In the immediate aftermath of the Lions’ NFC Championship Game loss, center Frank Ragnow confirmed he was playing through multiple injuries. His remarks pointed to a period of contemplating his immediate future, but no thought about hanging up his cleats was included in that process.
Ragnow confirmed (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press) that he will play in 2024. At the age of 27, a retirement decision certainly would have come as a surprise, though he has an extensive list of injuries that he has dealt with during his career. Ragnow had a number of ailments in 2023, including a toe issue that has been recurring for the past three years as well as knee and ankle sprains sustained in the divisional round.
“It takes a toll on you,” Ragnow said at the end of the season. “It really takes a toll on you, so I need to find a way to get back to Frank and I don’t regret any of this at all, but it weighs on you and I’m just going to take some time and really figure everything out to make sure that I’m feeling good, not only for me the football player but for me to be the best husband and best father and everything with that as well.”
The former first-rounder has been a mainstay on Detroit’s O-line since his rookie season as a left guard. His shift to the middle paved the way for Ragnow to become one of the league’s best centers, and he earned a third Pro Bowl nod in the past four years for his performance in 2023. Durability has not been an issue for much of his career, with the exception of 2021 when his toe injury required season-ending surgery.
Ragnow noted that it is yet to be determined if he will undergo any procedures this offseason. He added, however, that he will alter his routine in an attempt to be in a better position health-wise by the start of the 2024 campaign. Ragnow is under contract for three more years and is scheduled to carry cap hits of $12.8M, $14M and $16.35M in that span, so his health will remain a key storyline for the Lions’ well-regarded offensive front.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers' signing of quarterback Aaron Rodgers was an immediately polarizing move that did not sit well with large portions of the fan base. It also did not sit well with one of the team's all-time greatest players, four-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Terry Bradshaw. Bradshaw initially referred to the signing of Rodgers as a "joke" and that he should "stay in California and go chew bark" in reference to Rodgers isolating himself in a darkness retreat last year. On Saturday, Rodgers finally had a chance to respond to Bradshaw and did so with a combination of taking the high road, and also trying to make light of it. “I whisper to the gods every single day. I’ve known Terry for a long time, being a part of Fox. Terry’s a legend. He’s an absolute legend. He won four Super Bowls. He’s had a legendary career in the media. But Terry, like a lot of people, doesn’t know me. And so, he’s got an idea of what he thinks about me based on what I’ve done, the documentary, what I’ve said, darkness retreat, whatever the hell you want to talk about. I’d love to get to know Terry on a deeper level. I feel like if he gave me a chance to get to know him, then we’d have a good friendship." He ended the answer by saying, "So, I’d love to get to know Terry on a deeper level if he’s open to it. And maybe we can go chew some bark or whatever the hell he’s talking about together.” The Steelers were in a pretty desperate quarterback situation this offseason after completely overhauling the position for a second year in a row. They missed out on the chance to re-sign Justin Fields, let Russell Wilson walk, missed out on every other veteran who changed teams and passed on the opportunity to select a quarterback near the top of a weak quarterback draft class. (They ultimately selected Ohio State's Will Howard in the sixth round.) The whole Rodgers saga has been quite a soap opera for the Steelers as they waited around for months while he decided on whether or not he wanted to play this season, and if he wanted to play for the Steelers. Add in the fact he has had a tendency to cause some off-field distractions with his comments and weekly "Pat McAfee Show" appearances, as well as the fact he will turn 42 years old this season and hasn't been a top-tier quarterback in three years, and a lot of Steelers fans — and former players — were put off by the idea. The only thing that will matter in the end, however, is how Rodgers plays on the field. He has said all of the right things since joining the team, and his new teammates have all spoken highly of him so far, but it will still come down to results on the field. The Steelers have not won a playoff game in eight years and are facing added pressure each year to end that drought. They are hoping Rodgers has one more good year in him to help them advance in the postseason.
