Daily Archives: July 27, 2022

The MLB trade deadline is approaching quickly and one name towers above the rest. Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto is the crown jewel of the deadline, and teams should be lining up with offers of multiple top-level prospects to secure his services.

Soto is easily the best player available, but he's not the only difference maker on the market. If your favorite team misses out on Soto, here are five other players on the market who could make an impact in the second half.

Other than Soto, Andrew Benintendi appears to be the best outfielder on the market. Hes hitting .317/.387/.398 over 377 plate appearances and is in the final year of his contract. With the Royals out of the playoff race, Benintendi, 28, is a prime candidate to be dealt to a contender.

Benintendi should not be viewed as a consolation prize for the team that misses out on Soto. Benintendi is a solid player, but hes not in the same stratosphere as Soto. Benintendis strength is his high-contact, all-fields approach at the plate. He can get the bat on the ball and spray it around the field, which results in a high batting average.

Andrew Benintendi is one of the most desirable players on the trade market. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

That approach comes with a significant drawback, though. Benintendi has struggled to hit for power in 2022. He has just three home runs and a career-low home run per fly ball rate. While you would normally expect positive regression there, this appears to be a deliberate tradeoff from Benintendi. After pulling the ball 40 percent of the time last season, hes pulling the ball 27.3 percent of the time in 2022. Hes prioritized average over power, at least this season.

Kauffman Stadium is notoriously hard on power, so its possible Benintendi tailored his swing for the park, and can make adjustments if he finds a more homer-friendly home field after his trade. Benintendi was unable to play in Toronto due to being unvaccinated for COVID-19, which could scare some teams especially those in the AL East from trading for him.

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Luis Castillo bounced all the way back after posting an ERA near 4.00 last season. In 78 innings, Castillo has a career-low 2.77 ERA despite playing on a Cincinnati Reds team with a below-average defense.

Castillo, 29, is a known quantity at this point in his career. He will strike out at least a batter per inning, occasionally struggle with his control and dominate hitters with his devastating changeup. When hes on, Castillo is one of the best pitchers in baseball and is capable of posting top-10 numbers over a full season.

Castillo is under contract through the 2023 MLB season, upping his value on the market. That extra year of control could make Castillo the most expensive piece on the market (non-Soto division). Hes, at worst, a No. 2 starter on most playoff teams. Castillo was eligible to play when the Reds traveled to Toronto in May.

A catcher who can hit is a rare commodity these days, which should give Willson Contreras plenty of value on the trade market. Contreras is hitting .258/.372/.471 with 14 home runs over 349 plate appearances. His 139 wRC+ suggests hes been 39 percent better than league average at the plate this season.

Thats a significant upgrade over most catchers. As a position, catchers are hitting .226/.296/.368 on the year, good for a below-average 88 wRC+. Contreras, 30, would make virtually every lineup better.

Willson Contreras is one of the best offensive catchers in baseball. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

At the plate, Contreras offers a solid understanding of the strike zone. Hes a patient hitter who has averaged a 10 percent walk rate over his career. Theres some swing and miss in his game, though Contreras has made strides in that area this season. Hell never hit .300, but thats not necessary when the rest of his skills are so strong.

Contreras will be a free agent at the end of the 2022 season, which should lower his going rate. Any team getting Contreras knows they are getting a rental. Despite his age, Contreras numbers at a weak position should result in him receiving a major deal on the market. The Chicago Cubs have yet to play in Toronto this season, but Contreras has said hes vaccinated for COVID-19, which should boost his trade value.

Oakland Athletics pitcher Frankie Montas has a lot in common with Castillo. The two produce despite playing on bad teams, are under contract through the 2023 season and are both 29.

Montas is the less-accomplished pitcher with a shorter track record of success in the majors. After some rough performances early in his career, Montas broke out in 2019. His year was cut short due to a suspension for PEDs. Montas came back and struggled in 2020, posting a 5.60 ERA, but has bounced back the past two seasons, posting a 3.30 ERA over that period.

Thats a better ERA than Castillo (3.62) posted over the past two seasons. Montas brings many of the same skills on the mound. Hes capable of striking out over a batter per inning, but has better control compared to Castillo. Because of that, he and Castillo probably command a similar amount of value on the market. Montas was not placed on the restricted list when the As visited Toronto in April, a sign he is vaccinated against COVID-19.

It was speculated Nelson Cruz would be the Washington Nationals biggest trade chip at the deadline, but that honor belongs to Josh Bell after his torrid first half. Bell is hitting .305/.388/.496, with 13 home runs, over 407 plate appearances.

Bell, 29, has battled inconsistency throughout his career, but heads into the trade deadline on pace for his finest season in MLB. Bells value will be limited by his position and contract situation. Teams generally dont have as much of a need at first base and Bell will be a free agent following the season. With that said, Bell is hitting better than most first basemen this season and his ability to hit from both sides of the plate should increase his value. Bell is a rare power hitter who doesnt strike out a lot, so his high average isnt necessarily something that will regress.

The Nationals are one of the few teams that have not played in Toronto this season. Its unclear whether Bell is vaccinated against COVID-19 and whether that will impact his trade market. Nationals manager Dave Martinez said last April most players on the team were vaccinated against COVID-19.

Josh Bell is probably heading to a new team at the MLB trade deadline. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

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MLB trade deadline 2022: The five biggest difference-makers on the market other than Juan Soto - Yahoo Sports

As the second round of the women's bantamweight title fight at UFC 269 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas unfolded, it looked by all appearances that it was about to get ugly for Julianna Pea. She found herself standing across from champion Amanda Nunes widely proclaimed as the greatest women's MMA fighter in history in a toe-to-toe slugfest.

