Pedro Neto’s hat-trick and Liam Delap’s hat-trick of assists made for Liam Rosenior’s happy Hull return
Hull have been a considerable talent school in recent years: Harry Maguire, Jarrod Bowen, Andy Robertson and lately Keane Lewis-Potter have all carved decent careers in the Premier League. Tom Cairney, too.
Liam Rosenior has FA Cup heritage, and played in this Wembley final classic in 2014. City were unlucky in this game, very unlucky.
Continue reading...PISA, Italy (AP) — Luka Modrić scored a late winner for AC Milan to beat Pisa 2-1 and close the gap on Serie A leader Inter Milan to five points on Friday.
Inter plays fourth-placed Juventus on Saturday.
Milan had drawn three of its last six games, including against struggling Fiorentina and Genoa, and made heavy work of a match against the second-from-bottom club that had won only one league game all season.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek got the opener just before halftime when he rose unmarked to head home a cross from the right, and Niclas Füllkrug missed a penalty as Milan took control after a slow start.
However, Pisa threatened to dent the visitor’s title hopes when Felipe Loyola equalized with 20 minutes left.
Former Tottenham and Real Madrid midfielder Modrić came to Milan’s rescue six minutes from time when he stole into the box and poked home the winner.
There was still time for Milan’s Adrien Rabiot to be sent off but no more time for goals and Massimiliano Allegri’s men celebrated an important three points.
Pisa was equal on points with Verona. Fiorentina was three above both teams and Lecce another three points clear.
The Milan teams meet in the city derby at the San Siro on March 8.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
“Bear with me, please…”
He pitched in one of the most thrilling games of the postseason, throwing one perfect inning in the victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that sent the Dodgers to the World Series.
Nine days later, his newborn daughter died.
Four months later, in a halting six-minute address punctuated by deep breaths and stifled sobs, Alex Vesia publicly bared his battered soul.
Read more:Plaschke: Start talking three-peat! Dave Roberts believes these Dodgers can be better than ever
“ I was not prepared to not bring my baby girl home, but we’re carrying her with us every day…”
Meeting with the media at Camelback Ranch on the first day of spring training Friday, Vesia took no questions, instead reading from a statement off his phone while battling the effects of the tragedy that was his daughter Sterling’s death two days after the start of the World Series.
“The lessons we’ve learned from this is that life can change in an instant. Ten minutes is all it took….”
Vesia had allowed two runs in seven postseason appearances, including five scoreless appearances in the heart of the playoffs. He was going to be a big factor against the Toronto Blue Jays, until the unthinkable happened, and he immediately disappeared into his nightmare.
“I can’t think of anything worse,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
While the Dodgers were competing for an unthinkable second consecutive championship, Vesia was mourning an unimaginable loss. While the Dodgers were ultimately bathed in cheers, he and wife Kayla were awash in agony.
“Sterling Sol was the most beautiful girl in the world…we got to hold her, change her diaper, read to her, and love her… Our time together was far too short.”
For all the emotion that enveloped the Dodgers postseason, it turns out none of it could compare to the private hell endured by one of their own. As he spoke Friday, it became clear why Vesia is such a valued member of this group. He could barely get through his statement, yet he took deep breaths and didn’t stop talking. He couldn’t pitch in the most important games of the year, yet he put his pain aside and wouldn’t stop cheering.
“Stepping away from the team, and the brothers I go to war with every day, was difficult. But it was also an easy decision, because my family needed me. We still watched every pitch of the World Series, and for us, in so many ways, that was a light in our darkness.”
While the public was unaware of the scope of his pain — one day before the World Series began, the Dodgers announced that he had left the team for a “deeply personal family matter” — every player knew the details, and reacted with a giant embrace.
The Dodgers wore Vesia’s number 51 on their caps. Soon, so did the Blue Jays relievers in an inspiring show of solidarity.
“When Kay and I were watching the World Series, we noticed that there was (No.) 51 on Louie Varland's hat. I immediately texted Gus Varland, his brother, and I asked him if I was seeing that correctly. He texted me back right away and he said, 'The Varlands love you dude. The whole Toronto bullpen has it too. It's bigger than baseball. We love you all.' Kay and I… we were very emotional. We were super overwhelmed with emotion.”
