Mar 26, 2022; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; The New York Mets logo stands in center field before the game against the Washington Nationals at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Mets continue to load up on experienced arms.
Andy Martino of SportsNet New York reported on Friday that the Mets are trading for reliever Ryne Stanek in a deal with the Seattle Mariners. Minor-league outfielder Rhylan Thomas is going back to Seattle as part of the trade.
Stanek, 33, is a seasoned right-hander who has eight seasons of big-league experience. In 46 relief appearances for the Mariners this season, he has gone 6-3 with a 4.38 ERA and 44 strikeouts. Stanek usually pitches in a setup role but also logged seven saves for Seattle this year.
Having been blessed by the grace of Grimace, the Mets currently sit at 54-48, which has them as the second NL Wild Card in a hotly-contested race. Stanek, who was a key reliever for the Houston Astros during their 2022 World Series-winning season, will solidify the Mets’ bullpen for the stretch run. He also becomes the second pitcher from that 2022 Astros team that the Mets have acquired this month.
Mar 3, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener (QB05) speaks to the press at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans Saints quarterback Jake Haener revealed some personal health news to the media on Friday.
Haener spoke with the media and was seen with a small circular bandage on his cheek. The 25-year-old quarterback told reporters that he recently learned he has a rare form of skin cancer. About a week before training camp began, Haener had a bump pop up on his face that had him concerned, so he went to a dermatologist to have it removed.
Haener said he was worried about the bump because it was odd looking and kept growing. A biopsy revealed it was a rare form of cancer.
Saints quarterback Jake Haener said he learned just before camp that he had a rare form of skin cancer for his age pop up with a bump on his face and plans to follow up with another evaluation on the August 1 off day. https://t.co/LDSE1OcZkt
Heaner needs to undergo a procedure to address the bump. He says he will have a medical consultation on the team’s off day on August 1 to discuss the matter.
The second-year quarterback said he is doing OK mentally and he is taking the necessary steps to address the issue.
Haener is competing with Spencer Rattler and Nathan Peterman for a spot on the depth chart behind Saints starter Derek Carr. He was a fourth-round pick by New Orleans in 2023.
Michelle Beadle’s return to television appears to be imminent.
Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post reported this week that Beadle is in talks to join FS1. She is expected to become a daily co-host on the morning show of Craig Carton, the former WFAN broadcaster, on FS1. Glasspiegel notes that a deal has not yet been finalized but that talks between Beadle and FS1 are “serious.”
The 48-year-old Beadle rose to national prominence as an on-air personality for ESPN, hosting shows like “SportsNation” and “NBA Countdown.” She had two separate stints with the network, but disagreements between the two sides eventually led to Beadle getting bought out from her contract by ESPN in 2019.
Since then, Beadle has remained active in sports media, co-hosting a show on Mad Dog Sports Radio, serving as part of the crew on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back,” and also working on the broadcast team of the San Antonio Spurs.
As for FS1, who currently employ Beadle’s ex-“SportsNation” co-host Colin Cowherd, they are in need of a splash, especially given the news earlier this month of a major departure from the network. Having Beadle around every weekday morning on “The Carton Show” will be a good start to that effect.
Feb 25, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Juan Soto (22) smiles in the dugout against the Toronto Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Fans were saying the same thing about the comments Juan Soto made after his New York Yankees were pounded 12-3 by the rival New York Mets on Wednesday.
The Mets beat the Yankees in both their games this week to drop the Yankees to 60-44. Soto, who is in his first season with the Yankees, was asked after the 12-3 loss whether it hurts more to lose to the rival Mets.
Soto said all losses are bad for the team, regardless of to whom they come.
“Any loss it matters for us. It’s tough to lose. It can be them or it can be whoever. We don’t want to lose to anybody. We want to go out there and dominate,” Soto said.
Juan Soto on if it's more frustrating to lose to the Mets than other teams:
"Any loss matters to us. It's tough to lose. It can be them, it can be whoever. We don't want to lose to anybody." pic.twitter.com/Fm3Es43Y0R
Either Soto doesn’t understand the significance of the Subway Series, or something else is going on. Fans think that maybe Soto is refraining from criticizing the Mets because he could sign with them in the offseason.
— Gwimbly Joe | Mets 54-48 #LFGM (@JoeTakeLs) July 25, 2024
Soto has only been with the Yankees since December, so he may not entirely understand the passion of the fan base in New York and significance of the team’s rivalries. But at least he knows that priority No. 1 is racking up wins. Soto and his .311 average have done a great job of contributing toward that goal.
