Mets trade for the son of a former fan favorite
The New York Mets are closing a generational loop.
New York agreed late Thursday night to trade reliever AJ Minter to the Minnesota Twins, Jon Heyman of The New York Post reports. In exchange, the Mets are receiving prospects Bruin Agbayani and Billy Amick from the Twins.
Mets fans will be plenty pleased with the Agbayani pickup in particular. After all, Agbayani is the son of retired former Mets cult hero Benny Agbayani.
Benny, now 54 years old, played as an outfielder for the Mets from 1998-2001. He hit .282 over his career in The Big Apple and played a meaningful role on the Mets team that made it to the 2000 World Series. Benny also earned himself the nickname of “Hawaiian Punch” for his power ability and his knack for getting clutch hits.
As for Bruin, he is 19 years old and plays shortstop, second base, and third base. Bruin is a lefty hitter who was batting .268 with a .743 OPS in Single-A ball this season.
After going to the Twins in the sixth round of the 2025 MLB Draft (No. 179 overall), Bruin is now headed to his father’s beloved former team in the Mets. While the Mets have some much greater plans in these final days before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, adding the son of an old-time fan favorite will certainly win them some points for now.
James Harden is waiting for 1 player before signing a new deal
LeBron James has already made his decision, but James Harden is still apparently waiting for another domino to fall.
The former NBA MVP Harden has delayed on signing a new contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason. Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reported on Thursday that Harden is doing so in order to grant Cleveland more flexibility for a potential pursuit of restricted free agent forward Peyton Watson.
Watson is one of the top free agents left on the market along with fellow RFAs like Jalen Duren and Bennedict Mathurin. He averaged career highs across the board for the Denver Nuggets last season with 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game and still has plenty of room to grow at 23 years old.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers need more youth, athleticism, and defense on the wing. That is exactly what Watson can provide with his 6-foot-8 frame and his 7-foot wingspan.
As for Harden, who turns 37 next month, he decided earlier this summer to turn down his $42.3 million player option with the Cavaliers for next season. Harden clearly believes that he is still worth a sizable payday after averaging 23.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game overall last season.
With that being said though, the still-ringless Harden is looking to help Cleveland build a legitimate title contender around him as well. If and when Harden does end up inking a new deal with the Cavaliers, it could wind up looking like this potential framework.
Fans all made the same joke about Karl Ravech calling games for ESPN despite being fired
Karl Ravech may soon have to change his name to Art Vandelay.
The veteran sports commentator Ravech surprised fans on Thursday by calling ESPN’s broadcast of the Atlanta Braves-Washington Nationals game at Truist Park in Atlanta, Ga. Ravech took his usual spot in the booth as the play-by-play man alongside color commentator Eduardo Perez.
It was a bizarre sight to see given that Ravech was just [checks notes] fired by ESPN last week. But there Ravech was calling Thursday’s Atlanta-Washington game for The Worldwide Leader as if nothing had even happened.
In response to Thursday’s spectacle with Ravech, fans all made the same joke. They joked that Ravech was just like George Costanza from “Seinfeld” who once tried to show up for work like normal after quitting his job.
Pulled a Costanza and just showed up for work
— Eddie Kinnaman (@ekinn3) July 30, 2026
— Funhouse (@BackAftaThis) July 30, 2026
Karl Ravech pulled a George Costanza????? https://t.co/jYupv02Rna
— Chris Gamez (@Metsochist4Life) July 30, 2026
Did Karl Ravech pull a George Costanza (sorta) and just show up for work? pic.twitter.com/pIjsQ13ERv
— Len Hochberg (@LenHochberg) July 30, 2026
Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reports that Ravech has still been laid off by ESPN but was given the option to work some more summer dates (since it is in the middle of the MLB season) and has chosen to do just that. Ravech is also reportedly expected to work this year’s Little League World Series for ESPN as well as a New York Yankees game in August.
Just nine days ago, we learned that Ravech had been let go by ESPN after 33 years at the network (alongside some other notable names). But out of class or just out of pure love of the game, Ravech is still out there clocking in for The Worldwide Leader, as strange as that sounds.
