NFL

Saints hire Kellen Moore as head coach

I thought this hire was a done deal a while back, but the likes of Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport called it breaking news yesterday, so I guess we’ll go with that.

The Saints job is daunting. The franchise is in salary cap hell, there’s no franchise quarterback and there are questions about the competency of ownership and the front office. All of that adds to a dreadful combination, so Moore will have his hands full getting the organization back on track.

That job isn’t all on him, though. Moore’s proven to be an excellent offensive mind, and his main task — not an easy one — will be to get New Orleans’ offense humming. Considering the state of the franchise, the head coach should be afforded time to do so, but owners tend to be impatient. We’ll see if that’s the case with Gayle Benson. Either way, the Saints are in an undesirable position, and the hiring of Moore offers zero certainty that the team races out of it any time soon.

Grade: B

MLB

Angels sign RP Kenley Jansen to one-year, $10 million contract

It’s probably going too far to suggest the Angels as a stealth contender in the AL West, but Los Angeles has bettered itself this winter. Jansen providing ninth-inning stability is yet another addition to improve the club, as the 37-year-old is still one of the better closers in the sport. Don’t expect the same Jansen from his 2012-17 peak with the Dodgers. That version of one of the best relievers of all time is long gone, but the right-hander repeating his 2024 success is in play. Jansen finished last season with a 3.29 ERA and 27 saves.

Grade: B+

Reds sign RP Scott Barlow to one-year, $2.5 million contract

Unless the 2021-22 version of Barlow returns, the Reds might be setting money on fire here. Last season, Barlow’s only year with the Guardians, he posted a 4.25 ERA over 63 appearances. That’s certainly good enough for a spot in Cincinnati’s bullpen, but not for $2.5 million.

Grade: C-