Both women were landing cleanly.

One did not need to be an MMA expert and only needed to have seen Nunes' highlights to know that this wasn't good for Pea.

Or, at least, it shouldnt have been good.

Nunes is arguably the hardest puncher in women's MMA. And for the majority of the second round, Pea stood in front of her and went blow-for-blow. As each punch landed, the expectation was that the heavy-handed Nunes would land the crushing shot that would end the fight as she had so often previously.

There was one person, though, who sounded the alarm. About 90 seconds into the second round, UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, working the broadcast, saw Nunes going for the kill shot. And he didnt like what he saw.

This is going to fatigue the champion, Cormier, a former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion, said. She is loading up on her shots and shes as reckless as weve seen in a long time trying to get to Julianna.

Julianna Pea called her shot against Amanda Nunes, then went out and proved it in one of the greatest upsets in women's MMA. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

About 45 seconds later, as the crowd was in a frenzy as the fighters stood on the logo in the canvas and traded, Cormier raised the alarm again.

This is what Julianna wants, guys, he said.

And sure enough, seconds later, Pea grabbed Nunes around the waist and slung her to the ground. She quickly took Nunes back and submitted her with a rear naked choke. It might have been the second-greatest upset in womens MMA behind Holly Holms 2015 stoppage of Ronda Rousey.

Nunes was invincible, until she was not.

Before the fight, Pea boasted about what she would do even if few believed her. And while Nunes had COVID-19 that had forced the postponement of the fight and some other vague issues that shes subsequently said negatively impacted her performance, it wasn't like Pea just showed up and was awarded the belt.

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She stood in the pocket with the women's MMA equivalent of Francis Ngannou, took shots on the chin and then not only lived to tell about it, but was able to celebrate a championship victory. She had to weather a storm to get that title.

They will rematch on Saturday in the main event of UFC 277 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas and Pea expects more of the same.

I took some shots, Pea told Yahoo Sports. It wasnt like it was just a walk in the park and I just got her down and choked her. You could see the mouse underneath my eye and the swelling that I had. I took some very heavy shots. And I think that the main difference in this rematch is not even a difference. Its a similarity. Im still going to take some shots. Im still going to get in there me and Amanda are literally the two best fighters in the world and Im expecting to get hit. If youre not expecting to get hit, youre definitely in the wrong sport. I fist fight in a steel cage for a living.

And I think that the most important thing is, I dont want to desensitize anybody, but the fact is that Im going to get hit. And Im going to go in there and its the one who backs up and who cant take the shots thats going to be the loser. And I think that the most important thing is that I know what kind of will I have. I know what kind of chin I have. I know the adversity that I can face and the type of fighter that I am. I am the wall Amanda bashes up against when she realizes that she cant put me out with just one shot. I think that thats the main difference.

Julianna Pea and Amanda Nunes rematch Saturday in the main event of UFC 277 inside American Airlines Center in Dallas. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Any time there is a huge upset like that, the pressure is on the winner to prove it wasnt a fluke. Nunes, somewhat incredibly, remains a massive favorite. She is -275 to win at BetMGM and regain the title.

Pea, though, has an advantage this time. She called her shot last time, even though many simply snickered behind her back and disregarded what she said as just pre-fight trash talk.

But it wasnt trash talk that allowed her to take those clean shots from Nunes.

She took the punches she knew she was going to get and didnt back down or back off. She proved herself and if it means doing the same thing again on Saturday, shes content with that.

Your mentality, your brain, your positive self-talk, your mental state is so important in fighting, Pea said. They say that its more mental than it is physical and I absolutely agree with that. You have to know that youre the best. You have to know that youre going to win. And you cant be deterred by these negative demons that are trying to eat your brain every single night when the lights go out.

You have to have the mental fortitude to beat that, and to just be strong-minded and have that mental fortitude to go through anything. Fight through that adversity, and know that Im going to literally die in there, if thats what I have to do and Im willing to do that. And if youre willing to do that, then you will be successful.

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UFC 277: In rematch of her massive upset, Julianna Pea still holds this clear advantage over Amanda Nunes - Yahoo Sports

Plenty of NFL MVPs have come out of nowhere, relatively speaking. Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson were really young when they took the league by storm and won MVP.

It's time to bet Trey Lance to win MVP this season before the odds shift.

The San Francisco 49ers said on Tuesday that they're moving on with Lance as their starter, which shouldn't surprise anyone who has been paying attention this offseason. Jimmy Garoppolo is on the 49ers' roster, but only because they haven't been able to trade him. There has never been any indication this offseason that Garoppolo would have the opportunity to start over Lance.

But still, it gives those who believe in Lance some extra security. And Lance is set up pretty well to have a very good season.

Let's reset the NFL MVP betting market. It's worth a reminder if you're thinking of straying from a very predictable voting pattern.

NFL MVP has been a quarterback award for a while. Dating back to Emmitt Smith winning in 1993, there have been 30 MVP winners (with two co-MVPs). Quarterbacks account for 24 of those awards, and the others are all running backs who either rushed for 2,000 yards or set an NFL single-season touchdown record. Perhaps this is the year a non-quarterback wins, but don't waste your money chasing that dream.

The MVP will come from a playoff team. Only twice has NFL MVP come from a non-playoff team, and the last time was 1973.

