Pete Prisco ranks the top 100 players who could be available on the free agent market

The 2026 World Baseball Classic will feature several global contenders hoping to take home the biggest international honor in the sport, but Team USAs squad is just a bit different than the rest.The Americans havent won the WBC since the 2017 edition of the tournament. However, this years squad is full of MLB superstars that clearly make Team USA one of the favorites.On Tuesday, Team USA is playing a WBC exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants before the World Baseball Classic begins. Baseball fans were quick to notice the U.S. stacked lineup, which is led by Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh. MORE: 2026 World Baseball Classic odds, top 10 betting favoritespic.twitter.com/vB86v6Sgiy USA Baseball (@USABaseball) March 3, 2026The Americans boast an insane squad that features at least six players with strong odds to win the WBC MVP award in 2026. This comes after Shohei Ohtani took home that honor last go around three years ago.Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes will be on the mound. Livvy Dunnes boyfriend is expected to have another workhorse role at the World Baseball Classic this month.Team USA boasts the best odds to win the tournament despite Japan going for a record fourth World Baseball Classic title. The Americans are looking to avenge their 2023 finals loss against Ohtani and Co.However, Tuesdays exhibition matchup gives the U.S. another chance to fine-tune its game before the WBC and MLB seasons kick off shortly.MORE: Braves star Jurickson Profar faces lengthy suspension for 2026 MLB seasonPittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves during MLB spring training. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn ImagesThe Americans are slated to face Mexico, Italy, Great Britain and Brazil during pool play. Meanwhile, many baseball fans still expect Team USA to face off against Japan in another championship matchup.Games will be played across the United States, Puerto Rico and Japan. Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead NFL DRAFT: Iowa football star Gennings Dunker steals show at NFL Combine with viral mulletMLB: Bob Costas makes clear statement on Shohei Ohtanis MLB GOAT statusMMA: Jon Jones shares major news about UFC White House fight cardENTERTAINMENT: 2026 SAG Actor Awards winners list, Sinners & Michael B Jordan win bigSPORTS MEDIA: LSU gymnastics star Kailin Chio surpasses Olympic champ Jordan ChilesVIRAL: Florida Man charged for stealing trading cards with taco seasoning packetsThe post Team USA debuts stacked exhibition lineup before 2026 World Baseball Classic appeared first on The Big Lead.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Hunter Armstrong plans to swim in the PED-friendly Enhanced Games while still pursuing hopes to compete in the 2028 Olympics.

Cristiano Ronaldo is still in Saudi Arabia and was pictured with his Al-Nassr team-mates on Tuesday, ending speculation that he fled the Middle East amid the escalating conflict in the region.

Jon Rahm tore into the European tour Tuesday over its offer for him and other LIV Golf players to rejoin, claiming the tour was extorting players by forcing them to play additional tournaments.Rahm, competing this week in LIV Golf Hong Kong, spoke publicly for the first time since the European tour announced a deal that would require LIV players to pay previous fines for not getting releases and to compete in additional events designated by the tour.Eight players from LIV, including Tyrrell Hatton, accepted the deal. Rahm did not.I don't know what game they're trying to play right now, Rahm said. "But it just seems like in a way they're using our impact in tournaments and fining us and trying to benefit both ways from what we have to offer. In a way, theyre extorting players like myself and young players that have nothing to do with the politics of the game.So I dont like the situation and Im not going to agree to that.Players are required to play four tournaments, not including the majors, to keep membership on the European tour. Rahm said the deal would have required LIV members to play six tournaments.And they dictate where two of those have to be, among other things that I dont agree with, Rahm said. "I've been a dual member my whole career PGA Tour and DP World Tour. ... Never once have I been asked for a release to play either one of those tours. So why is it now that we need to be offering this and there's all these penalties?I just dont like the situation, he said. I think we should be able to freely play where we want and have the choice to play where we want and not be dictated what we do.The fines stem from playing LIV Golf events opposite European tour events without getting a conflicting-event release. Rahm was able to use the home tour policy on the PGA Tour to play in European tour events.Rahm said he told the European tour known as the DP World Tour commercially that if it lowered the minimum requirement to four tournaments, he would sign the deal.They havent agreed to that, he said. I just refuse to play six events. I dont want to, and thats not what the rules say.Rahm and Hatton were among those who appealed their fines for playing LIV. That case has not been heard, but the appeal allowed them to play in the Ryder Cup last year at Bethpage Black.Now the Spaniard's participation in the 2027 matches in Ireland are in question.An arbitrational panel in Britain, Sports Resolution, ruled in April 2023 the tour had the right to penalize players as a membership organization. If the panel rules in favor of the tour again, Rahm would be required to settle his fines or lose his membership, which would keep him off the Ryder Cup team next year.Rory McIlroy said in January about the fines Rahm and Hatton were facing, "We went really hard on the Americans about being paid to play the Ryder Cup, and we also said that we would pay to play in Ryder Cups. Theres two guys that can prove it.Rahm fired back by saying his comment would make more sense if all 12 players were asked to pay, not just him and Hatton.There's more intricacy that goes into this whole situation, Rahm said. Ill gladly pay my way to go on the Ryder Cup, not have to pay to still be a member of the DP World Tour and fulfill a commitment that Im fully willing to commit.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Jack Hughes was enthralled by Lorne Michaels' stories that highlighted his time at Saturday Night Live and enjoyed sharing the stage with brother Quinn and U.S. women's captain Hilary Knight on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.Now the U.S. men's golden goal-scorer is ready to get back to his day job in the NHL.Hughes skated Tuesday morning in the aftermath of appearing on Fallon's show, which is expected to be the last stop on his whirlwind media tour since becoming a national star in Milan for now. His work with the New Jersey Devils continues now for the stretch run of the season.The best couple weeks of my life and just a lot of fun celebrating with the guys and enjoying it, Hughes said. Now, after all this, its in the rearview mirror for a little bit. Well pull it out back in the summer. But yeah, its back to Devils and locking back in here and trying to win some games.A little over a week removed from scoring one of the biggest goals in U.S. hockey history, the next step in Hughes' return to normalcy is a matchup against Olympic teammate Matthew Tkachuk and the two-time defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers. Hughes acknowledged it was weird being an opponent so quickly, especially given how deep the connection is between him and Quinn and brothers Matthew and Brady, going back to growing up on the ice together.It's even stronger now after winning just the country's third men's gold medal in the sport and the first since 1980.Now we have that special bond of just accomplishing something so special that were linked together forever, Matthew Tkachuk said. Were brothers forever, champions forever.Florida coach Paul Maurice knows a thing or two about champions from hoisting the Cup each of the past two years and isn't sure how this star turn will affect Hughes, other than noticing the 24-year-old's face on every billboard on the way from the team's hotel in New York to the arena across the river in New Jersey.Maurice contrasted Hughes' moment with that of Sidney Crosby, who scored the golden goal for Canada against the U.S. in the Olympic final in Vancouver in 2010. Crosby had already won the Stanley Cup by then, and given the Devils' place in the standings, Hughes will have to wait at least another year to chase hockey's hallowed trophy.If he becomes part of Stanley Cup champions, it will be as it was with Mr. Crosby: Itll be a wonderful thing to add," Maurice said. "Wonderful for our game. We should all celebrate that. How it impacts him, I think hes got lots of years to write a longer story.For now, those around Hughes are not worried about the attention affecting him.Obviously hes really been around the map lately, younger brother and Devils teammate Luke said. "I dont think one goal changes you. ... I think he was just really happy to be a part of it.___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