Zach LaVine appears to be trending towards 1 outcome
Zach LaVine may already have one foot towards the airport.
The Sacramento Kings guard LaVine might potentially be bought out by the team before the season begins, James Ham of ESPN 1320 Sacramento reported this week. Ham adds that the Kings have not given LaVine any guarantees that he will even have a role for them next season.
LaVine, the 31-year-old former lottery pick, has been with Sacramento for the last one-and-a-half seasons. But he took a downward turn last year, averaging an unspectacular 19.2 points and 2.3 assists per game over just 39 total appearances before undergoing season-ending surgery on his right hand.
Earlier this summer, LaVine picked up his $48 million player option with the Kings for next season. While that was a no-brainer of a business move by LaVine, it appears that Sacramento wants to move on from the three-time All-Star after going a rancid 22-60 last season.
The Kings just selected 19-year-old point guard Darius Acuff with the No. 7 overall pick in this year’s draft. With 24-year-old sophomore guard Nique Clifford also in need of minutes in the Sacramento backcourt, it appears that LaVine is very much the odd man out right now.
LaVine would obviously have to give up a good chunk of money to facilitate a buyout from the Kings. But LaVine has 12 total seasons of NBA experience, which means that he can get the highest possible salary when it comes to veteran’s minimum deals with contenders (worth around $3.9 million). LaVine could also hypothetically get more than a minimum contract on the open market but only from a team operating below the first and second aprons of the luxury tax, which are rarely playoff contenders.
Some fitting teams have been linked to the ex-UCLA standout LaVine in recent seasons. Now it looks like LaVine, a one-time 27-ppg scorer, could be the earliest and most intriguing addition to the NBA buyout market this year.
Bizarre new details emerge about Harrison Bader’s scooter crash
Harrison Bader’s recent scooter accident was even more bizarre than we initially thought.
The San Francisco Giants outfielder Bader had his scooter crash occur in the Cow Hollow area of San Francisco, Calif. at about 1:50 AM last Sunday night (around closing time at the local bars). Per a report by Jay Barmann of SFist, witnesses say that Bader’s scooter crashed into the back of a San Francisco Fire Department fire engine.
Noting that SFFD Station 16 is on that same block, Barmann adds that the wheel of the fire engine then ran over Bader’s foot, causing “major injury.” You can read the full report on the situation here.
Bader, a former Gold Glover with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, signed with the Giants over the offseason on a two-year, $20.5 million deal. But Bader has been worth far less than that price of admission this season, batting a rough .170 with a .557 OPS over his first 30 games in San Francisco.
The 32-year-old Bader had also been sidelined with a plantar fasciitis injury to his left foot since late May. Then the news emerged earlier this week about Bader’s scooter crash, which apparently involved that same left foot.
It has been a comedy of errors this season for the Giants as a team as well as they sit at a miserable 46-62 (which is on pace for their worst finish since 2017). San Francisco has also had some embarrassing spectacles off the field, even beyond just Bader’s ill-fated evening on wheels.
Deebo Samuel signs with a surprise team in free agency
Deebo Samuel is having his storybook moment.
The veteran receiver Samuel is reuniting with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday. Samuel is returning to the 49ers on one-year deal worth up to $7 million, Rapoport adds.
Now 30 years old, Samuel began his career with San Francisco in 2019 when they picked him in the second round of the NFL Draft (No. 36 overall). Over the next six seasons for the 49ers, Samuel developed into one of the most versatile offensive weapons in the league.
Utilized as both as traditional wide receiver and occasionally as a running back in certain packages, Samuel became a Pro Bowler as well as a First Team All-Pro selection during the 2021 season (in which he put up 1,405 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns plus an additional 385 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns). Samuel proved to be an extremely trusted offensive centerpiece as the 49ers made four NFC title games and two Super Bowl appearances during his first stint.
But after the 2024 campaign, Samuel was traded away to the Washington Commanders in exchange for only a fifth-round draft pick. Last season for the Commanders, Samuel struggled to find his footing a bit with 727 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns but only very few touches as a runner.