So we're looking for a QB from a playoff team. That cuts the list way down. It's not easy to pick every playoff team, but the 49ers are -225, a pretty heavy favorite, to make the playoffs at BetMGM. They were in the NFC championship game a year ago. There's no guarantee, but the NFC isn't too tough. The 49ers should be a playoff team and the odds reflect that.

That doesn't mean Lance is winning an MVP. But his odds are really good.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance is 50-to-1 to win NFL MVP. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Lance started the offseason at 66-to-1 to win MVP. He's 40-to-1 at BetMGM now. That number might move again as the season gets closer.

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Lance wasn't bad last season. He threw just 71 passes but had a 97.3 passer rating. He has the ability to put up some good rushing numbers too. He has a very good offense around him and a fantastic offensive coach in Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan called the offense when Matt Ryan won MVP for the Atlanta Falcons in 2016. And the same talent that made Lance the third pick of the draft is still there.

And it's not like we haven't seen a story like this unfold before. Heading into the 2018 season, Mahomes had 35 career passes. He had a monster season and won MVP. Before the 2019 season, Jackson had eight career starts. He won MVP unanimously. Neither was on the MVP radar before the season. But they both had big second seasons and voters couldn't ignore them.

Is a Mahomes/Jackson-level second season likely for Lance? No. If that was a likely outcome, he wouldn't be 40-to-1 to win MVP. But there are plenty of reasons to believe he can find himself in contention.

There's nothing wrong with betting Josh Allen or Tom Brady to win MVP. They're favorites for a reason. But you can tell yourself a reasonable story in which Lance has an enormous breakout and wins it. That's all you can ask for a long shot.

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NFL odds: Now that it's Trey Lance season, bet on him to win MVP before it's too late - Yahoo Sports

If you're a neutral football fan, there was one bummer with the Las Vegas Raiders' incredible Week 18 win that ended the Los Angeles Chargers' season: We didn't get to see Justin Herbert in the playoffs.

Herbert is already one of the NFL's must-watch players. His performance against the Raiders, completing multiple fourth-down passes to keep his team alive, was memorable even in a loss. Herbert has arrived. The arrow is pointing straight up. At this moment you'd have to say the Chargers selecting him, sixth overall in 2020, is a franchise-changing pick (sorry, Miami Dolphins fans).

But quarterbacks aren't judged by great plays in close-call regular-season losses. Fair or not, Herbert won't become a true superstar until he shines in the playoffs. The good news is, the Chargers have the team to get to the postseason.

The most valuable asset in sports is a blue-chip quarterback on his rookie deal. It offers the type of flexibility that opens up a championship window. History shows it gets a lot tougher to reach a Super Bowl once a quarterback has a nosebleed contract, and Herbert will get that deal soon. For now, his cap hit of about $7.25 million is just 3.36 percent of the Chargers' cap. That's less than offensive guard Matt Feiler.

The Chargers overpaid for some talent this offseason, most notably cornerback J.C. Jackson and defensive end Khalil Mack. But that's how a team should operate when it has excess cap space and a chance to chase a championship. Nobody has ever hung a banner for most unused cap space.

Los Angeles already had a good foundation before the Herbert revelation the past two seasons. Defensive end Joey Bosa and safety Derwin James are elite defensive players. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams form one of the top receiving duos in the NFL. Austin Ekeler is a fantastic running back who fits perfectly in the wide-open modern era of the NFL. The offensive line has been a work in progress for a while, but now it's an asset. Add players like Jackson, Mack and defensive tackles Sebastian Joseph-Day (three years, $24 million) and Austin Johnson (two years, $14 million) and it's a roster that should be among the best in the NFL.

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However, this is the Chargers. Things rarely are as good as they look on paper.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is coming off an excellent second season. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The Chargers underachieving relative to their talent dates back a couple decades, at least. The teams of the 2000s were as talented as any in that era. The 2010s had some very good teams led by Philip Rivers, a borderline Hall of Fame candidate. The Chargers haven't won a division title since 2009, and have been past the divisional round just once since 1994, when they made their only Super Bowl. They have been to the playoffs just twice since 2009. Even last season, the Chargers would have been a playoff team if not for a confounding 41-29 loss at a bad Houston Texans team in Week 16. It feels like they've left a lot on the table this century.

Maybe Herbert can take the Chargers where Drew Brees and Rivers couldn't. The offense was fantastic last season and likely will be again. The defense should take huge strides in Brandon Staley's second season as head coach. Staley himself should be better after probably crossing the line of aggression vs. prudence too often last season.

The Chargers should be really good. We've heard that before, though.

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

Like the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chargers did exactly what a team should do when they have a quarterback on his rookie deal. The difference is the Chargers already know Herbert is a star, while the Eagles still wonder about Jalen Hurts.

Los Angeles made two huge moves to improve the defense. J.C. Jackson comes over from the New England Patriots on a five-year, $82.5 million deal, and then the Chargers made a trade with the Chicago Bears to acquire former NFL defensive player of the year Khalil Mack. It's a little concerning the Patriots didn't even franchise tag Jackson Bill Belichick has a sixth sense for when to move on from a player but Jackson has developed into a marvelous cornerback and there's no reason to think he won't play at a top-10 level again. Mack is 31 years old and cost the Chargers a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick, but he should still have some juice left.

The Chargers also paid receiver Mike Williams $60 million over three years, a big move for offensive continuity (and maybe one that wouldn't have been possible if Herbert was making $40 million a year already).

Defensive tackles Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson were added from the Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants, respectively. They'll help a run defense that desperately needed an upgrade.

