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San Diego Padres free agent first baseman and former All-Star Garrett Cooper is heading to the Midwest.
Herald Sports' Craig Mish shared on X that Cooper is signing with the Chicago Cubs. It is a minor league deal, and Cooper will receive an invitation to Chicago's big league spring training.
First Baseman Garrett Cooper is signing with the Chicago Cubs per source. NRI.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) February 26, 2024
The 33-year-old is coming off a season in which he split time between the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres.
Cooper was acquired by the Padres at the trade deadline, and appeared in 41 games with San Diego. In 117 at-bats with the Friars, Cooper slashed .239/.323/.403 with a .725 OPS, four home runs, and 15 RBIs.
Cooper spent five-plus years in Miami and earned an All-Star nod in 2022. In his All-Star season, he recorded a career-high 108 hits while slashing .261/.337/.415 with a .752 OPS.
The Cooper acquisition didn't end up helping out San Diego, and he now heads to Chicago to continue his career.
Cooper was acquired along with minor league left-handed pitcher Sean Reynolds, while the Padres sent left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers to Miami.
Weathers had a 7.62 ERA in three appearances (two starts) with Miami after the trade deadline. Reynolds had a 13.50 ERA in 17 appearances at the Padres' Triple-A level in 2023.
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Yankees' unlikely answer emerges from depth chart to save season — for now
One out, seventh inning, 2-2 tie in Arlington. Ben Rice watched from the dugout as manager Aaron Boone called Paul Goldschmidt to pinch-hit for Austin Wells. When Goldschmidt crushed a 0-2 fastball over the left-field wall for the go-ahead run, the New York Yankees had their first lead since the fifth inning. More importantly, they had it because Rice's catching ability made the crucial substitution possible. The 26-year-old's emergence as a multi-position weapon couldn't be more timely. The Yankees entered Wednesday's Texas series finale having blown a seven-game AL East lead since May 28, sitting 6.5 games behind Toronto and 3.5 behind Boston for the first wild card. They'd started August 0-5, desperate for any break before facing Houston at home. Rice represents the internal solution they've needed. His .779 OPS sits well above the .719 MLB average, powered by 16 home runs and elite contact metrics. Baseball Savant ranks him in the 95th percentile or higher in hard-hit percentage, average exit velocity, expected slugging and expected weighted on-base average. Those numbers seem impossible considering where Rice started. The 2021 12th-round Dartmouth pick hit .171 in 178 plate appearances last season. But knowing he'd catch in 2025, Rice added 10 pounds to his frame and worked relentlessly on his receiving skills. The defensive flexibility pays dividends beyond Wednesday's game. Rice has posted a +2 fielding run value across 84 innings caught and 180 innings at first base. Not spectacular, but competent enough to create the matchup advantages Boone exploited against the Rangers. Rice embodies exactly what championship teams find within their system. Aaron Judge remains the Yankees' best player, but Rice may be their most valuable in pure utility terms. His ability to produce above-average offense while handling two premium positions creates strategic options other teams lack. Wednesday's sequence proved the point. Without Rice's catching ability, Boone couldn't have pinch-hit Goldschmidt in that crucial spot. The move worked because Rice had spent months building trust through consistent performance at both positions. The Yankees still trail Toronto by 6.5 games with the Astros series looming next. Their playoff chances remain fragile yet likely, per FanGraphs, after months of disappointing baseball. But Rice's ascension from .171 hitter to essential depth piece shows what's possible when overlooked talent meets opportunity. If the Yankees accomplish anything meaningful this season, they'll trace it back to moments like Wednesday's seventh inning. Not because of Goldschmidt's clutch homer, but because Ben Rice made that moment possible.
