The summer transfer window is now open in Europe, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!

TOP STORY: PSG to open Mbappe talks at €250m

If Kylian Mbappé is to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer, AS suggests that the Ligue 1 champions will only accept €250 million — a transfer fee that is unlikely to tempt Real Madrid into an approach.

The report goes on to say that PSG are surprised at the lack of interest from Los Blancos, who are long-term admirers of the versatile forward.

Mbappe, 24, has been in conflict with PSG for much of the summer, leaving the Qatari-owned club content to part ways with the France captain despite his impressive 2022-23 campaign where he notched 41 goals and 10 assists across all competitions.

While he was left out of PSG’s preseason tour of Japan and South Korea, tensions between the 2018 World Cup winner and the club have eased slightly, with Mbappe coming off the bench and netting in PSG’s 1-1 draw at Toulouse on Saturday.

Mbappe’s contract at the Parc des Princes expires next summer, which could see the forward choose to run down his contract before leaving as a free agent.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga & more (U.S.)
– Read on ESPN+: Explaining the language of the transfer window

PAPER GOSSIP

– Internazionale and Bayern Munich have reached an agreement in principle for defender Benjamin Pavard, reports Fabrizio Romano. Bayern have been eager to offload the 27-year-old to ensure he does not walk for free at the end of his contract next summer. A deal worth €30m has been agreed, though the Bundesliga champions want to find a replacement before finalising it.

– Atletico Madrid forward João Félix remains keen on securing a move to Barcelona, but a deal is difficult for the Catalan club, according to Sport. Atleti want to part ways with the Portugal international, who fell out with manager Diego Simeone last season, leading to his loan switch to Chelsea in January. Whilse the 23-year-old has prioritised a move to the Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona’s financial position makes a deal difficult to complete.

– Brighton & Hove Albion have agreed a fee with Lille for midfielder Carlos Baleba, according to Foot Mercato. The deal will be worth €30m, including add-ons, with the 19-year-old set to undergo a medical later in the week. The Seagulls are keen to add to their midfield options following Moises Caicedo’s move to Chelsea and have identified Baleba as an exciting prospect.

– Besiktas are set to beat Galatasaray in securing a deal for free agent Sergio Ramos, reports Foot Mercato. The 37-year-old has been searching for a club since his departure from Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season and, despite being heavily linked to the Saudi Pro League and MLS, the Spaniard looks set for a move to Turkey.

– Chelsea and the New England Revolution have reached an agreement for goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, according to Fabrizio Romano. Chelsea need another goalkeeper to offer competition to Robert Sánchez, with Petrovic identified as an ideal fit. The two clubs have agreed a €16m fee, which will see the Serbian complete his medical on Wednesday.

The post LIVE Transfer Talk: PSG open to €250m Mbappe deal with Madrid appeared first on Sports News.

• Daniel Dopp

• Liz Loza

Aug 22, 2023, 08:00 AM ET

Last week, we took a look at the QB props heading into the 2023 NFL season, and this week we’re diving into the running backs. No position has been talked about more this offseason than running back.

While the contract disputes featuring Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor and Josh Jacobs have taken some uncomfortably public turns, we here at ESPN Fantasy are big fans of the players making their living between the trenches. And what better way to show some love than look at the best of the best and discuss their dominance?

Can Nick Chubb top 1,200 rushing yards for the third consecutive season? Can Tony Pollard eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in his first year as a full-time starter? Will Austin Ekeler see the touchdown regression we were all expecting last year? Vegas has thoughts. We have answers.

Here are five preseason RB props that pop.

Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns O/U 1,200.5 rushing yards

Daniel: Chubb is just different. The dude exudes old-school running back. You know, the guys who just put their head down and run through people? Yeah, that’s Chubb. He has averaged over 5.0 yards per carry in all five seasons of his career, in spite of the fact that he sees stacked boxes more than almost any other running back in the game. But can he hit 1,200.5 rushing yards in a new offense centered around Deshaun Watson? In years past, this would seem like a pretty easy one. Chubb has hit 1,200 rushing yards in three of the past four seasons but with some increased passing game work and a greater focus on letting the QB air it out, I’m going to take the UNDER on 1,200.5 rushing yards.

Liz: Nick Chubb is different, DD! And so is the Browns’ offense heading into 2023. Assuming Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt opens up the passing game to better utilize Watson’s arm (remember, he threw for over 4,800 yards and managed a 8.9 YPA back in 2020) and the team’s above average receiving corps … well then taking the UNDER on 1,200.5 rushing yards makes loads of sense.

Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons O/U 1,050.5 rushing yards

Liz: What makes less sense is not being on Robinson in the first round of drafts because he’s a rookie. Teams — especially ones that led the league in rush attempts seven months ago — don’t just select a player No. 8 overall unless they plan to use him. Giving off Baby Barkley vibes, Robinson’s speed, vision and tackle-busting prowess (he led the FBS with 201 forced missed tackles over the past three seasons) figure to make him an immediate impact player. Expecting over 1,000 rushing yards is a high bar … for a player with a high standard. The only way Robinson isn’t hitting the OVER is if he doesn’t play 17 games. Give me the optimism (and the OVER).

Daniel: It’s impossible to not be excited about Robinson this year. Liz, you mentioned his ability to force missed tackles. Here’s another fun one: Over the past three years, nobody had more yards after contact (2,185) than Robinson. He forces missed tackles, he carries tacklers for extra yards and he plays for one of the run-heaviest offenses in the NFL. I’m riding that optimistic wave right along with you. I’m taking the OVER.

Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys O/U 975.5 rushing yards

Daniel: Now that Pollard has finally been freed from splitting touches with Ezekiel Elliott, what can we expect from the 26-year old running back? Or more specifically, can we expect 975.5 rushing yards from Pollard in his first full year as a starter? It’s hard not to feel optimistic. Pollard has been one of the more efficient backs in the NFL. Last year, while splitting time with Elliot, Pollard was only 21st among running backs in touches. In spite of that limited volume, he was 12th in rushing yards with 1,007 on the season. With little competition behind him that scares me, I’m taking the OVER on 975.5 rushing yards.

Liz: I don’t want to take the OVER on Pollard’s line because it seems like a trap. But the fact that he pulled off a 1,000-yard rushing campaign last season is proof that he’s up to the task. Still, that was with less work near the goal line where so much contact is key. While I have Pollard ranked inside my top-10 RBs, this line is just too close. I’ll take the UNDER and hope I’m wrong.

Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers O/U 8.5 rushing TDs

Liz: What I’m certainly not wrong about, however, is Ekeler’s prowess in the red zone. The man has led the league in TDs for two straight seasons. And he has managed double-digit rushing scores in back-to-back efforts. So then why does this line seem too aggressive? I’m anticipating his targets will regress a bit with new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore attempting to stretch the field and better utilize Justin Herbert‘s arm. But that shouldn’t affect Austin’s rushing production, right? Here’s the thing, though: The Chargers have one of the most difficult schedules and will likely have to battle through some tight matchups. That means more passing, not more rushing. While I think Ekeler should be good for 8-10 rushing scores, I just don’t like this bet and will, once again, hedge in favor of the UNDER.

Daniel: I’m sorry, Liz. I know that wasn’t easy. Austin’s a friend … or, at least he used to be a friend before he read that you took the UNDER on his rushing touchdowns! You make some great points about the potential changes coming to his offense. Nobody here is questioning his talent or ability on the field, but he has been over-producing in the touchdown department the past two years, and I’m expecting that regression to kick in this year. Just like you, Liz, I don’t love the bet, so I’m taking the UNDER.

David Montgomery, Detroit Lions O/U 6.5 rushing TDs

Daniel: Last year, mostly thanks to Jamaal Williams, the Detroit Lions had 23 rushing TDs from their running backs, most in the NFL. In fact, their running backs were pretty good. They also led the league in touchdowns per rush attempt. Oh, they also led the league in goal-to-go rushes and goal-to-go touchdowns. Are you sensing a theme here? This season, Williams is out of town and Montgomery is bringing his short-yardage game to the Motor City. Montgomery has seen more than 15 goal line carries every single year of his career and has exceeded 6.5 touchdowns in two of the past three season. I’m very much expecting him to crush this mark. I’m taking the OVER on 6.5 rushing touchdowns.

Liz: I saw a pro-Lions POV and was worried for a second that we wouldn’t be able to end this week’s column in agreement. Then I saw the line on Montgomery’s rushing scores and sent out all the virtual first bumps. I’m with you on the OVER on this one, friend. The North’s most beloved Eagle Scout (fun fact, right?) is diving into the end zone for 8 TDs in 2023.

The post Five preseason running back props that pop appeared first on Sports News.

• 

  Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff WriterAug 22, 2023, 07:34 AM ET

  Close

  Michael Rothstein is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta Falcons. You can follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein.

