Page 22 - ARUBATODAY

A22 SPORTS
Thursday 23 January 2020

In this Oct. 6, 2019, file photo, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Larry Fitzgerald attends a news conference after winning an NFL
football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, in Cincinnati.
Associated Press

Cardinals WR

Fitzgerald purchases

minority stake in Suns This is a 2019 photo showing Luis Rojas of the New York Mets baseball team. Associated Press

Cardinals wide receiver "has been a great ambas- Mets pick Luis Rojas to replace
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Wednesday that Fitzgerald

Larry Fitzgerald has pur- sador for our organization
chased a minority stake in for years" and "brings a Carlos Beltrán as manager
the NBA's Phoenix Suns. unique perspective from
Fitzgerald just finished his outside basketball but still
16th season with the Cardi- grounded in sport, and we By MIKE FITZPATRICK two seasons of his career preparation for spring train-
nals and is among the most welcome him as a valued NEW YORK (AP) — Caught with the Mets from 2007-08. ing, in preparation for the
productive receivers in NFL partner and investor." off guard in a quick split A minor league manager season — he was already
history. He recently signed Fitzgerald, an 11-time Pro with Carlos Beltrán, the for eight years, Rojas has asserting himself more in
a one-year deal to return Bowler, said he "has a spe- New York Mets want some worked in the organization a leadership role with this
for 2020. cial place in my heart for continuity for a change. since 2007 but had never new coaching staff and
The 36-year-old Fitzgerald is the Phoenix Suns and Mer- So with spring training only coached in the majors be- helping Carlos learn some
often at Suns games, sitting cury, and I have a great three weeks away, they fore joining Mickey Calla- of the managerial things
courtside with managing deal of respect for Robert." picked his replacement way's staff last season. that he hadn't been ex-
partner Robert Sarver. Terms of the purchase were from their very own bench. "Luis earned this job. He has posed to before."
The club was working literally trained his whole That played "a significant
Sarver said in a statement not disclosed.q
Wednesday to complete a life to be a manager," Van role" in the Mets choosing
multiyear agreement with Wagenen said. "He is con- Rojas, according to Van
Lynx star Maya quality control coach Luis sidered one of the better Wagenen. The team de-
Rojas that would make him in-game decision makers cided against external op-
Moore opts to stay on New York's fourth manager simply that we have in the tions such as ESPN analyst
in the past 2 1/2 years — organization."
Eduardo Pérez, who inter-
hiatus from WNBA in '20 and third in four months. Rojas' duties in the dugout viewed for the job last fall.
"He has a good finger on as quality control coach "I think it's the fit, it's where
the pulse of this particular included serving as "a con- the team is, it's what culture
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Min- nouncing she would step team. He was part of it last duit between the front of- we're trying to create," Van
nesota Lynx star Maya away. Head coach and year," general manager fice and coaching staff on Wagenen said, pointing
Moore will sit out a second general manager Cheryl Brodie Van Wagenen said. all issues including game out that most of New York's
straight WNBA season to Reeve said Wednesday in "He knows these guys, and preparation, strategy and homegrown talent played
continue her push for crimi- a statement issued by the he knows how to communi- analytics," according to for Rojas in the minors. "He's
nal justice reform. club that the Lynx have cate to them. Every return- the team's media guide. respected by the players,
Moore told The New York "been in frequent contact" ing player on the roster has He was New York's outfield he's trusted by the players
Times in a story published with Moore over the last a relationship with him, and coach in 2019 and led the and he's someone that we
Wednesday of her choice year and praised her "fully that's valuable to us at this effort in preparing hitters have great confidence in."
to stay off the court for engaged" effort in criminal time." for opposing pitchers, Van Beltrán's tenure lasted just
2020. She said in her inter- justice reform and minis- Rojas would take over for Wagenen said. 2½ months and ended
view with the newspaper try. Reeve did not address Beltrán, let go by the Mets Callaway was fired after after Commissioner Rob
that she's not ready to re- Moore's playing status. last week before manag- the season, and Rojas in- Manfred singled him out
tire. Moore's agent con- "We are proud of the ways ing a single game as part terviewed for the vacancy last week in a report on a
firmed her decision to The that Maya is advocating of the fallout from the Hous- before New York hired Bel- cheating scheme used
Associated Press. for justice and using her ton Astros' sign-stealing trán on Nov. 1. Van Wa- by the Astros during their
The 30-year-old, who won platform to impact social scandal. genen said Rojas knew he World Series championship
the WNBA Most Valuable change," Reeve said. The 38-year-old Rojas is the was "a serious candidate" season in 2017, when Bel-
Player award in 2014 and Moore has also helped the son of former Montreal Ex- back in October. trán played for them.
was a five-time first team U.S. women's team win two pos and San Francisco Gi- "It's always helpful to have No players were disciplined
All-WNBA selection, also Olympic gold medals, but ants manager Felipe Alou familiarity," Van Wagenen by Major League Baseball,
cited fatigue when she first her decision puts her sta- and the brother of ex-big said. "The fact that he was but three days later the
surprised the basketball tus for the 2020 Summer league outfielder Moises so actively involved with Mets announced Beltrán
world last winter by an- Games in Tokyo in doubt.q Alou, who spent the last the coaches this fall in was out as manager.q