That emotion was evident in a different way on Friday, with a newly muscle-bound Vesia throwing darts in a breathtaking bullpen session. His vacancy was nicely filled in the World Series by Will Klein and Justin Wrobleski, who combined to throw 10 scoreless innings. But this team will need Vesia this season as an important set-up man for Edwin Díaz, and are counting on him to remain his strong self.
“ I do think getting back to what he loves to do and play baseball, that's something therapeutic for him,” said Roberts.
Vesia agreed. The road back from grief is often a long and rocky one, but as he hugged teammates and the relaxed spring moment Friday, he had hope.
“Having something to look forward to has helped me. The gym has been my mental clarity. Being around the guys again, preparing for spring training, it’s been really nice. Gotten a lot of love so far in the clubhouse, and being able to laugh and joke around, that’s been really nice for me.”
While Vesia’s statement was wracked with sorrow, it was also filled with gratitude. He found time to thank the Dodgers, the Blue Jays and most notably, the fans.
Yes, all of you who reached out to him, he heard you, and he is thankful for you. This includes the Rams, who even sent him an autographed jersey as a sign of their support.
“"The outpouring of love and support Kay and I have had over the past few months has been unmatched. We're both grateful to not only Dodger nation, but the fans worldwide. My DMs, messages, my DMs are basically broken on Instagram from all the love and support that we've had. I've tried to read all the comments and everything just because it's meant the world, really.”
Read more:Kiké Hernández is back with the Dodgers, agreeing to terms on eve of spring training
At the end of his statement, Vesia put his fist over his heart, wobbled for a second, and it looked like he was going to faint before he staggered away.
Remember this on opening day. Remember the courage required of Alex Vesia to make this kind of public showing. Remember how he handled his greatest trauma with the sort of strength and conviction that has made these Dodgers one of the greatest teams in baseball history.
Do they give standing ovations to middle relievers?
They do now.
Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The veteran ace checked off the first box on his lengthy spring training to-do list, completing a long-awaited bullpen session on Friday with a new over-the-head windup that produced mid-90s fastballs.
Nearly a year removed from Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss the 2025 season, Cole called his workout "pretty good," insisting that a return to pinstripes in May or June remains the target date after conversations with the club and doctors.
No surprise, Boone echoed Cole's optimism. After all, he recently hinted at the possibility of the 35-year-old pitching in Grapefruit League games before camp wraps up in late March, and right now the plan is for Cole to face hitters in the coming weeks.
But they won't put him at risk of a setback -- they're prioritizing long-term goals.
"The last thing we want to do is push him early in the season, just because he looks like he does now," Boone said. "We want to make sure we give him the proper time to make sure he's good and ready to come back. Built-up in a smart way. We won't rush that with him, even if continues to go incredibly well."
The Yankees can't afford to put Cole in harm's way. In spite of his diligent routine and body awareness, questions and concerns about his health are now warranted.
After earning AL Cy Young honors in 2023, Cole missed the first half of 2024 with elbow inflammation, finishing the year with a 3.41 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 17 starts (95.0 innings).
To his credit, he also produced a laudable 0.71 ERA across two World Series games against the Dodgers. Boone doesn't see why Cole can't resemble a frontline starter once again.
"I'm not going to put anything past Gerrit," Boone said. "He's so good at his craft. Again, the success rate on these surgeries is usually pretty good. And the way his rehab process has gone, would lend itself to him returning to form... I'm not going to put any ceiling on what Gerrit can do once he's back in the rotation."
While the Yankees anticipate Anthony Volpe to miss at least April following offseason shoulder surgery, there's a window for utilityman Jose Caballero to grab hold of the starting shortstop role and eventually create some competition.
Caballero, acquired from the Rays before the trade deadline last season, slashed .266/.372/.456 with 15 stolen bases across 95 regular-season plate appearances for the Yankees. His career offensive metrics suggest a dip in production is coming, but his athleticism and attitude excite Boone.
"He's just a real gritty, gamer, tough, competitive, scrappy out at the plate," Boone said. "We like that about him. We like what he brings to the table. Does the short game well, can hit behind a runner, can bunt and bunt for a hit. Obviously the basestealing part of things, the defensive versatility...
"He's definitely good enough to play [shortstop]. He has that utility label, and rightfully so, because he really can go play a lot of positions well. But that doesn't mean he can't legit play shortstop too, because he can. Looking forward to seeing him out there regularly to start the year, we'll see where it takes us."
