The veteran outfielder was one of the top position players on the trading block

The Seattle Mariners got a good look at power-hitting outfielder Taylor Ward when he was a member of the rival Los Angeles Angels. With the team desperate to make a playoff push, Seattle decided to acquire Ward from the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, per ESPNs Jeff Passan.Ward, 32, hasnt produced to his normal level with the Orioles in 2026. His excellent pop Ward hit a career-high 36 home runs last season has not carried over to Baltimore. Through 111 games, hes hit just seven home runs and is on pace for his worst power season since 2023, when he popped 14 home runs in 97 games. Despite the power outage, Ward has found another way to provide value on offense, leading the American League in walks. His patience should be a welcome addition in Seattle, which ranks in the middle of the pack with an 8.9 percent walk rate as a team. While Ward has plenty of experience playing against the Mariners, however, he hasnt produced well at T-Mobile Park. Ward carries a career .195/.236/.297 slash line at the park.The Mariners enter Monday 55-58, but just two games out of a wild-card spot in the AL. After shipping out Luis Castillos contract, Seattle is expected to be among the most active teams at the deadline. Another pitcher Emerson Hancock or George Kirby could also be shipped out as the team looks to strengthen its offense for a second-half playoff push.

One key stat explains Valkyries' choice not to make Kelsey Plum trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Phoenix Mercury stunned the WNBA by pulling off a blockbuster trade for All-Star guard Kelsey Plum on Saturday -- for what might amount to a 14-game stint in the desert, seeing as Plum is set to hit unrestricted free agency after the season.The Mercury won the Plum sweepstakes by offering to the Los Angeles Sparks an enticing package of Monique Akoa Makani plus two draft picks -- including a first-round selection that could fall in the lottery of a stacked 2027 draft.The Washington Mystics, the Atlanta Dream, the New York Liberty and the Golden State Valkyries all were linked with Plum, but in the end, Phoenix's offer blew away the others.MORE:Why Mercury's Kelsey Plum blockbuster is just crazy enough to workThe Valkyries in particular had been regarded as a strong suitor for Plum. San Francisco's proximity to Los Angeles was viewed as a key factor in getting Plum to re-sign long-term with Golden State -- and the Valkyries' offense, last in the league in pace and seventh in efficiency, could have used Plum's shooting and driving capabilities.However, it is hard to imagine Golden State wanted to break up the league's best defense.Not only do the Valkyries rank first in defensive rating, but Natalie Nakase's team leads the WNBA in "kills" per 100 possessions -- a metric that might well presage a long playoff run come October.A kill occurs when the defense prevents the offense from scoring on three straight possessions. College programs have tracked kills for well over a decade, so let's do the same for the WNBA.Here are the league's leaders in kills per 100 defensive possessions: pic.twitter.com/9e6iNjuoBT Dan Falkenheim (@thefalkon) August 3, 2026A "kill" is when a defense prevents the opposing offense from scoring on three consecutive possessions.The Valkyries average 8.15 kills for every 100 possessions, tops in the WNBA ahead of the Washington Mystics and the Minnesota Lynx.Plum is not known as a stellar defender, and though her scoring would have helped Golden State, breaking up such a connected defensive unit by dealing assets to Los Angeles was a gamble that the Valkyries were not comfortable making.Besides, with Plum set to hit the market in the spring, Golden State can always circle back and try to sign her in 2027 if she can't get a deal done with Phoenix.More WNBA news:Wings' Arike Ogunbowale had fans agreeing with 5-word response to big future updateCaitlin Clark and the Fever stay put in latest WNBA power ranking despite Lynx lossReplay of Sophie Cunningham foul call has WNBA fans outragedWashington Mystics make stunning leap to No. 2 in latest WNBA power rankings

