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SPORTS Tuesday 12 March 2019
AL Cy Young winner Snell receives small raise for 2019

By FRED GOODALL decision Sunday, adher- erage with runners in scor-
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) ing to a rigid club policy for ing position last season.
— The budget-minded compensating young play- “The Rays have the right un-
Tampa Bay Rays have re- ers not yet eligible for arbi- der the collective-bargain-
newed the contract of tration. Snell, who led the ing agreement to renew
pitcher Blake Snell, who’s AL in victories after winning me at or near the league-
receiving a raise of only just 11 games combined minimum salary,” Snell said.
$15,500 after winning the over the previous two sea- “They also have the ability
AL Cy Young award last sons, has accrued 2 years, to more adequately com-
season. 72 days years of service pensate me, as other orga-
The 26-year-old left-hand- — this year’s cutoff was 2 nizations have done with
er, who’s not yet eligible for years, 134 days. players who have similar
salary arbitration, will earn The pitcher’s agents, Adam achievements to mine. The
$573,700 this year after Karon and Tripper Johnson Rays chose the former,” he
making $558,200 in 2018, of Sosnick, Cobbe & Karon, said. “I will have no further
when he was a first-time All- issued a statement on be- comment and look for-
Star and went 21-5 with an half of Snell, who allowed ward to competing with Tampa Bay Rays' Blake Snell pitches to the Philadelphia Phil-
AL-leading 1.89 ERA over two or fewer runs in 27 of my teammates and field lies during the second inning of a spring training baseball game
31 starts. 31 starts and limited oppo- staff in our quest to win the Monday, March 11, 2019, in Clearwater, Fla.
The Rays announced the nents to an .088 batting av- World Series in 2019.”q Associated Press

ZIDANE left and is five points be- Cristiano Ronaldo left to Manchester United last
Continued from Page 17 hind second-place Atletico join Juventus, and Madrid year, was another strong
I'm motivated to be coach- Madrid. has endured an up-and- candidate to replace So-
ing again," Zidane said. "I've been watching the down season that led to lari after succeeding with
"What I want to do now is season closely and I'm also the humiliating losses to Madrid in the early 2010s.
return to work and put the not happy with how things Barcelona and Ajax at the Other names mentioned
club back where it be- have gone," Zidane said. Bernabeu. included Juergen Klopp,
longs." "We have to see what we Zidane was replaced by Mauricio Pochettino,
Spanish television channel can (do) to improve and Julen Lopetegui, the former Joachim Loew and Anto-
La Sexta was the first to re- make sure things can be Spain coach who was fired nio Conte, who was highly
port Zidane's return. The an- different going forward." before the World Cup for touted to take over from
nouncement came after Solari led the team to a 4-1 taking the Madrid job. He the fired Lopetegui.
the board of directors met win at Valladolid on Sun- lasted only a few months at Some even wanted the
Monday in Madrid. day and was in charge of the helm. club to consider former star
"You have an incredible his- practice on Monday. The Solari took over from Lop- Raul Gonzalez, who has just
tory with the club, both as club said it offered him an etegui as an interim coach started coaching one of
a player and as a coach," opportunity to remain in a and eventually was given Madrid's youth squads.
Madrid president Florentino different position. The for- a full-time job — with a But it will be the great Zi-
Perez told Zidane. "We are mer Argentina and Madrid contract until 2021 — af- dane at the helm again.
proud to have you with us player had been the "B'' ter putting the team back "We'll get back to work and
again. You represent the team's coach before tak- on track. Unlike Zidane, try to do the right things,"
grandiosity of this club. ing over the main squad in though, he struggled to Zidane said. "We have 11
Thank you for your loyalty." October. manage the squad and matches left in the league,
Zidane, who won the 2002 Solari led Madrid to 22 wins, was at odds with some of its then we will start think-
Champions League while eight losses and two draws key players, including Mar- ing about next year and
playing for Madrid, said in all competitions, and celo and Francisco "Isco" beyond."q
he was never in doubt af- helped the team win the Alarcon.
ter receiving the offer from Club World Cup in Decem- Jose Mourinho, fired by
Perez. ber.
"I love this club, and when Zidane's name was a unan-
the president called me, imous choice within the
I couldn't say no," Zidane club but few thought he
said. "I'll give everything I would accept returning so
have to make this club bet- soon after deciding to take
ter." a break.
Zidane quit not long after The level-headed coach
Madrid won the Champi- took over in January 2016
ons League title last season, and immediately won over
saying that he and the club the squad with his calm
needed a change in com- manner and easygoing
mand to keep succeeding. attitude. In addition to the
He won nine titles in his first three Champions League
stint with Madrid. titles, he also led Madrid
Zidane will be in charge of to the 2017 Spanish league
Tuesday's practice session, title, the club's first since
and his first game back will 2012. His other titles in his
be on Saturday at the San- first coaching stint included
tiago Bernabeu Stadium two Club World Cups, two
against Celta Vigo. Madrid UEFA Super Cups and one
trails leader Barcelona by Spanish Super Cup.
12 points with 11 matches Shortly after Zidane left,