The New York Yankees had been on the search for a right-handed hitting infielder. They found their man late Saturday night. Jack Curry from YES Network reported that the Yankees acquired infielder Amed Rosario from the Nationals. In exchange, the Yankees are sending pitcher Clayton Beeter and minor league outfielder Browm Martinez to Washington. The Yankees had been looking for a right-handed hitting infielder in the wake of acquiring third baseman Ryan McMahon on Friday. Rosario is exactly the type of player the Yankees had sought - a solid option capable of playing second and third. He had posted a .270/.310/.426 batting line in 158 plate appearances entering Saturday, hitting five homers and eight doubles. Rosario's greatest attribute for the Yankees is his ability to hit left-handed pitching. He has a .299/.333/.483 batting line in 99 plate appearances against lefties this season, with three homers and seven doubles. He and McMahon should form a solid platoon at the hot corner in New York. However, the Yankees paid a steep price to bring Rosario on board for the next several months. Beeter had been ranked as the Yankees' 20th-best prospect per MLB.com, with his upper-90s fastball and wipeout slider both considered plus offerings. He has operated strictly as a reliever this season, where both his ability to miss bats and questionable command have been apparent. Martinez had been considered a player to watch heading into the season by FanGraphs, citing his solid contact rates and projectability. The 18-year-old is years away from making an impact, but has posted an impressive .404/.507/.632 batting line in 69 plate appearances in the Dominican Summer League, hitting three homers and four doubles while stealing 13 bases. His ability to make contact has been impressive, as Martinez has drawn six walks with just eight strikeouts this season. A promotion stateside could be in the cards before the end of the year.
The New York Mets appear to be clicking again, entering Sunday night's game with the San Francisco Giants on a six-game winning streak. This hot stretch has raised the stakes for David Stearns and company ahead of this week's trade deadline; Stearns has already filled one need, landing lefty reliever Gregory Soto from Baltimore, and could be looking to make a few more moves prior to Thursday. One of the more prominent rumors surrounding the Mets is their interest in Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr., who is having a down year but was an All-Star as recently as 2023. Robert is hitting well right now and has a market, which has led the White Sox to demand a high price from the Mets in trade talks for him. USA Today's Bob Nightengale addressed the Robert trade talks in his Sunday column and mentioned that the White Sox are seeking to acquire Mark Vientos from the Mets in any version of a Robert trade. Vientos, who got off to a cold start to the season, has hit well over the past two weeks, batting .290 with a .732 OPS in 31 at-bats. Robert has also peaked in the month of July, hitting .351 with two home runs, nine RBI, and a .982 OPS in 37 at-bats. While this is admittedly a small sample size, it does offer hope to prospective buyers that Robert can recapture some of his All-Star form with a change of scenery away from the hopeless losing that has consumed the White Sox since the start of the 2024 campaign. Since there are so few center fielders available on the trade market, Chicago has multiple suitors for Robert, who also has two team options for the next two seasons and is still just 27 years old. Setting the Mets' asking price at Vientos indicates the White Sox aren't planning to settle for just minor leaguers as part of a Robert package, which could be richer than what the Mets want to pay right now. While the Mets have the potential to move one of their surplus infielders for a roster upgrade, it doesn't feel like Stearns would want to give up on Vientos, who was one of the team's most dominant hitters in the postseason a year ago, for potentially two months of Robert. Vientos may be best suited to be a designated hitter on the current roster, but he has elite power potential and is under team control through the 2029 season. If the White Sox don't lower the price off of Vientos for a trade, it is possible the Mets look elsewhere to address center field. Other trade options could include Baltimore's Cedric Mullins and a reunion with Harrison Bader, who the Twins will look to shop, while Drew Gilbert's hot July at Triple-A Syracuse offers another internal possibility for the position.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh clubbed his 40th home run of the season on Saturday night against the Los Angeles Angels, not only extending his major league lead but also making him the first player in baseball to reach the 40-home run mark this season. It also helped him make some history. With his 40th home run, Raleigh became both the first catcher and the first switch-hitter in baseball history to reach the 40 home run mark before the end of July. Here is a look at his 40th home run. He is already in the process of having one of the best seasons ever for a Mariners player, and also one of the best seasons ever for a catcher, for any team. Especially when you add in his defense, where he is one of the best defensive catchers in the league. His only serious competition for the American League MVP Award remains New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. But with Judge sidelined for some time now due to an elbow injury, it might open the door for Raleigh to put himself in the lead for that award.
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