Undisputed super middleweight champion Savannah Marshall is the latest female fighter in the ESPN boxing pound-for-pound top 10 to make a foray into mixed martial arts.

Marshall, ESPN’s No. 10 pound-for-pound fighter, announced Tuesday she is signing with the Professional Fighters League in an attempt to compete in MMA as well as box. She anticipates her first MMA fight will come in 2024.

“I’ve pondered on the idea for years because at one point, female boxing just seemed like it wasn’t going anywhere,” Marshall told ESPN. “This is pre-COVID. I’m quite good friends with Molly McCann, who is in the UFC, and I just seen the opportunities she was getting and the UFC were treating the men just as well as they were treating the women so I had contemplated on the fact of moving to MMA.

“I did a bit of [Brazilian jiu-jitsu] and MMA in the past, not a lot, only a little bit, and the opportunity had come up and I’m in a position now where I believe the PFL, it’s one of the biggest MMA sports organizations in the world, can take my profile to the next level.”

Marshall (13-1, 10 KOs in boxing) said the PFL initially approached her after her fight against Claressa Shields, ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer. Shields and Amanda Serrano (No. 3) are the other top-10 boxers signed to the PFL for MMA. Marshall and the PFL reached agreement on a multi-fight deal after months of negotiations.

Marshall said that at this point, she has just “dabbled” in MMA training. For two decades, Marshall said, she has trained with the same combinations and movements in boxing so this is something “breaking the mold for me.”

She knows there will be a learning curve. But that is also what excites her about learning a second combat sport from almost the start, a level of “intrigue” she hasn’t felt in a while. Marshall has done a few sessions with McCann, and in those sessions with her and other fighters, it was the first time she ended up being choked out.

“And I don’t even think she even put the squeeze on,” Marshall said. “I was gasping for breath thinking, ‘Oh my God.’ It was definitely a buzz.”

The 32-year-old made clear boxing still will come first and her MMA career will be built around her boxing. However, both are on hold for a little while. Marshall injured her right hand in her win over Franchon Crews-Dezurn on July 1 that made her the undisputed super middleweight champion. Marshall said she felt pain down her index finger in the second round of her unanimous decision win and that she couldn’t make a fist without pain the rest of the fight.

Marshall had surgery three weeks ago to repair the injury, and she can’t start training for either boxing or MMA for another month or two. She said “more than likely” she is done fighting for 2023, with hopes of returning to the ring or making her debut in the cage early next year.

Marshall’s mandatory opponent for her undisputed title is Shadasia Green, ESPN’s No. 2 super middleweight, who defeated Olivia Curry by unanimous decision earlier this month.

Marshall said there are talks between her camp and Green’s, and that facing Green “is a massive fight for me because it’s two big punchers going head to head.” But she said there hasn’t been a decision made on her next fight.

There also is the potential for a rematch with Shields in boxing — and the possibility of a fight between the two in MMA since both are signed to the PFL. Marshall said that opportunity was part of her decision to join the PFL, because she doesn’t believe she’ll get the rematch in the ring.

“I’m under no illusion that’s probably one of the main reasons why they wanted to sign me,” Marshall said. “And that is something that I’m looking forward to in the future and I’m not sure about the men but I know there’s definitely not two other women that boxed in the ring and fought in the SmartCage.

“So I think it would be massive, and like I said, our rivalry still lives on.”

Marshall and Shields have a long history dating to their amateur boxing days and have made clear they are not friends. Marshall joked she felt like she was potentially chasing Shields to another sport to get the fight.

“Well, there’s no one really out there who I want to punch in the face more than Claressa,” Marshall said. “Or kick in the face.”

Either way, Marshall says giving a second sport a chance will raise her profile and provide a challenge she wouldn’t have gotten before.

“I’ve been given an opportunity that two years ago would never have come my way,” Marshall said.

The post Boxer Marshall ventures into MMA, signs with PFL appeared first on Sports News.

• Kyle Bonagura

  Close

  

  Kyle Bonagura

  ESPN Staff Writer

  • Covers the Pac-12.
  • Joined ESPN in 2014.
  • Attended Washington State University.

• Paolo Uggetti

Aug 22, 2023, 07:00 AM ET

While the Pac-12 was the talk of college football much of the past month for all the wrong reasons, don’t let the venerable conference’s demise overshadow the immediate future — this league is loaded with talent and set up for a marvelous swan song this season.

With defending Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams of USC leading the way, the Pac-12 has as much star power behind center as any conference in recent memory. And the biggest headline grabber might be on the Colorado sideline in Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders.