The second-year starter didn't express any concern with minor mid-back inflammation he revealed on Thursday, and considering that he did some light tossing on the back fields on Friday, his throwing program shouldn't be altered for long.
"He kind of brushes it off, like, no biggie," Boone said of Schlittler. "Hopefully this is something that, slowing him down, serves him well in the total build-up. I think it will. We'll see how the next day or two unfolds, just when he gets back on the mound. Hopefully pretty quick."
The Yankees recently agreed to a minor-league deal with the veteran right-hander that includes an invite to big league camp. He spent the 2025 season with the Astros, Braves, and Tigers, logging a 4.48 ERA across 59 appearances. He also struck out 58, but walked 37.
At the moment, the Yankees' high-leverage bullpen spots belong to closer David Bednar and set-up man Camilo Doval, with Fernando Cruz and Tim Hill ranking behind.
Boone likes the pitching competition entering camp, and believes Montero has the tools and experience to earn an Opening Day roster spot.
"I've talked about our pitching depth, all the way to the starters to non-roster invites," Boone said. "Bringing a guy like Montero in, with obviously a ton of experience. Had a lot of success, had some success last year. There's some things we really liked he was doing last year. Maybe some small adjustments we can make to help him."
One of the best things in sports is when heroes turn out to be the most unlikely candidates.
For Max Muncy and Miguel Rojas, they were the heroes needed as the Dodgers beat the Blue Jays for their second consecutive World Series last November.
In the pivotal Game 7, Muncy got things going when he hit a 373-foot solo home run in the eighth inning that cut their deficit to one. That breathed life back into the Dodgers, who at that point were floundering on the road.
Known more for his defense than offense, Rojas became a folk hero of Dodgers lore when he hit a game-tying solo blast in the top of the ninth inning. He then followed that up with a game-saving defensive play in the bottom half of the inning when he snared a hard-hit ball and threw out Isiah Kiner-Falefa at home to keep the game tied at four.
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Will Smith would later hit a solo home run in the 11th inning as the Dodgers prevailed for their third title in five years with a 5-4 win.
As spring training gets underway at Camelback Ranch in Arizona, Dodgers fans gave a loud ovation when Rojas and Muncy walked by them toward the practice fields.
World Series heroes Miguel Rojas and Max Muncy were met with tons of love as they arrived to Spring Training today.
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) February 13, 2026
The Dodgers aren’t back to back World Series champions without these two and they made sure to bless them with new contractspic.twitter.com/ELbgsvVk2H
Dodgers Nation always celebrates its heroes — and never forgets the ones who matter most.
DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund beat Mainz 4-0 to extend its unbeaten league run to 15 games and close the gap with Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich to three points on Friday.
The result, anchored by three first-half headers, left Dortmund three points behind Bayern, which is at Werder Bremen on Saturday.
Although its European form has been poor, Dortmund has been the form team in the Bundesliga and came into the game having won its last five in a row; it showed precisely why by overwhelming Mainz from the kickoff.
Serhou Guirassy’s perfect header from a free kick on the right after nine minutes set Dortmund on the winning path and six minutes later it was 2-0.
Again, the damage came from a cross from the right and a header, Maximilian Beier meeting Ryerson’s delivery at the far post.
Guirassy rounded off a near perfect half of football when his header almost on the goalline made it 3-0 shortly before halftime.
Dortmund was able to take its foot off the gas in the second half but there was still time for a fourth when Ramy Bensebaini nudged a corner into the net nine minutes from time.
It was a rude awakening for a Mainz side that appeared to have put its early season struggles behind it over the last few weeks.
Last weekend’s win against Augsburg lifted it out the relegation zone for the first time since September. Friday’s defeat left it 14th, four points above the drop zone but only two clear of Wolfsburg and Werder, both of which have a game in hand.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Hello baseball fans, the hours are ticking down to the start of the 2026 baseball season. I haven’t covered baseball in several years, but it feels less gross than other college sports at the moment. While basketball and football are imploding, baseball keeps chugging along (don’t tell me if I’m wrong about this, I need to believe).
Let’s get after it.
