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The Boston Red Sox are going to have quite the dilemma once top prospects like Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer are called up.
It’s not that their inevitable debuts should not excite Boston fans, but a complicated path to playing time means some everyday starters could be on the way out.
Alex Mayes of Talk Sox recently listed first baseman Triston Casas as a likely trade candidate.
The 25-year-old still has plenty of upside, but he has not done much to warrant faith from manager Alex Cora in 2025. Casas is batting an abysmal .185 with a .594 OPS and a 68 OPS+. He also has 10 walks to 23 strikeouts, three home runs, and three doubles through his first 92 at-bats.
Casas is also a below-average defender at first and has not improved upon a 2023 campaign that saw him finish third in American League Rookie of the Year voting.
He has been better at the plate lately, recording five hits over his last five games. However, even with two home runs in the Seattle Mariners series, he is not producing anywhere near the Red Sox’s expectations.
Casas was limited to just 63 games last year with a rib cartilage tear, and perhaps he is still trying to find his groove.
However, should he continue this lackluster play, he could very well find himself on the trade block. He is still young and will not be an unrestricted free agent until 2029, so, despite his underwhelming numbers, he could garner a decent return.
Neither Anthony nor Mayer is a first baseman, and ditching Casas does not exactly come with an obvious succession plan. Fans are rightfully frustrated with Casas, but it could be too early to pull the plug.
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Trade rejection speaks volumes about Red Sox's Jarren Duran intentions
The Boston Red Sox appear to have no interest in trading outfielder Jarren Duran, at least not in the near future. Trade rumors have swirled around Duran for most of the season, especially after designated hitter Rafael Devers was traded to the Giants. However, Sean McAdam from MassLive reported that the Red Sox may wait until the offseason before moving on from the former All-Star. The decision to wait on Duran is not due to a lack of offers. McAdam also reported that the Padres made a significant offer for Duran involving pitcher Dylan Cease, catching prospect Ethan Salas and another unnamed prospect. That offer was quickly rejected. The Padres have long coveted Duran. McAdam had previously reported that the Padres have been "relentless" in their pursuit of the Red Sox outfielder. The reported trade offer including Salas, the Padres second-best prospect and the 21st-best prospect in baseball per MLB.com, illustrates how serious they are about acquiring Duran. Likewise, the Red Sox's refusal to entertain such an offer, even as a starting point for negotiations, speaks volumes about their interest in moving Duran. The Padres' offer would help solve several problems for the Red Sox in both the present and future. Moving Duran would help clear up the logjam in the outfield, while Cease and Salas would respectively improve the back of their rotation and provide a possible cornerstone behind the plate going forward. Duran is a valuable trade chip as he is under team control through 2028. He has also taken a step back in production from his stellar showing in 2024, posting a respectable .254/.321/.428 batting line in 459 plate appearances entering Friday, with nine homers and 25 doubles while stealing 16 bases. That production would be an upgrade for several teams looking to improve their outfield going forward. The question is whether or not the Red Sox will be realistic in their asking price for Duran. Considering how quickly the Padres' offer was reportedly rejected, that may not be the case.
Steelers rookie Will Howard may have already moved up the depth chart
Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is in full swing, and it’s already been full of excitement. With many new faces on the roster, fans are eager to see how these additions will fit in. After a busy and eventful offseason, training camp serves as the perfect opportunity for all the anticipation surrounding the team to start coming together on the field. One of the most talked-about positions for the Steelers this offseason has been quarterback. The team completely overhauled the position, leading to plenty of uncertainty and speculation early on. While the Steelers were strongly linked to Aaron Rodgers for some time, no official deal had been made by the start of the 2025 NFL Draft. Amid the uncertainty, the team made a bold decision by selecting Will Howard out of Ohio State, bringing in a new face and creating even more talk about the future of the position. Because the Steelers picked Howard late in the draft, there were questions about what his role on the team would be. Even before Rodgers signed, it was clear Howard wouldn’t be the starter. However, during a recent 7 shots drill, Howard unexpectedly took reps with the third team, raising more questions about where he might fit in. Rodgers is clearly locked in as the starting quarterback, with the hope that he can stay healthy throughout the entire season. Earlier in the offseason, he mentioned that this would likely be his final year, though he expressed excitement about the opportunity to play for a franchise like the Steelers. That said, Rodgers has always been unpredictable, and there’s still a chance his career may continue beyond this season. Regardless of what the future holds, his experience and football knowledge are incredibly valuable to the other quarterbacks on the roster, and they’ve made it clear how much they appreciate having him around. Mason Rudolph is expected to be the primary backup behind Rodgers this season. Rudolph was originally drafted by the Steelers and has spent most of his career in Pittsburgh as a dependable backup. However, he’s also shown he can step up when needed, filling in during important games and leading the team when called upon. Rudolph spent last season with the Tennessee Titans, gaining additional experience outside of Pittsburgh. After that brief stint, he re-signed with