We’ll leave the realignment handwringing and odes to lost tradition for another day. For now, ESPN reporters Kyle Bonagura and Paolo Uggetti look forward to the brightest newcomers, biggest early-season games and predictions for the season to come.

Three transfers to know

WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado: Colorado went from having the least amount of talent in the Pac-12 — and among the worst in Power 5 — to being a fascinating wild card that added playmakers from all over the country. Hunter, the former five-star recruit, is the biggest addition. After a year at Jackson State, he’ll play both ways for the Buffs, and if they turn things around, he’ll play a big role. — Bonagura

QB DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State: The former Clemson quarterback was once tabbed as one of the “next big things” in college football, but it didn’t work out for the Southern California native in the ACC. There’s no denying his natural ability, so perhaps a change of scenery and the chance to work with coach Jonathan Smith is what he needs to tap into that promising potential. — Bonagura

LB Mason Cobb, USC: The Trojans went into the offseason an improved defense away from being a true national title contender, making Cobb’s arrival from Oklahoma State maybe the most pivotal in the Pac-12. He was one of the best linebackers in the Big 12 last season and will provide a boost that could have playoff ramifications. — Bonagura

Three key positions to fill

UCLA QB: Among incoming Kent State transfer Collin Schlee, experienced backup Ethan Garbers, redshirt freshman Justyn Martin and potential star freshman Dante Moore, Chip Kelly has four quarterbacks to choose from this fall as he attempts to replace Dorian Thompson-Robinson. — Uggetti

USC DL: Tuli Tuipulotu was the best USC player last season not named Caleb Williams. His departure to the NFL leaves behind a void that needs to be filled if the Trojans’ defense is to make a necessary leap. Coach Lincoln Riley and defensive coordinator Alex Grinch utilized the transfer portal to bring in players such as Arizona’s Kyon Barrs and Bear Alexander from Georgia, both of whom should play key roles in the trenches. — Uggetti

Utah DB: The longtime stalwart of the Utes’ defense, Clark Phillips III will no longer be playing in Salt Lake City, and he leaves behind not just a spot to be filled at cornerback but a void in terms of leadership. All signs point to Zemaiah Vaughn or Miles Battle (or both) being the ones to attempt to maintain the Utes’ defense this season. — Uggetti

Three impact freshmen

UCLA QB Dante Moore: There’s some real boom-or-bust potential in picking a guy who has no guarantee to even see the field this season, but such is the world of preseason prognostication. If Moore does win the job, he’ll be without question the most impactful freshman, if for no other reason than the importance of the position. He’s the only true freshman quarterback who has a chance to start his team’s opener barring unforeseen injuries. — Bonagura

USC WR Zachariah Branch: The speedy Branch was ESPN’s top-ranked receiver in the class of 2023 and is expected to carve out a significant role right away for the Trojans. — Bonagura

Arizona S Genesis Smith: Smith has generated rave reviews since arriving on campus prior to spring practice and appears ready to immediately help improve Arizona’s secondary. — Bonagura

Three must-see September games

Utah at Baylor, Sept. 9: The Utes welcome Florida to Salt Lake City in late August in a rematch of last year’s fun opener in Gainesville, but early September brings perhaps a tougher test — a road game against a Baylor team that is flying under the radar. — Uggetti

Colorado at TCU, Sept. 2: It’s Colorado’s season opener, Deion Sanders’ first game as Buffs head coach, in Texas, against last year’s Cinderella team and national title runner-up. Need I say more? — Uggetti

USC at Colorado, Sept. 30: All eyes will be on the Buffaloes and Sanders the first month of the season, so it’s no surprise that the matchup in Boulder against the other team in the conference that’s an attention magnet will be a must-watch event. — Uggetti

play

Ranking the top QBs in the Pac-12

Dusty Dvoracek and Takeo Spikes break down the pecking order of Pac-12 quarterbacks, including Oregon’s Bo Nix.

MVP pick

Uggetti: Caleb Williams

It’s hard to go against the reigning Heisman winner, especially when he looks, feels and has said he’s even more comfortable at USC and in Lincoln Riley’s offense going into his junior year. It will be difficult for Williams to match his explosive production of more than 4,500 passing yards and 42 touchdowns in his first season at USC, but if anyone can do it on the way to being the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, it’s Williams.

Bonagura: Williams

Williams is the only pick here for obvious reasons, but I’ll offer up Michael Penix Jr. as a backup. It’s not inconceivable he could throw for 5,000 yards on a team that begins the season in the playoff conversation.

