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SPORTS Tuesday 18 december 2018
Familia preferred to return to Mets, who also add OF Davis

NEW YORK (AP) — Jeurys ing to New York was a pref-
Familia would rather be erence because his wife's
a setup man for the New family lives in the area.
York Mets than a closer for He was 8-6 with 18 saves in
someone else. 24 chances and a 3.13 ERA
Familia had 123 saves for for the Mets and A's last
the Mets, who traded him season. He signed with the
to Oakland last July. He in- Mets at age 17 and had 43
structed agents Sam and saves in 2015 when New
Seth Levinson to pursue York reached the World
any possibility to return to Series. He led the majors
the Mets. with a franchise-record 51
"Honestly, that was my saves the following year
goal, be back with the and was an All-Star, again
Mets," Familia said during a helping New York reach
conference call Monday, the playoffs.
three days after his $30 mil- Familia served a 15-game
lion, three-year contract suspension at the start of
was finalized. 2017 for violating Major
New York recently ac- League Baseball's domes-
quired 2018 big league tic violence policy. Later
saves leader Edwin Diaz that year, he had a blood
from Seattle along with All- clot that required surgery
Star second baseman Rob- and finished 2-2 with a
inson Cano. Because of 4.38 ERA and six saves in 26
that, Familia will return in a games.
different role. Last season, he was 4-4 with
"I want to pitch whatever a 2.88 ERA and 17 saves in
innings they want to put me 21 chances with the Mets.
in the game," Familia said. Davis hit .224 with one
"He's one of the best reliev- In this May 18, 2018, file photo, New York Mets pitcher Jeurys Familia (27) delivers against the Ari- home run, six RBIs and 21
ers in the game, the best zona Diamondbacks during the ninth inning of a baseball game in New York. steals in 101 games and
closer. It's going to be fun." Associated Press 216 plate appearances
New York also announced for Cleveland. His two-run,
Monday that it had agreed year contract. He receives catcher. Familia gets a $2 They will defer the same eighth-inning homer off Ar-
to a minor league contract a $2 million signing bonus million signing bonus pay- amount of his 2021 pay, oldis Chapman tied Game
with 38-year-old outfielder payable next July 1, $6.25 able on equal installments payable on July 1, 2022. 7 of the 2016 World Series
Rajai Davis, who will report million in 2019 and $9.25 on July 1 and Dec. 10 next He gets a $500,000 perfor- for Cleveland against the
to major league spring million in 2020. The Mets year. He has salaries of $6 mance bonus in any sea- Chicago Cubs, a game the
training. The Mets also have a $10 million option million in 2019 and $11 mil- son he has 50 games fin- Indians lost in 10 innings.
called a news conference for 2021 with a $1.5 million lion in each of the final two ished. He would get a $1 Davis has a .262 career av-
for Tuesday to introduce buyout. Ramos would earn seasons. The Mets will defer million assignment bonus if erage with 61 homers, 379
catcher Wilson Ramos, who a $500,000 bonus in each $1 million of his 2020 salary, traded. A 29-year-old right- RBIs and 415 stolen bases in
finalized a $19 million, two- season he has 100 starts at payable on Jan. 15, 2022. hander, Familia said return- 13 major league seasons.q
AP COACH OF THE YEAR to be more involved with ting feedback from them,"
Continued from Page 17 all aspects of the team. Kelly said.
As he did in 2012, Kelly "I think I'm a better leader The Irish rebounded to
has guided the Fighting of our program," Kelly told 10-3 last season and en-
Irish to a 12-0 season and AP. "The organization has tered this season with simi-
a chance to compete for gotten so much bigger. The lar expectations. After a
the national champion- ability to create the right 3-0 start, Kelly made the
ship. Notre Dame played energy and day-to-day pivotal move of switching
Alabama in the BCS cham- culture is difficult. I think I've quarterback from senior
pionship game after the gotten a lot better a lead- Brandon Wimbush to junior
2012 season and lost 42-14. ing that large group on a Ian Book.
The third-ranked Irish will day-to-day basis." While the move might
face No. 2 Clemson in the Kelly is 81-34 in nine sea- have seemed bold at the
Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29 in sons at Notre Dame and time, it wasn't necessarily In this April 21, 2018, file photo, Notre Dame head coach Brian
their first College Football he credited his players for to Kelly. Kelly watches during the Notre Dame Blue-Gold Spring college
Playoff appearance. helping him improve as a "It felt like the right thing to football game in South Bend, Ind.
This undefeated season for coach. do," Kelly said. "You know Associated Press
Notre Dame seems very "Sitting them down and lis- where it felt risky was the
different than that one tening to them is similar to first quarter of Wake For- week and things don't go Stoops, UAB's Bill Clark and
and it comes just two sea- any good business or CEO est when we weren't mov- well it becomes an issue. Oklahoma's Lincoln Riley
sons after Notre Dame fin- sitting down and listen- ing the ball effectively. But Not only risky, but could each received three first-
ished 4-8. Kelly overhauled ing to his employees and at the time in making the become a huge problem." place votes. Clemson's
his staff and his approach getting feedback from decision I didn't feel risky. It The Irish offense took off. Dabo Swinney, Army's Jeff
after that debacle, bring- them as well. I think where felt like it was the right thing Matched with a solid de- Monken, Northwestern's
ing in new coordinators on I made some real strides to do based on the infor- fense, Notre Dame com- Pat Fitzgerald and Florida's
both sides of the ball. He was spending more time mation that I had. Clearly if pleted a perfect regular Dan Mullen each received
made a concerted effort with our players and get- you don't play well the next season. Kentucky's Mark one.q