Now though, Samuel is getting a chance to run it back with his longtime head coach Kyle Shanahan and his longtime quarterback Brock Purdy in San Francisco. While few had a reunion with the 49ers on their bingo cards (especially after Samuel demanded a trade the first time around), he now returns to a San Francisco team to provide additional support at wideout with Brandon Aiyuk no longer on the active roster and Ricky Pearsall nursing a PCL injury in training camp.
Chase Claypool draws NFL interest in his comeback bid
Chase Claypool’s NFL comeback bid has attracted at least one team’s attention.
The free agent wide receiver worked out for the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday, per the NFL’s transaction wire. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported that Claypool left the building without signing, but could still be in play for the Colts going forward.
No signing for Claypool in Indy today, though he could be in play for the #Colts in the near future.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 30, 2026
Claypool just turned 28 earlier this month, but he has not played an NFL snap since 2023. The man who once claimed to be one of the three best receivers in the NFL has struggled with injuries, but also has drawn criticism for his on-field effort and has been heavily criticized for some mental mistakes he has made.
Claypool does have NFL success to his name, though it has been a while. He totaled 1,733 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in his first two NFL seasons with the Steelers, but quickly fell out of favor there. He has also had stints with the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins. His attempts to find a new team were unsuccessful for 2025 after he missed all of 2024 due to injury.
The Colts have Josh Downs and Alec Pierce at the top of their wide receiver depth chart, but would presumably like some additional depth. Whether Claypool can provide that remains to be seen.
Saints star agrees to new $132 million contract
The New Orleans Saints are taking care of one of their star players.
Wide receiver Chris Olave is signing a four-year contract extension worth $132 million with the Saints, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal includes $90 million in guaranteed money.
Just in: Saints are signing WR Chris Olave to a four-year extension worth up to $132 million, including $90 million guaranteed, his agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ZxjfxMgsnE
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 30, 2026
Olave was entering the final season of his rookie contract, which would have paid him $15.5 million. He had been optimistic about signing a new deal, but staged a “hold-in” by refusing to take part in drills once training camp began. That, as it turned out, did not last long.
Olave is coming off his best statistical season. The former Ohio State standout caught 100 passes for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns for the Saints last season. It was his third 1,000-yard receiving season in the first four years of his career, and he has been one of the Saints’ few consistent performers on offense since he entered the league.
The Saints went 6-11 last season, but finished the year by winning four of their last five games. That was enough for some people to expect another step forward in 2026, and a healthy and productive Olave will be essential for that to happen.
Curt Cignetti went after the SEC in brutal comments
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti is still as bold as ever after winning a national title, and he has the SEC in his crosshairs.
Cignetti closed his remarks at Big Ten media day by calling the conference “the best league in football” and praising it for hit or prepares teams for the College Football Playoff. He contrasted it with others who “whine and complain” and make excuses when they fall short, which was a pretty clear shot at the SEC.
“We don’t run a hype machine up here in the Midwest. We believe everything’s earned, not given. When we fall short, we say we fell short. We don’t cry a river, whine, and complain. And that’s why we’re the best,” Cignetti said.
“We don’t run a hype machine up here in the Midwest… when we fall short we don’t cry a river and whine and complain. And that’s why we’re the best”
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) July 30, 2026
Curt Cignetti ended his first media day as a national champion with some shots fired at the SEC pic.twitter.com/zK5WTwFX5a
The SEC has long prided itself on being the best football conference in the nation. Critics, including Cignetti himself, have pointed out how their eight-game league schedule allows teams to schedule an extra cupcake, though that will be changing going forward.
The chill between the SEC and other leagues has only increased this summer, with the league threatening to essentially pull out of the NCAA and go it alone if the governing body does not start enforcing its rules and regulations more firmly. The Big Ten can also lob these criticisms from a position of strength, as the SEC has not sent a team to the College Football Playoff championship since Georgia’s win over TCU in 2022.
