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The Los Angeles Angels' biggest signing of the offseason was left-hander Yusei Kikuchi's three-year, $63 million deal in November. However, the latest trade proposal has the Halos landing a superstar via trade, but in order to land a big name player the Angels will have let go of the face of the franchise.
More news: Angels Inquired About $74 Million All-Star in Potential Blockbuster Trade
Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer has third baseman Rafael Devers coming to Anaheim in exchange for Angels superstar Mike Trout and others.
Here is the full trade idea: "Los Angeles Angels get 3B Rafael Devers; Boston Red Sox get RF Mike Trout, LHP Samuel Aldegheri (Angels No. 5), $100 million cash."
Devers leaving Boston is certainly a possibility. The signing of Alex Bregman created a riff in Devers' relationship with the Red Sox.
Devers recently voiced his frustration with the organization. He signed an 11-year, $331 million contract in 2023 with the expectation that he would be the franchise's third baseman, and now the Red Sox are considering shifting him to second because of Bregman.
“I believe in people’s word and I take it to heart and I was very surprising that they would suggest that,” Devers said through an interpreter of a possible position change.
Though Dever could leave Boston, Trout parting ways with the Angels seems far-fetched. He's expressed his loyalty to the organization and will likely retire as an Angel.
Additionally, MLB insider Robert Murray indicated the Angels are done making moves this offseason, making a blockbuster trade unlikely.
"Last podcast I mentioned the Angels were in the bullpen market and that I would not be surprised if they ultimately landed a reliever," Murray said. "My understanding now is I'd be pretty surprised if that ultimately happened. I don't think Arte Moreno is gonna be in a position where he wants to spend that much more, if any, at all this offseason. I think the roster as it is very likely to remain the same. But obviously, things can change just like that with Arte. He's about as volatile as any owner in baseball. But my understanding now is it's looking pretty unlikely for that to happen."
More news: Angels Owner Arte Moreno Reveals His Expectations for 2025 Season
More must-reads:
- Surprising Marlins earn MLB first in sweep of Yankees
- Brewers place All-Star righty Jacob Misiorowski on 15-day injured list
- The '250-strikeout MLB seasons' quiz
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Orioles claim pair of players
The Orioles have claimed infielder Vidal Brujan off waivers from the Cubs and right-hander Carson Ragsdale off waivers from the Giants, according to a team announcement. Brujan is out of options and must be added to the big league roster but has not yet reported. Ragsdale, meanwhile, was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles’ 40-man roster now stands at 37, so no corresponding 40-man moves are necessary. Brujan, 27, was a top-100 prospect in the Rays’ system for many years. He failed to establish himself at the big league level in Tampa, however, and hit just .157/.218/.221 across 99 games (272 plate appearances) between 2021 and 2023 for the club. Prior to the 2024 season, Brujan was shipped alongside reliever Calvin Faucher to the Marlins in a trade and he was able to take on a larger role with a rebuilding Miami club. With regular playing time available to him, his performance modestly improved. He remained a below-average contributor overall, however, with a 73 wRC+ despite a 19.4% strikeout rate and a 9.0% walk rate. Those solid discipline numbers were outweighed by a complete lack of power, less impressive speed on the basepaths than his days a prospect would’ve otherwise indicated, and a lackluster BABIP. While Brujan was versatile enough to hold onto a bench role for the Marlins, he was shipped to the Cubs last offseason in the Matt Mervis trade. He held onto a bench role with Chicago throughout the first half and had value on paper as a player who could help hold down third base while Matt Shaw developed in the minor leagues while also spelling Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field. Unfortunately, the fit didn’t work out as well in practice as Brujan posted an atrocious 43 wRC+ in 36 games and was designated for assignment just before the trade deadline. Ragsdale, meanwhile, is a 27-year-old right-handed starter. He was added to the Giants’ 40-man roster last November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft after he posted a strong 3.49 ERA in 14 starts at the Double-A level that year, but a career ERA north of 5.00 at Triple-A in conjunction with a 19.9% strikeout rate against a 13.0% walk rate at the level this year left Ragsdale as little more than a depth starter for a club with a number of viable young arms. San Francisco designated him for assignment to make room for top pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt on the roster prior to the trade deadline. Now, both players are ticketed to join the Orioles organization. Brujan figures to join the club’s active roster within the next couple of days and could serve as a versatility utility option for the infield after Ramon Urias was traded to Houston prior to the deadline this past week. Ragsdale, meanwhile, could make his big league debut at some point down the stretch to help the Orioles eat innings amid injuries to key arms like Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez, particularly after Charlie Morton was shipped off to Detroit.