Jaydon Blue injury update: Major news emerges on Cowboys RB after Thursday practice exit
According to Nick Harris of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue suffered a bone bruise in his heel on Thursday. Blue was stepped on during practice, initially looking at an ankle sprain. Thankfully, the MRI came back with some positive news. “Cowboys RB Jaydon Blue’s MRI revealed a bone bruise in his heel after it was stepped on in today’s practice, according to a @startelegram source,” Harris said via X. “No ankle sprain. Good news for the young back who has emerged as an offensive playmaker in camp.” Blue previously told Harris that an ankle injury was what he suffered. Questions about the running back’s availability for Saturday’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams are now present. Something to watch as kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT from SoFi Stadium. Dallas took Blue in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, hoping to address its running back situation. Blue played his college ball inside the Lone Star State, suiting up for the Texas Longhorns. Plenty of guys at the position have come out of Austin and found quick success. Blue is hoping to be the next one. For now, there is an injury for him to deal with. No exact timeline has been provided per a report or by a team official. Hopefully, Blue is able to get things cleared up quickly and get his first taste of the NFL before Sept. 4’s season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. More on Jaydon Blue, Cowboys running back situation Running back was a position the Cowboys needed to desperately figure out this offseason. Rico Dowdle, the team’s leading rusher, was no longer on the roster. Behind Dowdle, Dallas did not have much else. A nice mix of veteran presence and youngsters was needed. Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders provide the former, while Blue was a part of the draft class alongside Phil Mafah. A combination of those four figures to be on the opening night roster. Exactly how head coach Brian Schottenheimer splits up the carries is not yet known. Blue’s injury certainly does not help the situation. Cowboys players, in general, have been going down throughout training camp thus far. Making sure everyone is healthy will be critical heading into the season. Especially an explosive back like Blue, someone who can change the outcome of any game in just the snap of your fingers.
Steelers Now Have A Surefire Solution To End Cam Heyward's Hold-In
The Pittsburgh Steelers got hit with quite a bit of interesting news on Thursday. It started when NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that veteran defensive lineman Cam Heyward was staging a hold-in, attending training camp but not fully participating as he seeks a new contract. Not long after that, kicker Chris Boswell was also reported to be interested in a new deal, adding another contract situation to the team’s growing list of concerns. As for Heyward, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly quickly suggested a possible solution that could effectively end the hold-in without requiring a full contract extension. Kaboly proposed the idea of adding incentives to Heyward’s existing deal, which would reward performance while avoiding a long-term financial commitment. He believes this compromise would allow the Steelers to show respect for Heyward’s contributions while keeping the team’s salary cap in check. Kaboly explained that the Steelers used a similar approach in 2016 with star wide receiver Antonio Brown. At the time, Brown was also seeking a new deal, and instead of offering an extension, the team added incentives to his contract to keep him satisfied for the season. The move kept Brown on the field and productive, and Kaboly believes this method could work just as well for Heyward, helping resolve the situation without complicating the team’s financial outlook. "Steelers don't restructure contracts until a year out, but Cam Heyward has 2 years remaining on his deal," Kaboly posted on his social media. "Here is the kicker and this is what I would use if I were Heyward: The Steelers worked some funny math with Antonio Brown in 2016 to get him a $4 million raise." Heyward just received a new deal ahead of the 2024 season. Now, Kaboly is pointing out that with two years remaining on his contract, the Steelers typically don’t restructure deals until there’s only one year left. However, Kaboly believes that if the team follows the same approach they used with Brown, it could help resolve Heyward’s situation. "They moved $4 million of AB's 2017 money to 2016, then tore up the contract in 2017 and made him the highest-paid WR in the NFL," Kaboly said. "AB got a $4 million raise, and the Steelers were able to keep their long-standing policy intact." Both sides could technically come out ahead with this approach. The money was going to Heyward anyway, but by advancing a portion of it to this year, he gets earlier financial recognition without requiring a full extension. Then, when the time comes to negotiate a new deal, both parties can do so in good faith, working toward a contract that makes sense for everyone involved. For now, moving some money forward would be a clear sign of appreciation for Heyward’s contributions and an acknowledgment of how the market has shifted for elite defensive linemen. It would also allow the Steelers to maintain their long-standing policy of waiting until a player enters the final year of his contract before negotiating an extension. Ultimately, it’s a short-term financial gesture that builds trust and buys time for a more permanent solution. Steelers And Cam Heyward Both Could Come Out As Winners This approach not only benefits Heyward financially in the short term but also helps preserve the relationship between the player and the organization. It shows the Steelers value his contributions and want to keep him motivated without rushing into long-term decisions prematurely. By handling things this way, the team retains flexibility in managing their salary cap and future roster moves. It also avoids the potential pitfalls of a large extension that might limit options later. For Heyward, it offers a sense of security and respect while keeping open the door for a more comprehensive agreement when the time is right.
