The Nebraska spring game, one of the best-attended in college football and a major revenue producer, likely won’t be held going forward because of coach Matt Rhule’s concern about other teams poaching his players.

“The word ‘tampering’ doesn’t exist anymore,” Rhule said Saturday at his midwinter news conference. “It’s just an absolute free open common market. I don’t necessarily want to open up to the outside world and have people watch our guys and say, ‘He looks like a pretty good player. Let’s go get him.’”

The spring game has a long tradition at Nebraska. Last year the event drew 60,452 to Memorial Stadium, fourth-highest in the nation behind spring games at Ohio State, Alabama and Penn State. The Cornhuskers’ game also was televised on the Big Ten Network.

“I dealt with a lot of people offering our players a lot of opportunities after that,” Rhule said. “So you go out and bring in a bunch of new players and showcase them for all the other schools to watch? Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.”

Six Nebraska players entered the transfer portal the week after last year’s spring game.

The spring portal period ends April 25 this year, the day before Nebraska’s spring practice wraps up. However, players can switch schools without entering the portal, as was notably the case with Wisconsin safety Xavier Lucas’ recent move to Miami.

Baseball

Leiter, Santana lose arbitration cases >> New York Yankees reliever Mark Leiter Jr. and Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana lost to their teams in salary arbitration on Saturday.

Leiter will earn $2.05 million this year rather than his $2.5 million request in a decision by Allen Ponak, Robert Herzog and Scott Buchheit, who heard arguments Friday.

Santana will get $1.4 million instead of his $2.1 million request in a decision by Brian Keller, Richard Bloch and Margaret Brogan, who heard the case Wednesday.

Teams have won three of four decisions. Right-hander Jovan Oviedo lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates and will earn $850,000, and outfielder Mickey Moniak defeated the Los Angeles Angels and will make $2 million.

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Alex Vesia avoided a hearing when he agreed to a one-year deal guaranteeing $2.3 million.

Mets sign Madrigal to one-year deal >> The New York Mets signed infielder Nick Madrigal to a one-year contract Friday.

Madrigal hit .221 with 10 RBIs in 51 games for the Chicago Cubs last year. He was non-tendered by the team in November.

The 27-year-old Madrigal will compete for a spot on New York’s bench in spring training. He has made big league starts at second and third base.

Infielder Luis De Los Santos was designated for assignment to make room for Madrigal on the team’s roster.

The 5-foot-8 Madrigal was selected by the White Sox with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 amateur draft out of Oregon State University. He was traded to the crosstown Cubs in July 2021 in the Craig Kimbrel deal.

Madrigal is a .274 hitter with four homers, 77 RBIs and 17 steals in 285 career major league games.

Soccer

Salah double pushes Liverpool past Bournemouth >> Mohamed Salah’s double helped Liverpool pass a huge test of its Premier League title credentials after winning at in-form Bournemouth 2-0 and establishing a nine-point lead on Saturday.

High-flying rival Nottingham Forest also made a statement of its own in a record rout of Brighton by 7-0.

Salah moved above Chelsea great Frank Lampard to sixth on the all-time Premier League scoring chart, on 178 goals, by converting a 30th-minute penalty and curling in a beautiful second in the 75th.

Real Madrid stunned by Espanyol >> Real Madrid’s winning run ended in stunning fashion after losing at relegation-threatened Espanyol 1-0 on Saturday in La Liga.

Defender Carlos Romero’s late goal beat the La Liga leader and moved Espanyol out of the bottom three.