Posts

Posted on

Report: Phillies add Gold Glove OF Harrison Bader from Twins for two prospects

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies are acquiring outfielder Harrison Bader for two minor leaguers, a person with direct knowledge of the trade said Thursday, their second deal with the Minnesota Twins in two days after landing closer Jhoan Duran.

The person confirmed the swap to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it was pending a review of medical records. ESPN was first to report it.

The 31-year-old Bader, a 2021 Gold Glove winner, remains a strong defender at all three outfield spots and has 12 home runs, 38 RBIs and a .778 OPS in 96 games. Bader adds another bat to an outfield that has struggled to put up big offensive numbers. He also has postseason experience, playing in five postseason series with the Cardinals, Yankees and Mets with a .809 OPS and five career homers.

The right-handed hitting Bader could fall into a platoon with left-handers Brandon Marsh in center or Max Kepler in left.

The Phillies are sending minor league outfielder Hendry Mendez and right-hander Geremy Villoria to the Twins for Bader.

The Phillies acquired Duran to round out the bullpen a day earlier. He has 16 saves and a 2.01 ERA in 49 appearances this season, striking out 53 in 49 1/3 innings. That deal cost the win-now Phillies a stronger pair of prospects in catcher Eduardo Tait and right-hander Mick Abel.

Philadelphia is battling the New York Mets for the NL East title. The Phillies won the division last year before they were eliminated by the Mets in their NL Division Series.

Posted on

Red Sox settle for Dustin May after missing out on Merrill Kelly, Joe Ryan

Red Sox settle for Dustin May after missing out on Merrill Kelly, Joe Ryan originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The trade deadline roller coaster was a rocky ride for Boston baseball fans on Thursday. But ultimately, after hours of boredom and nerves, they watched the Red Sox swing and miss at their top two targets.

Merrill Kelly? Sorry, he’s now a Texas Ranger.

Last-ditch, desperate efforts to steal the deadline and pony up whatever it costs to land Joe Ryan? No, he’s just about the only member of the Twins roster not on the move.

But perhaps, Red Sox fans, you could be interested in Dustin May?

Ultimately, that’s what Boston was able to get before the deadline bell rang, acquiring the 6-foot-6 May in exchange for James Tibbs III, the outfield prospect whom Boston acquired as part of the return package for Rafael Devers, and fellow outfield prospect Zach Ehrhard. Tibbs ranked fifth on the MLB Pipeline list of Sox prospects, while Ehrhard ranked 27th.

The right-handed May used to be a top young pitcher in baseball before his second Tommy John surgery set his career back in the summer of 2023. 

After missing all of the 2024 season, May returned this year to the Dodgers’ rotation. He’s gone 6-7 with a 4.85 ERA and 1.346 WHIP, a far cry from the 3.10 ERA and 1.049 WHIP he posted from 2019-23.

May previously underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021, which kept him off the mound for more than a year. 

May utilizes a four-pitch mix, heavily relying on a sweeper (41 percent usage rate) and sinker (36 percent). He throws his four-seam fastball just 16 percent of the time, and occasionally mixes in a cutter. He can help fill the fifth spot in the rotation, which has largely been occupied by Richard Fitts (demoted after his last start) and Hunter Dobbins (suffered season-ending knee injury earlier this month) this season, in place of the injured Tanner Houck. But he won’t do much to alter the expectations for a Red Sox team that entered deadline day in the second wild-card spot in the American League.

The Yankees (a game ahead of the Red Sox), Mariners and Rangers (both 1.5 games behind the Red Sox) all made significant additions at the deadline. Division leaders Toronto and Houston also made moves to get better.

The Red Sox got May and Steven Matz.

Red Sox acquire Steven Matz in trade to bolster pitching depth

Making matters more painful for fans who wanted to see the Red Sox get aggressive and make some significant additions in a wide-open American League is the fact that Craig Breslow and Co. reportedly made some strong efforts to land both Kelly and Ryan, only to strike out on both fronts.

The Kelly pursuit seemed reasonable, as the 51-58 Diamondbacks have little use for a 36-year-old starting pitcher who’s due to hit free agency in the winter. And for a stretch, the Red Sox were heavily reported to be in discussions on Kelly. Yet rather swiftly, the Rangers swooped in and offered a package that got the trade done. (The Rangers sent their fifth, ninth and 13th-ranked prospects to Arizona in the deal.)

Yet with time left before the 6 p.m. deadline, Breslow had options. And according to Jon Morosi, he tried to fire up some last-minute talks for Ryan.

