Yoenis Cespedes is headed back to the New York Mets. According to multiple reports, the 30-year-old slugging outfielder and the Mets agreed to a three-year, $75 million contract, with a opt out clause after the first year. Lefthander Antonio Bastardo and the Mets completed a $12 million, two-year contract. Bastardo, 30, who was suspended 50 games by MLB in 2013 following the Biogenesis drug investigation, was 4-1 with a 2.98 ERA and one save in 66 games last season for the Pittsburgh Pirates . . . Shortstop Alexei Ramirez, 34, and the San Diego Padres finalized a one-year, $4 million contract . . . Righthander Kevin Jepsen, acquired last summer from the Tampa Bay Rays, avoided arbitration with the Twins by agreeing to a one-year, $5,312,500 contract . . . Former big league pitcher Jared Burton was suspended 50 games under baseball’s minor league drug program following a second positive test for a drug of abuse. The 34-year-old righthander pitched for Cincinnati (2007-11) and Minnesota (2012-14). He spent parts of last season in the minors with the Yankees and Rangers organizations. Free agent pitcher Derrick Bernard, 23, was suspended 100 games following a third positive test for drug abuse of a banned substance. Kansas City pitcher Matt Murray, 26, was banned 50 games after a positive test for Amphetamine, a banned stimulant, according to the MLB commissioner’s office.
NBA
Clippers trade SmithJosh Smith was traded to the Houston Rockets from the Los Angeles Clippers. Smith, who averaged 5.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in 32 games for the Clippers this season, finished last season with the Rockets before signing with the Clippers in the offseason. Houston also received the draft rights to forward/center Sergei Lishouk and cash considerations in a deal that gave Los Angeles draft rights to forward Maarty Leunen.
Soccer
Revo land Sambinha
The New England Revolution acquired defender Sambinha on loan from Sporting Clube de Portugal, marking the first player to be transferred to the Revo from its strategic partnership with the Portuguese club. The Revo have an option to permanently sign Sambinha, 23, to the roster at the end of his loan period. “Sambinha is a big, strong center back who impressed both myself and [coach] Jay [Heaps] during our recent trip to Lisbon,’’ said Revolution general manager Michael Burns. “He will be able to help strengthen our defense.’’
Miscellany
Vonn goes for recordLindsey Vonn, whose 36 downhill wins is tied with Austrian Annemarie Moser-Proell for the all-time record, will attempt to break the tie in Saturday’s downhill in Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy . . . Bill Johnson, who become the first male skier from the United States to capture an Olympic gold medal in Alpine skiing in 1984, died Jan. 21 in Gresham, Ore. He was 55. Obituary, Page 10 . . . UMass quarterback Blake Frohnapfel and wide receiver Tajae Sharpe, Boston College safety Justin Simmons and defensive tackle Connor Wujciak were invited to participate on the East squad in Saturday’s East-West Shrine Game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. Wujcicak, however, will not play due to injury . . . Boston University will induct longtime sports information director Ed Carpenter into its Athletic Hall of Fame.
