[naviga:h3]Rockies tap Black as new manager[/naviga:h3]

DENVER — Bud Black has been hired as manager of the Colorado Rockies, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move had not yet been announced.

Black takes over for Walt Weiss, who stepped down last month when his contract expired after four years in charge of the Rockies.

The 59-year-old Black managed the San Diego Padres for nearly nine seasons before he was fired in June 2015. He compiled a 649-713 record and was voted NL Manager of the Year in 2010 after the Padres went 90-72, their most wins since a franchise-record 98 in 1998.

Washington nearly hired Black last year before contract talks broke down and the Nationals gave the job to Dusty Baker.

[naviga:h3]Cespedes opting for free agency[/naviga:h3]

NEW YORK — Yoenis Cespedes opted out of the remaining two years of his contract with the New York Mets to become a free agent again.

Acquired by the Mets from Detroit at the July 31 trade deadline in 2015, Cespedes had 17 home runs and 44 RBIs in 57 games with the Mets down the stretch, helping them reach the World Series for the first time since 2000.

After finding a slow market in a free-agent class that also included Jason Heyward, Alex Gordon and Justin Upton, Cespedes made a surprise return to the Mets when New York agreed in January to a $75 million, three-year contract that allowed him to opt out after one season and $27.5 million.

Cespedes had 31 homers and 86 RBIs in 132 games, slowed after injuring his right quadriceps on July 8. He hit one home run after Sept. 11.

The 31-year-old slugger gives up $47.5 million — $23.75 million in each of the next two years.

[naviga:h3]Harvard men’s soccer issues apology[/naviga:h3]

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Harvard men’s soccer team has apologized for sexual comments made about members of the women’s soccer team that led the Ivy League school to suspend the men’s team for the rest of the season.

The apology was posted Friday on the website of The Harvard Crimson student newspaper. Team members said their behavior was inexcusable and no woman deserves to be treated in that manner.