



A one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes baseball card has been sold for $1.11 million after a two-week auction.
There was a total of 64 bids on Skenes’ debut patch card, which is autographed and contains a patch that was on the pitcher’s jersey for his heralded major league debut in May.
The final price announced by Fanatics Collect late Thursday night included a 20% buyer’s premium. The buyer was not identified. Fanatics Collect plans to donate its proceeds from the sale to the LA Fire Relief Fund.
The 22-year-old Skenes is slated to make $875,000 while in the major leagues this year with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pro football
Giants, QB Winston agree to deal >> The New York Giants and quarterback Jameis Winston have agreed to terms on a two-year, $8 million contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.
The 31-year-old Winston joins Tommy DeVito as the only quarterbacks on the Giants’ roster. New York has been in the market in free agency for a veteran, with Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson also mentioned as possible targets.
Rodgers meets with the Steelers >> Aaron Rodgers might still want to play football. He might even do it in Pittsburgh.
The four-time NFL MVP met with the Steelers, a person with knowledge of the visit told The Associated Press.
Pittsburgh currently has an opening at quarterback. Justin Fields, who along with Russell Wilson led the Steelers to a 10-7 record and a playoff berth last season, signed with the Jets last week. Wilson is a free agent but does not appear to be part of Pittsburgh’s plans for 2025. The Steelers signed veteran backup Mason Rudolph to a two-year deal earlier this week but still have plenty of room on the roster for another arm or two.
Pro basketball
Hawks center Capela will miss rest of regular season >> Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season with an injury to his left hand.
The Hawks said an MRI showed Capela had a ligament injury in the fourth metacarpal of his hand. The Hawks said Capela will be evaluated in three to four weeks. Atlanta’s final regular-season game is scheduled for April 13 against Orlando.
Capela, 30, lost his starting job to Onyeka Okongwu in mid-January. In 55 games, including 41 starts, Capela is averaging 8.9 points and 8.5 rebounds following eight consecutive seasons scoring in double figures.
Hockey
Capitals are 1st team to clinch a playoff spot >> Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals became the first NHL team to clinch a playoff spot this season, doing so after winning in their 69th game and getting the help they needed elsewhere around the league.
They are the only team since the playoffs expanded to 16 teams in 1979-80 to be the first to clinch after being the last to get in the previous season.
Ovechkin scored his 888th career goal to help beat Philadelphia 3-2 on Thursday night.
Soccer
Mexican team Leon kicked out of Club World Cup >> Mexican team Leon was kicked out of the Club World Cup after FIFA’s appeals committee upheld a decision that it violated a rule that forbids multi-club ownership.
Leon and fellow Mexican club Pachuca both qualified for this summer’s Club World Cup in the United States but have the same owner, Grupo Pachuca.
“After having evaluated all evidence on file, the chairman of the FIFA appeal committee has decided that CF Pachuca and Club León failed to meet the criteria on multi-club ownership,” FIFA said in a statement.
Leon’s replacement was yet to be announced.
Golf
Bridgeman leads Valspar >> Viktor Hovland is searching for his swing and found himself in contention at the Valspar Championship, where Jacob Bridgeman has a one-shot lead and a host of others were right behind going into the weekend at Innisbrook.
Bridgeman was among several players atop the leaderboard on an unseasonably chilly day until the Copperhead course bit back at some point. He had a two-shot lead until missing a par putt from 4 feet on the 18th hole. That gave him a 2-under 69.
Bridgeman was at 6-under 136.
Hovland (67), Byeong Hun An (67) and Ryo Hisatsune (66) were one shot back, with a large group at 4-under 138 that included Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele, who extended without stress his consecutive streak to 60.