GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 06: A general view of the Los Angeles Dodgers logo before a spring training game between the Kansas City Royals and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on March 06, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe Los Angeles Dodgers spent the final days before the MLB trade deadline juggling their pitching staff while aggressively pursuing upgrades for another postseason run. As speculation intensified around blockbuster moves including the club's eventual acquisition of ace Tarik Skubal the organization also quietly parted ways with a veteran left-hander who had provided emergency depth throughout the season.While the spotlight centered on the headline-grabbing addition of the back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner, another roster decision marked the end of a brief Dodgers chapter for a pitcher whose role had become uncertain.FORBES | By Peter ChawagaAstros Acquire Brewers Former Shortstop Just Before Trade DeadlineLos Angeles Dodgers Lose Southpaw Just Before Tarik Skubal TradeOn Saturday, just a few hours before news of Skubal joining the Dodgers broke, lefty reliever Charlie Barnes officially opted out of his Dodgers deal and elected free agency, according to the transaction log.Barnes' departure came only days after his latest stint with the Dodgers reached an end. While the 30-year-old began his big-league career with the Minnesota Twins back in 2021, he has struggled in limited major league action this season, he seemed as a potential depth fit for the organization as it pushed toward a third straight World Series run.But Barnes decision to leave the organization might have been motivated by a chance to start over fresh and leave a harsh stint behind him.Around the various transactions he has been involved in this year, Barnes has posted an unsightly 7.50 earned run average in a small sample of 12 innings split between the (Chicago) Cubs and Dodgers, Darragh McDonald wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. He has a much more palatable 4.39 ERA in 55 1/3 Triple-A innings this year. He spent 2022 to 2025 in the KBO League in South Korea, posting a 3.58 ERA over there. He still has options and could be easily sent back to the minors after eating some innings.Despite his major league struggles, Barnes remained a useful depth option capable of covering innings when injuries struck.FORBES | By Peter ChawagaBraves Make Spencer Strider Move Before Surprise 4-Player TradeLos Angeles Dodgers Reshape Pitching Staff Around Superstar Tarik SkubalThe timing of Barnes' exit was linked to the Skubal addition, but it was another star transaction that first pushed him off of the Dodgers big-league roster.Barnes loses his spot in the Los Angeles bullpen with high-priced closer Edwin Daz coming back from the injured list, NBC Sports George Bissell reported last month. The well-traveled 30-year-old has allowed seven runs over 10 innings across four appearances for the Dodgers this season.Once Barnes cleared waivers, he chose free agency instead of remaining in the organization, allowing him to search for another opportunity elsewhere.His departure ultimately coincided with one of the busiest stretches of Los Angeles season. For Barnes, free agency offers a chance to reset amid another whirlwind campaign. Although his major league numbers did not match expectations, his solid Triple-A production and previous success abroad could still make him an appealing depth target for clubs seeking experienced left-handed pitching.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

CHICAGO - During their first 18 innings at Wrigley Field, the Yankees' lineup has remained in a stall. In splitting the first two games of this three-game set, the Yankees have scored four runs - three of them on solo homers (two by Spencer Jones) and one unearned run. Sunday marks the finale of this 10-game trek through Philadelphia (2-1), Chicago's South Side vs. the White Sox (2-2) and Wrigleyville, with the Yanks seeking a winning road trip.They'll have Gerrit Cole (4-5, 3.57) on the mound today at 2:20 (EDT), opposed by Cubs right-hander Colin Rea (8-7, 4.67). And of course, there's Monday's looming 6 p.m. (EDT) MLB trade deadline, with the Cubs seeking rotation arms and the Yanks seeking upgrades at catcher and the bullpen, along with any fit that could improve a sputtering lineup missing Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger. Of note today, Jones is batting cleanup, with Jose Caballero at shortstop and Ben Rice (first base) back in the lineup after being rested Saturday (he appeared as a pinch-hitter).Here is the Yankees' Sunday afternoon lineup:Trent Grisham, CFBen Rice, 1BAmed Rosario, DHSpencer Jones, LFJasson Dominguez, RFJazz Chisholm Jr., 2BRyan McMahon, 3BJose Caballero, SSAustin Wells, CThis article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Spencer Jones batting cleanup, Yankees announce Sunday lineup vs. Cubs

