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The San Diego Padres are hoping to keep their payroll level relatively unchanged from 2024 to 2025. The goal is no easy feat as the Padres are faced with somewhat of a financial pickle heading into next season.
In 2023, the Padres shed $90 million in payroll after trading Juan Soto to the New York Yankees. While president of baseball operations A.J. Preller worked his magic last offseason, making acquisitions such as starting pitcher Dylan Cease and outfielder Jurickson Profar, the organization faces massive player raises and expiring contracts.
The Padres still need to add a starter in a rotation that includes Cease, Michael King, and Yu Darvish. Additionally, if the Padres were to lose free agents like Profar and Luis Arraez it would create more holes on the roster.
Other clubs are aware of the financial frenzy the Padres are in, and thus, the team has received inquiries regarding a number of their All-Stars including Cease, Arraez, and surprisingly Xander Bogaerts.
Bogaerts has nine years remaining on his $285 million contract, but the Padres are listening to clubs that have asked about the infielder. Although parting ways with Bogaerts would provide financial relief for San Diego, his departure would in turn create another void on the roster.
Although things may look dim because of the complex financial situation of the organization, the Padres have never been the biggest spenders in the National League West.
“The reality is, the Padres are never going to be able to compete financially and roster-wise completely with the Dodgers,” Preller said in 2020. “So what’s your next best option? Let’s do the best we can and if we get there, we can beat them in a seven-game series.”
Although the Padres may not be spending as much as their NL West rivals, San Diego has been able to remain a contender. Fans will have to patiently wait for the offseason saga to unfold until the roster for 2025 is unveiled.
More News: Padres All-Star Could Bolt to NL Rival on $60 Million Deal
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Surprising Marlins earn MLB first in sweep of Yankees
The Miami Marlins achieved a franchise first on Sunday. In doing so, they carved out an interesting place in MLB history. With a 7-3 victory over the Yankees, the Marlins swept New York for the first time in a series of three or more games. In doing so, the Marlins became the only team to have a winning record, including the postseason, against the Yankees. The Yankees now have a 22-21 record against the Marlins in the regular season. However, the Marlins won the 2003 World Series against the Yankees in six games, giving the Fish a 25-24 record all-time. The Marlins' victory on Sunday meant more than a unique place in baseball history. That victory evened the Marlins' record at 55-55, the first time they have been at .500 or better since April 15 (8-8). The Marlins are 30-14 in their last 44 games, tying the 2003 championship team for the best stretch (last done from June 18-Aug. 9) in franchise history. The Marlins defied expectations at the trade deadline, holding on to pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera. Their only trade involved sending outfielder Jesus Sanchez to Houston, acquiring pitcher Ryan Gusto and a pair of prospects. Expectations were that the Marlins were simply waiting for the offseason to trade those pitchers, as there may be a larger market. Instead, the generally inexperienced Marlins roster is growing and improving by the day. They have clawed back from a 24-40 start to the season to pull themselves into the NL wild-card conversation. Although a lot would need to go right for the Marlins to reach the playoffs this season, they could be a dangerous team over the rest of the season and beyond. The Yankees found that out the hard way.
Pittsburgh Steelers Stock Watch: Rookie UDFA is on pace to skyrocket up the WR depth chart through two weeks of training camp
The Steelers have managed to get through the dog days of training camp. With the first two weeks in the rearview, it's finally game week for the Steelers in 2025. But before we look ahead to the first exhibition of the season, let's take note of whose stock is rising on the Steelers' roster... Riser No. 1: Rookie UDFA WR Roc Taylor Roc Taylor has been one of the more consistent WRs throughout the entire unit. Honestly, between up and down days from Roman Wilson, and the injury to WR Calvin Austin III, Pittsburgh's most consistent wide receiver not named DK Metcalf, has been Roc Taylor. If there ever was a year where a UDFA WR makes the Steelers roster, it's 2025. There is a virtual unknown beyond CAIII and DK Metcalf. If Taylor's strong camp carries over to "in stadium" performances, as Mike Tomlin would call them in the preseason, he might be a shoe-in for the final 53. Riser No. 2: RB Jaylen Warren Jaylen Warren is clearly the incumbent at RB, but there has been, and still might be, a real shot that rookie Kaleb Johnson pushed him for that role. However, the rookie was indoctrinated to the Steelers' padded practice in camp last week. After losing his Backs on Backers reps to Malik Harrison, he fumbled the ball in a team period via a punch-out from DeShon Elliott. No fumbles alone will keep Warren as the clear starter, but when you add on that he was excellent in pass protection, it's clear that the vet has the leg up. Riser No. 3: TE Jonnu Smith After a slow start to camp with a day-to-day injury, the pads came on, and so did Jonnu Smith's game. He was dominant in one-on-ones, and he's made his fair share of plays in team settings despite running with the twos in 11 personnel or when only one tight end is on the field. The more weapons, the better. With Metcalf and Freiermuth solidified as the top two pass catchers, inserting Jonnu Smith into a flex role where he can be the tight end number two in 12 personnel or a slot WR in 11 personnel will get this offense going where it needs to be.
Napheesa Collier Injury Update Adds Drama to Lynx’s Historic Victory
If you’re a Minnesota Lynx fan, your emotions are probably still doing somersaults. Sure, the Lynx just steamrolled the Las Vegas Aces 111-58, accomplishing the largest road win in WNBA history. But the team’s MVP frontrunner, Napheesa Collier, left the game limping, and no amount of points can distract from that gut punch. Collier’s departure came late in the third quarter with her team already leading by a colossal margin. She collided awkwardly with teammate Alanna Smith while jostling for a rebound, and down she went, landing uncomfortably on her right ankle. It was one of those moments that takes the air out of any arena, no matter the scoreline. Why Collier’s Injury Sends Chills Through the WNBA Collier was in peak form before the injury. Earlier in the quarter, her scoring kicked into high gear, bringing her total to 18 points, to go along with five assists, three rebounds, and two steals in just 26 minutes. The Lynx were cruising with a confidence that comes naturally when your franchise player elevates everyone around her. Which is exactly why her injury stings so much. This isn’t just any player. Collier leads the WNBA in points per game this season with 23.8 and has been the focal point of Minnesota’s stellar 24-5 record. Losing her for any length of time could shake up the entire league, not just the Lynx’s season. Cheryl Reeve Faces Tough Questions Head coach Cheryl Reeve didn’t escape post-game scrutiny, as reporters questioned why Collier was still on the court with such a huge lead. The Lynx were up by a staggering 43 points at the time. Reeve defended her decision, saying, “I didn’t think the game was over… these things happen.” She added, “I get it. People are going to rail on me… but we did what we think was right.” Love her or not (and Lynx fans mostly do), Reeve’s response hits at a deeper truth of pro sports. Coaches have to make a thousand judgment calls mid-game, and hindsight always paints the clearest picture. That said, having your star player laid out on the hardwood in a game that was, for all practical purposes, already locked up, is a moment you’d wish you could rewind. Some Sweet Among the Sour As chaotic as the injury drama was, the game itself was a textbook example of how to make dominance look easy. Kayla McBride was the showstopper, going 8-for-8 from three-point range in the first half, setting a new WNBA record. McBride’s 23 points led all scorers and were emblematic of a Lynx squad firing on all cylinders. Even with Collier’s setback, Minnesota’s victory margin wasn’t just historic; it was a statement. Their 53-point blowout dethroned a 1998 Houston Comets win for the largest road victory in league history. For fans looking for something to smile about amid the concern for Collier, that’s a decent silver lining. The WNBA Holds Its Breath Now the league waits. Collier is set to undergo testing and imaging in the coming days. Whether she travels with the team to their next game in Seattle or heads back to Minnesota for further evaluation remains unclear. Players and fans alike, however, are feeling the weight of uncertainty. Kayla McBride spoke for all of us when she said postgame, “You hate to see anybody go down, but especially your MVP.” The Bigger Picture for the Lynx This season, Collier hasn’t just been a player. She’s been a beacon, driving Minnesota from mere playoff contention to outright championship conversation. If her ankle injury sidelines her for longer than a game or two, the ripple effects will be seismic. For now, the Lynx have an MVP-sized gap to fill in Seattle. They’ll look to McBride and others to step up. But as Reeve so eloquently put it, “I can be both happy for our team and worry about Napheesa Collier at the same time.” Fans, It’s Time to Rally The WNBA has a knack for delivering brutal cliffhangers, and this is no exception. Every die-hard Lynx fan, and plenty of Collier admirers league-wide, are crossing their fingers for a quick recovery. What’s certain is this: Collier’s passion and work ethic have always set the tone for her team. Whether she’s on the court or cheering from the sidelines, you can bet her influence will resonate. For now, though, the Lynx’s postgame celebration is muted. Their historic milestone feels like a warm cup of coffee spilled before you can even take a sip. Here’s hoping Collier’s injury doesn’t turn this sweet season bitter.
What's Next Step for Dolphins First-Round Pick?
The pads finally came on during Miami Dolphins training camp practices this week, which means it’s a good time to take stock in how first-round pick Kenneth Grant is faring. The Dolphins selected the 6-3, 335-pound interior defensive tackle out of Michigan to help solidify the middle of the defense after losing players like Christian Wilkins and Calais Campbell in back-to-back offseasons. The newly extended Zach Sieler can only do so much on his own. So, what’s the next step for the highly touted rookie? Defensive line coach Austin Clark has a few things in mind. “I think he's working himself into shape,” Clark told reporters Monday. “I think he works extremely hard, very smart player. I would say that's the thing that's impressive, learning multiple spots and stuff like that. [We’re] pleased where he's at, but he knows we've got a long way to go and fired up for these next couple practices here and taking into the joints in the games.” Clark saying that Grant is still working into NFL shape isn’t overly surprising. Grant is a huge player who moves faster than someone of his size should. There’s obviously a difference between the conditioning he needed to do at Michigan, as opposed to playing in the South Florida heat at NFL speed. Plus, Grant played a lot of snaps for the Wolverines over the years. He played more than 400 snaps in his two seasons as a starter, including a career-high 547 last season. So, there’s no reason to panic (yet) about Clark’s comments. Getting into better shape starts with new habits, something defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is looking for from all of his young defensive linemen. “We're trying to make this new training their new habits,” Weaver said. “So that to me is the biggest thing, just making sure you don't revert back to some of the things you've done in the past and you try to do what you've been trained to do to this point.” Gearing Up For Joint Practices Grant was never going to wow anyone before pads came on. But he’ll have a good opportunity to stand out when the Dolphins conduct their first of four joint practices this summer on Aug. 8 against the Chicago Bears. What is Weaver looking for from the young defensive lineman? “To trust their technique and fundamentals in their training,” Weaver said. “The thing that happens a lot, particularly with younger players, is when they get in that, the fire. And you're outside of your normal, where you're practicing against the same guy every day, is that they start to revert back to old habits.” Clark believes the team will get to learn a lot about Grant and the interior defensive line during joint practices because of how little the defensive line is allowed to do in regular practice. “I think the biggest thing with linemen is that those are where you really get to see how we're doing,” Clark said. “Because when you don't have pads on, there's a lot of protecting the team and things you're working on. You don't really know if you're gonna finish a move and pass rush and stuff like that. Run game, our offensive line is protecting the team.” Reading too much into how a rookie looks during the first few weeks of training camp and even during joint practices is a little silly. However, the Dolphins do need Grant to be a solid contributor this season. As mentioned above, Sieler can only do so much in the middle, and the team made Grant the centerpiece of its additions on the interior. Behind him are players like Benito Jones and fellow rookies Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers. Those players, and possibly others like Matt Dickerson, have some potential, but if Grant struggles this year, it’ll be an issue. So far, Weaver likes what Grant has shown, even if he still needs to work on some things. “Awesome, awesome,” Weaver said about Grant. “He's everything we thought he would be. I think his game particularly comes to light when the pads come on, right? And you've seen the impact he can have both in the middle of the pocket as a run defender and as a pass rusher.”
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