On the hot seat

Uggetti: Justin Wilcox

The coaching turnover in the Pac-12 has been such that most of the conference’s teams have switched coaches in recent years, which makes it hard to find one who could be in trouble should things go south this season. While longer-tenured coaches such as Chip Kelly and Kyle Whittingham are certainly safe from their seats getting hot anytime soon, Wilcox could be one to watch. He has been at Berkeley since 2017 and has not had a season at or above .500 since 2019. All that being said, Wilcox, who was one of the candidates to replace Mario Cristobal at Oregon, signed a six-year contract extension last year.

Bonagura: Wilcox

Going into his seventh season, Wilcox is the only coach who can be considered here, as Paolo pointed out. The other 11 are either brand new, have experienced some early success or are firmly entrenched. Wilcox, on the other hand, has yet to coach Cal to a winning conference record and won just two Pac-12 games a season ago.

Sleeper team

Uggetti: Oregon State

Under Jonathan Smith, the Beavers have had a remarkable ascent to the top half of the conference. After a 2022 season in which they finished 10-3, lost two games by three points and won their bowl game over Florida by 27, it’s tough to call Oregon State a sleeper team. But in the context of the Pac-12, in which much of the attention surrounds the likes of USC and Oregon, the Beavers are still flying under the radar. Adding quarterback DJ Uiagalelei from the transfer portal should only raise the ceiling for this team going into the season. Should DJU pan out, don’t be surprised to see Smith’s team compete for a spot in the conference title game.

Bonagura: Cal

While I just made the argument that Wilcox is on the hot seat, I’m actually cautiously optimistic the offseason Cal had — bringing back offensive coordinator Jake Spavital and bringing in several transfers — has a good chance to jump-start the program. It’s a tough year to make a leap considering how stacked the Pac-12 is, but the Bears will almost certainly be better than last year’s team and should be good enough to go to a bowl.

Conference title game prediction

Uggetti: USC 42, Washington 35

The two best quarterbacks in the conference propel their teams to the final Pac-12 championship game, in which a proper shootout ensues and the reigning Heisman winner leads the winning drive.

Bonagura: Utah 35, USC 31

If USC were coming off back-to-back conference titles with the same quarterback returning for Year 3, as Utah is, the Trojans would be a popular national title pick. Let’s not let big-brand bias treat the Utes any differently.

The post Pac-12 preview: Tons of talent, star power and QBs galore appeared first on Sports News.

Since the days when we first heard about “the Japanese Babe Ruth,” Shohei Ohtani has made even that lofty comparison obsolete, obliterating every expectation we could have reasonably had for him. No one, not even The Babe, has done what Ohtani has done in the big leagues as the first two-way baseball star of the contemporary era.

This winter, baseball’s ultimate unicorn is set to hit the open market. Speculation about what kind of deal
Ohtani might come away with has been wild, every bit as fantastic as the whispers we heard emanating from the
Pacific Rim a half-decade ago, about this mysterious guy who had the audacity to want to be a full-time hitter
and pitcher in MLB — at the same time.

Last offseason, Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge received the largest free agent contract in baseball history
— nine years, $360 million. The question about what kind of contract Ohtani will ultimately receive is both
related to and slightly different from what kind of on-field value he has produced. That’s because it’s
entirely possible that no team can really pay Ohtani’s real market value. He’s that good and, certainly, that
unique.

Nevertheless, we asked ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle to explore this question of Ohtani’s true
value, the ways in which he has built it and what it all might mean when teams come calling during the highly
anticipated hot stove season.

Calculating His Base Value

No player has been more productive than Ohtani over the past three seasons (the time most relevant to his
market value), and no one is close. As a two-way, hitter-pitcher combo of unprecedented ability, Ohtani is
able to compile value almost as if he were two different players, occupying two simultaneous roster spots at
once. Underlying those general components of baseball are discrete skills, the things that make a great
hitter what he is and make a great pitcher an ace.

To see how good Ohtani is at these underlying components, we separated them out individually, using those
past three seasons as a benchmark. For hitting skills, we looked at hitting for average, getting on base,
hitting for power and baserunning. For pitching skills, we examined Ohtani’s three main pitches
individually, combining the remainder into one category.

The run estimates of each of these skills have been modeled to fit the underlying metrics that feed into
his WAR calculation. Once we convert the runs to WAR, we can see where he ranks by percentile against other
big leaguers in that skill, and we convert that production into a valuation based on an $8 million per win
standard.

