Mason Miller’s future gets a notable update ahead of the trade deadline
Miller Time in San Diego will not be ending any time soon.
San Diego Padres GM AJ Preller spoke with reporters over the weekend. During the media call, Preller was asked if the team would consider trading star reliever Mason Miller ahead of the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline if they continued to struggle.
“[Since] we made the deal last year, he’s performed as good as you could want somebody to perform,” replied Preller. “We made the deal with the intention that Mason is gonna be here for a long time. He’s done an unbelievable job, and our intent is still the same as when we made the deal last year.”
The righty Miller, 27, is seen as the consensus best reliever in baseball right now. A two-time MLB All-Star, Miller regularly hits triple digits on the radar gun and has also been pulling off some historically absurd accomplishments this season (over which he owns a miniscule 0.96 ERA with 69 strikeouts through 36 appearances and an MLB-leading 23 saves).
It was indeed just last year as well when the Padres acquired Miller via trade. They got Miller from the Athletics in exchange for a big haul of prospects, but he has been worth the price of admission and even more.
With San Diego floundering this season at 47-48 though (4.5 games out of an NL Wild Card spot), fans have been speculating that they could potentially opt to trade Miller. While Miller is in fact the single most valuable asset on the Padres’ roster right now, the team is clearly still looking at the bigger picture with Miller remaining under club control through 2029.
Max Holloway clowned Conor McGregor after he suffered a serious leg injury in opening seconds
Max Holloway’s most lethal blow against Conor McGregor on Saturday came on the mic rather than the canvas.
Holloway (28-9-0) hardly broke a sweat to beat McGregor (22-7-0) in the UFC 329 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The Irishman appeared to blow out his knee in the opening seconds of the bout after he went for a high kick that did not land.
Moments later, McGregor fell flat on his back. The 37-year-old former champion was able to get back to his feet, but looked like he was a light push away from toppling. Veteran referee Mike Beltran called the fight just over a minute into the first round, giving Holloway an easy victory.
🚨CONOR MCGREGOR JUST BLEW OUT HIS KNEE IN THE FIRST STRIKE OF HIS FIGHT WITH MAX HOLLOWAY
— Combat Casuals (@Combat_Casuals) July 12, 2026
5 years away for this to happen…#UFC329 pic.twitter.com/moshXfA0Gk
Here’s another angle of the moment McGregor appeared to hurt his knee.
Conor McGregor…. pic.twitter.com/5cGBQGZSgl
— edusantmo (@edusantmo) July 12, 2026
Holloway couldn’t help but crack a joke at McGregor’s expense as he spoke to reporters following the match (profanity edited by LBS).
“I had him weak in the knees, I guess,” Holloway said with a smile as he addressed the media, via ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.
“We have to run it back one more time for the boys. I worked my a– off to get to 170 pounds for this fight, and to see it end like this, it sucks.”
Holloway may want a rematch, but it’s hard to imagine McGregor plans to return to the octagon anytime soon. Saturday’s fight was McGregor’s first in five years, and it ended in utter disaster.
After his second consecutive opening-round leg injury, McGregor may very well think long and hard about calling it a career.
Zack Wheeler’s teammates react to Phillies star rejecting MLB’s All-Star ‘pity party’
Zack Wheeler’s Philadelphia Phillies teammates have backed their man amid the ongoing All-Star selection controversy.
The Phillies pitcher turned down MLB’s late offer for him to serve as an injury replacement in Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa. Wheeler stated that he felt disrespected by the league, which treated him like “a fifth option” despite posting All-Star-worthy numbers at the midway point of the season. Wheeler called his late invite a “pity party” that he was not willing to attend.
Phillies ace Christopher Sanchez, one of two Philadelphia pitchers named an All-Star this season, sympathized with his comrade.
“He’s an All-Star in my heart,” Sanchez said through his interpreter, via The Athletic’s Charlotte Varnes. “The same thing happened to me last year. Same situation. I think they’ve got to fix that.”
Three-time All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto also stood by Wheeler and called it a “mistake” that MLB left the 36-year-old right-hander out of the Midsummer Classic.