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The Tennessee Titans are taking the day off ahead of their first training camp practice in pads on Monday, but that didnt stop them from holding a workout as they continue to turn over every stone in search of competition for the roster.Aaron Wilson reports that the Titans worked out former Buffalo Bills safety Wande Owens, who became available after being waived on Friday.Former #Bills defensive back Wande Owens worked out for the #Titans today, per a league source Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 2, 2026While there was no word of him signing, Owens is an interesting prospect who spent his entire rookie season on the Bills' practice squad after signing with them as an undrafted rookie free agent (UDFA) following the 2025 NFL Draft.A small school prospect out of New Hampshire (via Yale), the 5-foot-11, 205-pounder flashed enough during preseason and training camp to latch on throughout the season. In all, he logged 42 snaps and made five tackles (two for loss) in two games against the New York Giants and Chicago Bears.The Titans are looking for depth behind Amani Hooker, Kevin Winston Jr., and Tony Adams, and have looked hard at available safeties throughout the first week of camp, working out Owens and Sam Kidd, while signing Hudson Clark.This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans workout former Buffalo Bills S Wande Owens

Former NFL defensive end Aldon Smith died suddenly on June 13. The situation prompted former teammate Donte Whitner to express concern about what had happened.An important piece in the potentially complicated puzzle emerged on Friday, when the San Francisco Chroniclepublished the six-minute 911 call that was made after Smith was found unresponsive."Come on!" former 49ers teammate Anthony Dixon says on the call. "He's not responding! . . . Oh my God, Aldon, brother!" (Whitner had identified former 49ers teammate Anthony Davis as someone who was present when Smith died. Whitner apparently was referring to Anthony Dixon.)"I have a friend, it looks like he fainted or passed away in my car," Amir Shirazi, who previously spoke to the Chronicle about Smith's passing, said to the dispatcher. "He just had pizza and I came back and he was just fainted and passed out in the car."The dispatcher asked if Smith was awake. "No, it looks like he passed away," Shirazi said. "I hope to God not. But he's not breathing, no."Shirazi also was asked whether he had access to a defibrillator. He said he didn't. "My friend is trying to wake him up," Shirazi told the dispatcher. "He won't wake up."Shirazi provided more information to the Chronicle via text message on Friday: "He was a healthy young man in my opinion and completely normal in my eyes the whole morning when I was with him. . . . [He] didn't complain about nothing to me in the car and he was relaxed, finished eating some pizza and drinking a water bottle right before. Hopefully the autopsy comes out soon."Smith's cause of death remains undisclosed, if it's even known. In the days after Smith's passing, his family hired lawyers to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.