Gerald Everett is an interesting addition at tight end. Uchenna Nwosu, a young and talented pass rusher, left for the Seattle Seahawks and that's a blow, but Mack should replace his production. Boston College OL Zion Johnson was the team's first-round pick, and he helps an offensive line that is suddenly a strength. Baylor S J.T. Woods, a third-round pick, was the team's other top-100 pick. Fourth-round pick Isaiah Spiller, a running back out of Texas A&M, should take some pressure off Austin Ekeler. Chargers GM Tom Telesco did everything he could.

GRADE: A

(Yahoo Sports graphic by Amber Matsumoto)

The Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Commanders, Detroit Lions, New York Giants and Miami Dolphins passed on Justin Herbert in the draft. We'll give the Bengals a break because the guy they took is pretty good. The other four teams will be starting Carson Wentz, Jared Goff, Daniel Jones and Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback this season. Think there's some regret among those teams? Herbert is a prototype. He has breathtaking arm talent, remarkable accuracy, good athleticism, does well reading defenses and has had some clutch moments already. He's also just 24 years old. It's really, really premature to predict where his career is headed, but it seems clear we're seeing something special.

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

This isn't the first time, and probably not the last, I load up on Chargers futures at BetMGM. My favorite Chargers play is +230 to win the AFC West. It's one of my favorite bets for any team this season. I also like +1600 to win the Super Bowl and over 10.5 wins. Justin Herbert at +900 to win MVP isn't bad either. The upside of the Chargers is intoxicating. Again.

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

From Yahoo's Scott Pianowski: "Keenan Allen has been a consistent fantasy performer for several years, but it doesn't make sense that his Yahoo ADP is 32 slots ahead of teammate Mike Williams. The Chargers expanded Williams's route tree last year, and he outscored Allen in both standard and PPR formats. Williams is also two years younger than Allen. There are plenty of fantasy-viable pieces in this offense, but when it comes to receiver, I'll try to play the waiting game for Williams, or maybe look at Josh Palmer in the later rounds."

[Set, hut, hike! Create or join a fantasy football league now!]

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

The Chargers were fifth in points scored and fourth in yards on offense last season, but 29th in points allowed and 23rd in yards allowed on defense. Their efficiency stats were similarly imbalanced. It's a little disappointing because Brandon Staley was hired after a great season as the Rams' defensive coordinator, and he should have had an impact on the Chargers' defense too. Staley didn't have all the pieces to run his defense.

I think that this year, we did the best that we could, Staley said after the season, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. We tried to fit how we played to who we had."

It would be hard to buy that excuse this season. Staley identified the interior of the defensive line as the top offseason priority, and the team signed two high-priced defensive tackles. The Chargers were bad against the run last season and while there are still questions at linebacker, they should be much better in that area. J.C. Jackson is an elite cornerback. Khalil Mack is aging but a great talent. The offense gets the attention, but the Chargers' season will be determined by how much the defense improves.

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

Too much was made of Staley's timeout in overtime against the Las Vegas Raiders. A tie would have sent both teams to the playoffs. The Raiders ran for 10 yards on third down after the timeout and kicked a field goal as time expired. But it was the 10 yards, not the timeout, that led to the field goal.

Im not sure why that [got] magnified," Staley said of the timeout, according to the Los Angeles Times.

However, Staley's aggressiveness got a lot of attention and sometimes was questionable. In that same game, he went for it on fourth-and-1 at his own 18. The Chargers didn't make it. It handed the Raiders a field goal. Coaches are smartly going for it on fourth down more often, but Staley took it to an extreme at times. He has had time to evaluate his approach, but has said he's not changing. In June he was asked again about the fourth-down from his own 18, and it offered some insight into how he'll approach a similar situation going forward.

I wanted to create a mindset in our team, and it really started with ... what I felt like it needed a fearlessness, Staley said, according to the LA Times. I think the cumulative effect of that is going to help in time."

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

The Chargers are a marquee NFL team. They'll appear on prime time five times this season. They were picked for the first Thursday night game ever streamed by Amazon, Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Justin Herbert is the biggest reason but not the only one. The Chargers are loaded, perhaps on both sides of the ball after some big moves to fix the defense. It's hard to imagine the offense won't be good again, and it's possible Herbert goes up another level and wins an MVP. The Chargers are going to thrive if the defense goes from a liability to strength. It could, with Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack each posting double-digit sack seasons, the investments at defensive tackle transforming the run defense, J.C. Jackson, Asante Samuel Jr., Michael Davis and Bryce Callahan forming a strong cornerback unit, and Derwin James having another All-Pro season. They also won't be adjusting to Brandon Staley's complex scheme anymore. The Chargers should be a playoff team if the defense is simply average. If they're better than average, they could win the Super Bowl.

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

Maybe the offense isn't as rock solid as it looks. Keenan Allen is 30 and showing some signs of decline, Mike Williams has battled injuries and inconsistency, Gerald Everett flopped with the Seahawks last season and Austin Ekeler is due for some regression after a 20-touchdown season. The floor is still high, but if the offense slumps a bit and the defense isn't much better than last season, it could be another disappointing season for the Chargers. They didn't make the playoffs last season and the AFC is deeper and tougher than a year ago. It's hard to believe this roster wouldn't make the playoffs, but it is the Chargers we're talking about.

