League is in Year 3 of 10-year $2.5bn media rights deal
Apple TV subscribers will be able to watch all Major League Soccer matches without an additional subscription beginning next year.
During the first three years of MLS’ 10-year, $2.5bn agreement with Apple, a stand-alone Season Pass subscription was needed to access all matches. During this season, more than 200 matches were simulcast on both MLS Season Pass and Apple TV, including the league’s “Sunday Night Soccer” package. Dropping the separate subscription was announced Thursday at an owners’ meeting.
Major League Soccer is flipping its calendar to align with other pro leagues around the world starting in 2027. MLS also approved other format changes.
When Apple and MLS announced their 10-year streaming tie-up in 2022, there were two key financial components: a $250 million annual guarantee from Apple, plus the opportunity for MLS to get a share of additional revenue if the new Season Pass subscription product achieved a certain level of success. But starting next season, MLS Season …
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The Australian No 1, a picture of despair just a couple of nights earlier after feeling he had thrown away victory during defeat to Lorenzo Musetti, started his unlikely resurrection with a backs-to-the-wall 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 win over Taylor Fritz on Thursday, his first ever victory at the season-ending championship.
Will a three-loss SEC team make the CFP? Is Lane Kiffin going to be a distraction for Ole Miss down the stretch? Brian Kelly is suing LSU. A full Week 12 preview.
The Mets are adding three new members to the team’s Hall of Fame.
Carlos Beltran, Bobby Valentine, and Lee Mazzilli will be inducted during a ceremony at Citi Field during the 2026 season.
Beltran, 48, is currently working in New York’s office after making his mark in Queens as one of the best all-around players the team ever had.
From 2005 to 2011, Beltran starred in center field for New York as he made five All-Star teams, won three Gold Glove awards, and was a driving force during the club’s run to the 2006 NLCS.
In seven seasons for the Mets, Beltran slashed .280/.369/.500 with 149 home runs, 208 doubles, 559 RBI, 551 runs scored, and 100 stolen bases.
His best season in Flushing came in 2006, when he blasted 41 home runs to tie what was then the single-season club record, had a career-best OPS of .982, and finished fourth in voting for the National League MVP award.
"Carlos’ impact on the organization was and continues to be invaluable," Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen said in a news release. "His unique blend of power, speed and defensive grace made him one of the most dynamic players ever to wear a Mets uniform. He is a respected voice inside the clubhouse, sharing his wisdom as a Special Assistant to David Stearns. We are extremely hopeful that he receives positive news this January when the Baseball Hall of Fame announces its 2026 class."
Valentine, 75, was one of the most colorful managers the Mets ever had.
He went 536-467 during his tenure in New York from 1996 to 2002, helming the Mets’ trip to the NLCS in 1999 and to the World Series in 2000.
Valentine also had a stint as a player for the Mets from 1977 to 1978 and was a coach from 1983 to 1985.
"Bobby served as the charismatic manager of the Mets from 1996 to 2002," said the Cohens. "He ranks third in franchise history with 536 wins and became the first skipper to guide the team to consecutive Postseason appearances, in 1999 and 2000 — a run that culminated in a trip to the World Series in 2000. Known for his innovation, baseball intellect and relentless pursuit of every competitive edge, Bobby V left a lasting mark on the Mets organization."
Mazzilli, a 70-year-old Brooklyn native, was one of the Mets’ most popular players from his rookie campaign in 1976 through 1981 in what was his first stint in Queens.
He earned an All-Star Game nod in 1979, during a season when he hit .303/.395/.449 and had an .844 OPS.
In August of the 1986 season, the Mets brought Mazzilli back after his stint with the Pirates ended, and he was an important cog for the team down the stretch and in the playoffs. Mazzilli singled to ignite New York’s sixth-inning rally that tied Game 7 of the World Series against the Red Sox.
Mazzilli remained with the Mets until the middle of the 1989 season.
"Lee was drafted by the Mets as an 18-year-old prospect out of Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn," said the Cohens. "He debuted three years later for the 1976 Mets. He quickly became a fan favorite during the late 70s and hit the first home run by a Met during an All-Star Game in 1979. Mazz returned to the Mets in 1986 and became a key contributor off the bench for the World Championship team, delivering clutch hits in the most crucial moments."