“Everybody in this clubhouse was surprised,” Realmuto said. “To see what he’s done in his career and then to have the type of surgery he had and still be the same dominant guy as soon as he returned and had a great first half … I thought it was definitely a mistake.”
While Sanchez and standout closer Jhoan Duran have made most of this season’s pitching headlines, Wheeler has arguably been the Phillies’ best pitcher when healthy.
Wheeler leads all qualified Phillies starters with a 2.28 ERA and 0.91 WHIP across 14 starts this season, with Philadelphia going 12-2 in those contests.
Instead of participating in his 4th All-Star game in front of his home fans, Wheeler is reportedly spending the break at the beach with his family.
England-Norway World Cup match marred by SkyCam wire controversy
The NFL’s SkyCam wire controversies have made their way to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
England trailed Norway 1-0 late in the first half of their quarterfinal match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. English star Jude Bellingham tied the contest at 1-1 with an equalizer in the 2nd minute of stoppage time before the break.
The Three Lions may have been aided by a fortuitous touch from the SkyCam wire dangling above the pitch. One angle posted by FOX Sports showed Norwegian keeper Ørjan Nyland’s goal kick seemingly getting deflected by the wire and falling perfectly for an English attack that led to Bellingham’s goal.
For the benefit of those who haven’t seen the review of the ball hitting the camera cable before England’s equaliser on Fox Sports… pic.twitter.com/TQks5POkLe
— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) July 11, 2026
FIFA Media later addressed the controversy and claimed that the ball’s sensors never detected any sort of deflection off the SkyCam wire.
Before England’s goal in minute 45+2 against Norway, the sensor in the Connected Ball showed no peak in the 'heartbeat of the ball' when in the air, and therefore no evidence that the ball touched the overhead wire and changed the movement of the ball. pic.twitter.com/gYf9ukfveT
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) July 11, 2026
Norway also got an unlucky break in the second half, when a VAR review wiped away Torbjørn Heggem’s go-ahead goal. The officials ruled that Erling Haaland had pushed off a defender before the strike, to keep the game level at 1-1.
Bellingham thrust his team ahead for good with his second goal early in extra time, pushing England into the World Cup semifinals against defending champion Argentina. The 23-year-old may need to sort things out with England manager Thomas Tuchel before the two teams face off on Wednesday.
SkyCam wire drama has been quite common in the NFL in recent years, with several critical plays seemingly being impacted by the inconspicuous cables. Not even the FIFA World Cup was spared from such controversies.
Mookie Betts explains why he will be skipping Dodgers’ visit to White House
The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without another prominent member of their team as they visit the White House this year.
Dodgers star Mookie Betts revealed this week in an interview that he will be skipping on the team’s visit to see President Donald Trump later this month. Betts told Jack Harris of The California Post that his decision had nothing to do with politics and that he would rather be spending that time with his family instead.
“I’m not trying to make this a whole big deal,” Betts said. “We just had a baby. You don’t get many days off. They’re coming [on the road trip]. And just want to hang out with the fam. That’s really kind of it. But people are gonna make it a whole bunch of other stuff.
“If I do [go], people are gonna hate me,” added Betts. “If I don’t, people are gonna hate me. So instead of trying to make everyone else happy, I’m gonna think about myself and my family. People are gonna try to drag me into politics, just because I am who I am. That’s just the cards I’m dealt. So it is what it is.”
The eight-time All-Star and ex-AL MVP Betts notably declined to visit the White House during Trump’s first term in 2019 after his then-team the Boston Red Sox won the World Series. But he accompanied the Dodgers, both in 2021 when they visited President Joe Biden in the White House and then in 2025 when they visited Trump during Trump’s second term.
The Dodgers are planning to visit the Oval Office on July 23 this year, in between respective road series against the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets. But Betts, who just welcomed his second daughter with wife Brianna in April, will now become the latest well-known member of the Dodgers roster to pass on this year’s visit.
Jude Bellingham looked peeved at his own manager’s comments after England beat Norway
Jude Bellingham did not sound like he appreciated the negativity from England manager Thomas Tuchel after Saturday’s win over Norway.