Bats/Throws: R/R
2024 – 25 Stats
| Team | ST | AVG | OPS | R | H | HR | RBI |
| Clemson | 51 | .271 | .745 | 26 | 51 | 5 | 39 |
Info
The former Big 10 Freshman of the Year from Purdue struggled to find his groove at Clemson last season. There’s been buzz around Tiger Town this winter that Gafney looks like he’s back to his Boilermaker ways. He hit .359 with 13 home runs as a freshman. If he’s back in form, look for Gaffney somewhere in the middle of the Clemson lineup. In theory, he’s one of the scariest bats on the roster. Hopefully, that theory becomes a reality for the Tigers this season.
Gaffney is a solid athlete and can play right field or behind the plate if needed, but first base will be his initial station. Clemson’s infield is going to be extremely athletic.
Bats/Throws: R/R
2024 – 25 Stats
| Team | ST | AVG | OPS | R | H | HR | RBI |
| Clemson | 57 | .298 | .879 | 54 | 62 | 6 | 35 |
Info
As a returning team captain from the 2025 squad, much is expected of Purify this season. His game is built around speed and athleticism, and he’s got both in spades. He’s a line-drive hitter who knows what to do once he gets on the basepaths and should be a top-of-the-order hitter.
While Purify is an excellent hitter, he’s an even better fielder. He has great range for a second baseman and is slick in the double play.
Bats/Throws: L/R
| Team | ST | AVG | OPS | R | H | HR | RBI |
| Clemson | 27 | .287 | .903 | 23 | 27 | 5 | 19 |
Info
McCladdie is the Swiss Army Knife in the Clemson lineup. He’ll start at third, but he can play anywhere other than pitcher and catcher, and he’ll be deployed accordingly. He had the fewest starts of any infielder in Clemson’s 2026 projected starting lineup, but he did lead the Tigers in games off the bench last season due to his versatility.
Regardless of where he’s playing on the field, he’s a tough left-handed outfielder with decent power for his rather diminutive size. Like Lichtenberger, he could feature at either the top or bottom of the lineup because of his ability to get on base.
Bats/Throws: L/R
| Team | ST | AVG | OPS | R | H | HR | RBI |
| App St. | 53 | .341 | .879 | 40 | 70 | 3 | 37 |
Info
Tyler is the new addition to the infield after a stellar freshman season at Appalachian State, where he earned Sun Belt Conference Freshman-of-the-Year award and first team all-conference honors. He’s a solid contact hitter from the left side of the plate and could slot in at the top or bottom of the lineup, depending on what Coach Backich is looking for on any given day. He failed to reach base in only 6 games last season and has solid speed once he gets on.
He’s a plus defender and should give the Tigers solid defense up the middle of the field with Jarren Purify. Clemson could have one of the better double-play combinations in the ACC if everything works out according to plan, and Lichtenberger moves seamlessly into the lineup.
Make sure to check out our partners over at Section 103 if you’re still looking for a gift for that special someone this weekend. Use our promo code STS10 for 10% off your next order. You can never have too many orange polos!
| Team | ST | AVG | OPS | R | H | HR | RBI |
| Clemson | 57 | .240 | .887 | 36 | 41 | 12 | 52 |
Info
Priest is built like a tight end. When he hits the ball, the ball stays hit. Unfortunately, Priest didn’t make as much contact with the ball as he would have liked last season after transferring from Michigan. He hit .279 with a .578 slugging percentage as a freshman with the Wolverines. Hopefully, the ball finds his bat a few more times this season.
Considered the 37th-best overall freshman in the 2026 class by Perfect Game and the 86th-best freshman in the nation by D1Baseball. He’s considered one of the best professional prospects on the team and has the type of power that could make a difference in the Clemson lineup if it’s calibrated to college pitching.
Fultz is the talent, and the one thing I know about coaching is you get your talent on the field. Look for him to displace the versatile McCladdie at third sooner, rather than later.
Harrison joins Fultz as one of the highest-rated prospects in the 2026 freshman class. Perfect Game Baseball considers him the 21st-best prospect in the 2028 draft. He’s considered more of a pro prospect in the field than on the mound, but Clemson will give him an opportunity to do both. Like Fultz, he’s got dynamite in his bat when he makes contact.
