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Brady House made his Washington Nationals debut on Monday night against the Colorado Rockies.
He went 0-for-3 at the plate and handled four plays cleanly at third base. The Nats are hoping his bat can jump-start an offense that has been among the worst in baseball in the month of June.
But success from House might also make the MLB trade deadline a bit more eventful for Washington. It could give them another piece to deal that, before House was promoted, might not have been otherwise available.
More News: Washington Nationals Players ‘Pissed’ After Dave Martinez’s Comments
That piece could be Paul DeJong.
DeJong is set to start a rehab assignment with Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday. He’s been out since April 15 after being hit in the face by a pitch. He fractured his nose and required sinus, orbital plate and nose surgery.
DeJong was the starting third baseman. The 30-year-old slashed .204/.246/.278 in 16 games. He has four doubles, but no home runs, with just two RBI before the injury. His injury created a void the Nationals could never fill.
More News: Nationals Veteran Set To Begin Rehab Assignment After Lengthy Absence
But what if House shows he can fill the offensive void well enough to remain with the franchise after DeJong is ready to return? Then things could get quite interesting at the deadline.
DeJong is with the Nationals on a one-year deal worth just $1 million, with $600,000 of incentives thrown in.
For a contender looking for infield depth, that’s practically nothing. For the Nationals, it would yield a prospect and, perhaps, some cash considerations like international bonus pool money.
More News: Washington Nationals Manager's Absurd Quote Could Make Seat Even Hotter
DeJong’s glove, bat and versatility has made him attractive at the last two trade deadlines, though his team didn’t get much in return.
In 2023, the St. Louis Cardinals dealt him to the Toronto Blue Jays for right-handed pitcher Matt Svanson. The Cardinals had to ship cash along with him.
That offseason, he signed with the Chicago White Sox. At last year’s trade deadline, the Kansas City Royals needed some depth and acquired him for right-handed pitcher Jarold Rosado.
More News: Nationals Move on From Young Infielder as Corresponding Move to Brady House Promotion
Washington isn’t likely to get that much in return for the former All-Star, who finished second in National League rookie of the year voting in 2017 with St. Louis.
But it’s more about whether House is ready for the Majors. If he is, then keeping DeJong on a team destined to miss the playoffs for a sixth straight season makes little sense. If House isn’t, then DeJong probably gets his job back.
It’s a storyline to watch the next few weeks as House gets his reps in D.C. — and DeJong rehabs in Harrisburg.
For more Nationals news, head over to Nationals On SI.
More must-reads:
- Mets' playoff chances in jeopardy after latest tough loss
- Padres starter lands on IL again with knee inflammation
- The 'MLB franchise home run leaders' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Mets' playoff chances in jeopardy after latest tough loss
The New York Mets have been in a slump for a couple of weeks now, and it is putting their playoff chances in some serious jeopardy. After Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves, the Mets have lost 13 of their past 15 games and have seen a once-comfortable lead in the wild-card race nearly completely disappear. Following Thursday's results, the Mets have the slimmest of leads over the Cincinnati Reds for the third and final wild-card spot in the National League, sitting just 0.5 games ahead of them. It is a stunning reversal from where things were just a little more than two weeks ago. On July 27, the Mets completed a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants to win their seventh game in a row and improve to 62-44 on the season. They were not only six games ahead of the Reds in the playoff race, but they were on top of the National League East (holding a 1.5-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies) and were just a half-game behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the best record in the National League. Now all of that is gone. As of Thursday night, the Mets trail the Phillies by five games in the NL East, they are 12.5 games back of the Brewers for the top spot in the NL overall and now only have half a game of cushion over the Reds. They also have the St. Louis Cardinals (3.5 back) right behind them and gaining ground. Manager Carlos Mendoza tried to remain optimistic while also acknowledging they are not playing well. The Mets' bats have been a big source of frustration during this slump, but it's not the only issue. The bullpen has also been a major problem, and key trade-deadline addition Ryan Helsley contributed to that on Thursday by giving up two runs in the top of the eighth inning to turn a 3-2 Mets lead into a 4-3 deficit. Whether it is the bats, the arms or the defense causing the problem, the common result remains the same — more losses. Now the Mets find themselves right in the thick of the playoff race, fighting for a spot. It was not that long ago that they seemed to be a playoff lock.