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

It's hard to pick a team that didn't make the playoffs a season ago to win the Super Bowl. But I can talk myself into that happening if everything breaks right. I'll stop short of picking the Chargers to win a championship, but I'll be picking them to win the AFC West. Another team in the division is above Los Angeles in the rankings because the Chargers need to earn some stripes before they move higher. Putting them at No. 8 is already pretty aggressive for a team that has gone more than 10 years since its last division title and playoff win past the wild-card round. It's difficult to restrain the enthusiasm for a team that has as many blue-chip players as the Chargers, with an MVP candidate at quarterback to lead them. Now, they actually have to do it on the field.

(Yahoo Sports graphics by Amber Matsumoto)

32. Houston Texans 31. Atlanta Falcons 30. New York Giants 29. Jacksonville Jaguars 28. Chicago Bears 27. New York Jets 26. Seattle Seahawks 25. Detroit Lions 24. Carolina Panthers 23. Washington Commanders 22. Pittsburgh Steelers 21. Minnesota Vikings 20. Miami Dolphins 19. New Orleans Saints 18. Las Vegas Raiders 17. Arizona Cardinals 16. Tennessee Titans 15. Cleveland Browns 14. Indianapolis Colts 13. Philadelphia Eagles 12. San Francisco 49ers 11. Denver Broncos 10. Cincinnati Bengals9. New England Patriots

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2022 NFL Preview: Chargers have Justin Herbert, and loaded up the roster around him - Yahoo Sports

Yahoo Sports' Krysten Peek sits down with one of the top guards in the 2025 high school class, Trey McKenney.

- I'm Kristine Peak here with 2025 Trey McKenney. We're at Nike Peach Jam. Trey, you guys just came off a win, I know you're done for the week, but how was this whole experience for you?

- Well I feel like it was a great experience because it's my first time like qualifying for Peach Jam. So I feel like I showed people what I'm about.

- Yeah. And, I mean, this is, like, the toughest competition out there. How have you seen your game progress through the UYBL season?

- Well, I feel like it's progressed pretty well and I feel like I'm up there with the top players. So I feel like I could hold my own.

- I mean, I know you're still young, 2025, but we got college coaches out here, we've got NBA scouts out here. What were you hoping to show the guys that were in the gym here to watch you play?

- Just that I'm versatile and I can play any spot on the floor and I can impact the game on both sides.

- What would you say are your biggest strengths for your game?

- Probably scoring the basketball.

- Just straight simple, just scoring. OK, on the recruitment front, you have a ton of offers. What are some of the most recent offers you've had?

- Michigan State, Ohio State, and Indiana probably. Yeah.

- Let's start with Michigan State. What do you like most about their program?

- Oh, I like the history and the program because it's a lot of history for my city and Michigan State. So it feels like home, kind of.

- Yeah. And Michigan, kind of their rival there.

- Yeah, I like Michigan too because, Jowana, he's pretty connected with my dad and he'll make sure I'm OK.

- And with Juwan Howard there, I mean, he's a pro, he's played at the highest level. Is that kind of what you like about them and what you can learn from him?

- I feel like I can learn from him because I'm trying to get where he was at. So I feel like I can learn a lot from him.

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- Ohio State, another Big Ten school. What do you like about them? I mean, they do really well with guards. You were talking about Malaki Branham coming off a one and done year.

- Oh, I just like their facilities a lot when I was there for a team camp. And the coaches were all at my game, so I feel like I'm pretty important there.

- Did you have a dream school growing up or a team that you always watched?

- Well, I pretty much watched the in-state schools when I was growing up.

- And then you're narrowing things down. I mean, you still have a ton of time, but what's going to be most important for you?

- Probably seeing the academics and how much of a focal point I am in the program.

- Any schools that you definitely want to get to at some point?

- Like, schools that haven't like contacted me?

- Yeah. Like, visits.

- Probably like bigger bluebloods like Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, those type of schools.

- OK. Well, Trey, I'm sure we'll be talking more since you're a 2025 player, but thank you so much for the time. And for more information on Trey McKenney, keep it right here on rivals.com.

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One-on-one with 2025 guard Trey McKenney - Yahoo Sports

After consecutive weekends of early fight times, the UFC returns to its Saturday night pay-per-view schedule this weekend. UFC 277 is headlined by women's bantamweight champion Julianna Pena defending her title in a rematch against former champion Amanda Nunes.

But that's not the only title fight on tap for Saturday night.

The interim title for the flyweight division will be on the line when Brandon Moreno faces Kai Kara-France in the co-main event. Moreno, the former champion, got the best of Kara-France in 2019 with a unanimous decision victory at UFC 245. Rematches have historically provided solid angles for bettors, as the winner of the previous fight tends to duplicate their success more often than not. Moreno is a sizable favorite to defeat Kara-France for a second time, and here is why it's best to bet on him now as the odds continue to climb.

Kai Kara-France is coming off an upset victory over Askar Askarov where he was able to pour on the volume in the later rounds of the fight. Askarov is a freestyle wrestler whose only answer to Kara-France's striking was to shoot for takedowns. However, when those attempts failed, the door opened up for Kara-France to take over the fight. And Kara-France took full advantage of his striking and cardio advantages en route to a razor-thin decision victory. However, he won't have that luxury against Moreno, who used his jab to perfection as the technically superior striker in their first fight.

That's the biggest challenge for Kara-France. His power is his biggest asset, but Moreno has multiple weapons to limit his ability to utilize it. We have already seen Moreno have great success with his jab, and I don't think it's a given that Kara-France can work his way inside to deliver his straight right hand at the frequency he will need to.