Cignetti’s words will not go down well in SEC country, but he led Indiana to a 16-0 season in 2025. He certainly has the authority to talk after that achievement.
Draymond Green fires back at Josh Hart
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is not backing down from his beef with New York Knicks forward Josh Hart.
Hart was critical of Green for a resurfaced video in which Green questioned why Jalen Brunson would take less money to remain with the Knicks. In the two-year-old video, Green questions why the “top guy” is the one taking the discount while the likes of Hart don’t take less to play with Brunson. That prompted Hart to respond by urging Green to “not (count) other people’s pockets.”
Unsurprisingly, Green was not willing to let that go, issuing a response via Threads on Thursday.
“Dude waited 2 years to respond to that video from 520? Why not say it then?” Green wrote. “Let’s normalize not front runnin and talking while you up. Be on the same type of time AT ALL TIMES!”
Draymond Green fired back at Josh Hart on Threads:
— NBABase (@TheNBABase) July 30, 2026
"Dude waited 2 years to respond to that video from 520? Why not say it then? Let's normalize not front runnin and talking while you up. Be on the same type of time AT ALL TIMES!" https://t.co/ofIPpKn9ht pic.twitter.com/lIU7dlEJPY
The reason, in all likelihood, is that Hart was not even aware of the comments when Green made them in 2024. The video itself just resurfaced on social media, prompting Hart to comment. It does help, however, that he made that comment after Brunson’s sacrifice played a role in winning the Knicks an NBA title.
Presumably, Green will not be happy that other stars are copying Brunson’s approach and getting plenty of plaudits for it. The results of such sacrifices are not exactly backing up his comments, though.
Kyle Whittingham is taking a very different approach to the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry
New Michigan Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham appears to be taking a very different approach toward the school’s rivalry with Ohio State.
In an interview with ESPN on Thursday, Whittingham seemed to deflect some focus away from the annual rivalry game against the Buckeyes. While he did not downplay the importance of the game, Whittingham emphasized that the Wolverines have 11 other games to play before worrying about that one.
“It’s the biggest rivalry in the country, in our opinion. It’s something that’s in the back of my mind every day,” Whittingham said. “But I am old school and I believe in taking it one game at a time, and we’ve got 11 games to play before we get to that game, so we can’t obsess over it, at least not just yet.”
"It's the biggest rivalry in the country, in our opinion. Something that's in the back of mind every single day, but I am old school and I believe in taking it one game at a time."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 30, 2026
–Michigan HC Kyle Whittingham on the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry pic.twitter.com/9RcjwOluOV
To say this is a departure from the approach of past Michigan coaches would be an understatement. Players and coaches from both sides of the rivalry routinely talk about it as the most important priority of the season.
Expectations for Ohio State are much higher this season than they are for Michigan. The Buckeyes are among the favorites to win a championship, while Michigan is trying to re-establish itself as a championship power under their new head coach. That is probably more important to Whittingham than winning the Ohio State game, though he knows better to admit that in public.
The Buckeyes won last season’s rivalry game, ending a four-year Michigan win streak in the series.
WNBA under fire for posting Angel Reese-Paige Bueckers bet video
The WNBA had to do some backtracking after posting a light-hearted video highlighting a bet Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers made over an Atlanta Dream-Dallas Wings game.
On Wednesday, the WNBA’s official social media account posted a video of Bueckers being asked about a bet she and Reese made at All-Star Weekend. The clip of Bueckers is interspersed with cuts from a video of Reese holding up $400 and talking trash about how her Dream were going to win the upcoming matchup.
Like every sports league, the WNBA prohibits its players from betting on their own games, prompting a very quick deletion.
LMAOO THEY DELETED https://t.co/1VnX0tUEh2 pic.twitter.com/ZNQAvHLJZD
— correlation (@nosyone4) July 29, 2026
On Thursday, the league issued a statement claiming that the post “was intended to be lighthearted,” and suggested that the wager was “intended as a joke.”
