It’s time to dish out gifts to some of the biggest names in college football before the 2025 season kicks off.
Red Sox to sign first baseman Nathaniel Lowe after Nationals DFA: Report
Red Sox to sign first baseman Nathaniel Lowe after Nationals DFA: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
A late-season reinforcement is coming to Fenway Park.
The Boston Red Sox reportedly will sign first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for the remainder of 2025, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported late Sunday night.
Lowe, 30, was designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals earlier this month and went unclaimed on waivers.
The Red Sox have been searching for first base help since losing Triston Casas to a season-ending knee injury in May. Abraham Toro and Romy González have mostly split the role — Toro facing right-handers and González facing left-handers. Lowe could conceivably fill Toro’s spot with his recent struggles at the plate (.163 batting average in August).
The lefty-hitting Lowe has the credentials to make him an appealing flyer — Silver Slugger in 2022, Gold Glove and World Series champion with the Texas Rangers in 2023. But he showed serious regression in D.C. this season, posting career lows in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Lowe hit .216 with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs in 119 games.
Before 2025, Lowe played for the Tampa Bay Rays (2019-2020) and Rangers (2021-2024). He was traded to Washington last December.
The Nationals will pay Lowe most of the remainder of his $10.3-million salary this season, with the Red Sox picking up the prorated portion of the league minimum. Lowe is arbitration-eligible this winter, so Boston can either bring him back in 2026 for more than his 2025 salary or non-tender him to free agency.
Who Are the Shanghai Dragons and Which Devils Will Be Represented?
The newest team in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) is the Shanghai Dragons.
The franchise is entering its first season under the Dragons name, but the club itself isn’t brand new. Previously known as Kunlun Red Star, the team spent eight seasons in the KHL before announcing a rebrand.
During their time as Kunlun, the club reached the postseason only once, in their inaugural 2016-17 season, where they lost in the Conference Quarterfinals. They have not returned to the playoffs since.
The Dragons plan to move their home games back to China in the future, but for now, they are building their roster and will play out of St. Petersburg, Russia.
Their roster features one former New Jersey Devil, one Devils draft pick who never signed, and several other players with NHL ties.
- Nikita Popugaev: Drafted 98th overall by the Devils in 2017, Popugaev never signed with the team and has spent most of his career overseas. Now 26, he announced he will be suiting up for the Dragons this season.
- Nick Merkley: Selected 30th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, Merkley played four games with the Devils in 2019-20 and 27 games in 2020-21. He registered two points in his first season and 10 points in his second. The 27-year-old now joins the Dragons as another Devils connection.
- Austin Wong: Drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in 2018, Wong was never signed but will be making history as part of the Dragons’ inaugural roster. The 24-year-old forward brings additional North American experience.
In addition to players, the Dragons hired a familiar NHL face behind the bench: Gerard Gallant, former head coach of the New York Rangers. Gallant, who has also coached the Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, and Vegas Golden Knights, will lead the Dragons as their first-ever head coach.
As of now, the roster includes:
- 5 Canadian players
- 4 American players
- 4 Russian players
- 1 Slovakian player
Collectively, the roster of 14 skaters brings 387 NHL games of experience.
The Shanghai Dragons will look to end the franchise’s playoff drought and make their first postseason appearance since 2016, this time under a new name, new leadership, and a roster built on international and NHL experience.
‘I want to keep this club in the promised land’: Farke’s mission to keep Leeds up
Manager insists club ‘belongs in the Premier League’ and has been building a taller, tougher side to keep them there
The trampoline man. It sounds like a promising title for a novel, film or even a song but it is a label Daniel Farke remains desperate to avoid. To the Leeds head coach, the term “trampoline manager” carries no hint of glamour, let alone romance.
Farke knows that, after winning three promotions to the Premier League, the first two with Norwich, and enduring two immediate relegations, he could do without his latest bounce into the big time prefacing a swift tumble back to the Championship. No matter that there are persuasive mitigating factors for those two relegations with Norwich – mainly involving a severe shortage of money. Mud sticks.