'A new coach for one': Brad Gilbert links Naomi Osaka's coaching change to her resurgent form at Canadian Open
Former Coco Gauff's coach Brad Gilbert believes that Naomi Osaka's separation from coach Patrick Mouratoglou was key to the four-time Grand Slam champion returning to a final. The Japanese star reached her first WTA 1000 final in more than three years, just a few days after her separation from the French coach was confirmed. Osaka announced her partnership with Mouratoglou back in October 2024. The Frenchman is one of the most renowned coaches today, having worked with Serena Williams on 10 of the American's Grand Slam titles, in addition to collaborations with players like Grigor Dimitrov, Simona Halep, and Holger Rune. However, the partnership ended abruptly. While Osaka seemed to have found some stability with Mouratoglou, the results did not materialize, with her falling in the third round of the Australian Open and Wimbledon, in addition to a first-round exit at the French Open. The Japanese star returned to the top 50 but was not making an impact at the top of the rankings. New Coach, New Results In the midst of the Canadian Open, Osaka announced her split with Mouratoglou, expressing her best wishes to the French coach who accompanied her for the last 10 months. “Merci Patrick. It was such a great experience learning from you. Wishing you nothing but the best. You are one of the coolest people I’ve ever met and I’m sure I’ll see you around,” she wrote in a statement on her social media. Shortly after, it was learned that Osaka had contacted the Polish coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, agreeing to a week-long trial working together, precisely this last week in Montreal. The results came immediately, with Osaka reaching her first WTA 1000 final since the Miami Open in 2022, where she was defeated by Iga Swiatek. Brad Gilbert highlights new coach Osaka's improved level after the separation from Mouratoglou is no coincidence for Brad Gilbert, the legendary American coach who has worked with tennis players like Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, and Andy Murray. The American recently worked with Coco Gauff, so he has also been close to the WTA Tour recently. Gilbert took to social media to comment on Osaka's move to the Montreal final. According to the coach and former world No. 4, saving match points against Liudmila Samsonova in the second round gave the 27-year-old Japanese star a boost. "Seems like quite some time ago Double Osaka saved a few match points 2nd rd, been house money since and totally discovered her game and rolling last few opponents,” he posted on his X account. A user on social media responded to the post asking, “What do you think is working for her now?” The 63-year-old coach responded to the comment: "A new coach for one ☝️ and got her confidence back." Osaka back on top Osaka has been all joy after a remarkable week in Montreal. In addition to the win against Samsonova, she defeated rivals like Jelena Ostapenko (22nd), Elina Svitolina (10th), and Clara Tauson (16th) on her way. She secured a significant jump in the rankings of 25 positions to No. 24 in the live rankings, while she could reach No. 21 if she wins the title. The ranking this time is much more than a number, as it will mean she enters the US Open as a seeded player, something she has not achieved in a Grand Slam since the 2022 Australian Open—when she was the 13th seed in the tournament she was defending. Since then, she has been absent from five Grand Slam main draws and has accessed five others as an unseeded player. This time, Osaka will be able to avoid rivals from the top 32 during at least the first two rounds, which will give her a couple of matches to get into a rhythm before facing the better-ranked players. It remains to be seen how much this boost in her ranking can benefit Osaka and if she can make an impact in a Grand Slam with a clearer path. The four-time major champion will surely be one of the players to watch at the US Open, considering that she already won the title there in 2018 and 2020 and that she will arrive in her best state of confidence in several years.
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