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⚾ Good morning to all, however particularly to …
ALEX BREGMAN AND THE BOSTON RED SOX
Wednesday morning, Crimson Sox pitchers and catchers had their first exercise. Wednesday evening, that they had a brand new teammate, and a star one at that: Alex Bregman agreed to a three-year, $120 million deal with Boston. The deal contains opt-outs after every year.
- Bregman, 31, is a two-time All Star, a two-time World Sequence champion, a Gold Glove winner and a Silver Slugger winner.
- He is coming off a down yr — his .768 OPS was the worst of his profession, and his 6.9% stroll price was his worst since his 2016 rookie yr — however he was strong the 2 years earlier than that and glorious in 2019, when he completed second in AL MVP voting.
- General, his manufacturing, contact abilities and protection landed him at No. 3 in R.J. Anderson’s free agent rankings.
The Crimson Sox have already got Rafael Devers manning third base, which means a transfer to the center infield is feasible. This is Mike Axisa with extra on Bregman’s slot in Boston:
- Axisa: “The Crimson Sox are banking on Bregman’s offensive recreation translating effectively to Fenway Park, an accommodating surroundings for right-handed batters. He has ranked among the many recreation’s leaders in pulled fly ball price yearly since 2021 … Apart from Fenway, his new dwelling venue, no different stadium within the sport matches Bregman’s batted ball profile in addition to Houston. Whereas the pattern dimension is sort of restricted, Bregman is a profession .375/.490/.750 hitter in 98 plate appearances at Fenway with seven dwelling runs in 21 video games.”
👍 Honorable mentions
🤕 And never such a great morning for …
USATSI
ANTHONY RENDON AND THE LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Cease me in case you’ve heard this earlier than: Anthony Rendon will miss important time on account of harm. The Angels‘ oft-injured third baseman will endure hip surgical procedure and face a “long-term” absence, GM Perry Minasian mentioned.
Rendon, 34, has performed in 257 of a possible 708 video games since signing a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Angels forward of the 2020 season and has been on the IL 12 occasions. He is but to play in additional than 58 video games in a season with the Halos.
The drop-off from Rendon’s 2019, when he completed third in NL MVP voting and received the World Sequence with the Nationals, to his time in Los Angeles is gorgeous.
- 2019 with Nationals: .319/.412/598 slash line, 1.010 OPS, 7.1 WAR, 34 dwelling runs, 126 RBI
- 2020-24 with Angels: .242/.238/.369 slash line, .859 OPS, 3.7 WAR, 22 dwelling runs, 125 RBI
Ouch … actually and figuratively.
The Angels, who have not made the postseason since 2014, will probably flip to Yoán Moncada on the sizzling nook.
👎 Not so honorable mentions
🏈 High 100 NFL free brokers, plus groups that would make soar subsequent season
USATSI
We’re now 4 days into the NFL offseason, and what I would not give to have a horrible Thursday Night time Soccer recreation on my TV tonight. Alas. We’ll make it by collectively.
Pete Prisco’s High 100 free brokers checklist is right here to assist. This is his prime 5:
- Sam Darnold — “In a quarterback-needy league, he’ll get motion if the Vikings do not preserve him off the market. I would search for a deal close to $40 million per season.”
- Tee Higgins — “He has been the No. 2 receiver in Cincinnati however now has his likelihood to indicate he is a real No. 1.”
- Josh Sweat — “At 28, he’s a protracted, energetic edge participant who ought to command an enormous market together with his age and manufacturing.”
- Trey Smith — “This 26-year-old is an influence participant who can maul individuals within the run recreation.”
- Ronnie Stanley — “Accidents have been an issue in his profession, however he performed a full season in 2024.”
The Eagles have three gamers within the prime 10, and you may see the team-by-team breakdown of the complete checklist right here. We even have the prime 15 offensive gamers and the prime 15 defensive gamers.
Free agent negotiations cannot start till March 10, however till then there are storylines aplenty. Tyler Sullivan has an early lookahead to the 2025 season, and Jeff Kerr has 5 groups that would take an enormous step, together with …
- Kerr: “Patriots (4-13) — New England probably will not be an AFC East contender in 2025, however the Patriots shall be aggressive and disciplined beneath Mike Vrabel … with a considerably improved roster and $120 million in wage cap house heading into free company. Having the No. 4 total decide actually helps, too. The most important factor going for the Patriots? Drake Maye has the makings of a franchise quarterback.”
🏈 Grading faculty soccer teaching hires
USATSI
Class is in session, with professor Dennis Dodd handing out grades for this offseason’s faculty soccer teaching hires. Three coaches landed within the “A” vary, together with one who has all of the soccer credentials but in addition numerous questions …
- Dodd: “Invoice Belichick (North Carolina): A- | For title worth, this was a house run. An eight-time Tremendous Bowl champion was unemployed and North Carolina wanted to remain related. Carried out. However one thing about this rent tells me Belichick is not all in. This appears to be like quite a bit like Belichick being a short-time bridge coach earlier than passing alongside the job to his son, Steve. That June 1 buyout discount in Invoice’s contract additionally bothers me. On this NIL age, you are both all in … or not. There’s additionally a query whether or not Belichick can alter to school soccer, a recreation he has by no means coached.”
Wealthy Rodriguez returning to West Virginia earned an “A+,” and he is reuniting together with his former star quarterback, too.
⚽ UEFA Champions League knockout part first-leg outcomes
Getty Photos
UEFA Champions League knockout part first legs are within the books. Right here have been Wednesday’s outcomes:
- Membership Brugge 2, Atalanta 1
- Celtic 1, Bayern Munich 2
- Monaco 0, Benfica 1
- Feyenoord 1, AC Milan 0
The Feyenoord win stands out: Igor Paixao scored three minutes in, and the Dutch aspect held off an attack-minded Milan lineup the remainder of the best way, with Sergio Conceicao‘s lineup tinkering failing to pay dividends, Francesco Porzio notes.
Jonathan Johnson’s Champions League Group of the Week contains one Feyenoord participant, although it isn’t Paixao. Weston McKennie additionally earned a nod, in addition to reward from his coach.
Listed below are the situations for subsequent week’s second legs, which is able to decide the remainder of the spherical of 16.
📺 What we’re watching Thursday
🏀 No. 3 Texas at No. 8 Kentucky (W), 7 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 Florida at No. 4 South Carolina (W), 7 p.m. on SEC Community
🏒 USA vs. Finland, 8 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 No. 2 Notre Dame at Pitt (W), 8 p.m. on ACC Community
🏀 Thunder at Timberwolves, 8:30 p.m. on TNT/truTV
🏀 No. 25 Maryland at Nebraska (M), 8:30 p.m. on BTN
🏀 No. 1 UCLA at No. 6 USC (W), 10 p.m. on Peacock