the Steelers early in the offseason, bringing familiarity, veteran presence and stability to the quarterback room behind Rodgers. Rudolph recently shared that Rodgers has been both incredibly helpful and genuinely friendly since joining the team. Many expected Skylar Thompson, another veteran backup the Steelers signed this offseason, to be next in line on the depth chart. However, with Howard now taking third-team reps, he could move up the depth chart as the season progresses. Rookies bring an element of unpredictability since they’re adjusting to a completely new environment and haven’t yet played in professional games. It’s hard to know how they’ll perform until they get real field experience. If Howard continues to perform well, there’s no reason he shouldn’t climb higher on the depth chart. It’s unlikely that Howard will get much playing time this year, but that doesn’t mean this season isn’t important for him. Learning from a player like Rodgers is incredibly valuable, and Howard has shared how grateful he is to have Rodgers as a mentor. Even if he doesn’t take the field this season, the experience and knowledge he gains behind the scenes could greatly influence his opportunities for playing time down the road. Steelers' future at QB likely isn't on the roster The Steelers were connected to several quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, and the situation drew plenty of attention due to the uncertainty surrounding Rodgers at the time. Although the team eventually signed Rodgers and selected Howard in the later rounds, it seems the search for a long-term franchise quarterback may still be ongoing. Rodgers is only on a one-year deal, and reports have already surfaced that the Steelers are eyeing next year’s quarterback draft class. Opinions on Howard vary, as some view him as a potential career backup, while others are optimistic about his upside and believe he could develop into a solid starting option in the future. Will Howard prove himself and continue to move up the depth chart?
Sherrone Moore says Michigan will do away with controversial celebration
Michigan and Ohio State are sure to play another spirited game on the gridiron this season, but it sounds like there will be no flag planting afterward regardless of the outcome. Michigan won its fourth straight game against Ohio State last season, and the Wolverines' latest victory was the biggest upset the rivalry has seen in years. The eventual national champion Buckeyes were ranked No. 2 in the country when an unranked Michigan team went into Columbus and beat them, 13-10. A huge scrum broke out after the game when Michigan players stood on Ohio State's midfield logo and pretended to plant their flag in enemy territory. The brawl got so out of hand that stadium police wound up using pepper spray. While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said his players will not be partaking in any flag-planting activity going forward. "There will be no more flag planting. There will be no more grabbing the flag," Moore said. "We talked about our new tradition and what we do when we win a game is go beat the band, go sing our (fight song) and stay over there until the other team departs. That's how we'll operate — shake hands after the game, show sportsmanship, be cordial." While there has been no formal ban of flag planting, Ohio State coach Ryan Day also expressed opposition to the act after last year's incident. Ohio State and Michigan have one of the best rivalries in sports, so there is always going to be bad blood between the two programs. Moore and Day are doing what they can to make sure things don't get out of hand again the next time their teams meet.
Klay Thompson Reacts Angrily To Fan Asking About Megan Thee Stallion’s Former Partner
Klay Thompson's time in the offseason has been eventful. But with particular reference to his stay in New York City, the Dallas Mavericks guard has had myriad experiences with fans. After being followed around by a fan through the streets of the city a few days ago, Thompson had a comparatively unpleasant interaction recently. In a video posted on X, a fan can be seen asking Thompson to comment on his girlfriend Megan Thee Stallion's former partner, Tory Lanez. Needless to say, the guard wasn't inclined to comment on this and was visibly annoyed by the question as he said, "Bro, stay away from me. Get away from me." The fan was taken aback by Thompson's reaction. After interpreting the guard's response as hostile, he can be seen hanging back, while adding, "Why are you scared of me, bro?" In a whirlwind of public attention, Thompson's relationship with Megan Thee Stallion became one of the primary talking points of the offseason. From viral posts on social media to celebrities commenting on the relationship, the two have constantly been in the limelight. While this hasn't been a negative occurrence for the most part, it is quite clear that her past relationship with the rapper struck a nerve. This could also be attributed to the stories associated with the two, as sources claim that Lanez assaulted Megan after a pool party at Kylie Jenner's home in 2020. The two reportedly argued at the party. On the journey back, while Megan demanded to be let out of the car, Lanez opened fire, harming her in the process. The rapper was convicted of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, and negligent discharge of the firearm, leading to a 10-year prison sentence. Reportedly obtained bodycam footage suggests that Lanez didn't intentionally fire the gun at Megan. But the supposedly new evidence isn’t enough to overturn the conviction. Given the broader context, it is easy to see why Thompson was bothered by the question. When considering the kind of media backlash and social media vitriol his partner has faced after the traumatic experience, especially with Lanez's fans demanding "justice" for him, the Mavs guard was well within his rights to be upset. Regardless, it appears that Thompson is protecting his peace at the moment. Given that he and Megan appear to be in a good place with regard to their relationship, he has every reason to take things at his own pace.
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