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The Pirates have hired Daniel Vogelbach as a special assistant to their hitting department, reports Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. While there’d been no word that the 32-year-old had ended his playing career, it seems he’s moving on to his post-playing days.
Vogelbach played parts of nine seasons in the majors. The lefty-hitting first baseman/designated hitter earned an All-Star nod with the Mariners amid a 30-homer showing in 2019. That was his best full season until 2022. Vogelbach signed a one-year free agent deal with Pittsburgh that came with a modest $1M base salary. It was a shrewd pickup, as he hit .228/.338/.430 over 75 games. The Bucs moved him to the Mets in a swap for reliever Colin Holderman, who projects as one of their better leverage arms this season.
After landing in Queens, Vogelbach hit .255/.393/.436 for the stretch run. He played well enough for New York to bring him back for the ’23 season, though his numbers dropped to a pedestrian .233/.339/.404 slash. Vogelbach appeared in 31 games early last year for the Blue Jays in what appears to be his final major league action.
If he is officially retiring, he’ll do so with a .219/.340/.405 batting line over 602 big league contests. Vogelbach hit 81 homers and drove in 246 runs while suiting up for five teams. He clearly made a strong impression on the Pittsburgh front office and coaching staff during his few months there as a player.
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Cubs catcher lost to horrific-looking injury on same day he returns from IL
After working to return to the Chicago Cubs' lineup following an oblique injury, Miguel Amaya suffered a gruesome-looking injury in his first game back with the Cubs on Wednesday night. Running to first base, Amaya just beat out an infield single on a slow dribbler to shortstop when his left foot landed forcefully on the base, causing his leg to buckle and sending Amaya flying down the first base line. Following the injury, Amaya was carted off the field in Toronto with a towel over his face. The emotions shown by Amaya as he was carted off indicated he knew already he would miss more time in a season that has been marred by injuries. After the game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Amaya would be going back on the injured list with what was diagnosed as a left ankle sprain. X-rays, however, were negative. The 26-year-old Amaya had just told reporters after being activated from the 60-day injured list that he was thankful he was healthy. Just three at-bats later, Amaya was once again injured. Amaya's three at-bats against the Blue Jays on Wednesday represented his first game action since May 24, when he recorded just two at-bats against the Cincinnati Reds before leaving the game with an oblique injury. In just 96 at-bats this season, Amaya is slashing .281/.314/.500 with four home runs and 25 RBI. Amaya's injury is another blow for the Cubs, who have seen their lead in the National League Central evaporate as the Milwaukee Brewers have now won 12 consecutive games and are 20-4 since the All-Star break. As has been the case in Amaya's absence, Carson Kelly and Reese McGuire will continue to be the dominant presences behind the plate for the Cubs. Joining with Amaya, the duo has helped the Cubs record a 2.8 Wins Above Average (WAA) at catcher, the highest mark of any MLB team. After Amaya's injury, the Cubs would go on to post a 4-1 win over the Blue Jays.
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth’s honest Aaron Rodgers verdict after joint practice
The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting closer to regular-season form, and tight end Pat Freiermuth is already liking what he sees. After Thursday’s joint practice between Pittsburgh and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium, the fifth-year veteran offered high praise for his new quarterback, while also pointing to strides being made across the offense. Aaron Rodgers’s joint practice performance was under the microscope — and Freiermuth’s take was clear. In an article posted by Steelers.com’s Teresa Varley, she noted that Freiermuth has been encouraged by what the team has shown offensively. He especially liked what he saw from the offensive line and their new signal-caller. “I thought the offensive line played pretty solid. I thought Aaron played really well. I think we came out here and did our job, and I thought we all looked pretty solid as an offense. We have to continue to grow, but I think we’re taking steps in the right direction.” The comments from Freiermuth reflect a broader theme from the day, progress with room for growth. Pittsburgh’s offense reportedly won the majority of the Seven Shots period during Thursday’s session, with strong execution in red-zone situations. The two-minute drill was more mixed, but the exposure to Tampa Bay’s different defensive looks — including four-man fronts — added real value to the day’s work. The Steelers offense update comes as Rodgers continues ramping up in live action after sitting out the first preseason game. Thursday’s joint practice marked his most substantial work of August so far, and his timing with the 2021 draft pick out of Penn State and the rest of the offense appears to be coming together. With a retooled wide receiver group and a revamped offensive line, joint sessions are providing valuable live reps in simulated game conditions. Rodgers is not expected to suit up for Saturday’s preseason matchup, as Pittsburgh continues to manage his workload ahead of Week 1. Freiermuth remains a key target in the red zone and in middle-field route concepts, and his chemistry with the 41-year-old quarterback is already drawing attention. The offensive line, meanwhile, earned a public shout-out — a sign that communication and protection are trending in the right direction. The staff continues to manage preseason usage carefully, meaning Rodgers and other starters may be limited again in Saturday’s exhibition against the Buccaneers. The Steelers and Buccaneers joint-practice offered the kind of controlled but competitive reps that coaches and players value most. No major injuries were reported, and the work helped refine offensive timing, especially in pressure moments. While Freiermuth emphasized that the unit is still building, Thursday’s showing was a positive sign. With Week 1 of the regular season approaching, the offense looks like it’s beginning to click — and the veteran tight end seems confident they’re headed in the right direction.