WNBA spox statement on a since-deleted post in which Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers bantered about a friendly wager ahead of yesterday's Dream-Wings matchup:
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) July 30, 2026
"While the social media post was intended to be lighthearted, WNBA players are well aware of the league's policies…
It sounds highly unlikely that the WNBA will take any action against Reese or Bueckers, especially since their own social media account seemingly endorsed the “joke” bet.
The Dream wound up winning 82-81 on Wednesday, with Reese turning in a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds. She didn’t seem to be joking about the bet after the game, posting a celebratory “cuatrocientos” on social media, which translates to “four hundred.”
DUBS IN THE MF CHAT🤪 #cuatrocientos
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) July 30, 2026
LeBron James’ camp responds to ‘Last Dance’ documentary report
LeBron James and his camp swiftly responded to a report suggesting that he would be the subject of a “Last Dance”- style documentary as part of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported Thursday that James was in talks with ESPN about a behind-the-scenes documentary similar to the network’s “The Last Dance.” The report says James “will have a camera crew documenting his time with the Philadelphia 76ers” during the upcoming season.
Maverick Carter, James’ longtime business partner, quickly took to X to suggest that the report is false.
“We are NOT doing anything like the ‘last dance’ LeBron doesn’t even know when his last season is,” Carter wrote in a post that James reposted to his own feed.
We are NOT doing anything like the “last dance” LeBron doesn’t even know when his last season is
— Maverick Carter (@mavcarter) July 30, 2026
It should be noted that Marchand’s report suggests a James documentary would be similar in style to “The Last Dance,” but not necessarily the subject matter. That documentary was about Michael Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls. There is no reason James could not be part of a documentary series that chronicles his Sixers tenure even if he does not retire after the 2026-27 season.
It is no secret that James’ career is winding down. He did sign a two-year contract with Philadelphia, and left a lot of money on the table to join the 76ers. An all-access ESPN documentary would certainly supplement his income, not that he really needs it.
Baker Mayfield calls out Buccaneers after failed contract talks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield said Thursday that he felt “disrespected” by the team during recent failed contract negotiations.
Mayfield set a self-imposed deadline of training camp to agree to a new deal with the team as he heads into the final year of his current three-year, $100 million agreement. Ultimately, the two sides were unable to come to an agreement, and Mayfield suggested Thursday that he felt the Buccaneers had simply not offered to pay him what he think he deserves.
Though he made clear that he still loves it in Tampa and wants to stay long-term, Mayfield said Thursday that he was disappointed that the Buccaneers were, in his mind, undervaluing him through their offers.
“I’m very, very thankful for the chance they gave me, do not get me wrong on that,” Mayfield said. “But I also know what I’ve brought to this franchise leadership-wise and even play-wise. It’s been some of the best years of my career and I think it’s only going to trend upwards. Disappointing in that regard to feel disrespected a little bit. That’s really the disappointing part, to feel undervalued after thinking you’ve earned it.
“I think I’m a franchise quarterback. I’ve been told I’m a franchise quarterback. It’s been said publicly from ownership down here. So to not have a deal done is very disappointing, but I said the deadline was the deadline, and I addressed the team to let them know I meant that.”
#Bucs QB Baker Mayfield says he felt “disrespected” and “undervalued” by the contract offers he received. He believes he’s a franchise QB, says he’s going to have a big year, and that the team is going to pay for it in the end.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 30, 2026
Here’s everything Mayfield said. He was very… https://t.co/W38UH7pPPp pic.twitter.com/hq4GRZkKwU
In a separate interview with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Mayfield said he was also frustrated that the Buccaneers only offered him a two-year contract, and that they wound up being “pretty far” from offering him $50 million annually.
Baker Mayfield tells ESPN the Bucs offered him a two-year deal, which was ‘probably the most disappointing’ part. Wanted long-term commitment.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 30, 2026
Added Bucs were ‘pretty far’ from $50+M per club, which he wanted to enter.