Continue reading...Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action
Kyle Walker has World Cup in his sights, Nottingham Forest remain potent in attack and James Trafford delights the Manchester City fans
It has been a constant in the last two seasons: Manchester United are doing OK in a game, resembling something approaching a football team, then out of nowhere all their good work is ruined by goalkeeping incompetence somehow predictable and unpredictable. And that was exactly what happened against Arsenal, United starting fairly well, only to concede a corner and fall behind in inexcusably soft circumstances. Usually, André Onana is the man responsible, but in his absence, Altay Bayindir seized the mantle with alacrity. We can be absolutely certain that Ruben Amorim has already told his bosses he must have a new keeper and, though they have already spent heavily, the position must be addressed as a matter of urgency because if it is not, this will continue happening and they might soon be facing questions about whether a new manager is necessary. It is pointless building a swish new house only for the owners to knowingly leave the back door open, get burgled and sack the builder. Daniel Harris
Match report: Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal
Match report: Nottingham Forest 3-1 Brentford
Match report: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
Match report: Brighton 1-1 Fulham
Continue reading...Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera becomes AFL’s first $2m-a-year man with new St Kilda deal
Midfielder rejects interest from both Adelaide clubs to stay with Saints
Two-year deal secures 22-year-old’s immediate future at Moorabbin
Breakout star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera will stay at St Kilda on a bumper two-year deal after rejecting huge interest from Adelaide and Port Adelaide. Wanganeen-Milera has become the AFL’s first player to earn $2m per season in signing through to the end of 2027, in a huge boost to the Saints.
The 22-year-old had been cagey on his future, the most hotly-anticipated contract call this year, amid his breakout season, but has ultimately turned his back on monster long-term offers from both Adelaide clubs.
Continue reading...Reds end Brewers’ franchise-record, 14-game winning streak on Hays’ bases-loaded hit in 10th
CINCINNATI — Austin Hays’ single with the bases loaded in the 10th inning gave the Cincinnati Reds a 3-2 victory over Milwaukee on Sunday, ending the Brewers’ franchise-record winning streak at 14 games.
Milwaukee had barely pulled out the previous two games in Cincinnati for its longest streak ever within one season and the longest in the majors since the St. Louis Cardinals won 17 straight from Sept. 11 to Sept. 28, 2021.
This time, Spencer Steer’s sacrifice bunt in the 10th advanced designated runner TJ Friedl to third. After intentional walks to Elly De La Cruz and Will Benson loaded the bases, Hays laced a single to down the third-base line for his second career walk-off hit.
Milwaukee, which overcame a seven-run deficit on Friday and rallied to win in 14 innings Saturday, nearly came back for another win.
William Contreras hit his 13th home run of the season, a two-run shot off Reds closer Emilio Pagan, to put Milwaukee ahead 2-1 in the ninth. But the Reds tied it when Benson reached on a fielding error by shortstop Joey Ortiz and later scored on Jose Trevino’s single.
The first-place Brewers fell to 53-17 in their last 70 games.
The game was scoreless through six innings with Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott and Brewers lefty Jose Quintana allowing a combined six hits with 11 strikeouts.
Cincinnati scored the game’s first run when Hays led off the seventh with a double and scored on Trevino’s sacrifice fly to the wall in center.
Graham Ashcraft (7-4) earned the win for Cincinnati. Grant Anderson (2-4) took the loss.
Key moment
In the top of the 10th inning, designated runner Andrew Vaughn was thrown out at third base trying to advance on Blake Perkins’ bunt.
Key stat
The Reds are the only team that has not been swept in a series this season. Their 40 series without a sweep is the longest in franchise history, eclipsing the 1970 team which went 32 straight series. It’s the seventh time the Reds have won the final game of a series to avoid being swept.
Up next
Brewers RHP Freddy Peralta (14-5, 2.90) will start Monday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. RHP Brady Singer (10-9, 4.31) will start Monday for the Reds against the Angels in Anaheim.
Amid ‘ups and downs,’ Mets hope big home run sees Mark Vientos ‘take off’
Mark Vientos came into the year looking to solidify himself as an everyday player for the Mets after having a breakout season, smacking 27 home runs in 111 games before posting a .998 OPS in 13 postseason games.
“It hasn’t been easy for him,” manager Calos Mendoza said of the young slugger’ struggles during the 2025 campaign, which saw him post just a .633 OPS amid on-again-off-again playing time entering Sunday night's Little League Classic.
“Lotta ups and downs,” Mendoza said. “Started the year not the way he wanted it or anticipated it or the way we anticipated it, and it hasn’t been easy for him the past couple of weeks with inconsistent playing time. He plays one game and then maybe sits for a few of them. And it’s not an easy role."
But Vientos was in the lineup at third base and delivered two hits in three at-bats and provided the blow that blew the game wide open with a three-run home run off Seattle starter George Kirby in the fifth inning.
