NASCAR went before a federal judge Wednesday and asked for the antitrust suit filed against the stock car series to be dismissed. Should it proceed, NASCAR asked that the two teams suing be ordered to post a bond to cover fees they would not be legally owed if they lose the case.

NASCAR also asked U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell of the Western District of North Carolina to dismiss chairman Jim France as a defendant in the suit filed by 23XI Racing, a team co-owned by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, and Front Row Motorsports, which is owned by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins.

Bell promised a fast ruling but indicated he was unlikely to dismiss the suit when he closed the 90-minute hearing by saying “this case is going to be tried this year, and deserves to be tried this year.” The calendar he set when he received the case last month calls for a December trial.

Bell replaced Judge Frank Whitney after Whitney heard the first round of arguments in early November. The teams went before Whitney and asked to be recognized as chartered teams this year as the suit progresses. Whitney denied the motion.

Baseball

A’s, Rooker finalize $60M, 5-year contract >> Brent Rooker and the Athletics finalized a $60 million, five-year contract for the designated hitter and outfielder.

The deal includes a $22 million vesting option for the 2030 season and escalators that could increase the value to $92 million over six seasons.

Rooker was set to swap proposed arbitration salaries with the A’s on Thursday. He also would have been eligible for arbitration after the 2025 and 2026 seasons, and could have become a free agent following the 2027 World Series.

The new deal keeps Rooker signed through 2029, when the team is planning to be in Las Vegas. The A’s left Oakland after last season and are set to play the next three seasons in a minor league park in West Sacramento, California. The club says its new stadium in Las Vegas is expected to be ready in 2028.

Marlins Garrett to miss entire 2025 season >> Marlins left-hander Braxton Garrett will miss the 2025 season after undergoing revision surgery with an internal brace on the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow, the team said.

The 27-year-old made just seven starts in 2024 after being limited by arm injuries. He went 2-2 with a 5.35 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 37 innings.

He began last season on the injured list with a left shoulder impingement and didn’t make his debut until May 12. He went down again in June with a left forearm flexor strain, which ultimately ended his season after he experienced a setback after several rehab starts.

Former Orioles LHP dies at 39 >> Brian Matusz, the left-handed pitcher who spent eight seasons in the major leagues, mostly with the Baltimore Orioles as they returned to prominence a decade ago, has died. He was 37.

The Orioles and the University of San Diego announced Matusz’s death with USD saying it received word from Matusz’s family. They did not announce a cause of death.

The Orioles drafted Matusz with the fourth overall pick in 2008 out of San Diego.