Predicting winners for the major NFL awards in the preseason is guesswork dressed up as analysis. Throw a dart while blindfolded, and youll likely have the same success rate. Nobody has played a snap, so all we have is offseason movement, roster changes, coaching hires and a few loud rumors. And my personal subjectivity. So take these for what they are: nothin but a good time. For each of the seven major awards (sorry, Walter Payton Man of the Year), Im laying out three picks: the chalk favorite everyone expects, a longshot worth watching and my own call. Some of those calls line up with the favorite. Others take a swing. Here is how the races look right now from my point of view.More: Heisman Trophy predictions, 7 candidates to win college footballs top award in 2026Most Valuable PlayerBuffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws a touchdown pass during the third quarter of an AFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesChalk: QB Josh Allen, Buffalo BillsAllen is the frontrunner of all frontrunners. He has cleared 500 rushing yards in five straight seasons and generated 12 rushing touchdowns in three straight seasons. Buffalo added DJ Moore to give him another target to bolster the pass attack, which saw Allen pass for just 25 TDs last year, his lowest total since 2019.Longshot: QB Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ersYou wont find Mr. Irrelevant high on the board. Purdy was second in the league in adjusted EPA per play and completion percentage over expected in an injury-shortened nine-game run last year and led the 49ers to a 7-2 record in his starts. SI has Purdy as a strong MVP contender despite the long odds.My pick: QB Justin Herbert, Los Angeles ChargersEverything points up for the Oregon product in his third year under Jim Harbaugh and his first with Mike McDaniel calling plays. Keaton Mitchell adds a new gear in the backfield. The setup finally lines up for Herberts first MVP season.Offensive Player of the YearDec 22, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets safety Chuck Clark (36) tackles Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesChalk: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit LionsGibbs is the pick of the sharp crowd. The Alabama product ran for 1,223 yards in 2025 while carrying a heavier share of the Detroit backfield, and a healthy year with Sam LaPorta back puts the rushing title and this award in reach.Longshot: RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ersWhen healthy, McCaffrey is as dangerous as anyone here. Injuries have knocked him down the board, but a full season out of the backfield would put him right back in the mix.My pick: WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles RamsMatthew Stafford is coming off an MVP year, and Nacua is the engine of that passing game. A full healthy season produces the receiving totals voters reward. After a first-team All-Pro season, look for Nacua to claim his first NFL award.Defensive Player of the YearDec 4, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) reacts after a play during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn ImagesChalk: DE Myles Garrett, Los Angeles RamsGarrett is the reigning winner, and he set the official single-season sack record with 23 sacks while sweeping all 50 first-place votes. He now pairs with Stafford to give the Rams the reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year on the same roster.Longshot: DE Jared Verse, Cleveland BrownsThe 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year came to Cleveland in the Garrett deal. Verse is now the focal point of the Browns young defense after back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons, and only Micah Parsons and Garrett have logged more pressures since he entered the league.My pick: DE Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit LionsDetroit leans heavily on the Michigan product, and he should be hitting his prime. A favorable schedule gives the Lions the team success that helps this award.Offensive Rookie of the YearArizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love (4) practices during training camp at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on July 26, 2026.Chalk: RB Jeremiyah Love, Arizona CardinalsThe No. 3 overall pick arrives with big numbers. Love topped 1,000 rushing yards in both 2025 and 2026 at Notre Dame, averaging 6.9 yards per carry each season.Longshot: QB Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas RaidersThe No. 1 overall pick led Indiana to a perfect 16-0 season and the national title. Mendoza still has to win the job over Kirk Cousins for the Week 1 start before he gets his hand on an NFL award.My pick: RB Jeremiyah Love, Arizona CardinalsThe chalk is also the smart call. A complete three-down back with a clear path to volume is the safest bet to put up rookie-award numbers.Defensive Rookie of the YearApr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey is introduced before the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesChalk: EDGE David Bailey, New York JetsThe No. 2 overall pick walks into a starting job. Bailey lines up opposite Will McDonald IV under defensive-minded coach Aaron Glenn, with plenty of chances to rack up sacks.Longshot: LB Jacob Rodriguez, Miami DolphinsThe second-round pick has a path to immediate playing time on a bad team. Rodriguez draws the same profile as 2025 winner Carson Schwesinger, who piled up tackles as a rookie.My pick: EDGE David Bailey, New York JetsThe favorite is hard to fade. Edge rushers win this award most years, and Bailey has both the pass-rush ceiling and the snaps.Coach of the YearJun 9, 2026; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh answers questions from the press after the minicamp activities at Quest Diagnostics Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Salus-Imagn ImagesChalk: John Harbaugh, New York GiantsHarbaugh took over a team that won just seven games over two years. Eight of the last nine winners were in their first or second season with their team, which fits him perfectly.Longshot: Kevin Stefanski, Atlanta FalconsStefanski inherits Bijan Robinson and Drake London on an underachieving roster. The turnaround setup is exactly the kind voters love.My pick: John Harbaugh, New York GiantsA proven winner walking into a desperate franchise with a young core fits the turnaround formula this award almost always rewards. Back in 2019, Harbaugh took home the NFL award hardware as the AP Coach of the Year.Comeback Player of the YearChalk: QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City ChiefsMahomes is the heavy favorite here. He is aiming for redemption after an injury ended a subpar Chiefs season. The three-time Super Bowl champ already has several NFL awards, including two MVPs and an Offensive Player of the Year win.Longshot: WR Malik Nabers, New York GiantsThe young wideout is returning from a torn ACL. Nabers would put up big numbers if he stays healthy across a full year.My pick: DT Aaron Donald, Los Angeles RamsThe three-time Defensive Player of the Year has been training on the field and is rumored to return after two years away, drawn back by the Garrett trade. Pairing his interior rush with Garrett off the edge would be the kind of story voters reward if he plays enough snaps.