Acquiring Ryan — 26 years old, an All-Star for the first time this season, under team control through 2027, a perfect fit as a one-two punch with Garrett Crochet atop the Red Sox’ rotation — would have wiped away all of the frustration fans felt on Thursday. And it would have positioned the Red Sox rather strongly to not just secure a postseason berth for the first time in four years but also to perhaps make some headway toward a return to the World Series once those playoffs got underway.

Alas, that was not to be. Despite the Twins trading away 10 players before the deadline, they could not be convinced to trade Ryan.

For Breslow, this represents a second consecutive disappointing deadline. Last year, with the 57-51 Red Sox sitting 2.5 games out of the final AL wild-card spot, Breslow acquired James Paxton, who much like May was an underperforming Dodgers starter with an ERA close to 5. He also acquired backup catcher Danny Jansen and a trio of relievers — Luis Garcia, Lucas Sims, Quinn Priester. None helped the Red Sox do much of anything. The team went 24-30 in August and September and missed the playoffs by five games.

Matz should provide some help to a Boston bullpen that could use some. May will likely provide more or less the same type of impact that Dobbins and Fitts have given the team at the back of the rotation.

Yet this current team is eight games over .500 and is building some real interest and excitement in fans who had lost faith amid some of the floundering recent seasons. With so many hoping for Breslow to make a bold move to give the Red Sox a chance to make a real postseason run, the acquisitions of Matz and May certainly looks like the safe route.

Posted on

Tom Brady’s Birmingham primed to touch down in the Championship

Driven by the ambitious ownership of Tom Wagner and an NFL icon, the Blues intend to take the second tier by storm

Unsurprisingly, Tom Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion and global sporting icon, is braced for the challenges that await Birmingham City, where he is a minority owner. “Just because you were successful last year doesn’t mean you’re going to be successful this year,” he says, alluding to a season that culminated in promotion and a record-breaking tally of 111 points. “You have to put the same amount of work, commitment and discipline in – sometimes more – because the stakes only get higher. When the competition gets tougher, the margin of error gets smaller.”

It is his final answer in an interview that takes in everything from the “blue-collar nature of Birmingham”, which he compares with Cleveland and Cincinnati, to the Championship landscape and the bubbling rivalry with Aston Villa, which he was educated on during his first visit to England’s second-biggest city after acquiring his 3.3% stake.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Yankees acquiring reliever David Bednar in trade with Pirates

The Yankees are bolstering their bullpen by acquiring right-handerDavid Bednar in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, per multiple reports.

The Yanks are reportedly sending catching prospect Rafael Flores, the club's No. 8 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline, along with C Edgleen Perez and OF Brian Sanchez to Pittsburgh to complete the deal.

An All-Star in both 2022 and 2023, Bednar struggled in 2024 and began this season in the same fashion, but the 30-year-old has turned things around and once again looks like one of the better relievers in the game.

In 42 appearances this year, he's pitched to a 2.37 ERA while converting 17 saves.

Bednar, who is arbitration-eligible next season, joins Luke Weaver and Devin Williams as potential closer options, giving the Yankees a terrific trio of late-inning arms.

Posted on

Rangers Prospect Dives Into Big Goals For This Upcoming Season

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Brendan Brisson’s life changed when he was traded from the Vegas Golden Knights to the New York Rangers in a deal that included Reilly Smith. 

Everyone thinks of this deal from Smith’s point of view, returning to the same team he won a Stanley Cup with just a couple of years ago, but Brisson was a hidden gem in the trade. 

The Golden Knights selected Brisson in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft and over the past couple of seasons, he spent most of his time with the Henderson Silver Knights of the American Hockey League. 

The 23-year-old forward admitted that it was a strange transition after the trade. 

“It was a little different,” Brisson said about the trade. “Just having been with the same organization for the last five years since I got drafted, midseason too, not like it was in the summer when you get a chance to adjust into camp, it was different.”

Once the initial shock set in, Brisson adapted to his new environment with the Hartford Wolf Pack. 

In 16 games, Brisson recorded two goals, four assists, and six points.

“It was great when I got here,” Brisson said. “The whole organization, the staff, the coaches, the players, they welcomed me with open arms and really allowed me to try to get my confidence back. It was a tough year for me, and they were great in that way.”

During the offseason, Brisson signed a one-year contract extension with the Rangers. 

His primary goal now is to make a strong impression at training camp and put his best foot forward to make the Rangers’ opening-night roster. 

