JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Arriving for the first time at the St. Louis Cardinals’ spring training clubhouse, Scott Linebrink plopped down an Atlanta Braves equipment bag in front of his locker stall. It was a vivid reminder of the front row seat the relief pitcher had during the collapse that helped the Cardinals make their improbable World Series title drive last fall. The Braves were 9-18 in September, and the 35-year-old right-hander took the loss in a 13-inning setback to the Phillies on the final day that gave St. Louis the NL wild card. Linebrink’s description of the downward spiral: A three-week car wreck that slid past in slow motion. The Cardinals signed Linebrink to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that the Kansas City Chiefs and cornerback Stanford Routt have agreed to terms on a $19.6 million, three-year deal. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity Monday because the team had not announced the deal, said the agreement includes a $4 million signing bonus and $6 million the first season. Routt is still owed $5 million next month from the Raiders, who released him after the first year of a $54.4 million, five-year deal. Routt chose the Chiefs over competing offers from Buffalo, Cincinnati, Houston, New Orleans, Minnesota and Tennessee. Routt will likely take over for Brandon Carr, who will become a free agent. Signing Routt means the Chiefs are more likely to use the franchise tag on wide receiver Dwayne Bowe instead of Carr.