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The Los Angeles Dodgers’ loss is the Boston Red Sox’s gain.
The Red Sox on Friday acquired James Paxton in a trade with the Dodgers.
Big Maple is BACK. pic.twitter.com/riKW4TfUAS
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 26, 2024
The trade came four days after the Dodgers designated Paxton for assignment. Paxton has a 4.43 ERA through 18 starts. His 48 walks in 89.1 innings are the worst in the league.
This will be a reunion for Paxton and Boston. The 35-year-old southpaw spent last season with the Red Sox and went 7-5 with a 4.50 ERA in 19 starts.
Red Sox reporter Chris Cotillo speculates that this will be Boston’s only starting pitching addition at the deadline.
Feels like that'll be the biggest rotation addition for the Red Sox. Just guessing. Houck, Crawford, Pivetta, Bello, Paxton with Criswell, Winckowski and eventually Fitts for depth.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) July 26, 2024
The Sox enter play on Friday at 54-47 on the season.
More must-reads:
- Fireworks at Fenway: Yankees vs. Red Sox pick, odds, predictions for Fri. 7/26
- The 24 pitchers who have thrown an MLB perfect game
- The '2018 Boston Red Sox World Series roster' quiz
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What Yankees fans can expect from Ryan McMahon
Ryan McMahon probably wasn’t the name every die-hard enthusiast of the Bronx Bombers was waiting in anticipation to be announced. In their pinstriped hearts, Yankee fans had already reserved third base for D-Backs’ slugger Eugenio Suárez. But before jumping to conclusions, let’s first browse through what advantages and pitfalls this newly minted Yankee comes with by lining up some pros and cons. Off the bat, one of the key reasons the Yankees had interest in McMahon was his defense. Since last season, defense has been a sensitive topic around the Bronx. While the hot corner hasn’t been a severe part of this concern, knowing that the Yankees’ defense isn’t going to get worse is mildly reassuring. McMahon has recorded four outs above average and four defensive runs saved this year. These numbers have declined since his stellar glove work in 2023, but still fairly solid. It also helps that the Yankees didn’t need to overpay for a third baseman, but McMahon’s upside can be easily offset by his major downside. Hitting .217/.314/.403 with 16 home runs, McMahon’s bat offers plenty more than that of Oswald Peraza, but it might not move the needle very much unless he can make his power play in the Bronx. With his left-handed bat and the Yankees’ short right porch, there is a chance this could work. Even more encouraging is the fact that McMahon has been a 20+ home run hitter for most of his career. His average exit velocity of 94 mph this season ranks him in the elite 98th percentile of hitters. However, this could be a little misleading. McMahon’s numbers seem to be heavily influenced by the mile-high altitude in Denver. Below you can see his home-away splits for this year: Away from Coors Field, McMahon’s performance has been abysmal. Also, his 127 strikeouts were the most in the National League up until his trade. His overall stats and splits aren’t exactly enamoring, but there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. McMahon’s bat has been heating up lately. In the past seven games, McMahon is hitting .292 with three home runs. Over the past two years, the Rockies' third baseman excelled in the first half and slumped heavily in the second. If this trend has reversed and he excels in the second half of this season, Yankee fans could be in for a real treat. Will McMahon be the addition that pushes the Yankees to the World Series this fall? Probably not, but one can always hope. Still, when Gerrit Cole returns next season, McMahon might be the piece that puts New York over the top. The 30-year-old one-time All-Star is signed through 2027, giving fans enough time to find out.
Five potential landing spots for Christian Wilkins after stunning Raiders release
The Las Vegas Raiders just stunned the league by releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins after only one year with the team. After signing a four-year, $110 million contract, he struggled with injuries in 2024. This was supposed to be a big bounce-back year for Wilkins, but after a dispute between the two sides in regard to how to handle his foot injury, the team decided it was best to part ways. Now, a premier interior disruptor is suddenly available. Assuming his medicals get checked out soon, there should be a lot of interest around the league. Where should he land? Dallas Cowboys Dallas has needed a dominant interior presence for quite some time. Osa Odighizuwa is an awesome threat, but he is only solid against the run. Alongside him, the team will be banking heavily on 2023 first-rounder Mazi Smith, who has been disappointing so far. With Dallas looking to return to the playoffs, adding a stud like Wilkins could give Dallas one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. San Francisco 49ers The 49ers added some young bodies in CJ West and Alfred Collins, yet neither offer a proven, all-around talent like Wilkins could if healthy. The 49ers defensive line was horrid outside of Nick Bosa in 2024, but by adding Wilkins, the team would now have a solid cast of starters with Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, Wilkins and Kevin Givens/Jordan Elliott. Miami Dolphins A return to Miami makes a ton of sense for both sides. The Dolphins know exactly how to use Wilkins, he knows the building and players, and the transition would be very easy. Miami needs help in the interior defensive line; by plugging Wilkins back into his old role, he could offer the quickest path to high-level impact. Detroit Lions With Levi Onwuzurike out with injury and Detroit needing more juice on the defensive line, adding a proven disruptor like Wilkins could make some sense. He could provide more depth while he gets fully healthy, and he can join a legit Super Bowl contender. His energy and mentality could be a good fit for a Dan Campbell-led squad. Jacksonville Jaguars The Jaguars defense is average in the interior, but they have excellent edge-rushers who would benefit greatly from a strong disruptor up the middle. Wilkins could balance the front, help in the run defense and allow more one-on-ones for their premier edge-rushers. For a team that wants to return to the playoffs as soon as possible, adding a veteran like Wilkins could be a worthy bet to make.
