The Cubs have a backup plan in mind if they lose Shohei Ohtani
Originally published on Larry Brown Sports By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated on 12-23-5 The Chicago Cubs still have their Shohei Ohtani lottery ticket.
That doesn’t mean they don’t have a plan B.Last month, the Cubs were seen as the “most aggressive team” pursuing Ohtani. But it appears their pursuit of Ohtani hasn’t yielded the same level of mutual interest.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported Tuesday that the Cubs’ optimism regarding landing Ohtani has “diminished significantly.”According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Cubs remain linked to a pair of free-agent sluggers in Rhys Hoskins and Matt Chapman.
The team is also reportedly interested in bringing back last season’s breakout center, Cody Bellinger.The Cubs are said to be in close contact with Hoskins’ representatives. Both one-year and multi-year deals are reportedly being discussed.The Cubs would be taking some risks if they ultimately sign Hoskins.
The first baseman missed the Philadelphia Phillies’ entire 2023 season while he recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. But given how well the Cubs’ acquisition of Bellinger went last season, the team might want to see if it can channel something similar with Hoskins.
Bellinger led the team in batting average (.307), RBI (97), slugging percentage (.525), and tied for the team lead in home runs (26) in his only year with the Cubs.Hoskins hit .246 with 30 home runs and 79 RBIs in 156 games for the Phillies in 2022.
This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and is published with permission. Other must-reads:Brewers agree to do business with World Series-winning RHPMLBThe Dodgers manager clarifies the team’s position on Shohei Ohtani
After much secrecy and anonymous reporting about secret meetings between Shohei Ohtani and various suitors, Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts refreshingly came out and told reporters that his club had recently hosted Ohtani for a visit to Dodgers Stadium (link via Jack Harris of the L.A. Times). Roberts added that Ohtani is “clearly our top priority.”
When asked why he was so blunt when other clubs have gone to great lengths to hide their negotiating efforts with Ohtani, Roberts responded (via Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com): “I haven’t I feel like I’m lying.” we asked him a question. …It will come out at some point. » The Dodgers have long been considered the team most likely to sign Ohtani.
This is due to countless factors, ranging from Ohtani’s previous preference for a West Coast club (during his initial foray into MLB free agency) to the Dodgers’ nearly limitless salary options, among others.
The Los Angeles front office declined to give designated hitter J.D. to extend a qualifying offer to Martinez after a resurgent 33-homer season, apparently in large part to keep DH’s roster spot open for a potential run at Ohtani. Ohtani has attracted interest from various teams, as you would expect from the hottest two-way star the sport has ever seen.
However, in recent days, several clubs seemed to believe that their chances of signing Ohtani had diminished.
The Red Sox, Mets and Rangers have reportedly turned their attention to other players, while just hours ago it was reported that the Cubs’ optimism in their own pursuit had “diminished significantly.” The Dodgers are currently projecting a payroll of $157 million per resource, with just under $175 million in luxury tax obligations on the books.
That leaves enough wiggle room to sign Ohtani without hitting the $237 million tax threshold, although later additions following a theoretical Ohtani deal could still put the Dodgers firmly in the tax zone.
However, this has not been a problem for them in the past; The Dodgers have imposed luxury penalties every year since 2019.
Ohtani also reportedly had meetings with the Blue Jays and Giants in recent days. Los Angeles, Toronto, San Francisco and the reigning Angels are the four prominent names that would remain in the bid, although given the nature of Ohtani’s free agency, it’s entirely possible that other clubs are still in the mix. mixture, sign it.
Packers receive brutal injury update from RB Aaron Jones NBA Darvin Ham hits back at Ime Udoka following LeBron James incidentDarvin Ham had some bars for Ime Udoka following Udoka’s incident with LeBron James this weekend.
Houston Rockets head coach Udoka was forced out following Saturday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers following a verbal altercation with Lakers star James. Udoka confronted James from the sideline in the fourth quarter and received a technical foul during the rally (video here).
Since it was Udoka’s second T of the game (he had already gotten one in the second quarter), he was automatically ejected. A viral clip shared on Sunday revealed what Udoka said to James during the incident.
Clearly upset that James complained to the referees, Udoka called on James and the Lakers to “stop crying like idiots.” James then called Udoka out for using the B-word, but Udoka doubled down and said, “Easy, boy, stop b-ing.” Act like you’re doing something. ” You can listen to the audio here.
Appearing on “NBA Today” Monday, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne shared Ham’s fiery reaction to what Udoka said about James and the Lakers. “There’s no bullshit here,” Shelburne said, quoting Lakers head coach Ham. “Saginaw said so. » Ham, 50, is originally from Saginaw, Michigan.
Udoka’s point is probably that James and the Lakers are pretty notorious for complaining about calls (sometimes even going to the league office to complain). But Ham, the second-year head coach, always makes sure to support his players. In fact, it sounds a lot like how Ham fought back against Golden State coach Steve Kerr in last year’s playoffs.