Bellingham led the Three Lions to victory in a battle of endurance at a humid environment inside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Norway struck first in the 36th minute when Andreas Schjelderup’s cross somehow ended up in the back of the net for the match’s first goal.
Jude took that sad song, and made it better. Bellingham answered with a spectacular equalizer during first-half stoppage time. He also scored the winner in the opening minutes of extra time to seal England’s 2-1 win.
Despite England’s heroics in the win, Tuchel expressed disappointment in how his team performed. He slammed his squad for making technical mistakes during his on-field interview moments after the final whistle blew.
Bellingham was asked about those comments during his own interview, and the English superstar did not sound too pleased.
“Yeah, well, whatever,” Bellingham said in a dismissive tone.
“Whatever. It’s difficult out there. It’s difficult. It’s a tough shift. All the players have put in a very tough shift. So, my thoughts and appreciation goes to the players who’s out there, putting a great shift out there.”
Jude Bellingham wasnt happy about what Tuchel said after the game lmao pic.twitter.com/dMbuawIDan
— WolfRMFC (@WolfRMFC) July 12, 2026
Bellingham doubled down on his stance when a reporter later asked him if Tuchel’s comments represented the standard he’s set with the England side. Bellingham didn’t seem to agree.
“Maybe. Or maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those kind of conditions against Erling Haaland, [Martin] Odegaard, [Antonio] Nusa, [Alexander] Sorloth. That’s not an easy team to play against,” Bellingham said.
“We’ve tried to create a positive environment. We should continue that going into the final four. I can’t speak highly enough of the lads.”
Tuchel has quite the resume as a manager, with stints leading top clubs Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich. But the German had a short-lived playing career that ended at the age of 25 due to a serious knee injury.
England and Norway both played in a much warmer climate on Saturday than they’re used to in Northern Europe, which likely factored into the teams not being as sharp as the game progressed.
Bellingham, who played until the 110th minute of Saturday’s match, understood that and was more empathetic toward England’s performance, unlike Tuchel.
NBA player has a strong comment about Caitlin Clark at Summer League
Caitlin Clark turned heads not just of fans but also of players when she showed up at an NBA Summer League on Friday.
Showing support for the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever superstar point guard Caitlin Clark, along with teammates Aliyah Boston and Bree Hall, cheered on the NBA team during its game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nev.
Pacers guard Yuki Kawamura was later asked for his thoughts on Clark’s presence, and responded with huge praise.
“She’s the best player in the world right now,” Kawamura said via video shared by Tony East of Forbes Sports. “So it means everything.”
Yuki Kawamura on having Caitlin Clark and Pascal Siakam at the Pacers summer league game: pic.twitter.com/0ZRUBcmeWI
— Tony East (@TonyREast) July 11, 2026
It seems clear that Yuki Kawamura is also on the Caitlin Clark bandwagon. Giving Clark her flowers is also one way to endear oneself to Indiana basketball fans, so it was simply just the right thing to say for Kawamura, who is looking to secure a new contract after he declined to tender a qualifying offer from the Chicago Bulls in the offseason.
Against the Cavaliers, Kawamura provided the Pacers with some spark off the bench, scoring 8 points on 3/5 shooting and dishing out 4 assists in just 17 minutes to help Indiana in a 99-93 win.
Clark and the Fever can’t attend all of the Pacers’ Summer League games due to the ongoing 2026 WNBA season, but they were able to take in one, as they are in town to face the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
Report: LeBron James may come as a package deal with 1 former All-Star
LeBron James may be bringing more than just Bronny to a possible new team.
The ex-Los Angeles Lakers star James may potentially be coming as a package deal with one of his former star teammates, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report reported on Saturday. Fischer says that veteran NBA big man Kevin Love could be a “plus-one” to any team that acquires James this offseason.
James, 41, remains unsigned as an unrestricted free agent. He is taking his time in deciding on his next team, but there does appear to be one frontrunner right now for James’ services.
