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CLEVELAND — Terry Francona could have used his old scooter to get around the renovated service area beneath Progressive Field.

Instead, Francona made do with walking and joked about the changes that have occurred at the ballpark he called home for 11 seasons.

Francona returned to Cleveland for the first time since being named Cincinnati’s manager as the Reds opened a three-game series against the Guardians on Monday.

“I got lost about three times. That’s the longest (clubhouse) hallway I’ve ever seen,” Francona said. “I don’t think I’ve seen the whole thing yet just because I don’t feel like icing down my knees. But from what I’ve seen in the ballpark, it looks good.”

Francona remained unbeaten against his former team Monday after the Reds posted a 7-4 victory. The Reds swept a three-game series at Cincinnati last month.

Before the game, the Guardians welcomed Francona back with a 1-minute video and tribute on the scoreboard.

“That was really touching. I wish it had been more like about Millsie [bench coach Brad Mills] and stuff like that, because that is meaningful to me,” Francona said. “I was kind of uncomfortable, but it was very touching.

“I tried to stay away from over there [the Guardians’ clubhouse] because I have too much respect for Vogter [manager Stephen Vogt]. Like [pitching coach] Carl Willis and [first-base coach] Sandy [Alomar] I mean, they’re like my brothers, but I’m not going to run over there. I wouldn’t do that to them. They know how I feel about them.”

The 66-year-old manager — who used to ride a scooter from his downtown apartment to the ballpark — isn’t the only visitor who has joked about the long tunnel from the clubhouse to the dugout on the first-base side. Both clubhouses were renovated during the offseason, more than tripling their size.

Francona was at the helm in Cleveland for 11 seasons and is the franchise’s leader in wins (921) and games managed (1,678). Cleveland made the playoffs six times under Francona and lost the 2016 World Series to the Chicago Cubs in seven games, falling just short of the franchise’s first title since 1948.

He was a senior advisor for the Guardians last year, but only made a couple of trips to Cleveland. He didn’t want to get in the way of Vogt and his coaching staff.

“There were a couple times during spring, two hours away I wanted to come up, but I didn’t think it was right,” Francona said. “I just thought for the new staff here, they needed to be able to do things. They don’t need me telling ’em how to do it or acting like I’m going to tell ’em how to do it.

“During the season I watched a lot of baseball, probably more than I have in a long, long time. I’d turn on games that were in the eighth inning tied and I’d watch the end of it and flip to another game and really enjoyed it.”

While Francona was happy to be back in Cleveland, his focus was on trying to help the Reds (34-33) extend their winning streak to four games and get over .500 for the first time since May 19.

“I had a really good time and people were so nice to me. But I’m here now and I love being here,” he said. “I just really wanted us to win. That doesn’t take away from how I feel about a lot of people over there.”

Francona was among several Reds staffers making their return. Mills and hitting coach Chris Valaika were on Francona’s Cleveland staff, while first-base coach Collin Cowgill and major league coach Mike Napoli played for the franchise.

Reds left fielder Will Benson, who hit four home runs during the sweep of the Guardians, was Cleveland’s first-round pick in 2016.

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Canucks, Boeser agree on new seven-year deal

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Canucks, Boeser agree on new seven-year deal

The Vancouver Canucks have come to terms with forward Brock Boeser on a new seven-year contract, carrying a $7.25 million AAV.

Canucks GM Patrik Allvin announced the deal on Tuesday during the first hour of NHL free agency. Boeser, 28, was an unrestricted free agent on a previously expiring contract.

Drafted by Vancouver 23rd overall in the 2015 NHL draft, Boeser has collected 204 goals and 434 points in 554 games with the Canucks to date. A top-six scoring threat, Boeser has elite playmaking skills and the potential to produce big numbers offensively. He had his best year offensively in 2023-24, producing 40 goals and 73 points in 81 games.

Boeser didn’t hit those marks again last season — settling for 25 goals and 50 points in 75 games — but was still second amongst teammates in output. He also plays a prominent role on Vancouver’s power play and when he can generate opportunities at 5-on-5, he is a true difference-maker up front for the Canucks.

The extension is a happy ending for Vancouver and Boeser. When the regular season ended, Boeser admitted “it’s tough to say” whether he’d be back with the Canucks. Boeser reportedly turned down a previous five-year extension offer with the club and Allvin subsequently looked into deals for him at the March trade deadline, with no takers. Boeser looked — and sounded — poised to explore his options on the open market.

Ultimately, Boeser decided to stay put by committing the best years of his career to the Canucks.

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Jake Allen agrees to 5-year deal with the Devils

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Jake Allen agrees to 5-year deal with the Devils

Jake Allen, one of the top goaltenders available entering free agency, is not heading to the market after agreeing to a five-year deal with the New Jersey Devils, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.

Allen’s average annual value on the deal is $1.8 million, sources told ESPN. That AAV allows the Devils to run back the same goaltending tandem for next season.

Jacob Markstrom has one year remaining on his contract for $4.125 million. Nico Daws is also under contract for next season, before becoming a restricted free agent next summer.

Several teams were interested in the 34-year-old veteran, whom sources said could have made more money on the open market. However, the deal with the Devils gives Allen long-term security. Allen has played for the Blues, Canadiens and Devils over his 12-year-career. He has started in 436 career games.

Last season, Allen started 29 games for the Devils, going 13-16-1 with a .906 save percentage, 2.66 GAA and four shutouts.

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Capitals sign Fehervary to 7-year, $42M extension

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Capitals sign Fehervary to 7-year, M extension

Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary signed a seven-year extension through the 2032-33 season that is worth $6 million annually, the team announced Tuesday.

Fehervary, who had one year of team control remaining, will enter the final season of a three-year bridge deal that will see him make $2.675 million before his new contract begins at the start of the 2026-27 season.

He finished the season with five goals and a career-high 25 points while logging 19 minutes. Fehervary also played a crucial role in the Capitals’ penalty kill by finishing with 245 short-handed minutes for a penalty kill that was fifth in the NHL with an 82% success rate.

Securing the 25-year-old Fehervary to a long-term deal means the Capitals now have seven players who have more than three years remaining on their current contracts.

It also means the Capitals front office has one less decision to make ahead of what is expected to be an active offseason in 2026 that will see the club have what PuckPedia projects to be $39.25 million in cap space.

That’s also the same offseason in which captain and NHL all-time leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin‘s contract will come off their books along with that of defenseman John Carlson.

But until then, the Capitals have their entire top-six defensive unit under contract as they seek to improve upon a 2024-25 season that saw them finish atop the Metropolitan Division with 111 points before they lost in the Eastern Conference semifinal to the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.

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