Despite being one of the oldest franchises in the NBA, the Atlanta Hawks dont have the rich history you would expect.They are one of four franchises to have at least 50 playoff appearances in their history, but are the only franchise with a winning percentage below .500 in that category.The Hawks won their lone championship all the way back in 1958 when they were in St. Louis. Led by Bob Pettit, the Hawks were able to make the NBA Finals four times in five years, between 1957 and 1961.Perhaps they could be a franchise with a richer history if they made better decisions on draft night.Bob Cousy, 1950 NBA DraftWith the fourth pick of the 1950 NBA Draft, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks selected Bob Cousy from Holy Cross. Cousy would go on to become a Boston Celtics legend, but Boston passed on Cousy with the second overall pick. They instead chose Chuck Share, who had a decent nine-year career in the NBA. Ironically, Share never played for the Celtics, but rather the Hawks later in his career.As for why the Celtics passed on Cousy in the 1950 NBA Draft, Boston coach Red Auerbach had this to say about the process:We need a big man. Little men are a dime a dozen. Im supposed to win, not go after local yokels, he said.After learning the Blackhawks drafted him two picks later, Cousy was not pleased.Jesus, I was a pretty good student, what the hell is the Tri-Cities? he said.Cousy was traded to the Chicago Stags, but they folded before the 1950-51 season. Thus, the Celtics selected Cousy in the dispersal draft, and the rest was history. He would end up having a Hall-of-Fame career, making the All-Star team 13 times, winning six championships and a league MVP in 1957.Turns out the Blackhawks wouldnt be in Tri-Cities much longer, as they moved to Milwaukee in 1951 and shortened their name to the Hawks.In 1955, the Hawks would move again. This time to St. Louis, where they became rivals to Cousys Celtics.Happy 94th Birthday to @celtics legend, Bob Cousy! #NBABDAYpic.twitter.com/XWP86RaKcL NBA History (@NBAHistory) August 9, 2022Bill Russell, 1956 NBA DraftAs it turns out, the Hawks would draft not one, but two players who spearheaded Bostons dynasty in the 1960s. In a cruel twist of fate, St. Louis met the Celtics in the NBA Finals the following season, and Boston prevailed in seven games.Bill Russell was aggressively pursued by the Celtics, and the Hawks were willing to give him up. As the story goes, Boston owner Walter Brown convinced the Rochester Royals to pass on Russell with the first pick. From there, they worked out a trade with St. Louis that sent hometown hero Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan.On paper, this doesnt seem like a horrible trade. Macauley and Hagan both had Hall-of-Fame careers. In fact, they were both a part of the Hawks championship team in 1958. However, when the other team gets a player who becomes a five-time MVP, 11-time champion and one of the greatest players the NBA has ever seen, it is hard to justify it.Russell couldve teamed up with Pettit, who won two MVPs in his career. If that happened, perhaps St. Louis becomes the next NBA dynasty rather than the Celtics.In Memoriam: Bill Russell (1934-2022) pic.twitter.com/EGUDbrERxq NBA (@NBA) August 2, 2022David Thompson, 1975 NBA DraftAfter ending the 1974-75 season with 31 wins, the Atlanta Hawks got the first overall pick in the 1975 NBA Draft. Atlanta selected David Thompson, who had an illustrious career at NC State. There was only one problem: Thompson also went first overall in the 1975 ABA Draft.Heres where things go sour for the Hawks. After his rookie season with the Virginia Squires, Julius Erving was ready to move on to the NBA. He left the Squires in search of an NBA team. When the Milwaukee Bucks drafted Erving 12th overall in 1972, they learned that Atlanta signed him to a four-year deal before the draft.The Squires got a court injunction that forced Erving to return to Virginia for the 1972-73 season. Meanwhile, Atlanta was fined $400,000 by the league for attempting to sign Erving while he was drafted by the Bucks.The Hawks must pay $250,000 to the league and $150,000 to the Milwaukee Bucks, who had drafted Erving properly; they must give their two secondround draft choices next year to