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The Philadelphia Phillies are setting up to be one of the most aggressive teams at this year’s MLB trade deadline. Firmly entrenched in the Wild Card race and 4.5 games behind the New York Mets in the NL East, the Phillies are expected to be in the market for relief pitching.
While closer Jose Alvarado serves an 80-game suspension and is no longer eligible for the postseason, the team has turned to Jordan Romano with frustrating results. In 23.1 innings, the former All-Star has struggled, allowing 28 hits and 12 walks, leading to a 7.71 ERA. As a whole, the bullpen ranks 25th with a 4.56 ERA, proving further why adding one or two pieces will be crucial to keep Philadelphia in a crowded NL playoff hunt.
Sports Illustrated’s Dylan Sampson recently listed relief pitcher Felix Bautista as a potential fit for the Phillies' bullpen.
Once a core player to a hopeful Baltimore Orioles perennial playoff contender, Bautista is one of the hottest names on the trade block. While Baltimore is not a confirmed deadline seller, trading Bautista may further strengthen their farm system, setting up the potential for star-caliber acquisitions in the offseason.
Although Bautista’s star has fallen slightly after Tommy John Surgery cost him the entire 2024 season, he has rebounded well. In 21.2 innings of work, the 30-year-old has posted a 3.32 ERA, 28 strikeouts, and 12 saves in 2025.
His fastball velocity has dipped post-surgery, but the former All-Star still has the track record any team would want come time for the playoffs. In 2023, Bautista notched 33 saves and 110 strikeouts over 61 innings en route to an All-Star game nod. While he may not be the same player, banking on Bautista in a late-inning role is the aggressive move Phillies’ president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, is known to make.
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Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Makes MLB History Against Yankees
The pressure is mounting for the Toronto Blue Jays to eliminate the New York Yankees on Wednesday after momentum swung in New York’s favor during Tuesday’s Game 3 loss. Toronto will look to close out the series and avoid a return trip home for a decisive Game 5. Although the Blue Jays’ pitching disappointed on Tuesday, allowing nine runs, the offense continued to thrive, led by the team’s superstar first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The 26-year-old right-handed slugger has risen to the occasion so far and continued during the top of the first inning for Game 4. Guerrero slashed an 0–2 cut fastball from Yankees rookie Cam Schlittler down the right field line, driving in George Springer and giving Toronto an early 1-0 lead. That swing added to what’s already been an impressive stretch for Guerrero, who has consistently delivered in key moments throughout the series. He launched the first postseason grand slam in Blue Jays history during Game 2, and his production has helped keep Toronto competitive despite Tuesday’s pitching struggles. Guerrero’s presence at the top of the order has continued to loom large—and now, his impact has made MLB history. He is the first player in postseason history to record at least nine hits and nine RBIs through the first four games of a series, regardless of round (h/t Underdog’s Justin Havens). Most impressive of all, Guerrero reached that mark just one at-bat into Game 4 of the ALDS. Guerrero signed a 14-year, $500 million contract in April of this year and responded by leading Toronto to its first AL East division title in a decade. Over 156 games, Guerrero owned a .292 batting average, .381 on-base percentage, .848 OPS, 23 home runs and 84 RBIs. Guerrero has spent all seven seasons of his career with the Blue Jays after debuting in 2019. He earned his fifth consecutive All-Star selection this year and has continued to be a finalist for AL MVP. With the series still hanging in the balance, Guerrero’s dominance has become the biggest storyline. If he stays hot, Toronto’s October could stretch much further.
Steelers Interested In Exciting 2020 Top-10 Draft Pick After Free Agent Visit
The Pittsburgh Steelers are always looking to improve their roster. That was seen throughout the 2025 offseason with the amount of transactions General Manager Omar Khan completed, but it is also something that is a priority during the regular season. When it is in-season most teams are trying to upgrade their depth, which is something Pittsburgh will look to do as attrition continues to set in as the team plays more games. This leads to the team hosting workouts with current free agents, and even signing some, whether that be to the practice squad or to the active roster. Pittsburgh has played four games now and is coming off of its bye week in Week 5. This means the team has some injuries in various areas, and it also gives the coaching staff and Khan a better idea of where some upgrades need to occur. This means more players might be brought in for workouts, and that is exactly what happened on Wednesday as the franchise hosted two linebackers on workouts. Pittsburgh brought in Michael Barrett as well as former top-10 pick Isaiah Simmons. Simmons is a prominent name in the NFL. He was selected with the eighth overall pick back in the 2020 NFL Draft as he was picked by the Arizona Cardinals. He was considered one of the best defenders in the country during his college career at Clemson, where he won the National Championship at the end of the 2018 season. Simmons was lauded as a prospect coming into the NFL. He was seen as a hybrid between an inside linebacker and a safety, and his athleticism was off the charts. It was noted that he needed to be put in the right situation, and the right system, in order to succeed. That never really happened. He spent just three seasons in Arizona before being traded to the New York Giants. He signed for the following season in New York, but he was not brought back after 2024. He signed with the Green Bay Packers during the 2025 offseason but did not make the final roster. The linebacker's best season came in 2022 with the Cardinals. He recorded 99 total tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Despite the successful year he was traded away. In his two seasons with the Giants he played in all 34 games while starting five of them. He tallied 71 total tackles, a pick six, and a sack during that time. Simmons has shown flashes throughout his career, but he has never been able to remain consistent enough to find his footing in the NFL. He is fighting to keep his career alive, and a workout in Pittsburgh could be a step in the right direction. Steelers Could Add Quality Depth By Signing Isaiah Simmons If Simmons were to sign in Pittsburgh, it would probably begin with him on the practice squad. He could get elevated if injuries occur, but there is no reason to believe that he would be a major contributor for the Steelers defense in 2025. He has versatility which is something Pittsburgh always appreciates, and his experience playing both linebacker and safety would make him a prime candidate to be on the field on obvious passing downs. If Pittsburgh can find a way to unlock the first-round talent that Simmons once had, this would be a great move. But it is hard to look at this as anything more than adding some depth to a defense that has been beat up so far during the 2025 season. The Steelers could also continue their research into former first round picks by taking a look at recently-released wide receiver Treylon Burks.
