NFL

Ravens sign DT Travis Jones to three-year, $40.5 million contract extension

Due to a pending grievance, there was uncertainty whether Jones would be a free agent this offseason. This extension settles that, making it a moot point. The Ravens now have the defensive tackle under contract through 2028.

Jones — a blossoming nose tackle with additional pass-rushing juice — was a player Baltimore wanted to keep around. Just 26, the 2022 third-round pick has taken over as the team’s top option on the defensive interior. His 34 tackles and 1.5 sacks this season don’t jump off the page, but he’s becoming a force up the middle.

Grade: A-

MLB

Braves sign RP Robert Suarez to three-year, $45 million contract

The high-end reliever market is drying up fast. For several contenders, it might to be too late to strike via free agency. The best relief option remaining, Brad Keller, is drawing interest as a potential starter.

The finances of this deal aren’t surprising. Suarez’s is one of the game’s top back-end relievers, and will be compensated as such. The destination, however, is a bit of an eyebrow-raiser.

Atlanta recently inked Raisel Iglesias to a generous one-year pact, presumably to close games. In isolation, that’s a perfectly reasonable move, as Iglesias holds a track record of three-plus seasons saving games for the Braves. His role was secure and will continue to be so.

Or so we thought. Suarez is headed to Atlanta, adding another dynamite option to the back of the team’s bullpen. High-leverage relievers are all the rage these days, so having multiple obviously doesn’t hurt. It does create role uncertainty, though.

Walt Weiss is the new skipper in town, and he’ll have an early decision on his hands on how to divvy up the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. No pressure.

Suarez recorded a 2.97 ERA and 40 saves last season with the Padres.

Grade: B+

Athletics sign RP Mark Leiter Jr. to one-year, $3 million contract

Teams continue to chase Leiter’s gaudy peripherals. The right-hander has just a 4.60 career ERA, but the underlying metrics paint the picture of a quality setup man. That player hasn’t surfaced over an extended stretch yet, however.

Maybe it’ll happen with the Athletics. Leiter will be pitching in less of a pressure cooker than he did with the Phillies, Cubs and Yankees, so perhaps the best version of him will be revealed. If not, he’s still a solid middle-relief option.

Grade: B+