As for Love, 36, he is a five-time All-Star and former NBA rebounding leader. He spent last season with the Utah Jazz, averaging 6.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game over 36 total appearances.
James and Love were also notably already teammates on the Cleveland Cavaliers, playing together from 2014-18 and winning the 2016 NBA championship together. The two veterans recently linked up too at an awesome reunion of that 2016 Cavs title team.
We already heard last month that Love could be joining James on the Los Angeles Lakers. While James has since decided to move on from the Lakers, Love might still be following him to his next destination regardless.
Giannis Antetokounmpo got frustrated after thinking the Heat landed another star
Giannis Antetokounmpo wants nothing more this offseason than for another superstar to join him in South Beach with the Miami Heat.
NBA insider Chris Haynes recently shared a story about a frustrated Antetokounmpo calling him back, wanting to know if there’s some breaking news about the Heat acquiring a superstar to play alongside him.
Haynes said that he tried to reach out to Antetokounmpo to ask if the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player would show up at the NBA Summer League. What Haynes got in return was a call from a seemingly frustrated Antetokounmpo, who initially thought “somebody was coming to Miami or there was a big trade.”
Chris Haynes called Giannis to see if he was coming to summer league, and Giannis almost cussed him out thinking Chris was breaking some news on the Heat landing (LeBron) someone 👀
— Heat Central (@TheHeatCentral) July 10, 2026
Giannis is also ready to bring Miami a championship as Chris said.
Giannis definitely knows… pic.twitter.com/Y9yC2oZABU
As it stands, the Heat already look formidable with the combo of Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Miami lost some key players in the trade for Antetokounmpo, but they would gladly do it all over again if it meant getting the services of the 10-time NBA All-Star, who remains at the peak of his powers.
Miami did make a notable acquisition recently, signing veteran shooter Tim Hardaway Jr. to provide the Heat with a much-needed floor spacer, but that barely moves the needle for the team.
What would truly give Giannis Antetokounmpo a huge jolt would be if LeBron James took his talents to South Beach for a second time.
The Heat, along with the Cleveland Cavaliers, are widely considered as the top teams on the NBA free agency list of James, who won two NBA titles with Miami.
UFC fighter quits on match after vicious punch appears to break his jaw
UFC fighter Robert Whittaker proved Saturday that his power very much translates to a higher weight class.
Whittaker (28-9-0) made his light heavyweight debut against Nikita Krylov (31-12-0) in the final UFC 329 preliminary card bout at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The 35-year-old Australian overcame a significant height and reach disadvantage against his Russian opponent to end the match with one vicious blow to the jaw.
And what a strike it was. Whittaker appeared to have shattered Krylov’s jaw with the blow. After taking the shot, Krylov was visibly struggling to move his jaw. He gave himself up near the fence, prompting the referee to call the fight in favor of Whittaker.
CHUNKY ROBERT WHITTAKER
— 🌴ᴛʜᴇᴀʀᴛᴏꜰᴡᴀʀ🌴 (@TheArtOfWar6) July 12, 2026
ROUND 3 TKO pic.twitter.com/t96GjRrm58
The slow-motion replay captured Krylov getting absolutely rocked by Whittaker’s right-hand haymaker. His face got mushed up as if he were in the Looney Tunes universe.
#UFC329
— Davei Boi (@Davei_Boi) July 12, 2026
Robert Whitaker redeeming himself breaking Krylov’s jaw. pic.twitter.com/dPPIF3GKO8
After one too many blows to the face, the 34-year-old Russian’s jaw understandably isn’t what it used to be. Saturday’s TKO defeat at UFC 329 was the third time in Krylov’s last four fights that he lost via knockout on punches.
Pat Murphy addresses Jacob Misiorowski injury concerns after canceled start
Sunday would have been much more electric for baseball fans with a pitching matchup between Jacob Misiorowski and Paul Skenes.
But that showdown is no longer happening, as the hard-throwing Milwaukee Brewers ace was scratched from his scheduled start in the series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Brewers decided to give Misiorowski a rest by skipping his turn in the rotation just before the 2026 MLB All-Star break, apparently due to fatigue.
