Jan 16, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; President Barack Obama holds a gift jersey while posing with members of the Chicago Cubs at a ceremony honoring the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs in the East Room at the White House. Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
President Barack Obama, wrapping up his last week in office, celebrated with the World Series champion Chicago Cubs at the White House on Monday.
The president, who has a home in Chicago, is a diehard Chicago White Sox fan but rooted for the Cubs after the Sox failed to reach the postseason.
The Cubs won their first World Series title since 1908 by defeating the Cleveland Indians in November.
Cubs players filed into the White House East Room on Martin Luther King Day for Obama’s final ceremony for a championship sports team. He leaves office Friday when Donald Trump is sworn in.
As Obama walked into the East Room, the boisterous audience chanted, “Let’s Go, Cubbies!”
–The Kansas City Royals agreed to a five-year, $65 million contract with left-hander Danny Duffy on Monday.
The 28-year-old Duffy will remain with the team that chose him in the third round of the 2007 draft.
Duffy could have become a free agent after the 2017 season, his final year of arbitration. He will make $5 million this season, $14 million in 2018, $15.25 million in 2019 and 2020, and $15.5 million in 2021, according to multiple reports.
Duffy started the 2016 season in the bullpen before transitioning to the starting rotation. He set career highs in wins (12), starts (26), innings pitched (179 2/3) and strikeouts (188), while also leading Royals starters in ERA (3.51).
–The Philadelphia Phillies agreed to a one-year, $9 million contract with outfielder Michael Saunders, multiple media outlets reported Monday.
The deal includes a club option worth $11 million that can jump to $14 million with escalators, or a $1 million buyout.
Saunders made the American League All-Star team with the Toronto Blue Jays and hit .253 with 24 home runs and 32 doubles in 2016. The 30-year-old logged a career-high 140 games played last season after totaling 87 in the previous two campaigns combined.