Listen to SportsoundHibs 0-0 Motherwell - Lowe drags wide for hostsFT: St Johnstone 4-3 Kilmarnock - Fowler and Diabate twice have hosts ahead but Kiltie and Hugill net levellers; Holt own goal gives Killie lead before Lloyd equalises and Fotheringham smashes in Scottish Premiership: Hibs and Motherwell vie for winning start to season

Official: Randal Kolo Muani joins Juventus!Hes back!After very long weeks of negotiations, its done: Randal Kolo Muani is back at Juventus!PSG officially announced this Sunday afternoon the permanent sale of the French international striker.According to Fabrizio Romano, Juventus are expected to pay around 50 million, including bonuses, to bring the striker back.Having joined PSG three years ago from Frankfurt in a transfer estimated at 95 million, the French forward is therefore leaving the capital club without ever managing to establish himself there.Randal Kolo Muani will thus return to a club where he had impressed during a six-month loan spell in the 202425 season. With 10 goals and three assists in 22 matches, he was almost as decisive as in his 54 appearances in PSG colors (11 goals, seven assists).Do you think the 27-year-old striker will manage to revive his career in Serie A?This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in here.

A lot of credit has gone to the work that Penn State head coach Matt Campbell has done in the transfer portal. With over 55 transfers, there is hope in Happy Valley that the Nittany Lions will look much more competitive on the field this year. However, when it comes to each's level of importance, there are differing opinions. Many say that quarterback Rocco Becht is the key to Penn State's Big Ten success.One analyst at ESPN has a different player in mind.In their 2026 Big Ten preview, ESPN wrote about the top transfers into the conference. Rather than going with the obvious, Bill Connelly chose safety Marcus Neal Jr."New head coach Matt Campbell brought alotof former Cyclones with him from Iowa State -- too many, perhaps -- but Neal is an almost surefire star," Connelly wrote. "The 6-foot-1, 215-pound safety has solid ball-hawking capabilities (two INTs, three breakups last year) but is also at home near the line of scrimmage: He took part in 12 tackles at or behind the line."Many Penn State fans may not know Neal's name, but they almost certainly will come the fall. Penn State lacks a lot of depth at the safety position, having lost players like Zakee Wheatley to the NFL and Antoine Belgrave-Shorter to the transfer portal. Therefore, it is imperative for the starters to step up, and that will place the spotlight on Neal. In 2025 at Iowa State, he recorded 77 tackles, 11 for loss, two interceptions, and three pass breakups.Now, he will be tasked with marshaling the back end, potentially without his running mate from his time with the Cyclones at the start of the year. Jeremiah Cooper is another huge addition from the portal, but he did tear his ACL last season. If there was ever an onus for Neal to step up, it would be now, considering the many unknowns that are coming at the safety position.Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X and Facebook.This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: ESPN names Penn State safety among top Big Ten transfers