Mikel Arteta has responded to mounting criticism of Arsenal's set-piece prowess with characteristic defiance, insisting he remains dissatisfied that his side do not find the net even more frequently from corners.The Gunners have netted 16 times from set-pieces in the Premier League this campaign, matching the all-time record held jointly by Oldham Athletic in 1992/93, West Bromwich Albion in 2016/17, and Arsenal's own tally from last season."I'm upset that we don't score more, and that we concede as well," Arteta declared ahead of Wednesday's fixture at Brighton."We want to be the best and the most dominant team in every aspect of the game."The Arsenal manager's comments arrive amid a growing chorus of disapproval from rival coaches.Liverpool's Arne Slot remarked on Monday that the league's increasing emphasis on dead-ball situations has rendered matches "not a joy to watch."Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, whose side host the league leaders on Wednesday evening, levelled accusations of gamesmanship at the north London club.The German coach claimed Arsenal "spend over one minute" preparing to take corners, arguing that supporters who pay substantial sums for tickets deserve greater actual playing time.Hurzeler noted that net game time has fallen to approximately 50 minutes rather than the 65 minutes fans might reasonably expect.Arteta offered a robust defence of his tactical approach, explaining that modern football has undergone fundamental transformation.The Spaniard argued that opponents now deploy sophisticated defensive systems that eliminate space in open play."Teams know after every sequence of play whether it's a throw-in, a restart of play, an open-play situation exactly what they have to do and everything is almost man-to-man," he explained.The Arsenal manager suggested this evolution has made set-pieces increasingly crucial, pointing to Chelsea and Manchester United as clubs who similarly capitalise on dead-ball opportunities.He referenced his time working on such routines whilst at Manchester City.Arteta brushed aside the barrage of complaints with characteristic sangfroid, describing such criticism as simply "part of the job."The 42-year-old issued a pointed challenge to those yearning for more aesthetically pleasing football."Maybe for YouTube it's nicer one or another," he remarked. "If you want to watch that football, you have to go to a different country because in the Premier League, for the last two seasons or three seasons, this is not the case."Arsenal travel to the Amex Stadium on Wednesday sitting five points clear at the summit, having played one match more than Manchester City.Midfielder Declan Rice is anticipated to be available despite limping off against Chelsea on Sunday.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Ben Chu has been looking at whats happened to marine traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a key trade passage.

Die deutsche Frauen-Nationalmannschaft spielt im Rahmen der WM-Qualifikation gegen Slowenien. Sehen Sie die anschlieende Analyse sowie Interviews mit Bundestrainer Christian Wck und Spielerinnen.[mehr]

MOOSIC, PA - Cosmic Baseball, an immersive, neon-lit experience, is coming to NEPA at PNC Field on September 12. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders ... - IL Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders