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Rob Manfred and Major League Baseball made waves on Tuesday when they announced the removal of “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and Pete Rose from the league’s permanently ineligible list. Both players were on the list following the discovery of their gambling habits during their careers. However, the timing of the decision is curious to Hall-of-Famer Johnny Bench, one of Rose’s former Cincinnati Reds teammates.
Bench spoke with Dan Patrick on Wednesday’s episode of his show and explained one reason why Manfred might have made the decision. According to him, they wanted to wait until Rose passed away before reinstating his name. Rose died in September of last year, leaving the league free to lift his ban without any potential repercussions.
“I think there was some concern that he wanted to get into the game of baseball as far as what has been talked about,” Bench said. “He wanted to still be a manager or something like that. I think that created some problems, the fact somebody would actually hire at this point or what position he would be in. I think there was still, an okay we still have to have a certain caution here, we’ve got to put up some yellow flags and in most cases a lot of red flags and make sure none of this happens.”
Some experts point to Manfred’s political perspective as a reason why he did what he did.
Now that he has passed away, Rose cannot take up any positions in the league. However, that has not stopped him from making waves. Fans wonder how the decision came about, and if his career with the Reds is worthy of the Hall of Fame.
Rose’s career as a player was a long, successful one spanning 24 years. On the other hand, his time as a manger was a lot less fruitful. His time in MLB came to an unceremonious end when Tommy Helms replaced him as the Reds’ manager in 1989. The move came as a result of the ongoing gambling investigation that Rose was the subject of at the time.
Those factors make his Hall of Fame case an interesting one, but some experts don’t see it happening. Regardless of if he makes it or not, he remains a legend with Cincinnati.
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Three trade destinations for Nationals All-Star MacKenzie Gore
Since winning the World Series in 2019, the Washington Nationals have been one of the laughing stocks of MLB. The franchise has failed to make the postseason in each of the last five seasons, and at 41-61, that trend doesn't appear to be ending this year. The Nats are considered sellers with the July 31 trade deadline quickly approaching, and starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore is their most coveted asset. The fourth-year starter was a key return in the blockbuster trade that sent Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres in 2022. After two productive seasons that saw him steadily improve, Gore earned his first All-Star nod in 2025. With the Nationals heading nowhere again, though, it seems as though the franchise may capitalize on the 26-year-old's career-best trade value. He has a 3.52 ERA and 144 strikeouts across 117.2 innings in 21 starts. Gore has two more years of arbitration before hitting unrestricted free agency in 2028, so it won't be easy for rival teams to coax the talented lefty out of Washington. But with so many playoff hopefuls struggling with injuries in their rotations, one franchise is bound to pay up. Detroit Tigers After blazing through the first half of the season, the Detroit Tigers have struggled to just one win in their last 12 contests. While the team's ice-cold offense certainly hasn't helped, Detroit's rotation behind Tarik Skubal has left plenty to be desired. The Tigers boast one of baseball's premier farm systems, but with championship aspirations looming, it may be time to cash in on some of their most sought-after prospects. Gore would immediately bolster the Tigers' title hopes while giving them a legitimate second star in their rotation behind the AL Cy Young favorite. Boston Red Sox Another American League team with playoff aspirations, the Boston Red Sox didn't tear through the first half of the regular season in the same manner Detroit did. However, the team found new life after dealing Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants and is in the thick of the AL wild-card race. Pitching has been a strength for the Red Sox this season, but they, too, could use another All-Star arm behind their ace. Garrett Crochet has been a dominant force, while Brayan Bello has experienced a bit of a breakout in recent weeks. With the back end of their rotation struggling to find any semblance of consistency, Gore would be a sensible addition for the Sox. Chicago Cubs A championship contender with a lineup that strikes fear into their opponents every night, the Chicago Cubs' Achilles' heel could be their starting pitching. If they fail to mend the issue, that is. Matthew Boyd has been an unforeseen redemption story with the Cubs. Shota Imanaga has also held his own in his second full season, consistently pitching deep into games. However, the rest of the team's rotation is riddled with injury and inexperience. Cade Horton and Colin Rea are solid back-end starters, but neither inspires confidence for a potential playoff series. Gore has the potential to be a magnificent fit with Chicago and would create a formidable starting trio with Boyd and Imanaga. If there's one National League team to keep an eye on in trade talks for Gore, it's the Cubs.
Shedeur Sanders gets new chance after Browns QB injury
Shedeur Sanders has been working with the Cleveland Browns' equipment staff as the No. 4 quarterback this summer. He'll have a new opportunity following troubling injury news for Kenny Pickett. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Pickett suffered a hamstring injury during Saturday's practice and will not receive reps until his issue is re-evaluated. "Browns QB Kenny Pickett injured his hamstring near the end of Saturday’s practice and is expected to re-evaluate the injury later this week, per sources," Schefter posted on X. "Pickett was coming off a strong couple of practices, per sources, and at least for the short term, there now will be more reps for Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Pickett's injury will shake up the quarterback race in Cleveland. Through OTAs and early in training camp, Sanders has been the odd man out as the only signal caller on the roster not to receive reps with the first-team offense. It's unclear if the Browns coaching staff intends to give Sanders reps with the first-team offense now that Pickett is sidelined, but the fifth-round pick will have more chances this week to prove that he deserves an opportunity to stay in Cleveland. The Browns are in a unique situation with their rookie quarterbacks. Third-round pick Dillon Gabriel was selected before Sanders, but the son of Deion Sanders fell to Day 3 of the draft for reasons other than talent. The majority of draft analysts had Sanders as a better-graded quarterback than Gabriel, and many thought the Colorado product would be taken in the first round. The Browns can use the injury as an excuse to give Sanders reps with the first team, and it's a task they need to take advantage of before the team names a starter. Sanders has the potential to be a starter in the league, and this week is pivotal for his rookie season in Cleveland.
Biggest surprises after the first week of Steelers training camp include a quarterback on the rise and a changeup in the WR room
There are a lot of things that have to be sorted out during the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2025 training camp. Part of that includes the WR room and what exactly the team has via rookie quarterback Will Howard. Through the first weekend, we have some surprising developments on both fronts... Roman Wilson is taking lots of outside reps When the Steelers are in 11 personnel (one back and one tight end on the field) their three WRs have been relatively predictable: DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson. And on the first day, that was the order with Metcalf and Austin on the outside and Wilson in the slot. But the Steelers spent a good portion of the weekend playing Wilson outside and moving Austin inside. To this point, Robert Woods hasn't been much of a factor at all, and while Wilson is playing a lot outside, Calvin Austin III has been the one making plays from wherever he aligns. Now we obviously can't draw any firm conclusions from four days of unpadded practice, but it's clear that the Steelers are giving Roman Wilson every opportunity to prove he's the team's #2 WR, even if Calvin Austin III is the one who holds the title. Will Howard already making waves? After starting practice in Latrobe as the third team quarterback, Howard worked his way into first team reps with the Steelers in 7v7 on Sunday. He received one of the biggest pops from the crowd of anyone on Saturday, and what few reps he's been afforded, he has run with them. I fully expected Will Howard to surpass Skylar Thompson on the depth chart by the end of camp, but to see him making such a big jump after just days of practice is very encouraging for the rookie. Preseason will be huge for Howard.
Two-time Pro Bowler's record-breaking extension should make Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh happy
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh loves offensive linemen. The coach said, "We look at offensive linemen as weapons," after facing criticism for taking right tackle Joe Alt instead of wide receiver Malik Nabers (now with the New York Giants) during the 2024 NFL Draft. Unsurprisingly, the Chargers are keeping Harbaugh's arsenal stocked. Los Angeles and left tackle Rashawn Slater agreed to a four-year, $114M contract extension Sunday, via ESPN's Adam Schefter. The deal includes $92M guaranteed, making him the highest-paid O-lineman in NFL history. Slater, 26, had been working to the side at training camp instead of practicing with the team since July 18. Harbaugh has used a smashmouth offense throughout his career. During the 2024 season, the Chargers tied for the league's 11th-most rushing attempts (463). L.A. will probably continue to lean heavily on its ground attack this season. It signed running back Najee Harris in free agency and grabbed North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton (pick No. 22) in the 2025 draft. Harris is on the non-football injury list because of an eye injury suffered during a fireworks accident on July 4. Keeping O-linemen who suit the run-heavy scheme is critical. Per Pro Football Focus, Slater posted an 82.8 run-blocking grade in 15 regular-season games last season, the fifth-best mark at his position. The two-time Pro Bowler is also excellent at protecting quarterback Justin Herbert. The Northwestern product has allowed just 11 sacks since the Chargers selected him with pick No. 13 in the 2021 draft (via PFF). The only concern about Slater is his injury history. He missed 14 regular-season games during the 2022 season because of a left biceps tear and battled ankle and pectoral injuries over the past two seasons. If Slater stays healthy, the Chargers should have one of the best O-lines in the NFL. PFF's Zoltan Buday ranked the unit No. 10 in the league in a story published July 7. That should make Harbaugh smile.
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