Sports briefly: Major League Soccer details plans to expand to 28 teams

Before Minnesota United FC even plays its first game as an MLS expansion franchise, Major League Soccer is making plans to expand further.

Commissioner Don Garber announced plans Thursday for expansion to 28 teams, including a deadline for owners to apply and a new franchise fee.

The fee for the two teams expected to be granted next year is jumping to $150 million, up from $100 million paid by Minnesota United. Garber set a Jan. 31, 2017, deadline for interested potential owners or ownership groups to apply.

The league expanded to 22 teams with the addition of Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC, which will debut next season.

The Los Angeles Football Club will join the league in 2018 as the 23rd team. The league announced it is "making progress" on plans to add a team in Miami that would bring the league to 24.

Garber said two expansion teams, slated to start play by 2020, would be announced in late 2017.

Ten markets have expressed interest in an MLS team, including Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham in North Carolina, Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville, Sacramento, St. Louis, San Antonio, San Diego and Tampa/St. Petersburg.

The couple left the New Jersey courthouse without talking to reporters.

Familia, a first-time All-Star this year, faces a possible Major League Baseball suspension if he is found to have violated the sport's domestic violence policy.

The Colorado Rockies shored up their bullpen by agreeing to a $19 million, three-year contract with lefthanded reliever Mike Dunn. Dunn, 31, went 6-1 with a 3.40 ERA in 51 appearances for the Miami Marlins last season.

• Center fielder Odubel Herrera and the Philadelphia Phillies agreed to a $30.5 million, five-year contract that will keep the NL All-Star under the Phillies' control through 2023.

• Righthanded reliever Junichi Tazawa agreed to a $12 million, two-year contract with Miami, a person familiar with the deal said. Tazawa has a career ERA of 3.58 with Boston.

Doping: Russia's top cross-country skiing official said she is prepared to cancel upcoming World Cup races in the country amid the Russian doping scandal. The official, Elena Valbe, said she would "absolutely" allow the March 16-19 final round of the World Cup in Tyumen to be moved outside Russia if it would generate momentum to let Russia compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Broadcasting: The U.S. and International Olympic Committees agreed with NBC on a package that will offer year-round Olympic programming, focused on U.S. athletes, the parties announced. NBC will launch a U.S. television network branded "Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA" in the second half of 2017.

Horse racing: Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens will undergo hip replacement surgery before Christmas, which could put a premature end to his career. Stevens, 53, said in a statement he won't know for months whether he will be able to ride again.