Steve Kerr Announces Seth Curry's Final Status for Warriors-Trail Blazers
The Golden State Warriors picked up a win over the Los Angeles Lakers to start their 2025 preseason campaign, and now head into another exhibition match against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. For their matchup against Portland, the Warriors are even testing out a new-look starting lineup that features recently-signed Al Horford, alongside Steph Curry, Moses Moody, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green. While Horford is getting the starting nod for the first time as a Warrior, not every newly signed player is playing in Wednesday's preseason game. The Warriors signed four new players heading into the new season: Al Horford, De'Anthony Melton, Seth Curry, and rookie Will Richard. Melton is still recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered last season, but Horford and Richard were able to make their Warriors debut against the Lakers and are both set to play in Wednesday's game as well. Seth Curry, on the other hand, is still waiting to make his Warriors debut. Seth Curry's status While talking to the media before Wednesday's game, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr confirmed that Seth Curry would be sidelined for the second consecutive game. Kerr said that Curry is "still ramping up," per Warriors reporter Kenzo Fukuda. Curry, 35, is teaming up with his brother Steph for the first time in his career, and fans are patiently waiting to see them on the court together. However, they will have to wait another game. The new Warriors guard spent last season with the Charlotte Hornets, where he averaged 6.5 points per game on a league-high 45.6% shooting from three-point range. Creating the literal "Splash Brothers" will be an incredible sight for the Warriors this season, and it gives the team another much-needed three-point threat off the bench. Curry's contract dilemma The Warriors were forced to sign Curry to an Exhibit 9 deal, allowing him to participate in training camp and preseason, but they will have to waive him before the 2025-26 regular season starts. However, the two sides will be able to agree on their expected one-year deal on November 10. Even though Curry will not be on the team for the first couple of weeks of the regular season, getting reps in during the preseason will be important, so that it does not take as long for him to gel when he is able to sign his standard contract. Unfortunately, Curry is not suiting up on Wednesday, but he should be making his Warriors debut soon.
Bill Belichick's tenure with North Carolina should remind fans of another coaching disaster
Consider North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick the pro-to-college version of Urban Meyer. In a story published Tuesday, Andrew Jones of 247Sports reported that North Carolina has had "potential exit strategy" discussions regarding Belichick. If the Tar Heels fire him before the season ends, his disappointing, scandal-ridden tenure will be even more similar to the one Meyer had with the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2021 season. How do the disastrous tenures of Bill Belichick and Urban Meyer compare? After hiring Meyer in January 2021, the Jaguars were banking on his college success translating in the NFL. He won three national championships while coaching the Florida Gators and the Ohio State Buckeyes. But like many successful college coaches, he should've stayed in school. Meyer went 2-11 in 13 games before being fired after Week 14. Many players and coaches were glad to see him go. As Jaguars HC, Meyer reportedly feuded with wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr., benched running back James Robinson for no apparent reason, kicked kicker Josh Lambo before a preseason game and called his coaching staff "losers." There was also the viral video of a young woman suggestively dancing with Meyer at a bar in Ohio following a Week 4 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. In a list published in July 2025, CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin tabbed Meyer as the worst NFL coaching hire this century. Perhaps Belichick will one day be No. 1 on the college version of this list. After hiring the former New England Patriots coach in December 2024, North Carolina hoped the six-time Super Bowl champion would immediately turn the Tar Heels into a national title contender. Instead, the 2-3 Tar Heels are generating headlines for an off-the-field mess. Per Pat Welter of WRAL-TV in Raleigh, two players were in a fight in the locker room on Tuesday, and a parent has said their son no longer wants to go to the facility because it's too "toxic." The program has told Welter that cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins missed Tuesday's practice because of "personal reasons." However, The Athletic's Bruce Feldman previously reported he was suspended for extra benefits allegations that surfaced in a previous report by Welter. Belichick's relationship with girlfriend Jordon Hudson is only making matters worse. The 24-year-old's influence over the 73-year-old coach has been under scrutiny since an awkward interview with "CBS Sunday Morning" in April. The tenures of Meyer and Belichick aren't the same, but they're similar. They're trainwrecks that tarnish the respective legacies of two coaching giants.
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