Milwaukee, and the rights to Erving, if he ever comes into the N.B.A., remains with Milwaukee.The Bucks didnt get Erving either as Virginia traded him to the New York Nets in 1973. Eventually, the Nets would join the NBA in the 1976 merger.Because the Hawks were fined for trying to sign Erving two years earlier, they didnt have the money to offer Thompson a contract. The Denver Nuggets acquired his rights from the Squires and signed him to a contract Atlanta couldnt afford.In the end, neither Erving nor Thompson played for the Hawks. Instead, Atlanta would miss the playoffs in four consecutive seasons from 1973-74 to 1975-76. They went a combined 126-202 during those seasons.David Thompson is an Athletic Force!Check out some of Skywalker's most athletic plays from his career as we celebrate his 66th birthday! #NBAVault#NBABDAYpic.twitter.com/kU5kBHKQGB NBA History (@NBAHistory) July 13, 2020Arvydas Sabonis, 1985 NBA DraftThe story of Arvydas Sabonis is a weird one. Although hed eventually make his way to the NBA, he didnt officially debut until the 1995-96 season. By then, Sabonis was 31 years old, which limited his NBA career to just seven seasons.In 1985, the Hawks drafted Sabonis with the 77th pick. The Hawks thought they struck gold in the 7-foot-3 big man, but the NBA voided the pick. The Portland Trail Blazers then selected him with the 24th pick one year later in the 1986 NBA Draft.Arvydas Sabonis was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 77th pick in the 1985 NBA Draft but it was voided due to him being under 21 at the time.This allowed the Portland Trail Blazers to swoop in a year later at pick 24.Happy 59th Birthday for the Lithuanian GOAT! pic.twitter.com/AAIR2RF4lu FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) December 19, 2023At the time, international players had to be at least 21 years old to be draft-eligible. Sabonis was born in December 1964, which meant he was still 20 years old during the 1985 NBA Draft.Due to many factors such as playing in the USSR and major injuries, Sabonis delayed his move to the NBA. He had a Hall-of-Fame career, but he built most of that through his play internationally.In an alternate universe, the NBA allows the Hawks to keep Sabonis. By the time he did come over to the NBA, Dominique Wilkins was years removed from his time in Atlanta. However, it would have been interesting to see what that duo couldve been like in the late 1980s if he came to the NBA earlier.Before Jokic, there was Arvydas Sabonis pic.twitter.com/OYoETawjkg FIBA Basketball (@FIBA) April 11, 2025Pau Gasol, 2001 NBA DraftThe 2000-01 season was one of the worst seasons the Hawks have ever had. They won just 25 games, the sixth fewest in a season in franchise history. As a result, Atlanta was awarded the third overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft.The Washington Wizards infamously selected Kwame Brown first overall (who was traded for Gasol in 2008), but the big man from Spain was still there at third overall. Atlanta drafted Gasol but later re-routed him in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies.Along with the draft rights to Gasol, the Hawks traded the late Lorenzen Wright and Brevin Knight in exchange for Shareef Abdur-Rahim and the 27th overall pick.Later that night, Atlanta selected Jamaal Tinsley, but he also never played for the Hawks. Instead, they chose to move him to the Indiana Pacers for a 2003 first-round pick that became Boris Diaw.Abdur-Rahim did make his first and only All-Star team the following season, but never had quite the career Gasol did. Memphis later moved Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers after failing to build around him.Atlanta traded what could have been a franchise-altering player in the midst of a rebuild. It very well may go down as one of the worst trades in franchise history. Funny enough, the Hawks engaged in trade talks with the Lakers in 2012. A deal involving Gasol and Josh Smith did not go through.6x NBA All-Star4x All-NBA2x NBA Champion2023 @Hoophall inductee, Pau Gasol.Watch the enshrinement ceremony tomorrow at 8pm/et on NBA TV. pic.twitter.com/53mdJ7Q8Sb NBA (@NBA) August 12, 2023The post Five Draft Decisions That Changed the Course of Hawks History appeared first on The Lead.