Tottenham Hotspur star announces unexpected departure
In a summer already marked by high drama in the soccer world, Tottenham Hotspur captain Heung-min Son has delivered a stunning announcement: he will leave the club this summer after more than a decade of service. The 33-year-old forward confirmed his decision during an emotional press conference ahead of Tottenham’s preseason friendly against Newcastle United in Seoul. This match may now serve as his farewell appearance for the club. Spurs head coach Thomas Frank has confirmed that Son will start and captain the side in Sunday’s game. "I have decided to leave the club this summer. Respectfully the club is helping me with this decision," said Son. "It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. Such amazing memories. It was so hard to make the decision. "I need a new environment to push myself. I need a little bit of change — 10 years is a long time. I came to north London as a kid, 23 years old, such a young age. I leave this club as a grown man, a very proud man. "I want to say thank you to all the Spurs fans for giving me so much love. I hope the goodbye is also good timing and this is the right time to make that decision. I hope everyone can accept that and respect that." Son joined Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen in 2013 and has since made 454 appearances, scoring 173 goals, sitting fourth on the club’s all-time scoring list. His final competitive outing is likely to remain the Europa League final victory over Manchester United in Bilbao, offering a storybook ending to a glittering career in north London. The South Korean revealed he made the decision some time ago, informing only a few teammates before speaking with Frank ahead of preseason. Son is reportedly exploring a move to Major League Soccer (MLS), with Los Angeles FC emerging as a leading contender. Interest from Saudi Arabian clubs also persists. He now becomes the latest high-profile departure at Spurs following Harry Kane’s 2023 transfer to Bayern Munich, as the club enters a new era under Frank, who joined from Brentford earlier this summer.
‘Wants to end up in Boston’… Celtics still favorites to sign breakout star who will snub ‘last resort’
With training camps approaching in one month, the Boston Celtics could add an interesting player to their roster. This addition would provide depth to their center rotation, which remains a significant hole they need to address. Currently, the Boston Celtics’ center rotation includes Xavier Tillman, Luka Garza, and Neemias Queta. All three players either lack experience or consistent production, and none match the quality of their previous rotation featuring Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet. The potential addition doesn’t reach the caliber of Porzingis or Horford, and isn’t even close to Kornet’s level. However, there’s development potential given that he’s only 24 years old. Charles Bassey, the former San Antonio Spurs player who competed with the Celtics during last summer’s league, has emerged as the candidate in question. Bassey chooses NBA over European opportunity NBA insider Noa Dazzell reported that Bassey prefers playing for the Celtics next season rather than accepting an overseas offer with Partizan Belgrade in the Serbian League. “He’s not currently planning on going overseas, that seems to be pretty unlikely, and almost like a last resort type of thing. And right now, I think, you know, he feels pretty confident that he’s going to play in the NBA next season,” Dazzell explained. “He currently still views the Celtics as a top destination, and really, really wants to end up in Boston. And that’s not me saying that that’s going to happen, but that’s a top priority for him. He loves the culture. He loves the fact that they’ve been in the playoffs routinely. It’s a culture of winning, the coaches,” she added. Boston has roster spot available for potential signing The Celtics maintain one open roster spot that could accommodate Bassey’s addition. His summer league performance with Boston demonstrated his potential value to the organization. “He really wants to come to the Celtics. We’ll see whether it works out right now. Boston has one remaining roster spot that’s open,” Dazzell noted. Bassey’s summer league production included impressive numbers of 15.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. These statistics explain why other teams like Partizan Belgrade have shown interest in acquiring his services, as well as the fact that he is athletic rim‑runner with elite length and shot‑blocking instincts. His strong summer showing could translate to meaningful NBA contributions if he maintains his health and development trajectory. Injury history creates concern about reliability Bassey has struggled with health issues throughout his NBA career, frequently dealing with injuries that have limited his availability. His most significant setback came with an ACL injury in 2023 that restricted him to only 19 games that season. Last season with the Spurs, he appeared in 36 games while averaging modest numbers of 4.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game. The limited production reflects both his role and ongoing health challenges. His injury history raises questions about long-term reliability, but his youth and potential upside could make him worth the risk for a team who needs depth in the center area like Boston.
Keep an Eye on Jacory Croskey-Merritt in Training Camp
Washington Commanders seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt is quickly turning heads just one week into training camp. After recording the highest deceleration in Shrine Bowl history (-7.29 yards/second squared), he is now showing that ability to make quick jump-cuts in a sea of defenders at Commanders training camp. Not Your Average 7th-rounder Drafted out of Arizona, Croskey-Merritt appeared in just one game for the Wildcats— not due to injury, but because the NCAA revoked his eligibility over a redshirt dispute dating back to his time at Alabama State. In his final full season at New Mexico, he posted these stats: 189 carries 1,190 rushing yards 18 total touchdowns These numbers, along with earning Shrine Bowl MVP, show that Croskey-Merritt has the talent of a mid-round draft pick; he just did not have the opportunity to show that in his last season of college. Wide Open Running Back Room In what was one of the best offenses in the league last year, the Commanders struggled greatly rushing the football outside of Jayden Daniels. The Commanders were the only team last year in which their team’s leading rusher was not a running back. Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler were the two main running backs last season, and their production was simply not good enough to take the pressure off Daniels. Combined, they averaged just 87.7 rushing yards per game. In contrast, Saquon Barkley averaged 125.3 rushing yards per game by himself. Croskey-Merritt is more likely to compete with Robinson Jr. for early-down carries, given his limited involvement in the passing game during college. Ekeler will likely continue to be the third-down back as he has become one of the best receiving running backs in the league. Already Getting First Team Reps On Tuesday, Croskey-Merritt got reps working with the first team. This is not normal for most seventh-round picks. Not only is he getting those reps— he is shining in them. Reports are saying he is quick, decisive and is showing excellent vision. Jacory Croskey-Merritt has the potential to be a steal for the Commanders. Not only that— he has the opportunity to earn consistent carries in a weak running back room. If he can do what he is doing in training camp in the preseason, do not be surprised when he gets the bulk of carries in the regular season.
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