Brandon Moreno reacts after his decision loss to Deiveson Figueiredo in their UFC flyweight championship fight at UFC 270 on Jan. 22. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Moreno can also use his aggression to keep Kara-France on the defensive. That was the turning point in the previous fight. Kara-France was uncomfortable and reactive when Moreno came forward, bringing the fight to him. I am sure it's a tactic the former champ will deploy, knowing his opponent hasn't been through five rounds in the Octagon. The experience gap in this environment shouldn't be understated.

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These flyweight fights can turn into chaos at any moment. And those unpredictable moments are where Moreno's championship experience will shine through. I am confident Moreno can win the grappling exchanges easily and take Kara-France's back if this one hits the canvas. He scored seven takedowns in his three fights with Deiveson Figueiredo, so that could be another way he keeps the fight on his terms. Kara-France is a game opponent with the heart of a champion. Still, his win condition is very limited against somebody as well-rounded as Moreno. All the reason to take the favorite at -200, and enjoy what should be the most entertaining fight of the night.

The Bet: Brandon Moreno (-200)

You are only as strong as your biggest weakness when you get to the highest level of mixed martial arts. Unfortunately, Cosce and Mathetha learned that lesson the hard way in their UFC debut losses. Now matched up against each other, Cosce has the more reliable tools to climb back into the win column. His athleticism will help him cut off the cage against Mathetha and he'll utilize his wrestling to get this one to the ground. Unfortunately, as was the case in Mathetha's debut, that's where the fight will end. His grappling is not good enough to survive against UFC competition, which forces him to be overly reliant on low-percentage, highlight-reel finishes.

In his UFC debut, "Blood Diamond" relinquished 4:25 of control time before being choked out at 4:38 into the first round. Mathetha's inability to keep the fight standing resulted in him connecting on only one strike during the contest. He might find some openings on Cosce, but I'm willing to bet Cosce survives long enough to put Mathetha on his back. At -160, I think we are getting a solid price on Cosce, who should get this to the mat and ground and pound his way to his first UFC victory.

The Bet: Orion Cosco (-160)

*Stats provided by ufcstats.com

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UFC 277: Here are two favorites to bet now before it gets pricier - Yahoo Sports

"Literally me," a friend DM'd me recently. The message came attached to a tweet of a story I'd written about how job seekers are anxious to land new gigs before the turbulent economic landscape becomes even more uncertain.

I was kind of shockedthis friend has a good job. Good pay. Admittedly, it's been a year or more since I spoke with him at lengthliving across the country from one another will do that. Had I missed a major (unfortunate?) career update? Had he been fired? Quit his job due to the mental exhaustion of the pandemic? That wasn't out of the realm of possibility; it's been the case for more than a few friends. Or maybe he was itching to escape a toxic work environment?

Turns out he's still at the prominent news outlet where he's worked for going on five years. And like many Americans, he's searching for his next gig.

My friend says he feels undervalued, underpaid, and overworked. He feels like he's outgrown the work he's doing, and he's waiting for the right opportunity to propel him forward to potentially greener career pastures.

This line of thinking probably feels familiar to a lot of people who have watched their colleagues quit for new roles during this strong jobs market. At the same time, executives are stressing over the stream of employees who are leaving organizations in droves. In May, 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs, continuing the "Great Resignation" trend. And it's been difficult for employers to fill the open roles those great resigners are creating. At the end of May, there were 11.3 million job openings in the U.S., and the number of hires was little changed month-to-month at 6.5 million. On top of that, all this hiring is expensive: Companies typically spend $4,700 when recruiting to fill one open role.

Wouldn't it be easier if companies just made the effort to keep their current employees happy? Sure in some instances, bringing in new talent can revitalize an organization. But that's not been going so well for U.S. companies recently. Instead experienced employees are walking out a door and taking their institutional knowledge with them.

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Still, even with millions of workers giving their notice, companies don't really have a grasp on why employees quit, says Bill Schaninger, a senior partner at McKinsey & Co., who co-authored a report on how organizations can contend with attrition while attracting and retaining talent. When surveyed, employers cited compensation, work-life balance, and burnout as reasons employees were leaving. While workers did have those concerns, according to the McKinsey report, the top three factors they gave were: not feeling valued by their organization, not feeling valued by their manager, and not feeling a sense of belonging at work.

Money is obviously a primary motivator for working, and increasing pay can influence whether someone decides to make a job change. Still managers need to stop underestimating how employees feel. A sense of belonging, accomplishment, and being challenged positively in your work are "still very important," Schaninger says. "You could even say more important."

Managers need to "wrap your head around the idea that the power dynamic is different now than it's ever been," he argues. "The person comes first; then it's the employee."

So what's a company to do when a fed-up and burned-out employee is wistfully looking for other job opportunitiesand potentially a 6.4% pay increase?

If an employee has reached the point where they already have a new job offer in hand, it might already be too late. Instead, managers would do better totake the time to consider how reinvesting in theemployees who are staying could impact retentionand their workplace.

"Many employees increasingly are saying, 'Look I need to know there's a long road for me here,'" Schaninger says.

That doesn't always have to mean a promotion in the next six months. Even the flexibility to do meaningful work outside an employee's typicalday-to-day tasks, goes a long way, Schaninger says. That could be working on a variety of projects, launching initiatives, having a stake in the company so they feel like they're more than just a cog in the wheel.

People don't want to be treated like robots, Schaninger says.

"It should be that not all of your working day is taken up with tasks," he says. "Companies absolutely have the ability to do this."

