EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is retiring after 16 seasons and two Super Bowl MVPs, sources tell ESPN.

Manning will hold a news conference on Friday to officially announce the news, the sources said.

Manning, 39, steps away holding almost every passing record in team history and a pair of Super Bowl rings. His victories over the New England Patriots during the 2007 and '11 seasons are the most iconic moments from a legendary career. They will have him in the conversation for the Hall of Fame in five years when eligible.

Former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant said he believes that there are three WNBA players who could play in the NBA right now.

"I think there are a couple of players who could play in the NBA right now, honestly," Bryant told CNN when asked whether there might be a day when his daughter could play in the same league in which he was a five-time champion and 18-time All-Star selection during his 20 seasons with the Lakers. "There's a lot of players with a lot of skill that could do it.

"Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Elena Delle Donne. There's a lot of great players out there, so they could certainly keep up with them."

Taurasi, a nine-time WNBA All-Star and the league's all-time leading scorer, has averaged 19.6 points during her 15 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, with whom she's won three championships.

Moore has won the league's MVP and four titles with the Minnesota Lynx while averaging 18.4 points in her eight seasons. She sat out last season to focus on her family and ministry pursuits and told The New York Times on Wednesday that she will not play in 2020 to push for the prison release of a Missouri man who she believes is innocent.

In seven WNBA seasons, Delle Donne has won two MVP awards and has averaged 20.3 points a game. She won a league title with the Washington Mystics last season.

Bryant is eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for the first time in 2020.

Major League Baseball will test a computerized camera system for balls and strikes during spring training games this year, a source told ESPN on Wednesday.

Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred indicated earlier Wednesday that MLB would use the system to call balls and strikes during spring training games, but the source later clarified to ESPN that the system would only be tested and that plate umpires would still call balls and strikes.

Manfred's comments Wednesday during an interview with Fox Business Network appeared to signal an expansion of MLB's implementation of "robot umpires." He said that the "camera-based system" will be "more accurate than a human being standing there."

"We believe over the long haul it's going to be more accurate," Manfred said. "It will reduce controversy in the game and be good for the game."

Manfred said baseball would start using the camera system for balls and strikes in "some of our minor league(s) this year," with the source telling ESPN that the system would be available for use during the Florida State League season.

MLB began experimenting with a computerized strike zone last year in the independent Atlantic League. Plate umpires, crouched in their normal position behind the catcher, wore earpieces connected to a phone that relayed ball or strike calls from a camera system.

Baseball also used the system in the Arizona Fall League last season.

Manfred cautioned Wednesday that referring to the system as robots "may be an overstatement" and emphasized that "from the fans' perspective, it looks exactly like it looks today."

"The current strike zone design is actually three-dimensional," Manfred said, "and a camera is better at calling a three-dimensional strike zone than the human eye."

The New York Mets are close to naming Luis Rojas their new manager.

Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen told reporters Wednesday that the team is finalizing a multiyear deal with Rojas.

"I think it's the fit. It's where the team is. I think it's the culture we're trying to create," Van Wagenen said.

Rojas, 38, would replace Carlos Beltran, who parted ways with the Mets on Thursday after he was named as a key participant in the 2017 Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal.

Rojas had interviewed for the job that went to Beltran when the Mets were looking to replace Mickey Callaway, who was fired after last season.

In December 2018, Rojas was named the Mets' quality control coach, a then-newly created role to be a conduit between the front office and the manager, consulting on "game preparation, strategy and analytics."

Last season was his 13th with the Mets organization, and he has managed at several minor league levels for the franchise.

"He has a good finger on the pulse of this team," Van Wagenen said.

His father is former major league player and manager Felipe Alou. Rojas' brother, six-time All-Star Moises Alou, played his final two major league seasons for the Mets.

Rojas doesn't have the last name Alou because when he was a minor leaguer with the Washington Nationals, the franchise asked him to change his name from Luis Alou to Luis Rojas to match his birth certificate, he told the New York Post last year. The newspaper reported that Rojas is the family name but that Felipe, Moises and his uncles used Alou, which is the surname of Rojas' paternal grandmother.

Rojas, who was born in the Dominican Republic, played minor league ball with the Orioles, Marlins and Expos/Nationals from 2000 to 2005 but never got above rookie ball. He coached for New York in the Dominican Summer League in 2007, got his first managerial role with the Mets' rookie-level Gulf Coast League team in 2011 and also coached at Class A and Double-A. Notably, he was manager at Double-A Binghamton during Pete Alonso's breakout 2018 season, when Alonso led the minors with 36 home runs.

Alonso and Marcus Stroman were among the Mets players to tweet their approval of the news.

Loved having Luis in '17 and '18 as my AA manager! It's awesome playing under him and having him on staff last year as well!!! Super pumped to have him as the Jeffe. Also he throws some damn good bp #LFGM https://t.co/SI8JgLzRId

— Pete Alonso (@Pete_Alonso20) January 22, 2020

LUIS ROJAS! Love love love it. Loved being around him on the bench last year. Always teaching and full of knowledge. Super laid back and brings nothing but great vibes each and every day. Beyond even keel. Excited even more for the year! @Mets

— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) January 22, 2020

Rojas was voted Best Managerial Candidate by his peers three times as a minor league manager in polling by Baseball America. Rojas also managed the Dominican team at last fall's Premier12 Olympic qualifying event.