Dustin Rhodes Assigns Blame After Hulk Hogan’s Death
Following the shocking news of Hulk Hogan’s passing, wrestling legend Dustin Rhodes, known to millions as Goldust in WWE, took to social media to share a deeply personal and provocative reaction: “Hospitals truly kill people. I really do mean that.” Rhodes’ blunt statement stunned many fans, but those who know his story saw the pain behind the words. His father, the iconic Dusty Rhodes, passed away in 2015, aged 69, after a fall at home led to hospitalization for kidney failure. After his father's passing, Dustin shared a contemplative response on WWE's YouTube channel to discuss the legacy his father left behind. The news of Hogan's death comes just a month after reports suggested he was on his "deathbed" after undergoing a neck procedure back in May. Hogan's reps denied that was the case. In June, US Weekly reported that Hogan had also undergone a "pretty serious heart surgery and was doing well afterward." Dustin’s connection to his brother Cody Rhodes, now a top WWE superstar and face of the company’s next generation, is unbreakable. The Rhodes family legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of pro wrestling history, and seeing another legend like Hogan pass has clearly hit close to home. While Goldust and Hulk Hogan never had a headline-grabbing rivalry, they did share the ring once. It occurred in WCW in 2000 when Dustin Rhodes matched up against Hogan. Although their paths didn’t often cross in the squared circle, Hogan and the Rhodes family were part of the same larger-than-life era that helped define pro wrestling for decades and catapult the sport into society's zeitgeist. Rhodes’ comment about hospitals might not sit well with everyone, but it speaks to a raw and honest pain felt by someone who has seen too many legends, both personal and professional, fade away in similar fashion. The sport of wrestling has endured more than its fair share of lives cut short. As tributes continue to pour in for Hogan, Rhodes’ reaction serves as a powerful, if somber, reminder of the real human emotions behind the wrestling personas.
Paula Badosa hints at rocky relationship between ex-boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas and father, Apostolos
Having been in an on and off relationship for over two years, Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas are quite familiar with each other and their families. It comes as no surprise when the Spanish WTA star appeared to be in agreement with a statement by former player Ivan Ljubicic, where the Croat urged parents of tennis stars to focus less on tennis and more on raising their kids. The high-profile couple made their relationship public in May 2023, and were seen at each other's matches. A year later, they would take to social media to announce they had split ways, only to get back together three weeks later. Known for his volatility on the court, Tsitsipas would engage in a rather heated exchange with his father Apostolos during an opening round loss against Kei Nishikori at the 2024 Canadian Open. The elder Tsitsipas was acting as Stefanos coach at that point, and the Greek star would later take shots at his father in his post-match conference. However, Tsitsipas would later reveal he had apologized to his father soon after the incident. In an interview with SDNA, Tsitsipas stated both men had a long conversation, during which they aired their grievances and the former World No.3 admitted to apologizing to his dad. Badosa co-signs statement by Ljubicic "We discussed it, from my side I had to apologize because it was a big mistake on my part," said Tsitsipas to SDNA. "We have found a new line of communication and a way to talk to each other, so that such things don't happen again and such tensions don't arise again." Ivan Ljubicic, former player who would later coach Roger Federer during the tail end of his career, would chime in on the role of tennis parents, a day after Jannik Sinner dethroned Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. "Following last night, second note to parents: your role is CRUCIAL," said Ljubicic. "Your responsibility is to build independent, responsible, strong human beings. Let the professionals do their job, make sure they have all they need. I promise that this is the best formula." Soon after Tsitsipas' interview with SDNA was published, Badosa would return to Ljubicic's post and express her support. "Soooo good ", wrote the Spanish WTA star on Twitter. Although Badosa did not mention Apostolos specifically, the elder Tsitsipas has received backlash for being overbearing towards Stefanos.
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