After 10 years in the Los Angeles Angels organization, outfielder Jo Adell is moving on to a new team.Adell was traded to the Cleveland Guardians before Mondays MLB trade deadline, MLB Networks Jon Heyman reported. That ends a tenure with the club that began when he was the Angels 2017 first-round pick (No. 10 overall) out of Ballard High School in Louisville, Kentucky. This story will be updated with more information.

RB Leipzig boss comments on Yan Diomands sick leave during Real Madrid negotiationsWhile the footballing world waits for Yan Diomands Real Madrid transfer to be officially confirmed or called off, RB Leipzig personnel chief Marcel Schfer has spoken on the 19-year-olds supposed sick leave from his Bundesliga club. Diomand still hasnt reported to RB Leipzigs Austrian training camp. The stated reason for the teenage talents absence is illness.Reporters attempting to fish out information about the impending transfer (or the fact that Diomand may not be sick) have found themselves disappointed. Schfer remained supportive of his player and emphasized that Diomand would receive what space he needed.Marcel Schfers latest comments on Yan DiomandI phoned with him yesterday, Schfer told reporters from the sidelines of Leipzigs training camp. Its not the case that were checking in with doctors every morning and afternoon. Its the same with him as it is with every other player. When a player tells us theyre not feeling well and may have an infection, we first give them the benefit of the doubt.Were remaining in touch in any event, Schfer continued. I dont know when hell feel better and be able to participate in training. One cant train when one has an infection. Well just see how it goes.I think its not exactly a state secret that several top clubs have logged their interest and the player is a bit preoccupied with that, Schfer responded when asked about the transfer rumors. And theres nothing reprehensible about that. When he arrived last year, many people were asking me who he was and why we brought him in.In the meantime, he did everything to help us reach our goals, Schfer continued. He developed tremendously alongside the rest of the team. What we have here is just confirmation of his performance and the work of the club. That renders this a joyful topic.Nothing is done until something is signed, Schfer concluded. We also accord players respect and space when they need discussions with their families and agents. One thing is clear: when he does feel better, he will have to come here.GGFN|Peter Weis

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隨著建築、機電、物流及商業設施管理等行業快速發展，高空作業需求持續增加。相比傳統梯具與棚架，專業高空作業平台能提供更安全、更穩定的工作環境，同時有效提升施工效率，降低人力及時間成本。無論是設備安裝、建築維修、天花工程或日常保養，選擇合適的高空設備都有助於提高工程品質，並減少施工期間的安全風險。 較剪車廣泛應用於不同工程 較剪車採用剪刀式升降結構，平台穩固且承載能力較高，非常適合建築工地、工廠、商場、物流倉庫及展覽場館等場所使用。無論是照明安裝、消防設備施工、空調維修、高空清潔或設備保養，較剪車都能提供寬敞安全的工作平台，方便施工人員攜帶工具及材料完成高空作業，同時減少設備移動次數，提升整體施工效率。 選擇較剪車時應注意設備性能...

Baseball's problem isn't that the Dodgers traded for Tarik Skubal, it's who let the trade happen

Report Burnley striker Hountondji ready for FrosinoneFrosinone are reportedly on the verge of securing Burnley striker Andreas Hountondji, the Benin international who was on loan at St. Pauli.According to transfer reporters Nicol Schira and Gianluigi Longari, the negotiations are at a very advanced stage and could be completed over the next few days.Hountondji eager for Frosinone chanceHAMBURG, GERMANY NOVEMBER 01: Andreas Hountondji of St. Pauli looks on during the Bundesliga match between FC St. Pauli and Borussia Mnchengladbach at Millerntor Stadium on November 01, 2025 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Selim Sudheimer/Getty Images)Burnley were relegated from the Premier League last term, although Hountondji was not part of their squad then, as he was on loan in Germany.Purchased from Caen in 2024 for 4m, he made only 10 appearances for Burnley in all competition before he was sent out on loan to Standard Liege and then St. Pauli.His contract runs to June 2028, but the club is eager to get him off their books, so could accept a loan with option to buy, making it an obligation if Frosinone stay in Serie A.Last season, Hountondji scored four goals in 23 appearances for St. Pauli, having netted four in 18 games for Standard Liege the previous campaign.