“I was just trying to see a fastball up in the zone, middle-middle,” Vientos said after the 7-3 win. “I know he had good two-seam action on his fastball, so I was just trying to see him middle-middle and not try to do too much.”
Vientos got the 97 mph heater at the top of the zone and muscled it 385 feet the other way to give the Mets a five-run cushion. The long ball, Vientos' eighth of the season, gave him four RBI on the night (after a sacrifice fly his first time up) to raise his total to 36 on the season and saw his slashline rise to .232/.276/.372.
For the skipper, it was a sign of how things are supposed to work.
“That’s kinda the messaging with him and some of the other younger players: they gotta stay ready,” Mendoza said. “And to [Vientos’] credit, proud of him, because to have a game like that against a really good arm. It’s pretty impressive.”
Vientos said he has been preparing every day like he is starting and reading himself to come into the game at every opportunity.
"Whenever the opportunity presents itself – and honestly, whenever I'm out there – I try my best and do what I can, and if not, I'm just cheering on my team for us to win," he said.
For the Mets, who won for the second-straight time and the fourth time in their last 18 games, they'll need everyone, including Vientos, to start clicking.
“We need him, we need all of those guys,” Mendoza said. “[Vientos] was a big part of this team last year, and he's going to be a big part here moving forward. We saw it tonight, he’s too good of a player. And hopefully he can just take off from today.”
Examining The Penguins Right Defensive Side For 2025-26
Pittsburgh Penguins training camp is only about a month away from starting, and a lot of eyes will be on the defensemen since the Penguins aren't expected to be a strong defensive team this year.
There will be some good battles on the left side, but fans shouldn't forget about the right side, either. The Penguins made a couple of moves to try and change things up on that side earlier in the offseason, and could still make another if teams get more aggressive trying to pursue Erik Karlsson. However, as of August 17, he is still a Pittsburgh Penguin.
Here's a look at the options the Penguins have on the right side going into this upcoming season.
Erik Karlsson
Karlsson is expected to get the top-pairing minutes on the right side for the 2025-26 season, assuming he doesn't get dealt before training camp, and for good reason. Despite his many critics, he can still move the puck up the ice with authority and generate a lot of offense. He was tied for fifth among all defensemen in 5v5 points last season with 33.
He gives a lot back defensively, which isn't surprising given he hasn't been good defensively in a long time. The Penguins got him to push the pace of play, and that's precisely what he will do this upcoming season.
There's hope that a new coaching staff can get a bit more out of him than Mike Sullivan and Co. did these last two seasons. Karlsson has two years left on his contract and a full no-move clause.
Kris Letang
The 2025-26 season will be Letang's 20th season in the NHL, all with the Penguins. He's the best franchise defenseman in the history of the franchise and still has three years left on his contract at $6.1 million per season.
Letang had a rough go of things last season. His offense deteriorated, and he wasn't much better in his end. Despite being 38, he still wants to prove he can play at a higher level than he did last year and has been training his butt off all offseason.
He may have to accept a slightly lesser role for next season since Karlsson can do more offensively. Letang's time on ice per game last season was 23:31, and if the Penguins can shorten it by two or three minutes, it will be mutually beneficial for them and the player.
Connor Clifton
The Penguins acquired Clifton during the second day of the 2025 NHL Draft on June 28, along with the No. 39 overall pick, for defenseman Conor Timmins and forward prospect Isaac Belliveau.
Clifton will try to win that bottom-pairing spot after going through a tough season last year with the Buffalo Sabres. Clifton told reporters after the trade in July that he felt he "lost himself" and is stoked to be a Penguin.
"I feel like I kind of lost myself. The change of scenery, I got that call that I'm going to be a Pittsburgh Penguin, and I was really excited for the change. I want to get back to my old self, and how I play, and the impact that I have on the game. It was a couple of mental battles… but, you just try to simplify and be who you are, I guess," Clifton told reporters during a media session in July.
Clifton spent the last two seasons with the Sabres after spending the first five years of his career with the Boston Bruins. He has one year left on his contract.
What Will The Penguins' Left Side Look Like In 2025-26?When training camp opens for the Pittsburgh Penguins one month from now - and with more youth talent in the organization than there has been in a long while - there will be a lot of positional battles on pretty much every front.
Matt Dumba
Dumba got traded to the Penguins along with a 2028 second-round pick on July 10. The Dallas Stars were in salary cap hell, and the Penguins were happy to help out since they're not trying to contend this year.