Heading into his third season in the program, Dillard is ready to make his mark in the 2026 season after playing in 18 games and starting 5 last season. I’m not sure about the rest of his game, but he’s patient at the plate, drawing 6 walks in 16 plate appearances. He’s a plus fielder who should provide solid depth up the middle for the Tigers.
I’m far from an expert on this roster (yet), but based on my research, I’m excited to see what the Tigers can do with these pieces. Can the veterans hold off the young bucks for their spot in the starting lineup? Harrison and Fultz are the future of the program, and the future could be now if any of the projected starters falter.
The defense should be elite; if they can get the power guys to produce, things could get exciting on the basepaths in Tiger Town.
NBA All-Star Weekend is here, and this year the league has bigger problems than superstars not trying in an exhibition game. The moral panic over tanking has reached a fever pitch ahead of a loaded 2026 NBA Draft, and it seems unlikely that the USA vs. The World format for Sunday’s showcase game will be much of a distraction from basketball’s bigger problems.
Before the 2026 NBA All-Star Game kicks off from the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers, the Intuit Dome, on Sunday, the league is gathering for another rendition of All-Star Saturday featuring the Dunk Contest and the Three-Point Shootout.
The Dunk Contest has fallen on hard times as of late, and once again there’s a disappointing field of participants. Mac McClung isn’t around to save the dunk contest this year, but there is one NBA All-Star in the field. Meanwhile, the Three-Point Contest features two top rookies, plus an aging superstar who hasn’t played a game this season because of an injury. Let’s make predictions for the dunk and three-point contests ahead of All-Star Saturday.
Here’s the field at the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest:
Our pick: Jaxson Hayes. It’s hard for a big man to win the dunk contest, but I saw Hayes an under-the-leg in-game a couple weeks ago, so I figure he’s got a deep bag for a contest like this. He’s so long and bouncy that could produce some cool dunks.
Here’s the field for the 2026 NBA Three-Point Contest:
Our pick: Jamal Murray. Murray always rises to the occasion. I think he’ll be looking to prove himself in his first ever All-Star Weekend, and that starts by ripping the nights on Saturday night.
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Thanks to Luka Dončić’s best effort to recover from his hamstring strain, it appears likely that he will be representing the Lakers in the All-Star Game on Sunday.
Luka dealt with a hamstring strain for more than a week that caused him to miss the last four Lakers games before the All-Star break.
While he was out for LA’s game against Dallas, he was seen pregame getting shots up.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, that workout went well and Luka playing this weekend is still the plan.
Throughout the duration of Luka’s injury, he has reportedly remained hopeful that he could play in the All-Star Game, and it appears his efforts have not been in vain.
Initially, the Lakers believed this injury was minor and his status was day-to-day.
Before the Lakers took on the Mavs, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Luka was expected to return after the All-Star break. It seems that timeline is accurate and Luka will even play in this weekend’s signature contest.
Also important to note that Stein reports Luka will play a short stint. Even in an All-Star Game that few take seriously, there is risk for injury. So, it’d be wise for Luka to take it easy and just play for a moment so fans can celebrate their local star.
This will be Luka’s first time participating in the All-Star Game as a Laker.
Dončić was the top vote-getter in the NBA, and with the festivities taking place in Los Angeles, he will be one of the biggest stars this weekend.
Luka is having one of the best years of his career, averaging a league-high 32.8points per game. He will represent and play for Team World in this new All-Star format.
Lakers fans will also have other players to root for this weekend with LeBron James and Jaxson Hayes representing the purple and gold. LeBron made the All-Star team as a reserve, and Hayes will participate in the Slam Dunk Contest.
Luka’s return is great news. It means he should be good to go once the Lakers begin regular-season play, and it’s another example of how much he loves the game and wants to give back to his fans.
He worked hard to return as quickly as possible, and barring a setback, it seems he’ll be on the court Sunday as the NBA celebrates its biggest stars.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
The new format for the 2026 All-Star Game throws MVP betting into chaos. As much as betting on the best player, a smart gambler identifies which team is likely to win the event. Thus, before even pondering Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards and Kevin Durant, the round-robin format must be considered.
The "World" team should be a shoe-in for the championship game. Of the NBA's MVP candidates, the "World" team may feature ... all of them. Combining Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama is a bit of a cheat code, certainly in a 12-minute game where fatigue should not be an issue.