Adam Fox Is The Biggest Winner In The Vladislav Gavrikov SigningAdam Fox Is The Biggest Winner In The Vladislav Gavrikov SigningThere are a lot of members of the New York Rangers who have to be happy about the Vladislav Gavrikov contract, but there’s one person in particular who should be the most ecstatic. 

“Same as everyone, I want to make the team (Rangers) out of camp,” Brisson said of his goals. “I know I can do it, I’ve made an NHL roster before out of camp in Vegas, so just make it to camp and stick. I know what’s going to keep me in the league. 

“I learned a lot from last year, and I want to use everything I learned over the summer and into camp. If I do that, I think I’ll be good.”

Posted on

Tigers bolster bullpen and perhaps pitching chaos with right-handers Finnegan, Sewald and Heuer

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers seem to be setting themselves up to potentially go back to what manager A.J. Hinch calls pitching chaos.

Detroit bolstered its bullpen, and options in games without a traditional starting pitcher, with a series of moves to add a trio of right-handers in the hours before the trade deadline on Thursday.

The Tigers acquired Washington’s Kyle Finnegan, Cleveland’s Paul Sewald and Texas minor leaguer Codi Heuer for prospects and cash.

Detroit made the trades — and one earlier this week — hoping to increase its chances of winning a World Series for the first time in more than four decades.

The AL Central-leading Tigers won their fourth straight game with newly acquired starting pitcher Chris Paddack on Wednesday, two days after he was added in a trade with the Minnesota Twins. Later that day, they acquired right-handed reliever Rafael Montero from Atlanta for minor league infielder Jim Jarvis.

Detroit has nearly a double-digit game lead in a division suddenly filled with rebuilding teams, including the defending AL Central-champion Guardians, and is vying with Toronto and Houston for the best record in the league.

The Tigers, trying to take advantage of ace Tarik Skubal and a balanced lineup, are aiming for their first World Series title since 1984.

Detroit earned a spot in the playoffs last year for the first time in the decade after a late-season surge, using Hinch’s unconventional approach to using relievers to start and pitch in games for an inning or two.

The 33-year-old Finnegan was an All-Star in 2024, but his velocity has been down this season. He has 20 saves with a 4.38 ERA in 2025.

In the trade for Finnegan, the Tigers sent minor league pitchers Josh Randall and R.J. Sales, Detroit’s third and 10th round draft picks from 2024, respectively, to Washington.

The 35-year-old Sewald is eligible to return from the injured list on Sunday after being shut down with a strained right shoulder, but he isn’t expected to pitch until September. He is 1-1 with a 4.70 ERA in 18 games this season, averaging more than one strikeout each inning.

The 29-year-old Heuer, who will report to Triple-A Toledo, was 3-2 with a 3.43 ERA and four saves in 35 games at Triple-A Round Rock this year and pitched in one game for the Rangers.

Detroit opens a three-game series Friday night at Philadelphia.

Posted on

Remaining restricted free agents and their fantasy basketball value heading into next season

This portion of the calendar is usually the quietest from an NBA transaction standpoint. Summer leagues have already been played, introducing the league's newest talents, and free agency has largely run its course. However, this summer brings about an interesting situation, with four prominent restricted free agents still on the market.

Josh Giddey, Quentin Grimes, Jonathan Kuminga and Cam Thomas have yet to agree to deals with their current teams, and there aren't many squads out there with the cap space required to produce an offer sheet that would be challenging to match. These situations impact roster construction, which impacts fantasy basketball. Let's look at each player's situation and how it will impact fantasy basketball for the 2025-26 season.

PG/SG Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls

After struggling down the stretch for the Thunder in 2023-24, Giddey was traded to the Bulls ahead of his contract year. While he did boast a higher scoring average in 2022-23, this past season was the guard's best regarding overall production. In 70 games, Giddey averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.5 three-pointers, shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 78.1 percent from the foul line. He finished with career-highs in rebounds, assists, steals, three-pointers and three-point percentage, meshing well with fellow guard Cboy White.

However, Giddey's 2024-25 season wasn't enough to get Chicago to commit to an extension on par with the deal Orlando gave Jalen Suggs (AAV: $30.1 million). A top-50 player in eight-cat formats, the Bulls guard was ranked just inside the top-60 in nine-cat, according to Basketball Monster. Remaining with the Bulls would ensure Giddey's fantasy value holds, if not improves slightly, since this will also be the team's first full season since trading Zach LaVine at the February trade deadline. Giddey entered last season with a Yahoo! ADP of 69, and that would likely represent his draft floor this fall.