Like Clifton, Dumba has a year left on his contract and needs a significant bounce-back after being a healthy scratch throughout the entire playoffs for the Stars. He was limited to 63 games during the regular season, compiling one goal and 10 points.
Harrison Brunicke (maybe)
Brunicke was very close to making the Penguins' opening night roster last year before he was sent back to the WHL at the end of training camp. He did a lot of good things, but the Penguins believed he was best suited to continue developing at the junior level.
The Penguins may have a surplus of defensemen on the right side right now, but that's not going to stop Brunicke from going out there and trying to win a full-time roster spot.
It could be similar to what happened in 2019 when John Marino came out of nowhere to win a roster spot after an excellent training camp. It's not a guarantee, but Brunicke may give the Penguins' decision-makers quite a bit to think about again in September.
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Mark Vientos homers, drives in four as Mets beat Mariners 7-3 in 2025 MLB Little League Classic
Mark Vientos homered and drove in four runs, and Francisco Lindor and Francisco Alvarez notched three hits each as the Mets beat the Seattle Mariners 7-3 on Sunday night in the 2025 MLB Little League Classic in Williamsport, Penn.
Clay Holmes pitched around trouble to give the Mets five innings of one-run ball and the bullpen was effective to shut the door behind him as the Mets grabbed a series win, their first in the month of August.
New York improved to 66-58 on the year and is now 3.0 games behind the San Diego Padres for the second Wild Card spot.
Here are the takeaways...
- The Mets got the game’s first chance when Pete Alonso led off the home half of the second with a single through the left side of the infield and Jeff McNeil chunked a base hit down the line in left. Alvarez, on the fifth straight George Kirby slider, lined one into the left-center gap that just eluded Julio Rodriguez's glove for an RBI double. Brett Baty, against a drawn-in infield with two in scoring position, laced a 3-2 sinker up the middle for a run-scoring single before Vientos plated the Mets’ third run with a sacrifice fly to center.
Kriby gave New York a chance in the third, issuing a leadoff walk to Juan Soto and a one-out free pass to Alonso. But McNeil flied out to right and Alvarez grounded out to short to end the chance. The Mets created another opportunity off Kirby in the fourth as Vientos’ one-out single was followed by a Lindor single and Soto walk (featuring a Soto Shuffle much to the little leaguers' delight) to give Brandon Nimmo a two-out chance with the bases loaded. But he got jammed on a first-pitch 98 mph fastball to line out softly.
- With two down in the fifth, Vientos came to the plate with runners on first and second thanks to sharply hit one-out singles from McNeil and Alvarez, and Kirby left a 1-1 heater over the heart of the plate and the third baseman didn't miss it, driving it 385 feet the opposite way (103.5 mph off the bat) for a much-needed three-run shot to put the Mets up 6-1.
Cedric Mullins, who was 0-for-2 to that point with two strikeouts, roped a double into the corner in right and Lindor, on the sixth-straight Kirby curveball, golfed a drive into the right-center gap that the Mariners misplayed as Rodriguez called off right fielder Dominic Canzone and the ball fell in for an RBI double, his third hit of the night.
- In the seventh, Alvarez cracked his third hit of the game with a double off the wall in right, just beating the throw with a head-first slide. But the Mets catcher appeared to jam his right thumb into the bag on the slide. He immediately called for time and was examined by the Mets’ training staff. Alvarez remained in the game to run the bases and was eventually stranded at third, but was replaced in the top of the eighth behind the plate by Luis Torrens.
- The Mets got another chance with one out in the eighth when Soto worked his third walk of the night, stole second, and Nimmo singled to cover the corners. But Alonso went down swinging and McNeil tapped out to first.
New York finished the night 5-for-15 with runners in scoring position with 10 runners left on base.
- Holmes’ night got off to an auspicious start: He beaned Randy Arozarena near the head with a 92 mph sinker on the game’s first pitch. But the veteran got Cal Raleigh swinging on a slider below the zone and Rodriguez to ground into a 5-4-3 inning-ender. Holmes worked around a one-out infield single in the second and a leadoff single in the third to keep Seattle off the board through nine outs, needing 46 pitches.
Rodriguez smacked a 0-2 curveball of the outside corner for a double into the gap in right to start the fourth. Holmes got Josh Naylor looking at a changeup and Eugenio Suarez to ground out to short, but Jorge Polanco’s soft liner up the middle slipped past a leaping Lindor to score the Mariners’ first run.