The Calgary Flames will add a fresh dose of skill and energy to their lineup tonight, as forward Rory Kerins is set to draw in against the San Jose Sharks after being recalled from the AHL on Thursday.
Kerins has been one of the Wranglers’ most reliable producers to start the season, posting 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists) in 13 games, placing him eighth in AHL scoring. The 23-year-old credits a strong, consistent start for the confidence he brings into his return to the NHL.
“I feel like I’ve been pretty consistent down there… I feel good about my game and confident.”
Kerins is projected to skate alongside Nazem Kadri and Joel Farabee - as reported by Sportsnet 960’s Pat Steinberg - a trio that has the potential to form one of Calgary’s more dynamic offensive lines. With the Flames in clear need of scoring support, the opportunity arrives at an ideal time.
This isn’t Kerins’ first look with the big club. Despite limited NHL action last season, he made an impression—four assists in five games, finishing plus-3, and showing notable poise for a 2020 sixth-round pick. His track record suggests that his upward trajectory is no fluke.
The offensive instincts have been there for years. His final OHL season with the Soo Greyhounds remains a defining example: 118 points (43g, 75a) in 67 games, a breakout display of elite vision and playmaking ability.
He carried that momentum into last year with the Wranglers, scoring a career-high 33 goals and leading the team with 61 points, further reinforcing his status as one of Calgary’s most intriguing young assets.
Now, the question shifts to whether he can hold down a spot in the NHL. The Flames, battling for consistency and searching for an offensive spark, could certainly use someone with Kerins’ creativity and pace. This recall provides him with a legitimate opening—one he’s been working toward for years.
If his development curve is any indication, Kerins may be stepping into the right role at the right moment.
The Detroit Red Wings are nearing the quarter mark of their centennial season, which has featured a notable youth movement.
Four rookies have already appeared in multiple games so far. Forwards Emmitt Finnie and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, along with defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka, earned roster spots thanks to strong performances in both training camp and the preseason.
Although Brandsegg-Nygård was eventually returned to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins after nine NHL games, Detroit soon called up Nate Danielson, making him the fourth rookie to skate with the club this season.
Danielson, Detroit's first pick (ninth overall) in the opening round of the 2023 Draft, likely would have made the team out of Training Camp had it not been for an injury.
During his NHL debut on Sunday afternoon, he fired four shots on goal while playing in 15:16 of total ice time as part of Detroit's 5-1 setback against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks while centering the third line.
Following Thursday’s morning skate, Danielson said the biggest difference he’s noticed between the AHL and the NHL is just how thin the margin for error is, as mistakes at the NHL level can cost your team far more quickly than in the AHL.
"The most challenging is just the execution. I feel like it's a fine line, up here if you make a mistake, it'll probably be capitalized on and end up in the back of your net, whereas in the AHL it might not be," Danielson said. "Just a fine line with that, and I think it's pretty easy to come since (I had) a good Training Camp and do all the same stuff down in Grand Rapids."
Danielson then said that he's leaned on advice from some of the older veterans on the team, all of whom have made the transition for him coming from the Griffins a smooth one.
"For sure, they're all super good about it," Danielson said about his Red Wings teammates. "Everyone's been super helpful with me in making the transition easy."
Danielson, who previously played in the WHL for both the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Portland Winterhawks, spent his first full AHL season in 2024–25 with the Griffins. He scored 12 goals and added 27 assists in 71 regular-season games, then added a goal in three Calder Cup Playoff appearances.
Before being called up to the Red Wings, Danielson already contributed a goal with four assists in five games with the Griffins so far this season.
Following practice earlier this week, head coach Todd McLellan pointed to the offensive struggles of some players on the Red Wings roster combined with Danielson's strong Training Camp as the reasons behind his promotion.
“Danny’s here because he played really well at Training Camp,” McLellan said. “We have some players that are struggling right now, and we thought he could inject a little life and some enthusiasm into the team and maybe provide us with some offense. He’s earned the right to do that after training camp."
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The Grand Rapids Griffins announced Thursday that they have signed veteran goaltender Dustin Tokarski to a professional tryout (PTO), adding a seasoned presence in net as the team battles through injury troubles at the position.
