Outfielder Lawrence Butler agreed to a $65.5 million, seven-year contract with the Athletics, a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations said Thursday night, the latest big-money deal for a team suddenly spending as it prepares to play three seasons in a minor league ballpark.

The agreement, first reported by ESPN, includes a team option for 2032 that could make the contract worth $81.5 million and escalators that could increase the value to $87.5 million. The deal was subject to a successful physical, the person said, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract hasn’t been completed.

Buter’s deal is the second-highest guarantee for a position player with 1-2 years of major league service, trailing third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes’s $70 million, eight-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates announced in April 2022.

Mariners’ Kirby likely to open season on IL >> Seattle Mariners right-hander George Kirby has inflammation on his throwing shoulder and likely will open the season on the injured list.

Mariners general manager Justin Hollander emphasized that an MRI revealed no structural damage to the shoulder.

Guerrero Jr. says his request to Blue Jays was for less than $600M >> Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says his proposal for a long-term contract with the Toronto Blue Jays was for less than $600 million.

In an interview to ESPN, the four-time All-Star disputed speculation he sought a deal similar to the $765 million, 15-year contract that Juan Soto agreed to with the New York Mets. Guerrero, who turns 26 on March 16, agreed in January to a $28.5 million, one-year contract and can become a free agent after the World Series. He cut off talks on a long-term deal when he reported to spring training last month.

Hockey

Panthers add veteran Marchand >> The Florida Panthers welcomed the arrival of Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand in a trade that adds even more grit and experience to the roster of the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Marchand, dealt by the Bruins after 16 seasons in Boston, is joining a dogged team with stars Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart and Anton Lundell. Florida general manager Bills Zito said the Bruins received a second-round pick that turns into a first-rounder dependent on Marchand’s playing time.

Rantanen dealt to Dallas >> Mikko Rantanen is heading back to the Western Conference. The Dallas Stars paid a big price to acquire Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes just before the NHL trade deadline,

Dallas dealt promising rookie forward Logan Stankoven and two first-round and two third-round picks as part of a blockbuster deal to acquire Rantanen. Dallas also agreed to an eight-year, $96 million contract with the high-scoring Finn after both the Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche failed in their attempts to sign him to a long-term deal.

Other trades >> The second-place Stars made the move at the same time the NHL-leading division-rival Winnipeg Jets improved their lineup with a pair of trades. The Jets acquired forward Brandon Tanev by sending a 2027 second-round pick to Seattle. Winnipeg bolstered its blue line by adding Luke Schenn in a trade with Pittsburgh, two days after the Penguins acquired the rugged defenseman from Nashville.

Pro football

Titans release Landry III >> The Tennessee Titans released veteran linebacker Harold Landry III to clear salary cap space.

The seven-year veteran had been due to count $24.1 million against the cap for this season. Releasing Landry puts Tennessee seventh in the NFL with more than $63 million in salary cap space per Spotrac.com to go along with the No. 1 pick in the April draft.

Bills agree to sign LB Bernard >> The Buffalo Bills reached an agreement to sign starting middle linebacker Terrel Bernard to a four-year contract extension worth up to $50 million, with $25.2 million of it guaranteed, in locking up their defensive leader through the 2029 season.

The team announced the agreement while a person with direct knowledge of the deal provided The Associated Press the contract’s monetary terms. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the Bills did not announce the contract’s value.

Commanders release defensive DT Allen >> Jonathan Allen was released by the Washington Commanders, ending the standout defensive tackle’s time with the team that drafted him after eight seasons.

The move, which was not a surprise, comes less than two weeks since they gave Allen’s camp permission to talk to other teams around the NFL about a potential trade. There was no guaranteed money owed to the 30-year-old veteran going into the final season of his contract, which made him a candidate to be released to save the Commanders roughly $20 million against the salary cap.

Pro basketball

Cuban says he would have asked for more for Doncic >> Former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban said he wouldn’t have traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers without receiving much more in return.

Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has come under heavy criticism after sending Doncic to the Lakers in a shocking three-team deal on Feb. 1 that sent Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round draft pick to Dallas.

The Lakers have put themselves in position to be title contenders and the Mavericks are in danger of missing the playoffs after Davis and then Kyrie Irving were injured.

NBA fines Kings’ DeRozan >> DeMar DeRozan was fined $25,000 by the NBA for publicly criticizing officials after the Sacramento Kings’ loss to the Denver Nuggets.

“The refs were terrible,” DeRozan said after the 116-110 loss on Wednesday, according to the Sacramento Bee. “Terrible as (expletive). Simple as that.”

The Nuggets had 30 free throws to 14 for the Kings, including 13-4 in the fourth quarter in which Denver outscored Sacramento 32-17.