It was a play that the shortstop should have made, and Holmes suffered as Canzone singled to right and J.P. Crawford worked a walk to load the bases. After the starter fell behind 3-0 to nine-hole hitter Cole Young, Holmes got an inning-ending pop out to short, but had to throw 16 extra pitches after the missed liner, which likely kept him from going deeper in the game.
After an 11-pitch 1-2-3 fifth inning, Holmes exited having allowed just one run on five hits, one walk, and one HBP with four strikeouts on 88 pitches (58 strikes).
- Needing 12 outs and protecting a six-run lead, Brooks Raley was the first man out of the Mets bullpen and worked around a two-on and two-out jam for a clean frame.
In the seventh, Reed Garrett retired the first man he faced before Arozarena singled to right and Raleigh took a splitter virtually off the ground and just snuck it over the wall down the line in left for a 338-foot two-run shot.
The struggling Ryan Helsley worked around a two-out walk in a clean eighth inning with a pair of strikeouts, sporing an effective cutter that got three whiffs (on five swings) and two called strikes.
Tyler Rogers worked around a pair of two-out singles in the ninth to close the door, stranding runners on the corners. The Mets staff limited their foes to 1-for-6 with RISP and left 10 men on base.
- The miscue in the field wasn’t Lindor’s only mistake of the day. After cracking a single to right to lead off the home half of the first, he was caught dancing off first base as the Mariners put a pickoff play on. It went down as a caught stealing, snapping the Mets’ streak of 39 successful steals.
Game MVP: Mark Vientos
Vientos, who went 2-for-3 with four RBI, had the big hit of the game as his home run helped burst the game open. Honorable mention to Alvarez for going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored and Lindor, who went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a strikeout.
Highlights
Francisco Alvarez opens the scoring for the Mets 💪
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 18, 2025
(via @ESPN) pic.twitter.com/Xio3bxYLNp
Brett Baty brings home Jeff McNeil!
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 18, 2025
The Mets have four straight hits to start the inning 🔥
(via @ESPN) pic.twitter.com/WAHIapugyP
Mark Vientos' sacrifice fly brings home the third Mets run of the inning!
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 18, 2025
(via @ESPN) pic.twitter.com/COWuhReDnc
"LET'S GO!"
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 18, 2025
MARK VIENTOS HOMERS WITH SEAN MANAEA ON THE CALL!
(via @ESPN) pic.twitter.com/CcYCIge7Qd
The Mariners misplay Francisco Lindor's fly ball and Cedric Mullins scores!
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 18, 2025
(via @ESPN) pic.twitter.com/GqCVlkt3U6
Francisco Alvarez was visited by Carlos Mendoza and a trainer after diving into second base.
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 18, 2025
Alvarez is staying in the game after his double.
(via @ESPN) pic.twitter.com/y1kPUiZ21y
What's next
The Mets have Monday off and will head to Washington for a three-game series against the Nationals before heading to Atlanta for a weekend series with the Braves.
Left-hander David Peterson (3.30 ERA, 1.276 WHIP in 136.1 innings over 24 starts) gets the ball for Tuesday night's series opener against right-hander Jake Irvin (5.14 ERA, 1.379 WHIP in 140 innings over 25 starts). First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m. in D.C.
Mets' Francisco Alvarez placed on IL with thumb sprain, will eventually need surgery
Francisco Alvarez was having a fantastic game in the Little League Classic on Sunday night in Williamsport, but a right thumb injury forced him out after the seventh inning.
Following an MRI, the Mets announced on Tuesday that Alvarez has been placed on the 10-day IL with a right thumb UCL sprain.
According to the Mets, Alvarez will be re-evaluated in 10-14 days for return to play.
The Mets have called up catcher Hayden Senger to take Alvarez's spot on the roster.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, manager Carlos Mendoza said that Alvarez will need to have surgery on his thumb, but whether that surgery happens in the near future or the offseason will be determined in the next two weeks or so.
"He needs surgery, obviously, but right now, talking to multiple doctors, the plan is to give him 10-14 days to calm down the inflammation and see where he’s at after that as far as gripping the bat, if he’s going to be able to swing," Mendoza said. "There are players in the past who [have] played through this, and that’s why we’re giving it a chance. If he goes and has surgery right now, he’s going to be done for the season anyway.
"So, he wants to give it a try. We’re hopeful that he can play through this, but we’ll just have to wait and see."
SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino notes that if Alvarez is able to hold off on surgery until the offseason, it should not impact the start of his 2026 season, as this kind of surgery typically has a 6-7 week recovery period.