Of the two U.S. teams, the "Stripes" are veteran-laden. LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard should capitalize on one last chance to team up. Favor the team heavy with Olympic gold medalists, all due respect to the "Stars" and Anthony Edwards and Devin Booker.
| Result | |
|---|---|
| LeBron James to Win | Trade at Kalshi |
Our prediction: LeBron James to win
This may be LeBron James' last All-Star Game. The 12-minute games should allow him to run without tiring, and those runs should lead to a few highlight-worthy dunks.
Getting the chance to bet James at effectively 19-to-1 odds is too delightful a chance to turn down, particularly if trusting "Stripes" to reach the final.
Victor Wembanyama may be the clear favorite, but everyone in the NBA will defer to King James if the vibe takes hold.
Betting on the NBA All-Star Game MVP Award at Kalshi is simple: If you want to wager on Victor Wembanyama to win, you'll "invest" in his stock at 23 cents in the hopes of winning $1 when the market is settled.
Each market is priced based on implied probability, which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using the Covers odds converter.
Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts" which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Eagles win this Sunday?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.
In a sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker, who sets fixed odds and takes a "vig," which is a kind of commission. On Kalshi, you trade against other users. This peer-to-peer model means prices are driven by supply and demand, often resulting in fairer odds. Additionally, because these are financial derivatives, you can exit your position early. If your team takes a 14-point lead, the contract price will rise, allowing you to sell your "Yes" shares for a profit before the final whistle even blows.
Kalshi offers four unique advantages over traditional sportsbooks:
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Bad Bunny offered to pay Carlos Correa’s insurance for the World Baseball Classic.
Major League Baseball, the Astros and his agent, Scott Boras, told the Astros infielder to think again.
“They all told me it was a bad idea,” Correa told The Athletic. “They all told me the insurance company that was proposed to me had cases where they were not paying players back. Since it was not approved by MLB, not approved by the organization and not approved by my agent, I could not sign my life away with something that three people that I trust are telling me not to do.”
Correa, one of several players not cleared to play in the tournament, still expressed his appreciation for Bad Bunny’s offer.
“It means a lot that he’s that involved,” Correa said of his countryman. “He tried to do everything possible … I’m deeply grateful that he tried that hard.”
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, offered to pay the insurance for Mets star Francisco Lindor, who was also denied by National Financial Partners, which is the insurer for the WBC.
Team Puerto Rico was hit hard by insurance issues, with Blue Jays right-hander José Berríos and Twins catcher Victor Caratini also not being cleared.
So much so, that the team was nearly forced to withdraw from the tournament.
Puerto Rico will host the first round of the WBC in San Juan from March 6-11 in a pool that also includes Canada, Colombia, Cuba and Panama.
The wave of insurance denials comes after a wave of high-profile injuries during the most recent tournament.
Ex-Mets closer Edwin Díaz missed the entire 2023 season after suffering a harrowing right knee injury in that year’s WBC.
Jose Altuve also broke his thumb in that year’s event, which took him out for several months.
The Mets made a low-risk addition last week, bringing in MJ Melendez on a one-year split contract.
Melendez was once among the top prospects in baseball and only sat behind Bobby Witt Jr. in the Royals’ system, but he hasn’t been able to find his footing in the majors to this point.
The former second-round pick hit just .083 last year before being demoted by the Royals.
He did, however, enjoy another strong offensive showing down in the minors, which is why the Mets believe he still has some upside left in that left-handed bat of his.
Melendez had 20 home runs, 20 stolen bases, 33 doubles, and a .813 OPS in 107 Triple-A games.
“I think there’s more in the tank,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He’s coming off a couple of down years, but I remember when he first came into the league he was a pretty good player -- he’s going to get an opportunity here.”
The best offensive showing of Melendez’s professional career came in 2021, when he hit 41 homers and drove in 103 runs between Double-A and Triple-A.
While he’s struck out a ton, he has shown flashes of that big-time pop in the majors.
The other big thing the Mets value about Melendez is the versatility he brings.
Melendez came up through the Royals' system as a catcher, but was forced to move to the outfield with veteran captain Salvador Perez holding down the position at the big-league level.
He's seen time at both corner outfield spots, first base, and third base over the years.
