Gold Glove first baseman Christian Walker and the Houston Astros agreed Friday to a $60 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.

Houston acquired infielder Isaac Paredes from the Cubs last weekend in the trade that sent outfielder Kyle Tucker to Chicago, and Walker’s agreement likely means the Astros plan to start Paredes at third and won’t re-sign third baseman Alex Bregman.

Walker, who turns 34 during the opening week of the season, hit .251 with 26 homers, 84 RBIs, 55 walks and 133 strikeouts this year. That was down from 2023, when he batted .258 with 33 homers and 103 RBIs as the Diamondbacks reached the World Series.

Walker had a $10.9 million salary last season and turned down Arizona’s $21.05 million qualifying offer.

Houston will lose its second- and fifth-highest picks in the 2025 amateur draft.

A’s, Urshela reach agreement >> Third baseman Gio Urshela has reached agreement on a one-year contract with the A’s, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations.

Third base was a top priority as the club continues to build its roster to play at least the next three seasons in West Sacramento.

The 33-year-old Urshela batted .250 with nine home runs and 52 RBIs last season between Detroit and Atlanta.

Dodgers top MLB luxury tax >> The Los Angeles Dodgers topped a record nine teams owing Major League Baseball’s luxury tax this year with a $103 million penalty, and the New York Mets owe $97.1 million that raises their tax total under high-spending owner Steve Cohen to nearly $229 million.

The World Series champion Dodgers will pay a tax for the fourth year in a row.

The Yankees owe $62.5 million, according to figures finalized by Major League Baseball and the players’ association. They were followed by Philadelphia ($14.4 million), Atlanta ($14 million), Texas ($10.8 million), Houston ($6.5 million), San Francisco ($2.4 million) and the Chicago Cubs ($570,000).

Soccer

FIFA signs Netflix to US broadcast deal >> FIFA has signed Netflix to a United States broadcast deal for the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031.

The deal announced is the most significant FIFA has signed with a streaming service for a major tournament. The value was not given.

World Cups are typically broadcast on free-to-air public networks to reach the biggest audiences.

The 32-team, 64-game tournament in 2027 will be played in Brazil from June 24-July 25. The 2031 host has not been decided, though the U.S. is expected to bid.

US forward Williams traded to NWSL’s Reign >> The Seattle Reign have acquired Olympic gold medalist Lynn Williams in a trade with Gotham FC.

The Reign also received goalkeeper Cassie Miller in the trade announced. Gotham received midfielder Jaelin Howell, an international roster spot and $70,000 in allocation money.

Williams, the National Women’s Soccer League’s all-time leading scorer with 80 goals, joined the league in 2015 as the sixth overall draft pick by the now-defunct Western New York Flash.

College football

Vick officially hired by Norfolk State >> Norfolk State officially named Michael Vick its head football coach, the latest hire of a talented NFL player with no college coaching experience to lead an HBCU program.

Vick’s addition was unanimously approved by the school’s board of visitors, Norfolk State athletic director Melody Webb said in a release from the university.

The 44-year-old Vick announced on his Facebook page on Tuesday night that he has accepted the job.

Vick, who starred at Virginia Tech and was selected No. 1 overall by Atlanta in the 2001 NFL draft, becomes the latest pro standout to lead an HBCU school without any college coaching experience.

Ohio holds off Jacksonville State in Cure Bowl >> Parker Navarro ran for three touchdowns and passed for a fourth in the first half and Ohio held off Jacksonville State 30-27 in the Cure Bowl, the only bowl game featuring two conference champions.

The Mid-American Conference champion Bobcats (11-3), who won their seventh-straight game to set a school record for wins and won their sixth-straight bowl game, led 27-7 at halftime. Navarro scored on runs of 24, 8 and 7 yards before tossing an 11-yard pass to Anthony Tyus III.

The Conference USA Gamecocks (9-5) hit the upright on a field goal attempt in the second quarter and had a turnover in the red zone in the third quarter.

Motor sports

Judge sets date to hear NASCAR’s motion >> A federal judge set a Jan. 8 hearing for NASCAR’s motion to throw out an antitrust lawsuit filed against the stock car series teams backed by Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports.

The two NASCAR teams are suing NASCAR over an antitrust complaint and were granted a preliminary injunction Wednesday that will allow them to compete as chartered teams in 2025.

U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth D. Bell said in his ruling this week, which favored 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, that “NASCAR fans (and members of the public who may become fans) have an interest in watching all the teams compete with their best drivers and most competitive teams.”