SG/SF Quentin Grimes, Philadelphia 76ers

Grimes is an interesting case, as the 76ers acquired him and a second-round pick (which would become Johni Broome) from the Mavericks at the February deadline for Caleb Martin. As the 76ers were playing out the string, Grimes went off, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.9 three-pointers per game in 28 appearances. It must be mentioned that Philadelphia would finish the season without Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, which freed up additional offensive opportunities for Grimes and others. Few expect Grimes to be the top-50 player (eight-cat formats) he was from February 7 onward, but he'll be a fantasy-relevant player in Philadelphia next season.

While Maxey will be ready for training camp, the same can't be guaranteed for Embiid or George. George's status is more impactful to Grimes, depending on the starting lineup. They both can start, but it would require one of them (or Kelly Oubre Jr.) to defend power forwards. Grimes was not on many fantasy radars before last season began, but that won't be the case this fall. Should he be selected with a top-100 pick? George's availability to start the season will undoubtedly impact where Grimes lands in fantasy drafts if he returns to Philadelphia.

SF/PF Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

The Warriors are the one team that has not made a signing in free agency this summer, and Kuminga's status has been a factor. Until this situation is resolved, Golden State really can't do much, even with the reports of Al Horford and De'Anthony Melton potentially joining the ranks. Does Kuminga receive a new deal that is on par with his expectations? Or would it be a team-friendly deal that he's reportedly turned down? Or, does Kuminga sign the qualifying offer and play on that before heading into unrestricted free agency next summer? Phoenix and Sacramento have reportedly expressed interest in adding Kuminga, but both would need a willing partner in the Warriors to execute a sign-and-trade.

Injuries limited Kuminga to 47 games last season, and already-poor fantasy value dipped even more after the Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler. From February 7 onward, JK averaged 12.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.6 steals in 20.8 minutes, making 15 appearances. That production placed Kuminga outside the top-350 in nine-cat formats. Given how his career has gone thus far, his Yahoo! ADP will likely be far below where it was entering last season (91) if he were to remain with the Warriors. At best, Kuminga would be a player worth taking a late-round flier.

SG Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets

Thomas may have finished last season with a gaudy point average, but injuries limited him to 25 games. In those appearances, he averaged 24.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 three-pointers in 31.2 minutes, shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 88.1 percent from the foul line. A top-100 player in eight-cat formats, Thomas was ranked just outside that threshold in nine-cat formats. However, the lackluster availability meant fantasy managers missed out on the full benefits, especially with Thomas playing two games from November 27 to February 26, and his final appearance of the season coming on March 13.

The Nets are clearly in rebuilding mode, as evidenced by the team using all five of its first-round picks and trading Cam Johnson to the Nuggets in a deal that sent Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn. Thomas can certainly provide scoring in this lineup, as there's a clear need for a secondary option next to Porter. However, would he be given free rein, or would MPJ and the young guard added via the draft be the team's priority? Thomas' Yahoo! ADP is unlikely to approach what it was last fall (69), but returning to Brooklyn would make him worthy of a top-100 pick, at worst.

Posted on

Athletics trade veteran Miguel Andujar to Reds ahead of 2025 MLB trade deadline

Athletics trade veteran Miguel Andujar to Reds ahead of 2025 MLB trade deadline  originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Athletics continued making moves after Thursday’s blockbuster trade that shipped All-Star closer Mason Miller to the San Diego Padres.

The A’s traded veteran infielder/outfielder Miguel Andújar to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for right–handed pitching prospect Kenya Huggins.

Andújar spent the last two seasons with the A’s, hitting .290 in 135 appearances for the Green and Gold. He slashed .298/.329/.434 in 60 appearances during the 2025 MLB season, making him an appealing trade chip entering Thursday’s deadline.

Huggins appeared in 18 games this season for Cincinnati’s Single-A affiliate Daytona Tortugas, posting a 3.64 ERA in 63 1/3 innings of work. The 22-year-old pitcher was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Reds.

Andújar ended his Athletics tenure with a bang, launching two home runs in the team’s 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night.

Posted on

Mets still looking to trade for center fielder ahead of deadline

As the MLB trade deadline nears, the Mets are still attempting to trade for a center fielder, reports SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino.

Among the options are Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox and Cedric Mullins of the Orioles.

Harrison Bader, another potential target, was dealt to the Phillies earlier on Thursday.

Per Martino, talk between the Mets and White Sox on Robert had "cooled" by Wednesday night, though Martino noted they could reignite before the deadline.