Tennessee's groundbreaking Adidas deal a game-changer for college sports in NIL era
The Tennessee Volunteers are going back to Adidas as its primary apparel provider after a decade of wearing the Nike swoosh. On Wednesday, Adidas announced a $100M, 10-year deal to be the exclusive apparel provider for the school's sports teams. The deal is set to begin on July 1, 2026, following the expiration of the current agreement with Nike. On the surface, it's just another apparel deal between two popular brands, but in the era of NIL (name, image and likeness) in college sports, it's a game-changing agreement. As part of the agreement, Adidas will establish a fund for NIL deals between the University of Tennessee and student-athletes. The German-based company will provide Tennessee with at least $10 million annually for the NIL deals, which, as of now, is about half of the $20.5 million that schools participating in the revenue-sharing model are allowed to give directly to student-athletes. That figure will almost assuredly increase with each passing year, meaning both current and future Tennessee Volunteers will benefit directly from this deal. Adidas will aim to make top student-athletes brand ambassadors by giving them national marketing campaigns and signature shoe lines. With NIL deals becoming a centerpiece of how college athletic departments attract top recruits, this deal is a bellwether for how apparel deals will be renegotiated across the world of college sports. Of course, at the center of this deal is football, as it remains the most popular sport in the country. According to The Athletic, the Volunteers' football program is estimated to be valued at $1.37B, the ninth-highest valuation in college football. It's only natural, then, that Adidas wants to get its logo back on Tennessee football jerseys. Adidas sponsored the team for 20 years before the university switched to Nike in 2014. While some fans were hoping Tennessee would re-up their partnership with Nike, fans who remember the 1998 National Championship team will probably feel good seeing the Adidas logo on the jersey again. Adidas also sweetened the deal by providing assurances that Tennessee athletics can design its apparel in-house, in collaboration with the company. Aside from nostalgia and big business, Tennessee and Adidas both know that for the school to remain one of the top programs in the country, they'll need star recruits. Before the ascendance of NIL deals, recruiting top talent was a mix of promising top-of-the-line facilities and flaunting the pedigree of the program. NIL money has changed that equation and already impacted Tennessee. In April, star quarterback Nico Iamaleava shocked the school by not reporting to spring practice and transferring to UCLA. Reports suggested part of the disagreements between Iamaleava and the school was over his NIL deal. How Iamaleava plays this season will make Tennessee wonder if it should've allocated more NIL money to keeping him happy. If that's the case, it's safe to wonder if Tennessee will tap into this deal as much as possible to keep future stars away from the transfer portal. This deal with Adidas certainly opens new doors for athletes to maximize their branding and will test the NIL distribution system over the next decade. Expect these types of deals to become the norm, too, as universities seek every competitive advantage against one another.
Green Bay Packers: Josh Jacobs’ 1-word reaction to Team’s RB Flex Before Colts Clash
The NFL has dropped a fresh batch of names for their NFL “Top 100” list for the upcoming 2025 season, and Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs is among the players revealed. The former Alabama Crimson Tide star tailback has been ranked No. 33 overall. The Packers, who will be playing against the Indianapolis Colts this coming Saturday in a preseason game, rightfully acknowledged Jacobs’ position on the list by flexing it on social media. “Another year, another Josh Jacobs sighting in the NFL Top 100 , ” the Packers’ post on Instagram read. Jacobs appreciates Green Bay Packers’ flex on his Top 100 re-entry This is a return to the list for Jacobs, who was not part of the Top 100 in 2024. Before that, he was 13th overall in 2023, his last season with the Las Vegas Raiders. So, what did it take for Jacobs to get back into the list? He rushed for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns on 301 carries in his first year with the Packers, who will be relying a lot again on his legs to deliver the offense on the ground. Jacobs also showed appreciation for the Packers’ post, as he reposted it via IG Stories with a caption that read: “Grateful.” The three-time Pro Bowler is 27 and will turn 28 in February, but his best season in the NFL could still be in front of him. Together with quarterback Jordan Love, Jacobs will look to carry the bulk of the Packers’ offense, which was eighth in the league in 2024 with 27.1 points per game. Love and Rashan Garry are also the other Packers players who made it to the Top 100 in 2025.
