Fernandez farewell continues in MiamiMIAMI — Somber Marlins players and personnel escorted a hearse carrying the body of star pitcher Jose Fernandez from the team’s ballpark, as the farewell for their beloved teammate marched on.As players and fans honored Fernandez’s memory, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio sought a safety probe into the rock jetty where a boat crash claimed the lives of the baseball star and two friends.Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, manager Don Mattingly, hitting coach Barry Bonds and the players including Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton wore white T-shirts emblazoned with Fernandez’s image and the letters “RIP” as they slowly walked the hearse away from Marlins Park in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood.

Cubs extend Epstein with 5-year dealCHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs announced a five-year contract extension with president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, rewarding him for an overhaul that has the long-suffering franchise eyeing its first championship since 1908.The extension comes with the Cubs wrapping up one of the greatest seasons in franchise history.

Rose appeals directly to HOFCOLUMBUS, Ohio — Pete Rose has appealed directly to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in an effort to restore his eligibility to be elected.In a seven-page letter to the Hall’s president, Rose’s longtime attorney Raymond Genco makes the case that the career hits leader’s ban from baseball for gambling in 1989 was not intended to make him ineligible for the Hall of Fame.