“He didn’t recover well from his last start and we owe it to him to take a little more time,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said on Saturday, via Hunter Baumgardt of Fox Sports 920.
Murphy explained that the 24-year-old Misiorowski is not at 100 percent following his most recent start, but the issue does not appear to be serious.
“His arm doesn’t feel great. His body doesn’t feel great. There’s no imaging or none of that stuff going on, we’re just giving him a rest and he needs some time away from throwing,” added the two-time National League Manager of the Year winner.
“He’s had a big load and we’re making that decision to give him a break. Because his throwing program today was a little clunky and we just didn’t like what we saw and we’re going to hold him out.”
Misiorowski did not have the smoothest performance in his last start, allowing 3 earned runs on 3 hits (2 home runs), but struck out 11 hitters and did not issue a walk in 7.0 innings of a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on July 7.
In place of Misiorowski, the Brewers will be giving the ball to Robert Gasser versus the Pirates. Misiorowski will also not pitch at the All-Star Game on July 14.
On the season, the two-time All-Star owns a 10-4 record with a 1.62 ERA and a 0.757 WHIP across 18 starts.
Tyler Herro shares his honest thoughts on Miami after altercation with Bam Adebayo
Tyler Herro may have bad blood with some former Miami Heat teammates. The same doesn’t apply to the city he called home for seven years.
Herro made headlines on Friday after news broke of an altercation he had with former Heat co-star Bam Adebayo. The two crossed paths at a gym in Las Vegas, and things got heated quickly. The ensuing scuffle resulted in Adebayo reportedly punching Herro.
The Milwaukee Bucks guard spoke to reporters later that day and was asked if he felt appreciated and respected in Miami during his time with the Heat.
“You know what? I think so,” Herro told the Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang. “Because if you, like, I’m on Twitter, but if you take away Twitter, I’ve never gotten hate in the city ever.
“I’ve been in Miami seven years. Every time I go out in public, people ask me for pictures. People, like, they’re cool to me. No one’s ever hated on me in the city that I’ve witnessed or been a part of. Obviously, they’ll talk and do the things on Twitter, but that’s Twitter. I feel appreciated by the people that matter.”
There were rumors that Herro had been angered by Adebayo’s failure to back him throughout the Heat’s pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo. A burner account believed to be run by Herro aired those frustrations on social media earlier that week, making several negative comments about Adebayo.
The Heat drafted Herro 13th overall in 2019 and helped him develop into a standout scorer. The 6’5″ shooting guard averaged 19.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists across 7 seasons in Miami. The 26-year-old earned his first All-Star nod during the 2024-25 season.
Warriors have a new reason to believe LeBron James could be coming
The Golden State Warriors are still in the LeBron James summer sweepstakes.
While the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat have seemingly emerged as the top two favorites to land the future Basketball Hall of Famer, the Warriors’ chances of signing James are not completely dead, and it appears to have just gotten a shot in the arm following an update from NBA insider Jake Fischer on Saturday.
“I do think the Warriors are still as involved as any team,” Fischer said during an appearance on Bleacher Report’s live stream at the NBA Summer League.
“I want to say that, too. As much as the reunion with Cleveland[Cavaliers] and Miami [Heat] would be storybook, this new all-star team, traveling Team USA kind of circus, high entertainment value thing that would exist in Golden State, is something that is still very much on the table.”
Jake Fischer on LeBron and the Warriors:
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) July 11, 2026
“I do think the Warriors are still as involved as any team. I want to say that too. As much as the reunion with Cleveland and Miami would be storybook, this new all star team, traveling team USA kind of circus, high entertainment value… pic.twitter.com/HC66Rcbq9I
There’s no telling exactly what’s on James’ mind at this point in the summer, but based on Fischer’s report, the Warriors can’t be dismissed as a potential destination just yet for James, who will turn 42 in December.
What is clearer is that James can still bring a lot to the table even at this stage of his career. Last season, he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games with the Lakers.
