SPORTS DIGEST || OSU’s Elliott to visit Eastwood Mall

OSU’s Elliott to visit Eastwood Mall

NILES

Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, who helped the Buckeyes win a national championship last season, is scheduled to appear from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Everything Buckeyes store at the Eastwood Mall.

Elliott was the MVP of the title game against Oregon and followed that up by rushing for 1,821 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2015. Elliott, who has declared for the NFL draft, finished his college career as the Buckeyes’ second-leading career rusher with 3,961 yards and 43 TDs.

Autograph prices are $69 and $79. Inscriptions are $15.

Correction: McDonald player misidentified

MCDONALD

McDonald High School boys basketball player Joey Ragazzine was misidentified in a box score published in Wednesday’s Vindicator sports section.

OF Davis guaranteed $5.25 million by Tribe

CLEVELAND

Rajai Davis is guaranteed $5.25 million as part of his contract with the Cleveland Indians and can earn an additional $1,225,000 in performance bonuses.

As part of the deal announced Dec. 17, Davis can made $175,000 apiece for 400 plate appearances and each additional 25 through 550.

The 35-year-old spent the past two seasons with Detroit. He hit .258 with 11 triples, eight homers and 30 RBIs in 112 games last season, playing 46 games in center field, 39 in left and 10 games in right. Davis had 18 steals, including three against the Indians on April 25.

Feliz agrees to 1-year deal with Pirates

PITTSBURGH

Former AL Rookie of the Year Neftali Feliz and the Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to a $3.9 million, one-year contract.

The 27-year-old right-hander, who became a free agent last month when Detroit failed to offer a 2016 contract, is 15-12 with a 3.17 ERA and 97 saves in 246 big league appearances.

He was 1-2 with a 4.58 ERA in 18 appearances for the Rangers last year, became a free agent in July after he was designated for assignment, then signed Detroit last July and went 2-2 with a career-worst 7.62 ERA in 28 1/3 innings.

Feliz was the Rookie of the Year with Texas in 2010, when he was an AL All-Star and had 40 saves. He had Tommy John surgery is 2012.

Blue Jackets trade Johansen to Predators

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

The Nashville Predators traded defenseman Seth Jones to the Columbus Blue Jackets for center Ryan Johansen on Wednesday, giving up a young piece of their defense in search of some more offense.

Johansen, 23, played in every game for Columbus the past two seasons, and the 6-foot-3, 218-pound center from Vancouver, British Columbia, had six goals and 20 assists in 38 games this season. He has 79 goals and 114 assists in 309 career games and was the fourth overall pick in the 2010 draft.

Jones, 21, was the fourth overall pick in the 2013 draft, and the right-handed 6-foot-3 defenseman has played 40 games for Nashville this season with one goal and 10 assists.

Buccaneers fire Smith after just two seasons

TAMPA, Fla.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired coach Lovie Smith on Wednesday night.

Smith went 6-10 this season and 8-24 over two years in charge of the team. The announcement came as a surprise to many because Smith’s job was not considered to be in danger.

A statement from Buccaneers Co-Chairman Joel Glazer said, “This decision was difficult on a variety of levels. I am disappointed that we were not more successful these past few seasons, but we are committed to doing what is necessary to give our fans the winning team they deserve. ‘’

Smith led the Chicago Bears to the NFC title in 2006, when they lost to Indianapolis in the Super Bowl. He was 84-66 in nine seasons with Chicago.

From staff and wire reports