Midnight Man

The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a contract with Cuban pitcher Yoan Lopez that includes an $8.27 million signing bonus, according to multiple reports. A hard-throwing 21-year-old right-hander, Lopez is expected to begin his Diamondbacks career in the minor leagues. It has been reported that the $8.27 million bonus is the largest for a young player who resides outside the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico and subject to a team's international signing pool under baseball's collective bargaining agreement. Lopez counts toward a club's signing pool because he is younger than 23 and has played professionally less than five years in a Cuban professional league. Because Arizona would exceed its pool of $2,316,600 by 15 percent or more for the one-year period ending July 1, the Diamondbacks would incur a 100 percent tax on the overage and be barred for the next two signing periods from adding an international player subject to the pool with a bonus over $300,000. The Yankees, Boston, Tampa Bay and Angels have already have gone over their pools by 15 percent or more. The Angels and 20-year-old Cuban infielder Roberto Baldoquin finalized an agreement Jan. 6 for an $8 million signing bonus. Arizona agreed in December to a $68.5 million, six-year contact with 24-year-old Cuban outfielder Yasmany Tomas. Get Your Very Own MLB Team Specific Playing Cards: just click here

Infielder Yunel Escobar is heading to the Nationals and All-Star reliever Tyler Clippard is going to the Athletics, thanks to the ninth deal between those clubs in a little more than four years. The swap gives Washington a player who could solve its search for a starting second baseman. Escobar could play shortstop for the Nationals if they wind up trading away, or fail to agree to a new contract with Ian Desmond, who can become a free agent after next season. The A's just picked up Escobar from Tampa Bay, along with Ben Zobrist, in a trade that sent catcher John Jaso and two minor leaguers to the Rays. Clippard took to Twitter in the wake of the deal being announced. Get Your Very Own MLB Team Specific Playing Cards: just click here

The Oakland Raiders have never hired Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio as their next head coach. Del Rio interviewed with owner Mark Davis, general manager Reggie McKenzie and former Raiders coach John Madden, the Hall of Famer who has been a proponent of Del Rio. The other finalist for the job was Tony Sparano, who was the interim coach for the final 12 games of the season. The Raiders also interviewed former Jets and Browns coach Eric Mangini, Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and former Broncos and Redskins coach Mike Shanahan, who was fired as Raiders coach by the late Al Davis four games into the 1989 season after the team started 1-3. Get Your Very Own 2014 NFL Trading Card Set: just click here

Jim Tomsula, who has been the Niners' defensive line coach since 2007, was promoted to succeed Jim Harbaugh, who was the interim head coach at the end of 2010 after Mike Singletary was fired, led the team to a win in its final game of the season. "After conducting a thorough coaching search, and meeting with a number of outstanding candidates, Jim Tomsula clearly is the right man to lead this team," CEO Jed York said in a statement. "Jim is a great teacher and a tremendous mentor who conducts himself with great class and integrity." "Our organization is excited to have Jim Tomsula leading this football team," general manager Trent Baalke said. "We have had the privilege of working alongside Jim for the past eight seasons. He is a proven leader, teacher and mentor, and we look forward to seeing him apply his craft and vision to our team." In tabbing a popular locker room figure in Tomsula, though, the Niners figure to lose defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who interviewed for the job on Dec. 30. The Niners' defense was its strength in an up-and-down 8-8 season last year, ranking fifth in the league in total defense. Get Your Very Own 2014 NFL Trading Card Set: just click here

BRUINS over RANGERS 3 to 0 WILD over SABRES 7 to 0 CANUCKS over FLYERS 4 to 0 SENATORS over CANADIENS 4 to 1 LIGHTNING over OILERS 3 to 2 AVALANCHE over PANTHERS 4 to 2 RED WINGS over BLUES 3 to 2 JETS over STARS 2 to 1 FLAMES over COYOTES 4 to 1 SHARKS over MAPLE LEAFS 3 to 1 Get Your Very own 2013/2014 NHL Trading Cards Hobby Box: just click here

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BRUINS over LIGHTNING 4 to 3 RED WINGS over SABRES 3 to 1 ISLANDERS over RANGERS 3 to 0 PENGUINS over WILD 7 to 2 HURRICANES over AVALANCHE 3 to 2 JETS over PANTHERS 8 to 2 BLUES over OILERS 4 to 2 PREDATORS over CANUCKS 5 to 1 STARS over SENATORS 5 to 4 SHARKS over COYOTES 3 to 2 Get Your Very own 2013/2014 NHL Trading Cards Hobby Box: just click here

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HORNETS over KNICKS 110 to 82 CLIPPERS over MAVERICKS 120 to 100 PISTONS over NETS 98 to 93 76ERS over PACERS 93 to 92 RAPTORS over CELTICS 109 to 96 BULLS over BUCKS 95 to 87 ROCKETS over JAZZ 97 to 82 SPURS over TIMBERWOLVES 108 to 93 TRAIL BLAZERS over MAGIC 103 to 92 Get Your Very Own NBA Hall Of Fame Superstar Card Collection: just click here

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Phylicia Rashad is breaking her silence on the sexual abuse allegations against her longtime co-star Bill Cosby. The 66-year-old Tony-winning actress, who co-starred with Cosby for 10 seasons as Clair Huxtable on NBC's The Cosby Show, defended the embattled comedian. After first prefacing her comments by saying she didn't "want to become part of the public debate," she went on to say that she had never seen any behavior by Cosby to suggest there is any truth to the decades-old abuse allegations that have resurfaced in recent months. "Forget these women," Rashad said of the many women who have made claims in the media. "What you’re seeing is the destruction of a legacy. And I think it’s orchestrated. I don’t know why or who's doing it, but it's the legacy. And it's a legacy that is so important to the culture. Someone is determined to keep Bill Cosby off TV," Rashad continued, referring to people other than the accusers. "And it’s worked. All his contracts have been canceled." She lamented that the legacy of the Cosby Show, a family-friendly comedy once beloved by millions of viewers, is now "being destroyed." When asked why Cosby has chosen to largely remain silent in light of the claims, relying instead on his legal team to deny them, his longtime TV wife said: "If he spoke now, what do you think the media would do with it?" "Unfortunately, in the court of public opinion everyone has formed their opinion, but we're still in America and you're innocent until proven guilty of any crimes," Pulliam said. She declined to say more about the claims but praised the comedian for his philanthropic work. Get Your Very Own Copy Of The Cosby Show, Season 1 & 2: just click here