May 14, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Baltimore Orioles cap and glove sits in dugout in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The Baltimore Orioles have made their splash.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Friday that the Orioles are acquiring right-hander Zach Eflin in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. Jeff Passan of ESPN adds that the Orioles are sending three minor-leaguers (outfielder Matthew Etzel, righty pitcher Jackson Baumeister and utilityman Mac Horvath) back to Tampa Bay for Eflin.
The 30-year-old Eflin led the American League in wins last season with 16 of them. He has been a bit less succcessful this season with a 5-7 record and a 4.09 ERA in 19 starts for Tampa Bay. But Eflin is a generally reliable mid-rotation starter who pitches deep into games, does not allow many walks, and is still signed for $18 million next year.
Feb 23, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) before the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
With Klay Thompson now in Dallas, another member of the Golden State Warriors’ longtime Big Three might not be around for much longer either.
“I’m on the wrong side of my down slide, like I’m headed into year 13,” said Green, per ClutchPoints. “I probably got two more [seasons]. And so it’s important to start building for the next thing.”
Green, who averaged 8.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game last season, is 34 years old now. He is also only under contract for two more guaranteed seasons (with a player option for 2026-27), so the two-year timeline here makes sense.
For Green, his basketball IQ should keep him around for a little longer. But as he continues his physical decline, it will be difficult for Green to keep up with younger, faster players, especially as a guy who has never had the best speed, athleticism, or three-point shooting (though Green did connect on a career-high 39.5 percent of his triples last year).
The Warriors, who missed the playoffs last season, are truly facing down the end of an era. Thompson left to sign with the Mavericks in free agency this summer, Green is hinting at retirement, and even Stephen Curry recently cast some doubt on how much longer he will stay in Golden State.
Nov 12, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce enters the field for warm up against the New York Jets at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
The Las Vegas Raiders only begun training camp this week and have already made Antonio Pierce’s job harder.
Feb 22, 2020; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat former player Dwyane Wade reacts during the second quarter at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Flash may soon be getting extended run on a major television network.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported this week that retired Miami Heat great Dwyane Wade is a candidate to join NBC’s lead broadcast team when the NBA returns to their network beginning with the 2025-26 season. Jackson notes that play-by-play announcer Noah Eagle is also a candidate for NBC’s lead NBA team.
Wade and Eagle are currently on assignment at the Olympic Games in Paris, doing a specific gig for NBC. That may end up being an audition for a bigger role with NBC, who just won back rights to the NBA from the 2025-26 to 2035-36 seasons.
The 42-year-old Hall of Famer Wade, who retired in 2019, already has some solid media experience. He worked as a studio analyst for TNT from 2019-22 as part of their Tuesday studio crew before deciding to leave the network. Though he was sometimes criticized for a perceived lack of on-air charisma, Wade also currently hosts the American adaptation of the game show “The Cube” on TBS and has since gotten to hone his skills there. Now it sounds like Wade might be able to turn a successful Olympic gig for NBC into a larger position with the network.
Sep 29, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Tyreek Hill made his feelings clear Friday regarding Tua Tagovailoa’s contract extension.
Hill shared a post on X after the news of Tagovailoa’s contract extension was made public. His post included just one emoji — a character with a big grin.
Yep, Hill is very happy about his teammate getting paid. And why wouldn’t he be?
Since joining the Dolphins prior to the 2022 season, Hill has put up huge numbers. He has caught exactly 119 passes in both of his years with the Dolphins and averaged 1,754.5 yards receiving. His 13 receiving touchdowns last season tied Mike Evans for the league high.
May 29, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) throws a pitch against the Detroit Tigers in the second inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
Paul Skenes is one tall dude, especially compared to non-baseball players.
The Pittsburgh Pirates rookie phenom Skenes went viral this week over his photo with country music star Kenny Chesney. In the photo, which Skenes posted to his Instagram Story, he was towering way above Chesney.
The 22-year-old All-Star flamethrower Skenes measures in at 6-foot-6 while the best-selling singer Chesney is a modest 5-foot-6. That would explain the visuals in that photo there.
Meanwhile, Skenes is a known enthusiast of country music. He has warmed up to “Cue Country Roads” by Charles Wesley Godwin before and has also spoken about his love of the genre on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
