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The White Sox announced Friday that they’ve selected the contract of right-hander Chad Kuhl from Triple-A Charlotte. Chicago also reinstated outfielder Tommy Pham from the injured list and optioned righty Jordan Leasure and outfielder Zach DeLoach to Charlotte in a pair of corresponding moves.
Kuhl, 31, is a veteran of seven big league seasons who joined the South Siders on a minor league deal in the offseason. He’s made 13 appearances in Charlotte, 11 of them starts, and posted a 4.34 ERA in that time. Kuhl’s 17.3% strikeout rate is considerably below-average, while his 13.6% walk rate with the Knights is substantially higher than average. He’s turned in a strong 53.5% grounder rate and done a nice job keeping the ball in the yard, averaging 0.8 homers per nine frames.
Kuhl spent the 2023 season with the Nationals organization but struggled through 16 appearances before being cut loose. He announced shortly thereafter that while he’d received contract offers to sign elsewhere, he was taking a leave from the game to support his wife, Amanda, as she battled Stage 3 breast cancer. She announced via social media in November that she’d completed her cancer treatments. The Athletic’s Stephen J. Nesbitt chronicled the couple’s journey through that harrowing ordeal this past April, revealing within that Amanda is thankfully in the “maintenance” phase of her treatment and no longer showing any sign of cancer.
Prior to Kuhl’s time with the Nats, he spent five seasons with the Pirates and a sixth with the Rockies. In all, he’s totaled 615 big league innings and pitched to a 4.98 ERA, though that number is skewed to an extent by last year’s grisly 8.45 mark while quietly dealing with that terrifying family issue away from the field. Kuhl’s best season came with the ’17 Pirates, when he started 31 games and logged a 4.35 ERA over the course of 157 1/3 innings.
The White Sox don’t have an immediate opening in the rotation, but Kuhl can provide a long relief option and perhaps step up next week if the Sox want to get their starters some extra rest. Top starter Garrett Crochet, notably, has already established a new career-high in innings pitched after shifting from a relief role to the rotation this season. For now, the Sox have Chris Flexen, Erick Fedde and top prospect Drew Thorpe lined up to make the next three starts in their road series with the Diamondbacks.
More must-reads:
- Mets fill need with trade for lefty Gregory Soto
- Trade rejection speaks volumes about Red Sox's Jarren Duran intentions
- The 'Multiple 100-RBI MLB seasons' quiz
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What Yankees fans can expect from Ryan McMahon
Ryan McMahon probably wasn’t the name every die-hard enthusiast of the Bronx Bombers was waiting in anticipation to be announced. In their pinstriped hearts, Yankee fans had already reserved third base for D-Backs’ slugger Eugenio Suárez. But before jumping to conclusions, let’s first browse through what advantages and pitfalls this newly minted Yankee comes with by lining up some pros and cons. Off the bat, one of the key reasons the Yankees had interest in McMahon was his defense. Since last season, defense has been a sensitive topic around the Bronx. While the hot corner hasn’t been a severe part of this concern, knowing that the Yankees’ defense isn’t going to get worse is mildly reassuring. McMahon has recorded four outs above average and four defensive runs saved this year. These numbers have declined since his stellar glove work in 2023, but still fairly solid. It also helps that the Yankees didn’t need to overpay for a third baseman, but McMahon’s upside can be easily offset by his major downside. Hitting .217/.314/.403 with 16 home runs, McMahon’s bat offers plenty more than that of Oswald Peraza, but it might not move the needle very much unless he can make his power play in the Bronx. With his left-handed bat and the Yankees’ short right porch, there is a chance this could work. Even more encouraging is the fact that McMahon has been a 20+ home run hitter for most of his career. His average exit velocity of 94 mph this season ranks him in the elite 98th percentile of hitters. However, this could be a little misleading. McMahon’s numbers seem to be heavily influenced by the mile-high altitude in Denver. Below you can see his home-away splits for this year: Away from Coors Field, McMahon’s performance has been abysmal. Also, his 127 strikeouts were the most in the National League up until his trade. His overall stats and splits aren’t exactly enamoring, but there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. McMahon’s bat has been heating up lately. In the past seven games, McMahon is hitting .292 with three home runs. Over the past two years, the Rockies' third baseman excelled in the first half and slumped heavily in the second. If this trend has reversed and he excels in the second half of this season, Yankee fans could be in for a real treat. Will McMahon be the addition that pushes the Yankees to the World Series this fall? Probably not, but one can always hope. Still, when Gerrit Cole returns next season, McMahon might be the piece that puts New York over the top. The 30-year-old one-time All-Star is signed through 2027, giving fans enough time to find out.