Georgia HC Kirby Smart throws freshman LB under the bus after losing SEC title to AlabamaNFLIn the latest mock draft, the Bears are at No. 1, outranking QB for the second straight yearThe Chicago Bears have an excellent chance to become the No. 1 overall pick for the second straight year. In its latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft, CBS Sports asked Ryan Wilson to trade that pick to the Bears for the second straight year.
The Bears are positioned to land the No. 1 pick in 2024 following a trade of the first pick a year ago, when they sent it to the Panthers for a package of picks (and wide receiver D.J. Moore) that includes the Carolinas first-round pick of 2024.
The Panthers made the trade to select quarterback Bryce Young. So far, it appears to be a big mistake considering Young has been slow to develop and the Panthers have the worst record in the NFL.
Wilson’s mock draft moves the Bears to the second pick in a trade that would see the New England Patriots move up to No. 1 overall to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams.
What makes it even more interesting is that Wilson not only makes the Bears trade at No. 1, but he doesn’t even take a quarterback with his new pick at No. 2. Or his own first-round pick at No. 5 overall. . Instead, he asked the Bears to give up a top-tier quarterback for the second straight year to continue trying to build something around Justin Fields. Wilson calls for the Bears to take Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
with the No. 1 pick. 2 overall and then select Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner to team with trade deadline acquisition Montez Sweat. It’s certainly an interesting approach, but it would expose the Bears to harsh criticism if it doesn’t work. Returning from No. 1 to No. 10 a year ago, they gave both Young and C.J.
Stroud continues to make picks and improve the offensive line with offensive tackle Darnell Wright. Passing on Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye would certainly generate backlash, especially considering Fields remains largely unproven.
Fields has proven to be a game-changing quarterback at various points in his young career, but the consistency simply hasn’t been there.
The Bears haven’t exactly surrounded him with a lot of talent, and adding someone like Harrison Jr. to Moore would certainly put an end to that story.
Jets part ways with veteran Aaron Rodgers who followed from Green BayNBACharles Barkley Rips Pelicans’ Zion Williamson: ‘He’s Out of Shape’The New Orleans Pelicans reached the semifinals of the regular season tournament.
They would be even more dangerous if their young star ran more. At halftime of the Pelicans’ 127-117 win over the Sacramento Kings, Williamson had just two points, drawing trouble from TNT commentators Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley.
Smith said the Pelicans won’t pose a threat in the Western Conference until “once Zion is in basketball shape.” Barkley was tougher. “He’s not in good shape,” Barkley said. “He doesn’t run. He plays the game purely on talent. He never runs on the counterattack. He runs on offense and defense.
Still, Barkley was sympathetic, saying Williamson could be “special.” But he thinks he needs an experienced mentor like the one Barkley had in Hall of Famer Moses Malone, who gave Barkley some extremely tough love. “I don’t know if he has a Moses Malone who told me I was fat and lazy,” Barkley said.
“If he gets in shape, you wouldn’t want to play against this team.” Like Williamson, Barkley struggled to stay in shape until the Philadelphia 76ers inserted a weight clause into his contract.
Ultimately, though, it might just come down to Williamson running harder, which the guys at “Inside the NBA” tracked with what’s called a “sprint count” by noting how often he actually sprinted down the field. In the first half, the number of sprints was one. This needs to be improved.
Or Barkley will imitate Malone and continue to call Williamson “fat and lazy.”Mass exodus from Texas A&M continues as another former 5-star recruit transfers…NFLTerry Bradshaw makes his opinion on Jordan Love very clearAdd Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw to the list of Jordan Love believers.
The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 27-19 on Sunday night at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Love impressed Bradshaw enough Sunday to earn a glowing review at halftime during the Packers-Chiefs matchup. “[Love] has taken a step forward, America.
The last three games have made it even more exciting,” Bradshaw said during the halftime show. “I like sharpshooters, like Josh Allen in Buffalo. I like guys who force the ball down the field. Jordan Love does this. … Matt LaFleur has started to trust Jordan Love.
Love did not disappoint the four-time Super Bowl champions in the second half. Love went 25 of 36 with three touchdowns and no interceptions, helping his team to arguably its biggest win of the season.
Love led the Packers to four wins in their last five games. After seemingly disappearing from the playoff race, the third-year pro’s recent surge has put Green Bay back in the postseason hunt.
The Eagles’ path to winning the NFC East has gotten even murkier with the latest injury news in the NFLNHL Oilers players are in favor of adding MerzlikinsDaily Faceoff’s Bob Stauffer and Frank Seravalli talked about the goaltending situation in Edmonton on Stauffer’s Oilers Now show.
Speaking specifically about the prospect of adding Elvis Merzlikins in a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Stauffer dropped an interesting tidbit, saying the players would welcome the netminder’s arrival.
I both delved into Merzlikins’ potential acquisition and Stauffer highlighted an intriguing aspect of the situation, pointing out that Merzlikins’ agent, Gerry Johansson, operates out of Edmonton, suggesting a possible trade connection.
Additionally, Stauffer noted that both the Columbus Blue Jackets and Merzlikins are open to exploring a different environment.