Astros manager AJ Hinch and Boston Red Sox skipper Alex Cora were also fired after being named in MLB's sign-stealing report. Neither the Astros nor Red Sox have named a replacement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

NEW YORK -- Larry Walker's Hall of Fame plaque in Cooperstown will have a Colorado Rockies cap, not a Montreal Expos one.

Walker spoke with Hall officials after he was elected Tuesday in his 10th and final appearance on the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot.

Born in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Walker made his big league debut with the Expos in August 1989 and signed with the Rockies ahead of the 1995 season. He was traded to St. Louis in August 2004 and retired after the 2005 season.

"It's a hard decision, being a Canadian," Walker said.

He added that the deciding factor was that Colorado was "where the majority of my damage was done."

The Hall makes the final decision after consulting with the player.

Walker batted .381 with an 1.172 OPS and 154 home runs in 597 games at Coors and .282 with 229 homers and an .873 OPS in 1,391 games elsewhere, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. That left him at .313 with 383 homers and 1,311 RBIs overall.

Worknesh Degefa, Lawrence Cherono, Manuela Schär and Daniel Romanchuk all defend their titles

A number of former winners have been announced for the 124th Boston Marathon on April 20, including defending champions Worknesh Degefa, Lawrence Cherono, Manuela Schär and Daniel Romanchuk.

Two-time winner Lelisa Desisa returns, while 2018 champion Yuki Kawauchi is entered along with Jemal Yimer, the Ethiopian half-marathon record-holder who won the recent Houston Half Marathon, as he makes his marathon debut.

Another athlete to have secured success in Houston is Ireland’s Stephen Scullion, as he achieved an Olympic qualifier with a fifth-place finish in a PB of 2:11:52, and he also lines up in the Boston field, as does 2012 Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich.

Cherono and Desisa are among six sub-2:06 men entered as they are joined by Philemon Rono, Benson Kipruto, Kenneth Kipkemoi and Dejene Debela.

The women’s field features 12 athletes with sub-2:23 PBs and five who have gone under 2:20.

Among those joining Degefa are Edna Kiplagat, Mare Dibaba, Buzunesh Deba and Yebrgual Melese, while 2018 winner Desiree Linden returns.

Magdalyne Masai, Besu Sado and Caroline Chepkoech Kipkirui will make their Boston debuts.

Four-time New York City and London marathon winner Mary Keitany had accepted an invitation to run in Boston, but organisers say she is currently sidelined with a back injury.

Five-time Boston champion Tatyana McFadden and Britain’s Shelly Woods join Schär in the women’s wheelchair field, while the men’s entries include Britain’s six-time Paralympic champion David Weir.

“The Boston Marathon is proud to welcome the world’s best athletes each April, and this year’s race is no exception,” said Tom Grilk, CEO of the B.A.A.

“With Olympic and Paralympic medalists, national record holders, and rising stars, the race toward the finish line will be both fierce and exciting. We look forward to crowning our 2020 champions on what will be another memorable Patriots’ Day.”

Elite women’s field

Worknesh Degefa
Yebrgual Melese
Edna Kiplagat
Mare Dibaba
Buzunesh Deba
Haftamnesh Tesfay
Meskerem Assefa
Gelete Burka
Besu Sado
Magdalyne Masai
Desiree Linden
Rose Chelimo
Caroline Rotich
Rahma Tusa
Mary Ngugi
Krista Duchene
Caroline Chepkoech Kipkirui
Kate Landau

Elite women’s wheelchair field

Manuela Schär
Susannah Scaroni
Tatyana McFadden
Amanda McGrory
Katrina Gerhard
Jenna Fesemyer
Christie Dawes
Shelly Woods
Margriet Van Den Broek
Madison De Rozario
Arielle Rausin
Eliza Ault-Connell
Vanessa De Souza
Michelle Wheeler
Yen Hoang

Elite men’s field

Lawrence Cherono
Lelisa Desisa
Philemon Rono
Benson Kipruto
Kenneth Kipkemoi
Dejene Debela
Felix Kandie
Fikre Bekele
Geoffrey Kirui
Stephen Kiprotich
Abrar Osman
Albert Korir
Yuki Kawauchi
Kentaro Nakamoto
Dylan Wykes
Shoya Osaki
Fernando Cabada
Li Zicheng
Stephen Scullion
Jemal Yimer

Elite men’s wheelchair field

Marcel Hug
Ernst Van Dyk
Joshua Cassidy
Masazumi Soejima
Hiroki Nishida
Kota Hokinoue
Aaron Pike
Daniel Romanchuk
Joshua George
Rafael Botello Jiménez
Jorge Madera
Patrick Monahan
Krige Schabort
Takashi Yoshida
James Senbeta
Simon Lawson
David Weir
Sho Watanabe
Ryuichi Kawamuro
Johnboy Smith
Hermin Garic
Callum Hall

British number one Dan Evans says he would prefer to miss the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and concentrate on the hard court season in the the United States.