H/T NBA Courtside
Bucks make $64 million deal with veteran shooter
The Milwaukee Bucks are running it back with one of their top perimeter threats from the previous two seasons.
On Saturday, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Bucks have agreed to a 4-year, $64 million contract with veteran shooting guard Gary Trent Jr.
The former Duke Blue Devils star had a player option for the 2026-27 season but decided not to exercise it to become a free agent. That move paid off for Trent Jr., as he got a new deal, returning to a Milwaukee team that’s entering a new era following the departure of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Trent has played the last two seasons for the Bucks, during which he averaged 9.7 points through 139 games. While he shot just 41.2% from the floor with Milwaukee, he made 39.1% of his attempts from behind the arc, and that proven ability to spread the floor and knock down shots from deep will continue to be an asset for the Bucks.
However, he’ll also have to contend for minutes with some Bucks newcomers, including Tyler Herro, Caris LeVert and rookie Brayden Burries.
The 27-year-old Trent was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 2018 and traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. He played parts of three seasons with the Blazers before Portland sent him to the Toronto Raptors in 2021. Trent landed in Milwaukee first in 2024 on a league minimum contract, but was later signed by the Bucks to a 2-year, $7.5 million contract.
Ja Morant addresses his negative reputation
Ja Morant is getting a fresh start with the Portland Trail Blazers, and he thinks he has earned the chance to reset the narrative surrounding him as well.
Morant said Saturday that he does not understand why he is still saddled with a negative reputation when he has stayed out of trouble for
“I’ve done what I’ve done in the past, but it’s been addressed and handled already. I don’t see why years later that’s still a topic when nothing’s happened since. If I was that guy, y’all wouldn’t be talking to me now. I wouldn’t be here.”
Blazers guard Ja Morant said his “bad guy” image is a misconception: “I’ve done what I’ve done in the past, but it’s been addressed and handled already. I don’t see why years later that’s still the topic when nothing’s happened since.” pic.twitter.com/JYSExOs7wB
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) July 11, 2026
Morant’s reputation took a significant hit in 2023, when he flashed a gun on social media twice in the span of three months, earning him a pair of suspensions. He was also alleged to have threatened members of the Indiana Pacers’ traveling party after a 2023 game.
Morant is correct that he has kept himself out of trouble off the court since then. However, he has been plagued by claims of being a problematic locker room presence during his final season with the Memphis Grizzlies.
The biggest problem for Morant is that he only played in 20 games last year and has not justified his big contract. That is why he did not cost that much in terms of players for the Blazers to acquire him.
Seattle Seahawks have sold for a record price
The Seattle Seahawks are finally being sold, and the price will set a new record for a sports franchise.
A group led by San Francisco 49ers limited partner Vinod Khosla has reached an agreement to purchase the Seahawks, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Seth Wickersham. The reported purchase price is $9.6 billion.
A group led by San Francisco 49ers limited partner Vinod Khosla has agreed to purchase the Seattle Seahawks for $9.6 billion, a record sale price for an NFL franchise, per @SethWickersham and me. pic.twitter.com/OfX9S788hm
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 11, 2026
The Seahawks have been controlled by a trust since previous owner Paul Allen died in 2018. They were finally put up for sale in February shortly after the team won the Super Bowl.
Originally, there had been speculation that the Seahawks might sell for over $10 billion, but interest in the franchise turned out to be a bit more limited than initially anticipated. Still, a $9.6 billion sale price obliterates the previous record, which was the $6.05 billion paid for the Washington Commanders.
Khosla, 71, initially purchased a small share of the 49ers in May 2025. He will have to sell that share in order to purchase the Seahawks.
Barry Bonds’ nephew has been drafted by an MLB team
Barry Bonds’ nephew is heading to Major League Baseball, and is doing so with a fitting team.
The San Francisco Giants selected Peyton Bonds 90th overall in Saturday’s MLB Draft. Bonds is an outfielder who played collegiately at Rutgers, and his father, Bobby Bonds II, is the brother of Giants icon Barry.
The Giants get Rutgers OF Peyton Bonds with the 90th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) July 11, 2026
The nephew of Barry Bonds posted the fifth-highest 90th percentile EV on day one of the MLB Draft Combine, at 110.6 mph.