The Mets acquiring Mullins was labeled as a "maybe" by Martino.

Multiple reports Thursday afternoon suggested that the White Sox could be more likely to hold Robert than deal him -- with Chicago not satisfied with the kind of offers they were getting.

In theory, the White Sox could keep Robert and then exercise the $20 million option for him after the season.

As far as Mullins, who is a pending free agent, it would be a shock if he isn't dealt by Baltimore.

Like Robert, Mullins has picked it up offensively lately, slashing .321/.333/.547 in 57 plate appearances over his last 16 games.

Both Robert and Mullins are elite defenders in center field, while bringing much more offensive upside than Tyrone Taylor.

If the Mets acquire a center fielder, it's fair to believe Jeff McNeil -- who has been splitting time with Taylor in center -- would return to second base on a more regular basis.

Posted on

Celtics' Jaylen Brown discusses dealing with anxiety, depression: 'I’ve been to some very dark places'

Jaylen Brown will be in a different kind of spotlight heading into a new season — but when given the chance this week he turned that spotlight on an issue a lot of people are dealing with, mental health struggles.

In an honest and candid interview with the School of Hard Knocks and posted on Instagram, Brown opened up about his struggles with mental health.

"I've dealt with anxiety, even depression. I've been to some very dark places. But I feel like those dark places have allowed my light to shine."

Brown joins a growing list of current and former players who have talked about their struggles with mental health as players. That includes DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love, who have been at the forefront of the discussion. Brown was asked for his advice for people who feel like they are at rock bottom.

"I would say it's okay. Never let anyone break your spirit. Everybody is going to deal with adversity at some point... Even plants struggle to get sunlight."

Brown also credited his faith in helping him deal with issues.

Brown's role with the Celtics will change this year. He is a four-time All-Star and NBA Finals MVP who was critical in helping the Celtics hang banner No. 18. However, with Jayson Tatum out for most or all of next season with a torn Achilles, Brown becomes the No. 1 option and the guy at the top of the scouting report, and that will be different. The Celtics, as currently constructed, will not be a contender next season, as management prioritizes saving money against the luxury tax with plans to retool and come back strong when Tatum returns at full strength in the 2026-27 season.

Posted on

Knights' Coach Dale Hunter Believes Easton Cowan Can Make Maple Leafs Out Of Training Camp

London Knights head coach Dale Hunter believes Easton Cowan has a shot to make the Toronto Maple Leafs out of training camp.

Hunter, currently heading Team Canada at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Minneapolis, Minnesota, spoke with Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning of The Fan Morning Show on Wednesday about Cowan’s final season in junior.

The 20-year-old scored 39 points (13 goals and 26 assists) in 17 OHL playoffs games before going on to win the Memorial Cup with the Knights in early June. Along with finally capturing junior hockey’s biggest prize, Cowan also had the most points in the tournament and was named Memorial Cup MVP.

It was the perfect way for the young forward to cap off a memorable junior career ahead of turning pro this fall. Hunter coached Cowan for all four years of his tenure in the OHL and believes he’s ready to make the Maple Leafs out of training camp.

“He's going to push to make the team and play well for the Leafs,” Hunter told Ennis and Gunning. “Every organization needs young guys pushing to make the team, and it’ll make the Leafs better. I’m betting he's going to make it, so that's a good thing for the Leafs.”

Maple Leafs Risk Major Mistake If Nick Robertson Isn’t Signed Or Traded Before ArbitrationMaple Leafs Risk Major Mistake If Nick Robertson Isn’t Signed Or Traded Before ArbitrationIt should come as no surprise that Nick Robertson’s pending player-elected arbitration case is the last of all cases this offseason to reach a conclusion. After all, Robertson’s tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs has undeniably been complicated. Drafted by the Maple Leafs in the second round (53rd overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft, his six years in Toronto have been filled with more downs than ups.

One challenge Cowan had in training camp last year before being returned to the Knights was eliminating the junior habits in his game. The forward didn’t skate at Toronto’s development camp earlier in July, but he, too, believes his game has grown a lot since last summer.

“This time last year, I wasn’t as good as I am now,” Cowan said. “Just being able to manage the puck better, I’ve learned that a lot this year, and obviously with the Knights organization, they helped me out a lot.

“I felt when games got bigger, I got better. Those are the games I love to play in, when there’s a lot of people watching and there’s high stakes.”