The 29-year-old, who is at a career-high world ranking of 32, insists his stance is not a lack of enthusiasm for representing Great Britain.

"I think everyone should represent their country for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup and ATP Cup but the Olympics is sort of an individual event," he said.

"I'm not sure I'll be going to Japan."

The Olympics run from 24 July to 9 August and the tennis event, which has 64 players in singles, does not carry prize money or ranking points.

The US hard court season is made up of several events running from late July to the US Open which starts with qualifying from 24 August.

"First and foremost I have to take care of myself and my life rather than maybe taking time out - there's some good tournaments on at that point," he added.

"I probably won't do it because of certain situations. I don't have long to play as well so I probably won't go over to Japan."

Evans declined a place in Britain's team for Rio 2016 after being offered a role following a spate of injury withdrawals.

He was beaten 6-4 6-3 6-4 by Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka in his second-round match at the Australian Open on Wednesday.

Kiki Bertens, the Dutch world number 10, is the latest WTA Tour star to feature in a BBC Sport column. In her second piece from the Australian Open, the 2016 French Open semi-finalist talks about the impending comeback of her idol Kim Clijsters, why she is never satisfied after a match and how she tries not to talk tennis with her husband at the dinner table.

Even though I never really liked watching tennis too much when I was growing up, it is fair to say Kim Clijsters was my idol.

Kim was a great player, a great person and a great champion. Plus she is from Belgium, really close to where I am from, so it is pretty obvious why I liked her.

That meant I was really happy to see her announce a comeback at the age of 36 after more than seven years away from the WTA Tour.

It came as a complete surprise to me. I never saw it coming. But now I'm thinking it would be great if I could play her one day.

I don't know how I would feel if that was to happen, but of course I would want to beat her! That's the case with every player.

Her game was very good to watch; she was really aggressive and her movement was good.

We will have to see how successful her comeback is going to be. Maybe it won't be that easy.

Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka are examples of other former Grand Slam winners who have tried to come back after a long time away.

It is not as easy as it was before - I think the level is so high and everyone can play really well.

It will be tough for Kim and I have no idea how she is shaping up now.

But she was a great athlete in her prime and you can't rule anything out. So let's see what happens.

'I need to play more aggressively'

I started the Australian Open with a 6-1 6-4 win against Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu on Tuesday - but, despite the scoreline, I was not completely happy.

Of course I am happy with the result, but I am never really satisfied with how I play. There is always something that I want to do better.

I think winning by that scoreline and not being completely satisfied is a good sign. And it is a sign of how far I have come over the past few years - and that I still want more.

My confidence has grown so much in the past few years that even when I'm not playing my best, I still feel calm on court and find a way to win.

Against Begu, I was not playing really aggressively, apart from my serve, which I used really well.

The rest of my game was more about moving a lot from side to side, making as many balls as I could and just putting it back in the court.

For the next match, and if I want to go deeper in the tournament, I will have to play more aggressively.

'Playing a new opponent requires some homework'

On Thursday, I will play Arina Rodionova in the second round - she is an Australian wildcard who I've never faced before.

That is going to be a tough one, like all matches are at a Grand Slam. She had a good first-round win, losing the opening set to Ukraine's Kateryna Bondarenko before turning the match around.

Arina is from Melbourne so I'm sure she will have the crowd behind her, but that does not faze me.

It is really exciting when I play someone I have never played before. My coach Elise Tamaela went to watch her match to find out how she is playing.

Normally I rely on Elise going to a match and listening to what she tells me about an opponent, as well as drawing on my own experiences.

But if I've never played a girl before, then I will also watch videos of her play on the internet. That's my homework.

I will watch it and see what she did well but I think it is more important to concentrate on my own strengths.

'How my husband and I juggle tennis and marriage'

As I told you in my first column, I got married in the summer to my husband Remko, who is part of my team.

He is a physio and a fitness trainer, but a coach as well, and my coach Elise is also a fitness trainer and physio. So they can do both - and if I'm not happy with one, then I can switch to the other!

It is great he is part of our team because otherwise we'd have no time to see each other.

Remko has his own tennis academy in Belgium so he travels with us for half of the year.

I think it is good that he travels with us only half of the time, and not full time, because I think that would make it a little bit tougher.

We manage to balance our work and private life very well; we have found a good way to do that.

Most of the time when we are on site at a tournament it is work, and that really starts when he is doing my warm-up before practice.

At the end of the day, when we have finished stretching and the rest of my recovery routine, he becomes my husband again and the work stops.

Then we can do normal stuff as husband and wife, go for a nice dinner, watch a movie or just relax.

When we are having dinner in a restaurant, we try not to talk about tennis - but sometimes it is hard.

Does whoever bring up to tennis first at the dinner table have to pay the bill? Not at the moment. But that's a good idea, maybe we will start doing that!

Kiki Bertens was speaking to BBC Sport's Jonathan Jurejko at Melbourne Park