Bonds was one of the biggest risers in our 2026 draft cycle. pic.twitter.com/sCKAYLptOX
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Bonds is a premium hitting prospect. Unlike his uncle, he hits right-handed, and he posted a .352 average with six home runs in 36 games for the Scarlet Knights in 2026.
Barry Bonds is, officially, MLB’s all-time home run leader with 762. That record is largely dismissed, however, due to Bonds’ alleged PED use. Those allegations have also kept him out of the Hall of Fame despite his statistical accomplishments.
Bonds is not the only MLB icon to see a family member drafted on Saturday.
Mike Macdonald addresses supposed help from Tom Brady in Super Bowl
Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald briefly caused an uproar when he suggested his team got some help from a mysterious figure before their win in Super Bowl LX.
In an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, Macdonald revealed that he had received valuable advice from an individual who “had some conflict of interest” in the outcome of the game. The Seahawks coach denied that he was alluding to Bill Belichick, prompting many New England Patriots fans to speculate that Tom Brady had given the Seahawks some help.
Macdonald later clarified that he had not been alluding to Brady either.
I reached out to Mike Macdonald to get clarification on his comments on the @dpshow. I asked if @TomBrady was the person with the “conflict of interest” that gave input to the Seahawks before the Super Bowl. Mike told me it wasn’t Brady that he was talking about in the interview. https://t.co/v6CYahtHpC
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) July 10, 2026
Brady, of course, has longstanding ties to the Patriots. He also knows Macdonald well from when the Seahawks coach was working at Michigan. Furthermore, he annoyed a lot of Patriots fans by claiming impartiality before the game due to his duties as a FOX broadcaster.
We have no idea what Macdonald was talking about when he mentioned a “conflict of interest.” It does not make a lot of sense for Brady to have been tipping the Seahawks off to any secrets, but as long as Macdonald won’t say who it is, the door is open for speculation.
Zack Wheeler accuses MLB of disrespect
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler is not happy with what he thinks is a disrespectful move by Major League Baseball.
Wheeler was offered a replacement slot on the National League All-Star team Thursday, but declined it, he said Friday. The Phillies ace said he felt disrespected by the fact that he was the fifth choice for the spot.
“Because they disrespected me, so I’m just not gonna participate in that thing,” Wheeler said, via Cole Weintraub of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Wheeler was left off the All-Star roster entirely despite having a 9-1 record and a 2.28 ERA, numbers that are easily worthy of a nod. Even if he had been selected, he would not have been able to pitch, as he is scheduled to start Sunday. The league prohibits pitchers who start on the final day before the All-Star break from actually pitching in the game in order to protect their health. Wheeler sounded off on that rule earlier in the week.
Both All-Star teams omitted some worthy players this year, and those snubbed have been very open about their frustration. Wheeler clearly felt like his invitation was a consolation prize and wanted nothing to do with it.
White Sox pick son of franchise legend in MLB Draft
The Chicago White Sox are embracing some family ties with their second MLB Draft selection on Saturday.
The White Sox used the No. 34 overall pick in Saturday’s draft to select infielder Landon Thome. Thome is the son of longtime White Sox slugger Jim Thome and played his high school baseball at Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park, Ill.
The next generation of Thome. pic.twitter.com/aN5w2cTbea
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 11, 2026
Thome has obviously been around the White Sox for virtually his entire life. There are plenty of photos of him around the team while spending time with his father, who is still a special assistant with the organization.
The @whitesox select Landon Thome! 🥹 pic.twitter.com/Xc50lodi5i
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) July 11, 2026
Landon Thome, 18, has committed to Florida State to play baseball, though he may forego that commitment now. His MLB.com scouting report describes him as “one of the best all-around hitters in the 2026 high school crop,” though he is a pure hitter who does not necessarily rely on just his power.
The elder Thome slugged 612 home runs during his illustrious career and has been elected to the Hall of Fame, though that has not necessarily made him memorable in the eyes of everyone.