More to come on @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/B0ydNRWG8U
Mayfield is not necessarily wrong about his value. The Jacksonville Jaguars are paying Trevor Lawrence $55 million annually, and Mayfield is more accomplished than Lawrence is. He had previously hinted that contract talks were not going well, but had still held out hope to get something done before the start of training camp.
Mayfield, 31, threw for 3,693 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season despite playing through some fairly significant injuries for much of the year. He is famous for using perceived disrespect as fuel, so a big season might be coming from him.
Josh Allen sends a blunt message on hate for new uniforms
Josh Allen doesn’t want to hear it anymore. Near the end of his conference on Wednesday, the Buffalo Bills star quarterback defended the team’s new “Nickel City” alternate uniforms amid criticism they’ve gotten since being revealed on Monday.
“Stop hating on the jerseys, guys,” the former NFL Most Valuable Player said, via Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.
The Bills have yet to announce which games they’ll wear the uniforms, but as far as Allen is concerned, he’s clearly digging the new threads.
“I enjoy them. I think it’s very symbolic of what we want to do and what we want to be,” Allen shared. “I understand people want the old jerseys and the old helmets and all that.
“But at some point, too, we are moving forward. We have to move forward and do something new — and that’s what we’re doing.”
The new kits feature an all-gray combination of pants and jersey. Completing the look is a blue helmet that comes with the iconic red charge.
According to Alec White of the Bills’ website, the “design is a tribute to the strength, grit and authenticity of Western New York’s hard-working people throughout history.”
Here is a video shared by the Bills on X, introducing the uniform.
A blue collar town that never backs down.
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) July 27, 2026
We are the Nickel City. pic.twitter.com/nDja8yhTMW
The Bills won’t just have a new alternate uniform in 2026, as they’ll also have a new home. The team is moving into the new Highmark Stadium, located at Bills Plaza in Orchard Park, N.Y.
The only thing missing, it seems, for Allen and the Bills is the Vince Lombardi Trophy, which they will be aiming for again after going 12-5 and reaching the AFC Divisional Round last season.
Kyle Hamilton’s take on Lamar Jackson’s speed is downright scary
The 2025 NFL season wasn’t Baltimore Ravens superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson’s best, but an observation from All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton will have opposing defensive coordinators sweating bullets.
At the Ravens’ training camp at Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md., on Wednesday, Hamilton praised the dual-threat quarterback for adjusting nicely to becoming more of a passer while hinting that Jackson has found another gear as a rusher.
“He might have gotten faster somehow,” Hamilton said of Jackson, via Clifton Brown of the Ravens’ official website.
“I don’t want to age him, but he’s turning a certain age next year. It doesn’t seem like that.”
Jackson will always be a threat whenever he tucks the ball and runs, but his evolution as a passer shouldn’t be overlooked despite his relatively mediocre 2025 season, during which he threw for 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns and 7 interceptions while completing only 63.6% of his passes. He also rushed for a career-worst 349 yards and 2 touchdowns on 67 carries.
The important thing for the Ravens is that Jackson is healthy after missing games due to injuries last season. He has looked great in the early goings of the training camp, with Brown noting that the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player “threw the ball crisply all day.”
Dave Roberts had a great reaction to Edwin Diaz’s return
The sound of the trumpets in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., was music to the ears for LA manager Dave Roberts.
That meant the first appearance of closer Edwin Diaz since April after dealing with an elbow issue that needed surgery.
“It was good hearing the trumpets,” Roberts told reporters about Diaz’s return after the reigning World Series champions eked out a 4-2 victory, via SportsNet LA.
It wasn’t entirely smooth on the mound for Diaz, however, and something more sinister may have played in Roberts’ imagination before the three-time All-Star closer finally finished the job.
With the Dodgers holding a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, Diaz allowed 2 hits and 1 earned run, but that was all the Mariners could muster in their failed comeback attempt as the 32-year-old reliever notched his fifth save of the season.
The Dodgers have kept their heads above water during Diaz’s long absence, thanks in part to Tanner Scott, who was steady in his role as the team’s de facto closer over that stretch. While Diaz was out, Scott recorded 16 saves and posted a 2.65 ERA.