As for my friend, so far he's turned down a few offers that weren't the right fit creatively or monetarily. He's still looking for the right role, but he also knows what would keep him happy at his current job: new challenges, redistribution of the workload he's acquired as other colleagues have quit, as well as a raise that he feels fairly reflects his value to the company.

Hopefully, the bosses are reading.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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Bosses are oblivious to why employees are really quitting. Heres what they need to know - Yahoo Finance

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh says he told his team that he and his wife would raise a child anyone on the team couldn't care for. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is vowing to raise the child of any player or member of the Michigan football team staff if the child needs a home.

Harbaugh is a Catholic and devout anti-abortion supporter. He recently spoke at a Catholic anti-abortion event and told ESPN in a weekend interview that the topic needs to be discussed with respect in light of the recent Supreme Court decision that allows states to implement bans on the practice.

The longtime Wolverines coach said at the Plymouth Right to Life dinner on July 17 that he believed in having the courage to let the unborn be born and that he believed that the potential life of an unborn child should always receive priority when it comes to abortion.

On Saturday, he told ESPN how he and his wife Sarah are willing to back up their strong beliefs about abortion.

Any player on our team, any female staff member or any staff member or anybody in our family or our extended family that doesnt feel like after they have a baby they can take care of it, we got a big house. Well raise that baby.

Harbaugh has been open about his Catholicism during his time at Michigan. The team went to Italy in 2017 and visited the Vatican. He has also been outspoken about social justice issues, speaking out in the wake of George Floyds murder in 2020 and he has voiced support for his former San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick.

Abortion did not come up at Harbaughs Big Ten media day appearance on Tuesday. Harbaugh took to the stage as the coach of the defending Big Ten champions for the first time in his career and was not asked about the topic or anything else outside of football during his time at the podium.

Michigan enters the season with nine starters back on offense after the school's first College Football Playoff berth. The Wolverines do, however, need to replace seven starters from a defense that allowed just 17 points per game in 2021 before a 34-11 loss to Georgia in the Orange Bowl.

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Jim Harbaugh says he and his wife would raise a player or staffer's child if they couldn't care for it - Yahoo Sports

Minty Bets & Jared Quay give their best bets for who will win the most & least games in the NFL.

MINTY BETS: Welcome to Mad Bets, everyone. I'm Minty Bets. And joining me is the one and only Jared Quay. We're here to talk some NFL futures, specifically which teams we believe will end the season with the most wins and the least amount of wins. So, Jared, why don't you kick us off and tell us who you believe will record the most wins?

JARED QUAY: Minty, I'm taking the Green Bay Packers to have the most wins in the regular season at plus 700. I kind of think this is a steal. I don't think they win a championship, but I do think they have a fairly easy division, which would give them a lot of wins. They've got to play the Lions twice. They get to play the Bears, who I think are beat up. And then the Vikings have Kirk Cousins at the helm.

You add that with the fact that Aaron Rodgers is a two-time MVP and playing amazing this year. And their defense, people sleep on how good the Green Bay Packers defense is. With that being the case, I think they have the most regular-season wins. And I don't know what happens in the playoffs because the Packers always choke. But during the regular season, they win games, and they're going to win me some plus-700 money.

MINTY BETS: My pick for most wins is a little square. I'm going with the Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen seems to be improving just about every year. They will dominate this division, as they have been for the past couple of years. I mean, the Bills are complete on both sides of the ball. On top of that, they've got a new offensive coordinator. They've got Von Miller this offseason. They drafted well. And their schedule really works in their favor. So give me the Bills at plus 500. Jared, who do you have for fewest wins?

JARED QUAY: Oh, this is where people are going to hate me, man. I got friends on this team. But I'm taking the New York Giants plus 1400 to have the worst record in the NFL. They didn't do much this offseason. They got a new coach, but they're expecting that coach to make Daniel Jones play like Josh Allen. I don't think it's possible.

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They were the most dumpster fire team in the most dumpster fire division last year, only getting four wins in the NFC East. And I don't think they're going to do anything to improve that. So with that being the case, I actually think that the Giants at plus 1400 is a good bet.

MINTY BETS: That is a very, very hard number to pass up. But I'm going to go with the Atlanta Falcons. They averaged the worst attempt per sack rate last year. They lost their quarterback, Matt Ryan, as well as several other stars on offense in the past couple of years. They're the worst fourth quarter team, averaging the fewest points in the fourth quarter.

No surprise there. They blow leads all the time. This defense is allowing the third-most points per game and the fourth-most total yards. So I'm high on the Falcons to have the fewest amount of wins.

To recap our picks, for the most wins, we have the Packers and Bills. And for the least wins, we have the Giants and the Falcons. Bet $10 and win $200 in free bets by signing up at BetMGM.com/YahooVIP. New customers only. Must be 21 and older. Terms apply.

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(Bloomberg) -- Georgia Governor Brian Kemp will become the latest politician to answer to Fani Willis, the Atlanta-based prosecutor commanding a wide-reaching investigation of former President Donald Trumps attempts to change the outcome of the 2020 election.

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Kemp will testify on Monday afternoon. Willis, the district attorney in Fulton County, has also issued subpoenas in recent days seeking testimony from some of Trumps closest confidantes and allies including Rudy Giuliani and US Senator Lindsey Graham -- and sent letters to 16 Georgia Republican leaders warning them that they are targets in a criminal probe.

While the House committee in Washington investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack has held live nationally televised hearings, a concurrent investigation in Georgia has been quietly honing in on the former president. With evidence such as Trump on tape asking Georgias chief election official to find an additional 11,780 votes in his favor, Willis is now moving to get lower-level politicians and government officials to flip and testify against the president.