NFL Draft intel: Big Ten QB's elite arm turning heads among scouts
Each week, Yardbarker monitors the 2026 NFL Draft, scheduled for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. From an Indiana quarterback to a Louisville wide receiver, here are five players we're tracking: Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates listed Mendoza (6-foot-5, 225 pounds) as their No. 5 QB on "First Draft" on Wednesday. Yates gushed over his arm. "This kid is legit," Yates said. "He makes a lot of cool throws. He makes a lot of very confident throws that I'm not sure other quarterbacks would even see." That's one reason the California Golden Bears transfer produced in 2024 without stellar weapons. The program had no offensive players selected in the 2025 draft, but he completed 68.7 percent of his passes for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns in 11 games. Imagine what he could do at Indiana, which made the College Football Playoff last season. Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti has said Mendoza's arm is stronger than former starting QB Kurtis Rourke's (now with the San Francisco 49ers). He tied for the FBS's 10th-most passing TDs (29 in 12 games) last season. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier On Aug. 8, LSU HC Brian Kelly confirmed Nussmeier has chronic patellar tendinitis in his left knee. The coach downplayed the injury. While not season-ending, Yates believes it will concern teams. "Get ready for a long medical conversation surrounding Garrett Nussmeier from late February into March prior to the predraft process," he said on "First Draft." The injury hasn't affected Nussmeier's odds of being the top pick in the draft. As of Thursday, FanDuel Sportsbook lists him as the favorite (+340) to go No. 1 overall in 2026. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder may dispel the medical questions if he excels again in 2025. Last season, he ranked fifth in the FBS in passing yards (4,052 in 13 games). Clemson QB Cade Klubnik In his latest mock draft, The Ringer's Todd McShay has the Cleveland Browns taking Klubnik (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) with pick No. 1. "If the Browns are picking No. 1 in 2026, it means none of their quarterbacks did enough to claim the job long term, including Shedeur Sanders, despite his impressive preseason debut," wrote McShay. "Enter Klubnik, who's calm in chaos and has enough mobility and arm strength to succeed at the next level." Jacksonville Jaguars fifth-year QB Trevor Lawrence is the only Clemson player to be taken No. 1 overall in the draft. Klubnik could lead the No. 4 Tigers to a national championship, like Lawrence did during the 2018 season. The senior finished with the nation's third-most passing TDs (36 in 14 games) in 2024. With star wide receivers Antonio Williams and Bryant Wesco Jr. returning, Klubnik could have another big year. The wideouts combined for 16 TD catches last season. Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq Sadiq (6-foot-3, 245 pounds) should assume a bigger role after the Los Angeles Rams took former Ducks TE Terrance Ferguson (pick No. 46) in the 2025 draft. CBS Sports' Mike Renner ranked Sadiq as his No. 1 TE and believes he could go higher in the draft than Ferguson. "Even if he's on the smallish side by NFL standards, it did not show up much as a run-blocker," wrote Renner in a story published Wednesday. "Sadiq's play strength was unique for a true sophomore and should only improve as his career progresses. A potential top-20 talent with development." Sadiq — who had just two touchdown catches in 14 games last season — isn't considered a first-rounder yet. Tankathon's latest mock draft has the Carolina Panthers selecting him with pick No. 70 in the third round. His stock could skyrocket if he produces better numbers. Louisville WR Chris Bell Bell (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) may check the boxes for NFL teams when evaluating WRs before the draft. The Athletic's Dane Brugler rates him as his No. 2 WR. "With his strong, muscular frame, Bell passes the eye test walking off the bus," wrote Brugler in a story published Thursday. "He uses his physicality to be a possession target who can make tough grabs over defenders. And with his 4.4 speed, Bell can separate vertically or create explosive plays after the catch." Per Brugler, Bell must expand his route tree to improve his draft stock. He must also prove that he can succeed without QB Tyler Shough (now with the New Orleans Saints). Bell could still be productive after recording a career-high 737 receiving yards in 13 games last season. He has been named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list. The award recognizes college football's top WR.
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