Dustin Rhodes Assigns Blame After Hulk Hogan’s Death
Following the shocking news of Hulk Hogan’s passing, wrestling legend Dustin Rhodes, known to millions as Goldust in WWE, took to social media to share a deeply personal and provocative reaction: “Hospitals truly kill people. I really do mean that.” Rhodes’ blunt statement stunned many fans, but those who know his story saw the pain behind the words. His father, the iconic Dusty Rhodes, passed away in 2015, aged 69, after a fall at home led to hospitalization for kidney failure. After his father's passing, Dustin shared a contemplative response on WWE's YouTube channel to discuss the legacy his father left behind. The news of Hogan's death comes just a month after reports suggested he was on his "deathbed" after undergoing a neck procedure back in May. Hogan's reps denied that was the case. In June, US Weekly reported that Hogan had also undergone a "pretty serious heart surgery and was doing well afterward." Dustin’s connection to his brother Cody Rhodes, now a top WWE superstar and face of the company’s next generation, is unbreakable. The Rhodes family legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of pro wrestling history, and seeing another legend like Hogan pass has clearly hit close to home. While Goldust and Hulk Hogan never had a headline-grabbing rivalry, they did share the ring once. It occurred in WCW in 2000 when Dustin Rhodes matched up against Hogan. Although their paths didn’t often cross in the squared circle, Hogan and the Rhodes family were part of the same larger-than-life era that helped define pro wrestling for decades and catapult the sport into society's zeitgeist. Rhodes’ comment about hospitals might not sit well with everyone, but it speaks to a raw and honest pain felt by someone who has seen too many legends, both personal and professional, fade away in similar fashion. The sport of wrestling has endured more than its fair share of lives cut short. As tributes continue to pour in for Hogan, Rhodes’ reaction serves as a powerful, if somber, reminder of the real human emotions behind the wrestling personas.
Phoenix Suns make 'concrete' offer to Golden State Warriors wing Jonathan Kuminga
The Phoenix Suns pursuit for Golden State Warriors wing Jonathan Kuminga is reaching its final stages. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Phoenix and Sacramento Kings have made “concrete” offers to the 22-year-old. Kuminga hasn’t received much interest in restricted free agency but could still make the jump from the Warriors to a different team next season. Charania on Suns interest with Kuminga: “I’m told the Phoenix Suns and the Sacramento Kings are two teams that have made concrete offers to the Warriors over the last week or so. They’re two of the most aggressive teams.” Reports have indicated that the Warriors want a first-round pick, a solid role player and no bad contracts. The Suns are lacking in first-round picks but have plenty of role players to offer in a sign-and-trade. Shooting guards Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neale would have to be a part of any trade with Kuminga because of the former lottery pick’s high asking price. Allen makes nearly $17 million, while O’Neale cost around $10 million. The duo are some of the most effective shooters in the NBA and would be a perfect player to play off ball of superstar Stephen Curry. Phoenix has a surplus at shooting guard and wouldn’t lose much positional depth with the departure of the two backcourt players. In 2024-2025, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists on 45.4% shooting from the field. The turmoil between the young wing and head coach Steven Kerr boiled over after limited playing time in the playoffs. The DNPs that Kuminga racked up in the playoffs likely has hurt the value of him in free agency and in the trade market, which could help Phoenix in its pursuit.
Steelers' Mike Tomlin was excited talking about Aaron Rodgers’ TD pass
Mike Tomlin typically keeps a straightforward delivery when speaking with the media, but he had a departure from his usual style on Friday. The longtime Pittsburgh Steelers coach spoke with the media after training camp practice on Friday. He was asked about a touchdown pass Aaron Rodgers had thrown to DK Metcalf. Tomlin tried to downplay things by saying he wasn’t going to “throw a pep rally.” “That’s what I expect, that’s what I envisioned all summer,” Tomlin said. Despite what he said, Tomlin couldn’t hide his excitement as he talked about it; he had a big smile on his face. It’s not hard to see why Tomlin would be excited. The Steelers haven’t had a quarterback who put up big stats since a few years before Ben Roethlisberger retired. From 2014-2018, the Steelers were in the top 10 in the league in both points scored and yards gained. They haven’t been higher than 23rd in the league in yards since then. Rodgers is 41 and went just 5-12 as a starter with the Jets last season. There is some concern that Rodgers could end Tomlin’s streak, but the veteran coach seems pretty excited about his offense. In addition to Rodgers, the Steelers acquired Metcalf in a trade with the Seahawks and tight end Jonnu Smith in a trade with the Dolphins. They also cleaned out George Pickens from their locker room The Steelers are coming off a 10-7 season. They lost in the wild-card round of the playoffs to the Ravens.
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