Green Bay Packers: Josh Jacobs’ 1-word reaction to Team’s RB Flex Before Colts Clash
The NFL has dropped a fresh batch of names for their NFL “Top 100” list for the upcoming 2025 season, and Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs is among the players revealed. The former Alabama Crimson Tide star tailback has been ranked No. 33 overall. The Packers, who will be playing against the Indianapolis Colts this coming Saturday in a preseason game, rightfully acknowledged Jacobs’ position on the list by flexing it on social media. “Another year, another Josh Jacobs sighting in the NFL Top 100 , ” the Packers’ post on Instagram read. Jacobs appreciates Green Bay Packers’ flex on his Top 100 re-entry This is a return to the list for Jacobs, who was not part of the Top 100 in 2024. Before that, he was 13th overall in 2023, his last season with the Las Vegas Raiders. So, what did it take for Jacobs to get back into the list? He rushed for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns on 301 carries in his first year with the Packers, who will be relying a lot again on his legs to deliver the offense on the ground. Jacobs also showed appreciation for the Packers’ post, as he reposted it via IG Stories with a caption that read: “Grateful.” The three-time Pro Bowler is 27 and will turn 28 in February, but his best season in the NFL could still be in front of him. Together with quarterback Jordan Love, Jacobs will look to carry the bulk of the Packers’ offense, which was eighth in the league in 2024 with 27.1 points per game. Love and Rashan Garry are also the other Packers players who made it to the Top 100 in 2025.
Bills waive Super Bowl champion DE after one game, sign All-Big 12 replacement
The Buffalo Bills have made a defensive ends roster swap out for the third time this summer. First, they sent undrafted rookie Hayden Harris packing in favor of bringing back former Buffalo practice squad member Kameron Cline. Six days later, the Bills released Cline and subsequently added Super Bowl LXI champion defensive end Justin Hollins. Now, Hollins, who signed on August 5, is out. The Bills waived the 29-year-old, who did not appear in a regular season game during the 2024 campaign, with an injury designation on Thursday. If unclaimed, Hollins will land on Buffalo's Injured Reserve list until a settlement can be reached. In a corresponding move on the eve of their joint practice with the Chicago Bears, the Bills signed free-agent defensive end Nelson Ceaser to the 90-man roster. Hollins, who was a teammate of current Bills Taylor Rapp and David Edwards with the Los Angeles Rams during their Super Bowl 2021 season, has appeared in 67 regular season games since being drafted at No. 156 overall by the Denver Broncos in 2019. Unfortunately, injury ended his Bills' tenure after only one week in camp. Hollins totaled 23 defensive snaps and six special teams reps in Buffalo's August 9 preseason opener. He made three solo tackles at the DE spot. Hollins was not available to practice on Wednesday in Orchard Park. Meanwhile, Ceaser comes to the Bills after a spring league stint with the UFL's San Antonio Brahmas. The former University of Houston team captain initially joined the pro ranks as an undrafted rookie with the Seattle Seahawks in 2024. He did not survive NFL cutdown day last summer. In 2023, Ceaser ended his collegiate career by earning All-Big 12 Conference First Team honors after 9.5-sack campaign. The two-year starter totaled 41 career appearances for Houston. He becomes the second UH defensive lineman currently on the Bills' roster, joining former first-round defensive tackle Ed Oliver. More Buffalo Bills News: NFL keeps feeding America's appetite for Buffalo Bills with primetime preseason game Sean McDermott reveals injury that forced Dion Dawkins to miss Bills' practice James Cook contract further validates Bills' 2022 draft class Former Bills' All-Pro jestfully kicks Dolphins while they're down Matt Milano lives up to Josh Allen's pregame assessment in Bills' preseason opener
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