in the near future.Among the tips Clijsters could potential

HOUSTON -- The Astros have exercised catcher/designated hitter Evan Gattis $5.2 million option for 2017.Gattis gets a $2 million raise. Houston could have paid a $100,000 buyout, which would have made Gattis eligible for salary arbitration.Gattis hit .251 with a career-high and team-leading 32 homers with 72 RBI in his second season in Houston after spending the first two years of his career with the Atlanta Braves. He started 136 games as the teams designated hitter in 2015 before the Astros transitioned him into their backup catcher this season. He started 49 games at catcher in 2016 and appeared in 71 games as designated hitter.Also on Friday, the Astros traded reliever Pat Neshek to the Philadelphia Phillies for a player to be named. Neshek went 5-8 with a 3.36 ERA in 126 appearances over two seasons for Houston.Philadelphia exercised a $6.5 million on Neshek, which could have been bought out for $500,000. Jordan Crawford Jersey . R.J. 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The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. On the biggest tennis stage in the world, Angelique Kerber will go for her first US Open title on Saturday. Win or lose, the 28-year-old will be the new No. 1 player in the world on Monday.A world away at her parents house in Belarus, the woman who beat Kerber at the 2015 US Open will be watching. The 27-year-old Victoria Azarenka is a former No. 1 and a two-time US Open runner-up. She had won three titles this season and was 2-1 against Kerber.That was before she found out she was pregnant.It was interesting. Its tough to describe that, Azarenka said of learning that she and her boyfriend would be parents by the end of the year. I dont think you can ever prepare yourself for that. It was just great for me to have such a positive response from my friends and my family. That just made me very comfortable because obviously you feel scared no matter what. ...But at first, its not just me as a person, its me as a tennis player, as a businesswoman, so these [factors] were taken into consideration.Since stepping away from the Tour in July, Azarenka has made a routine out of not having a daily routine.Because one day she can feel drastically different than the next, she is changing up her workouts and only playing tennis occasionally. She was playing three times a week with a friend, but she toned that down at her doctors urging. I cant leave that competitiveness feeling out of me, she said.The last time we played it got a little too intense, so my doctor told me to relax. They said I need to slow down. Its just who I am to be like that, but I just need to do a better job at that now.The two-time Australian Open champion, who was ranked No. 6 when she stepped away, will begin taking classes at UCLA in a few weeks, working toward a degree in business. Calling it something she has wanted to do for some time, Azarenka has five years to complete the flexible program geared to those who are already in the working world.She even toyed with the idea of going to Flushing Meadows to watch the US Open in person, but decided to spend some time in Belarus with her American boyfriend instead.Were just doing a lot of regular daily activities, she said. Im still working out, but most of the time, its just quality time with my family and working on some ideas off-court and getting into some other things that I dont normally have time to.Despite the seven-hour time difference between Belarus and New York, Azarenka still has watched much of the US Open -- and shared her observations on Twitter.Calling it an educational experience, Azarenka iss relishing in the rare opportunity to be a spectator.dddddddddddd Knowing she will one day be back competing, and that she isnt missing out on an opportunity she wont have again, has allowed her to enjoy watching as a fan.Im obviously not as attached as I normally would be before, but I actually feel a lot more engaged, said Azarenka, who fell in love with Arthur Ashe Stadium in 2005 when she won the juniors title as a 16-year-old. When you just play for yourself, you mostly focus on yourself, and you really dont get to watch many other matches. I never even look at the draw. This is probably the first time Ive looked at the draw, both mens and womens, and tried to follow my friends and see whats happening.Ive also been listening to a lot of commentary and some shows. When you play, you really just want to block out all that noise. Its been interesting to see this different dynamic.Interesting, maybe, but one that she hopes doesnt last long. Azarenka plans to resume competitive training as soon as possible after the birth of her child and return to the Tour sometime next year.I hope Ill have enough time to be ready and feel good about playing in New York next year, she said.Returning after pregnancy certainly wont be easy, but its not unprecedented, either. Kim Clijsters came back to the sport in 2008, one year after the birth of her daughter. She went on to win two more US Open titles and one at the Australian Open. Azarenka hasnt had a chance to speak to the retired Belgian star, but hopes to in the near future.Among the tips Clijsters could potentially share is the answer to a relatively simple, yet crucial, question: Where are the daycare facilities at the tournaments located? Azarenka doesnt know now, but she knows shes going to have to find them and get used to the reality of being a working mom traveling all over the globe.Shes certain there will be help along the way.Serena texted me to say she cant wait to meet my baby, so maybe shell want to babysit once in a while, she said with a laugh.While it is impossible to pinpoint exactly when she will return, she does know one thing. She will definitely be back and with just as much as fire and dedication as ever before.The beauty of tennis is, theres always next year. And, for that matter, theres always next week. I dont want to rush anything, but I want to absolutely make sure that when I do come back, Im as determined as I was before. ' ' '