Tokarski, 36, was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the fifth round (122nd overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot goaltender has built a 16-year professional career, appearing in 444 AHL games and 86 NHL contests since making his debut in the 2009–10 season. He is best remembered for his standout performance with the Montreal Canadiens during the 2013–14 campaign, when he started five playoff games against the New York Rangers, posting a 2–3 record with an impressive 2.60 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. That run included a memorable highlight, a spectacular stick save on New York’s Carl Hagelin.
Last season, Tokarski appeared in six NHL games with the Carolina Hurricanes, compiling a 4-2-0 record with a 2.18 goals-against average (GAA) and a .902 save percentage. He spent most of the campaign in the AHL with Chicago, posting an 11-8-1 record, 2.84 GAA, and .897 save percentage.
A two-time Calder Cup champion (2012 Norfolk, 2019 Charlotte), Tokarski also competed in the 2013-14 AHL All-Star Game and led the league in wins (32) during the 2011-12 season with Norfolk. Over his AHL career, he owns a 227-154-41 record with 30 shutouts, a 2.58 GAA, and a .910 save percentage, having suited up for Norfolk, Syracuse, Hamilton, St. John’s, San Diego, Lehigh Valley, Hartford, Charlotte, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Rochester, and Chicago.
At the NHL level, Tokarski has played for Tampa Bay, Montreal, Anaheim, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Carolina, compiling a 27-36-12 record with three shutouts, a 3.08 GAA, and a .902 save percentage in 86 regular-season games.
Before turning pro, Tokarski was a standout in the junior ranks, finishing as a WHL champion (2008) and Memorial Cup champion (2008) with the Spokane Chiefs, where he was named the Memorial Cup Most Outstanding Goaltender and won the Stafford Smythe Trophy as tournament MVP. Internationally, Tokarski captured gold with Team Canada at the 2009 World Junior Championships.
The move comes as the Griffins continue to navigate injuries to both of their regular goaltenders, Sebastian Cossa and Michal Postava. In recent weeks, Grand Rapids has experimented with short-term tryouts to stabilize the crease, including signing goaltender Luke Pavicich to a PTO. Pavicich did not see any game action behind ECHL call-up Carter Gylander and was later released from his tryout, returning to the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings.
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Dallas Mavericks star Klay Thompson voiced his objection to a former NBA player using a derogatory term in reference to Thompson's girlfriend, rapper Megan Thee Stallion. (Jordan Strauss / Invision / Associated Press; LM Otero / Associated Press)
Jason Williams was discussing Thompson's shooting struggles this season with his "Hoopin' N Hollerin'" co-hosts, fellow ex-NBA player Patrick Beverley and Barstool Sports personality Rone.
Thompson, who won four NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors, is 35 and playing in his 13th NBA season, not counting the two-plus seasons he missed from 2019 to 2021 while recovering from tears to the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and his right Achilles tendon.
His team, the Dallas Mavericks, has struggled to the second-worst record (3-9) in the Western Conference and fired general manager Nico Harrison.
Nonetheless, Thompson's relationship with the Grammy-winning hip-hop star was mentioned as a possible explanation for his career-low statistics (8.5 points per game, 32% shooting). The couple went public with their relationship in the offseason, and the "Not My Fault" singer has attended multiple Mavericks games since then.
Williams used an explicit term for female genitalia to make his point.
“I’m from West Virginia, man. I’ve been taught a lot by some old folks, old white folks. They say p—’s powerful," Williams said. "They say it’s so powerful … it only takes one ... to drag a battleship across a desert, that’s how powerful it is.
"Klay Thompson — I ain’t saying that’s what it is, but that might be what it is. That ain’t taking nothing away from Megan Thee Stallion. She might be a great girl, great for him. But I don’t know if she’s great for the shot."
A video clip of the discussion — that added a graphic that featured a photo of Thompson and Megan Thee Stallion together and the caption "What's going on with Klay Thompson?" — was posted to the podcast's Instagram account. Thompson called out the show's hosts in the post's comment section.
"Referring to my GF as a 'p—' is so disgusting and disturbing," Thompson wrote. "Especially from someone who played in the NBA . How would yall feel if I referred to your wives in such a way ? ...