The Dodgers’ win improved their record to 68-40 and tied their series against the Mariners. Los Angeles can claim the series win Thursday, when they give the ball to Roki Sasaki.
Jeremiah Smith responds to possibility of staying at Ohio State longer
Jeremiah Smith has the NFL on the horizon, but he will have to get over one more season in college with the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The incoming junior wide receiver can technically prolong his college career, though that doesn’t seem to be part of his plan.
“Kind of sad, but I’m going to give it everything I’ve got,” Smith said during Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday about the 2025 college football season being his last in the amateur ranks, via Eleven Warriors.
When reminded that he will have two years of eligibility remaining beyond his junior campaign, Smith respectfully hinted that he doesn’t plan to spend more than one additional season in college.
“I know, but I think it’s time for me to go,” he said.
While the NFL awaits him, Smith will have a big responsibility once again for the Buckeyes’ offense, particularly in their passing attack. Alongside Heisman Trophy finalist and quarterback Julian Sayin, Smith is expected to make big, explosive plays downfield for an Ohio State squad that is looking to bounce back from an early College Football Playoff exit last season.
In his first two seasons with Ohio State, Smith has recorded a head-turning total of 2,558 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns on 87 receptions through 29 games.
Smith can start racking up yards again on Sept. 5, when the Buckeyes open their 2026 season against the Ball State Cardinals at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Report: Anthony Davis’ issues changed Warriors’ Jimmy Butler plans
The Golden State Warriors might have won the LeBron James sweepstakes if they had pulled off a trade to acquire Anthony Davis from the Washington Wizards.
But Davis’ durability issues (and stance on contract extension) ultimately led the Warriors to abandon the idea of trading Jimmy Butler to the Wizards for Davis, according to Logan Murdock of The Ringer.
“At summer league in Las Vegas, a small contingent of Golden State’s front office pushed for that path, but AD’s injury history and desire for a new extension ultimately convinced team brass to stay put,” Murdock wrote.
Davis has all the talent to make a team a title contender, but his availability has been a constant source of headaches throughout his career. Last season, he appeared in only 20 games with the Dallas Mavericks before being dealt to the Wizards just before the trade deadline. The Wizards never had him in uniform the rest of the way because of hand and groin injuries.
Plus, even if the Warriors had pushed through with a trade for Davis, there was never any guarantee it would have persuaded James to take his talents to the Bay Area. Golden State seemingly just did not want to push so many of its chips to the center of the table for nothing more than a chance to get rewarded by James’ signature.
At the same time, Butler is also likely to miss several games in the 2026-27 season after suffering a serious knee injury in the last campaign.
With James choosing to go to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Warriors are merely left with what-ifs.
Former Heat leading scorer announces his retirement at age 32
Rook 2 is ready to hang up his sneakers.
Veteran NBA swingman Josh Richardson announced in a post to social media on Wednesday night that he is retiring from basketball. Richardson said, “I always gave my best, that’s why i can say this with no regret,” and proceeded to issue a statement of gratitude to his coaches, teammates, and fans.
You can see Richardson’s full post here.
Still only 32 years old, Richardson was a four-year player at the University of Tennessee, making two SEC All-Defensive teams and earning a First Team All-SEC selection in 2015. He then went to the Miami Heat as a second-round pick (No. 40 overall) in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Richardson quickly developed into an important player for the Heat, getting key minutes as a rookie during their 2016 Eastern Conference playoff run. By 2019, Richardson had become one of Miami’s best homegrown success stories, leading the team in scoring that year with 16.6 points per game.
Eventually, Richardson was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of the deal that sent Jimmy Butler to Miami. He bounced around the league after that, playing for the 76ers, the Dallas Mavericks, the Boston Celtics, the San Antonio Spurs, and the New Orleans Pelicans before ultimately returning to the Heat as a little-used reserve for the final two seasons of his NBA career from 2023-25.
Richardson produced some highlights and some lowlights over the course of his time in the league. But he will ultimately go down as a surprise NBA success story after 10 career seasons and over $62 million in total salary.