'It's Something I'll Never Forget': Mike Ross Details How He Became The Maple Leafs' PA Announcer'It's Something I'll Never Forget': Mike Ross Details How He Became The Maple Leafs' PA AnnouncerToronto Maple Leafs public address announcer Mike Ross is entering his 10th season with the club, but there was a time — before he was hired by the team — when he thought his PA announcing career would be over.

That, though, is only one of the challenges that come with reaching the next level. In junior, players are smaller and still developing, whereas in the NHL and AHL, skaters are much stronger and aren’t afraid to be physical with you in any instance.

“It's the best league in the world. And again, they got to be physically ready for it because there's big guys in the National Hockey League and physically they have to be ready for it,” Hunter said. “It's 80-plus games, and it's a grind in there. You just got to be ready every night to perform, be more consistent, and that's what the National Hockey League guys are looking for.”

Maple Leafs' Dakota Joshua Excited To Reunite With Craig Berube As New Chapter BeginsMaple Leafs' Dakota Joshua Excited To Reunite With Craig Berube As New Chapter BeginsNew Toronto Maple Leafs forward Dakota Joshua is ecstatic to play under Craig Berube again.

Cowan returned to the ice the week following Maple Leafs' development camp and is training at a facility just outside of London, Ontario. He’ll spend time in both London and Toronto — working on adding weight and speed — before remaining in the city for Maple Leafs training camp in September.

“Time will tell. I guess that's the question that we all are asking ourselves,” said Maple Leafs assistant GM, Player Development, Hayley Wickenheiser, of Cowan making the NHL roster. “But my money's on him that he will be fit enough and prepared enough, the experience to be able to step in and play will be — we'll see probably very quickly when (training) camp starts.”

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: Knights' Coach Dale Hunter Believes Easton Cowan Can Make Maple Leafs Out Of Training Camp

(Top photo of Cowan: David Kirouac / Imagn Images)

Posted on

Giants' 2024 first-round draft pick James Tibbs III traded by Red Sox to Dodgers

Giants' 2024 first-round draft pick James Tibbs III traded by Red Sox to Dodgers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Giants weren’t the only team making moves ahead of Thursday’s MLB trade deadline.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox made a deal of their own, and while the Giants weren’t involved directly, the move hit close to home.

James Tibbs III, who was sent to the Red Sox when San Francisco acquired All-Star Rafael Devers on June 15, was traded to the Dodgers on Thursday for Dustin May.

May’s contract expires at the end of this season, which surprised some since Tibbs was listed as the No. 5 prospect in the Boston farm system and a key piece in the deal that sent away the team’s most recognizable face.

Tibbs was the Giants’ No. 13 overall selection in the 2024 MLB Draft and was with the Giants’ High-A club when he was traded. He had a slash line of .246/.379/.478 with the Eugene Emeralds in 2025 in 57 games played.

Since joining the Red Sox’s Double-A affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs, the 22-year-old outfielder/first baseman had struggled with just a .205/.321/.268 slash in 29 games.

Known for his bat power and his offensive abilities, time will tell if Tibbs’ revenge tour comes to haunt San Francisco.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Posted on

Padres add All-Star closer Mason Miller and lefty JP Sears in trade deadline blockbuster

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres acquired hard-throwing closer Mason Miller and left-hander JP Sears in a deal with the Athletics on Thursday, adding major upgrades to their pitching staff in a trade deadline blockbuster.

The Padres sent the A’s a package of prospects, including highly-regarded shortstop Leo De Vries and right-handed pitchers Henry Baez, Braden Nett and Eduarniel Nunez.

The 26-year-old Miller — who has a fastball that averages 101 mph — has 20 saves in 23 opportunities, a 3.76 ERA and 59 strikeouts this season. He was an All-Star in 2024 and is under team control through the 2029 season.

The 29-year-old Sears has a 7-9 record and 4.95 ERA this season, striking out 95 batters over 22 starts.

The Padres entered Thursday with a 60-49 record and currently holds the last National League wild card spot.

Posted on

Thomas Müller the key to Vancouver’s title hopes? + Is it time MLS looks at rule changes?

Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros analyze Thomas Müller's move to the Vancouver Whitecaps and its potential impact on their title aspirations. Could this acquisition push them past Inter Miami as MLS Cup favorites? They also break down Jermaine Jones’ claim that his 2014 return to MLS wasn’t his choice, raising the question of whether the league should revisit some of its policies—especially the discovery rights rule. Finally, the hosts react to a heartwarming moment: the England women’s national team surprising head coach Sarina Wiegman with a performance by Burna Boy during their Euro celebration.