The injury occurred in the home half of the seventh inning when Alvarez cracked his third hit of the game with a double off the wall in right, just beating the throw with a head-first slide.
But on the slide, he appeared to jam his right thumb into the bag. Alvarez immediately called for time and was examined by the Mets’ training staff, but stayed in the game to run the bases. He advanced as far as third base before he was stranded there. When it came time for the top of the eighth inning, Luis Torrens was behind the plate.
Francisco Alvarez was visited by Carlos Mendoza and a trainer after diving into second base.
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 18, 2025
Alvarez is staying in the game after his double.
(via @ESPN) pic.twitter.com/y1kPUiZ21y
Mendoza said that Alvarez's grip had "some strength" when he was examined on the field, but it was the manager who decided to lift the catcher before he came in to play defense.
"He was like, 'I'm good, I'm good, I'm good,'" the skipper said. "Then [after the inning] he's like, 'Let me play catch.' At that point, I was like, if you're still... let's not mess around with it and let's go inside. I basically took it away from him. I didn't want to even let him play catch."
Alvarez was seen exiting the Mets' dugout during the inning change and showed his right thumb to a few teammates as he headed back toward the clubhouse with a member of the training staff.
The 23-year-old, who missed the start of the season with a hamate fracture in his left hand and spent a chunk of the year working on things at Triple-A Syracuse, appeared to have found his stroke at the plate.
Since returning from the demotion in late July, Alvarez is slashing .323/.408/.645 with four homers, six doubles, one triple, 13 RBI, and 14 runs scored in 71 plate appearances over 21 games.
Joey Aguilar named starting quarterback for Tennessee football vs. Syracuse
Joey Aguilar was named the starting quarterback for Tennessee football at against Syracuse in the 2025 season opener.
SEE IT: Mets' Juan Soto shuffle delights crowd at 2025 MLB Little League Classic
The kids at the 2025 MLB Little League Classic wanted to see it. That much was obvious when they finally did see it in the bottom half of the fourth inning on Sunday night in Williamsport, Penn.
Juan Soto delivered in his third time up when he took a 1-0 offering from Mariners starter George Kirby low and dropped the Soto Shuffle.
The reaction was immediate: delight.
The Mets' outfielder worked a walk a few pitches later.
Earlier in the game, Soto was having a bit of fun at second base as he was teasing Seattle centerfielder Julio Rodriguez, showing the big leaguers were keen on having just as much fun in Williamsport as the Little Leaguers.
Soto went hitless in two at-bats but walked three times on the night, bringing his league-leading tally to 96 on the year, in the Mets' 7-3 win over the Mariners. He also added a steal in the eighth inning, giving him 20 for his first campaign in Queens.
The little leaguers in attendance got very excited for the Soto Shuffle
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 18, 2025
(via @ESPN) pic.twitter.com/9NsBnwSMzR
Little Leaguers were chanting for a Soto Shuffle and Juan Soto delivered to their delight pic.twitter.com/9BlKKUWyHx
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 18, 2025
Ex-Blues First-Rounder Among Interesting Free Agents Left
Now that we are in the middle of August, most of the players who hit the market as unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have been signed to new contracts. Although this is the case, there are still some interesting players who have not been signed yet. Among them is former St. Louis Blues forward Klim Kostin.
Kostin is coming off a tough season with the San Jose Sharks, as he recorded one goal, six assists, and a minus-6 rating in 35 games. However, when noting that is still just 26 years old and has had past success at the NHL level, it would not be particularly surprising if he landed a professional tryout (PTO) before training camp or even a contract for the season from an NHL club.
Kostin demonstrated during the 2022-23 season with the Edmonton Oilers hat he has the potential to provide decent offensive production and plenty of grit when playing at his best. During that campaign, the 6-foot-4 forward recorded career highs with 11 goals, 10 assists, 21 points, and 157 hits in 57 games. Perhaps this could help lead to a team giving him a shot.
Kostin was selected by the Blues in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft with the 31st overall pick. In 46 games over three seasons with St. Louis from 2019-20 to 2021-22, he posted five goals, 11 points, 105 hits, and a minus-3 rating. His time with the Blues ended ahead of the 2022-23 season when he was traded to the Oilers in exchange for defenseman Dmitri Samorukov.
Blues Goalie Named As Potential Target For OilersAllen Mitchell discussed five potential targets for the Edmonton Oilers in a recent article for The Athletic, and a St. Louis Blues goalie prospect made the cut - Colten Ellis.