The 27-year-old does have a minor league option left, but if he's able to tap into some of that upside, he could provide the Mets with outfield insurance -- in case youngster Carson Benge isn’t ready -- or serve as an emergency third catcher in a pinch.
“I’m excited to have him,” Mendoza said.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Bad Bunny really wanted to see Carlos Correa play for Puerto Rico at home in the World Baseball Classic.
Correa, the infielder for the Houston Astros left off the WBC roster over insurance coverage, said Friday that the music superstar and fellow native of Puerto Rico had offered to pay for a policy.
“It means a lot that he’s that involved,” Correa told reporters at the Astros’ spring training complex. “He tried to do everything possible. I wanted to play and make sure that I was going to go out there and play for Team Puerto Rico in Puerto Rico. The fact that he did that means a lot in how much he cares for the country, how much he cares for the fans back home. I’m deeply grateful that he tried that hard.”
Correa, who has a $200 million contract through 2028, had surgery in 2014 to repair a broken right tibia and both San Francisco and the Mets failed to approve his physicals for a contract during the 2022-23 offseason.
While not providing the name of the provider Bad Bunny proposed, Correa said it was one that Major League Baseball, the Astros and Correa’s agent, Scott Boras, did not approve. The infielder said they all told him that it was a bad idea.
“I could not sign my life away with something that three people that I trust are telling me not to do,” Correa said.
Puerto Rico is hosting pool play games in the WBC next month.
Bad Bunny, who was born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is one of the most-streamed artists on the planet. He was the featured halftime performer at the Super Bowl last Sunday, a week after winning album of the year at the 2026 Grammys for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos”, which is the first time an all Spanish-language album took the top prize.
Bad Bunny’s sports representation firm, Rimas Sports, and the MLB Players Association settled a lawsuit last year after the union disciplined the agency over violations of its agent regulations. It revoked the agent certification of Rimas’ William Arroyo and denied certifications of executives Noah Assad and Jonathan Miranda, citing citing a $200,000 interest-free loan and a $19,500 gift. The union issued a $400,000 fine for misconduct. Arbitrator Ruth M. Moscovitch upheld the union’s five-year suspensions of Assad and Miranda and cut Arroyo’s suspension to three years.
The NBA All-Star Break is not the exact halfway point of the season. Most teams have played in the ballpark of 53-55 games, meaning most squads have played nearly 65% of their season. Nonetheless, here we are. No NBA games for the next week as select players are in Los Angeles for the next few days for All-Star week festivities.
With players and coaches having a time to reflect and relax, it’s a fair time to look at the Phoenix Suns’ season so far holistically.
Sitting at 32-23, Phoenix has already surpassed the win total that many sports books and pundits projected for them going into the season, but what grade are you giving the team?
After having a strong start to 2026 and Jordan Ott winning Western Conference coach of the month, the Phoenix Suns have cooled down a bit, going 3-3 through their six games in February, and have continued to hover around the 6th and 7th seeds in the Western Conference standings.
The team hasn’t lost three in a row since October, so they’ve been able to avoid major down stretches. Conversely, the team has just one winning streak of more than five games since November, so while they’ve won more than they’ve lost, they haven’t had a chance to zoom up the standings.
While Devin Booker is heading to his fifth All-Star game, the team has been filled with many surprising performers. Dillon Brooks is having a career year and not just with technical fouls. His 21 points per game is the most he’s averaged in a season for his career, and his 44% shooting from the field is tied for his best percentage of his nine-year NBA resume. Collin Gillespie, who was on a two-way contract a season ago, has turned into a proven starter for the Suns, averaging career bests in points, assists, rebound,s and steals. With his 30-point, 10-assist game last week against the Portland Trailblazers, he joined Devin Booker and Steve Nash as the only Suns to have 8+ assists and 8+ threes in a game.
Mark Williams has already played the most games in a season of his career, and while his scoring is down from previous seasons, he’s shooting a career-high from the field. While Jalen Green and Grayson Allen have been in and out of the lineup, when Allen has played, he’s been having a career season, and Green has not played enough games to make a full assessment of his year on the court.
At the trade deadline, the team mostly stayed pat, trading away Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis in return for Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony, who has yet to report. The move was made to help the team get under the tax for the first time in four seasons. Neither of the players the team traded is playing a big role, and the players they acquired do not look to be typical contributors.
What grade would you give the Suns as a team through 55 games?