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes talks to reporters during the DodgerFest baseball event at Dodger Stadium in Feb. 2024. (Richard Vogel / Associated Press)
After back-to-back winters in which they aggressively pursued the free-agent market, the early signs this offseason suggest the Dodgers could explore a different path.
They have not materialized as the kind of clear-cut frontrunner for top free-agent prize Kyle Tucker, as many around the industry had expected over the summer.
They have downplayed their few areas of potential roster “need,” touting their returning talent and internal depth instead.
While they have staked out a few early targets in free agency — specifically in the bullpen, where back-end relievers Devin Williams and Raisel Iglesias have emerged as two names of interest, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly — they could nonetheless be hesitant to add another longer-term contract to their already aging core.
Even with more than $60 million coming off the books from last year’s payroll, their focus “is less about how do we just spend money,” general manager Brandon Gomes said at this week’s annual general managers’ meetings, “and it's much more about who's available in the market, whether that's free agency or otherwise, to make this team as good as possible to try to win a third [World Series] in a row.”
That “otherwise” might be where the Dodgers best line up to make impact moves this winter.
The trade market, given the current state of their roster, could better suit both their near- and long-term goals.
In the short term, the team could use an outfielder. While Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernández will occupy two starting spots in that position group, others behind them on the depth chart, like deadline acquisition Alex Call and recently promoted minor-leaguer Ryan Ward, might be used in more of platoon roles. And after watching Michael Conforto struggle in left field last year, finding a more established upgrade would certainly help the Dodgers’ three-peat quest.
That’s why the Dodgers were seen as such a logical fit for Tucker coming into the offseason. After their exorbitant spending the last couple winters, even his potentially $400 million to $500 million price tag didn’t seem out of their range.
The Dodgers, however, already have five players in their 30s signed to contracts that could extend into the 2030s.
They also have a burgeoning crop of outfield prospects — highlighted by Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Eduardo Quintero and James Tibbs III — who are on track to break into the big leagues by 2027, if not the end of next season.
Those are the kind of circumstances that disincentivize additional lucrative, long-term deals; especially for a Dodgers franchise that remains focused on keeping its championship window open as long as possible.
"I think it's always a balance of, how do you win this year without falling off that cliff [later down the line]?” Gomes said, echoing a common refrain of top executive Andrew Friedman.
This winter, the trade market could be the answer, presenting opportunities to add impact players in the present without incurring the same kind of long-term financial risk and commitment.
There is utilityman Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals, whom the Dodgers were linked to at last year’s trade deadline and would add further versatility to their roster (all while making just over $5 million in salary and coming with two more years of team control).
There is, potentially, Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians, a splashier name who is less likely to move, but is considered one of the best left fielders in the sport (and also projected for a relatively modest $9-million salary with free agency still two years away).
There is a glut of other possibilities around the league, as well — especially for pitching-hungry teams like, for example, the Boston Red Sox, whose overabundance of outfield depth could prompt Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu to be available in exchange for young arms.
The Dodgers and their top-ranked farm system have that in spades. Their crop of young arms could be a key area for them to deal from in any potential offseason trades. It's the kind of valuable trade bait that few other contenders could easily match.
The Dodgers would still be selective, of course, all-too-aware of the fact that preserving pitching depth will be crucial coming off the burdensome toll of consecutive World Series.
They won’t be entirely punting on the free-agent market, either.
Bullpen additions remain a priority, whether it be Williams or Iglesias (whom the Dodgers would likely prefer on shorter-term deals), or a pivot to another option depending on how their markets develop (there will be plenty, including past trade targets Pete Fairbanks and Ryan Helsley).
And while Tucker doesn’t seem to fit their plans, there could be other free-agent options to consider. Familiar face Cody Bellinger is the next best outfield bat, and could also slide to first base later in an extended contract (mitigating some of his long-term risks). Harrison Bader is someone who was on the Dodgers’ radar at last year’s deadline, and could be had on a shorter-term deal.
For now, the trade market seems like a place the Dodgers could do their primary shopping this winter; providing a potential middle ground for them to bolster next year’s roster, while preserving some flexibility in the seasons to follow.