It looks like Fani Willis is closing in on an indictment for Trump, Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe said in an interview. Tribe said Willis has a clearer case to prove than the Justice Department, which is looking at broad issues such as obstructing a congressional inquiry, defrauding the government and inciting an insurrection.

Court filings revealed last week that 16 Trump allies involved in creating an alternate 2020 presidential elector slate from Georgia were notified they could face charges in the ongoing investigation led by Willis. Lawyers for some of the fake presidential electors are attempting to quash subpoenas sent to their clients.

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Unlike a regular grand jury, the special grand jury will not issue any indictments, only recommendations. Those recommendations will be used to determine whether a regular grand jury is convened for the purpose of seeking criminal charges.

In addition to Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, and Graham, the Republican senator from South Carolina, Willis has in recent days subpoenaed another half-dozen former top aides or advisors to Trump.

Republicans, meanwhile, have said Williss investigation is politically motivated, citing her a fund-raiser she hosted for the political opponent of one of the targets.

Fani Willis has issued subpoenas to all the right people and properly issued target letters, Tribe said.

Fani (FAH-nee) Willis, who declined requests to comment, is a seasoned prosecutor who has led prominent, if not always popular, cases such as the 2015 conviction and imprisonment of several Atlanta public school educators who conspired to change student scores on standardized tests. Earlier this year, Willis brought charges against Jeffrey L. Williams, an influential rapper known as Young Thug and many of his record label employees for running what Willis called a criminal street gang.

Telephone Logs

A Democrat in a county in which 73% of voters selected President Joe Biden in the last election, Willis was elected district attorney during the same November 2020 election season that delivered the White House to Biden and is now the nationwide focus of political theatrics and legal investigations. A graduate of Howard University and Emory University School of Law and the first black woman to serve as the countys top prosecutor, Willis won the job by defeating her former boss, Paul Howard, who was district attorney for 23 years.

Kemp, who is seeking a second term in the governors mansion, is alleged to have been contacted by the former president following the November 2020 election. The Fulton County special grand jury, which has been convened since early May behind closed doors in a downtown Atlanta courtroom, has also asked Kemp to provide documents such as telephone logs, text messages and emails related to the investigation.

Kemps office didnt respond to requests for comment or confirm that the governor is cooperating with the subpoena from Willis office. Kemp was loudly ridiculed by Trump for his refusal to cooperate in the former presidents attempts to alter the election outcome. In an act of political retribution, Trump encouraged former US Senator David Perdue to run in this springs Republican primary against Kemp. Despite strong campaign support from Trump, Perdue was defeated by a wide margin and Kemp emerged as a victorious slayer of the Trump political juggernaut.

Kemp won the nomination by a wide margin, University of Georgia political science professor Charles Bullock said. But if those who went for Perdue and believe in Donald Trump decide they are not going to vote for Kemp, or vote at all, he loses.

What he says to the grand jury could imperil his general election, Bullock said. Hes got to continue to disagree with Trump, but not boast about it or do anything that antagonizes that component of the electoral that believes everything that comes out of Trumps mouth.

Williss office wouldnt say whether it had offered any subpoenaed witnesses, other than Kemp, the opportunity to provide a recorded testimony. Both Giuliani and Graham have been fighting to avoid appearing and testifying before the grand jury. A Georgia judge on Wednesday ordered Guiliani to testify on Aug. 9, after he failed to appear for a hearing on the matter.

Pivotal State

Fulton County Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade wrote a June 22 letter to Kemps attorneys detailing what the grand jury was requesting and stating that the district attorneys office shared a spirit of cooperation with the governor and his schedule.

The Fulton County grand jury has already taken testimony from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, the chief election official who received and recorded the now infamous call from Trump. At the time, Trump had just been officially declared the loser in the race, which took several days to decide as Georgia was one of the last and pivotal states to declare Biden the winner.

The district attorneys office has said that Trump contacted both Raffensperger and Kemp in the days after the election, urging them to find him enough votes to change the results in his favor. According to the letter to Kemps lawyers from Wade -- the special prosecutor appointed by Willis -- the Fulton County investigation is examining the conduct of former President Donald Trump, and those working on his behalf.

With the general election coming up, in a state precipitously see-sawing between red and blue politics, the stakes are high. The target letters that Willis sent out went to Georgia political leaders who were part of an alleged scheme to send 16 fake electorates to Washington, to cast votes for Trump instead of Biden, as the law required.

One of the recipients of the letter, GOP state senator Burt Jones, on Monday was granted a request to have Willis and her team disqualified from questioning him in the case. The Superior Court in Fulton County granted the request from Jones, who argued that Williss primary support of the man who is now his Democrat opponent in the race for Lieutenant Governor rendered her biased and unqualified to lead the grand jury investigation. The court denied a similar request from 11 other fake electors who received the target letter.

In Washington, federal prosecutors are focusing, at least in part, on the fake elector slates from Georgia and other states. The chairman of the House committee, Representative Bennie Thompson, says the only issue committee investigators have engaged them on, is the list of fraudulent electors.

And Georgia Republican Party David Shafer is among those who the DOJ investigators are known to have subpoenaed for information related to the fake elector scheme coordinated with members of the Trump campaign.

(Updates with a court on Monday disqualifying Willis and her team from questioning one of the targets of her probe.)

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Georgia Governor Kemp Will Testify in Probe Over Trumps Bid to Overturn 2020 Election - Yahoo Finance