Stanford hires Jerod Haase as new men’s basketball coach
STANFORD, Calif. — Stanford hired University of Alabama at Birmingham coach Jerod Haase as its new basketball coach Friday, a week and a half after firing eighth-year coach Johnny Dawkins.
Athletic director Bernard Muir is determined to return the Cardinal to being a regular NCAA Tournament contender as the program was under longtime coach Mike Montgomery over nearly two decades. Haase will be formally introduced Monday on The Farm.
The 41-year-old Haase is returning to his Northern California roots to coach Stanford. He was born in South Lake Tahoe and even spent the 1992-93 season at rival California before transferring to Kansas, where he played for coach Roy Williams and later coached under him for 13 years with the Jayhawks and at North Carolina.
His UAB team reached the NCAA Tournament last year then lost in the first round of the NIT at BYU this season.
Cubs drop 9 from spring roster, including former Red Negron
MESA, Ariz. — The Chicago Cubs reduced their spring roster from 45 to 36 players on Friday, sending all nine non-roster invitees to minor league camp.
They are right-handed pitchers Brandon Gomes, Jean Machi and Ryan Williams; infielders Jesus Guzman and Kris Negron; and outfielders Albert Almora, John Andreoli, Matt Murton and Juan Perez.
Manager Joe Maddon said he noticed development in Almora, the Cubs’ No. 1 pick in 2012, who was taken sixth overall.
“The biggest thing I saw with him, I thought he is at the point he believes he belongs here and he can do this,” Maddon said. “I think he wasn’t as wide eyed.”
Massachusetts finalizes comprehensive fantasy sports rules
BOSTON — The attorney general of Massachusetts has finalized what she calls the most comprehensive rules in the nation for daily fantasy sports operators.
The regulations issued Friday by Democrat Maura Healey are largely the same as those she proposed in November. They set a minimum age of 21 for participating in the online contests and bar games based on college or other amateur sports.
The rules officially take effect July 1 and do not require legislative approval.
Players won’t be able to deposit more than $1,000 into their online accounts each month. Operators will be required to offer “beginner” contests for less skilled players.
Companies like Boston-based DraftKings and New York-based FanDuel have praised Healey’s approach to fantasy sports, but they’ve also voiced objections to some provisions, including the 21-year-old age restriction.