Those calculations help determine the baseline valuation Ohtani will carry into free agency.

Avg. Annual Value

$76m

Over the last 3 years

= 1 win = $8m

Risk & Potential for injury

Of course, a number that lofty is no guarantee. Ohtani famously missed the pitching part of the 2019 and
2020 seasons because of injury, including Tommy John surgery. There is an injury risk with his next deal —
and the history of long-term, high-value free agent contracts given to pitchers is dicey at best.

Since returning full time in 2021, though, Ohtani has ranked 10th in plate appearances and 31st in innings
pitched. That’s an unparalleled record of durability fueled by Ohtani’s legendary work ethic — but not even
he is immune to the risk.

Still, consider what would happen if Ohtani did have to stop pitching after this season. That’s a lot of
lost production, but his team would still end up with one of the five best hitters in baseball, someone any
organization would break the bank to pay in free agency. Also, don’t forget Ohtani is one of the fastest
players in the majors. If he were to cease pitching, he’d most likely pick up value on the bases, and he has
a proven track record in Japan as an outstanding defender.

In WAR calculations, he’d generate much more positional value than he does now, as strictly a designated
hitter.

The bottom line is that no contract at the level of what Ohtani is going to get is without risk. But the
floor of production for him is much higher than it is for other free agents, simply because of the unmatched
variety of skills with which Ohtani can contribute at an elite level.

Projecting Future Worth

So, even if Ohtani could do only one of the things he does well, his baseline values would make him worthy
of being one of the game’s highest-paid players. For now, at least, he does both. Together, they create a
baseline estimated valuation of $76 million for on-field production. With recent superstar contracts
reaching 10 years, even for players as old as Ohtani at 29, the numbers get mind-boggling: Over a 10-year
contract, assuming flat production, that’s $760 million. Over 12 years, it’s nearly a billion dollars.

projected value of $912m
using baseline estimation
extended over 12 years

Of course, that isn’t what Ohtani will realistically command in free agency. When ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel
polled MLB executives about Ohtani’s
worth, the guesses were varied, and though a contract of a 10- to 12-year duration was a popular
choice, the per-season payouts would be considerably less than $76 million.

Aging curves are hit or miss, especially with an outlier like Ohtani. Considering Ohtani’s past
productivity, here is our take on how aging would affect his on-field production and, in turn, how you might
calculate his fair-market contract value. We used the baseline values shown above and “aged” Ohtani’s
production over an assumed 12-year deal.

Aging Adjustment

-$122.3m

Potential loss of value

Granted, there is more than a little optimism in these numbers. They assume Ohtani will remain a full-time
hitter and pitcher over the duration of his contract, and the standard curve suggests a smooth aging pattern
that almost certainly will not happen.

Nevertheless, if anyone can achieve a run of success of this sort, it is Ohtani. And if he were to play out
his career in this fashion, there would be a new consensus answer to this question: Who is the greatest
baseball player ever?

Free Agent Comparisons

Ohtani’s unique combination of traits makes him a unicorn in terms of historical free agent comparables.
Still, we can look at some deals that the most similar hitters and pitchers have signed in recent seasons.

calculating the low end

By matching each free agent since 2018 against Ohtani the hitter and Ohtani the pitcher, we can rank them
by similarity. The similarity scores are based on a weighted average of each player’s WAR over the three seasons
before free agency; the more recent seasons carry more weight.

By averaging out those deals and combining them, we can imagine what a hypothetical Ohtani contract could
look like. Adding the average contract for similar hitters — $162 million — and the average contract for
similar pitchers — $141.5 million — we get $303.5 million.

Most similar free agents

$303.5m

calculating the high end

However, we know that Ohtani will not be viewed as an average free agent, regardless of the precedent of
past contracts or which player pool he is compared to. Instead, let’s base our calculations off the max
deals on these lists — the 11-year, $300 million deal Trea Turner got from the Phillies after the 2022
season as a position player, and the nine-year, $324 million deal Gerrit Cole got from the Yankees after the 2019 season as a pitcher.

If we combined those two deals, we’re looking at $624 million — over 11 years, that’s an average annual value of
$56.7 million.

Priciest Peers

$624m

These estimates assume that Ohtani will pursue the greatest total contract value he can get over the
longest period of time. In reality, Ohtani’s next contract could take on many different shapes. He could opt
for a higher annual payout over a shorter duration in hopes of reentering free agency in a few years. It’s
also possible he is willing to take a longer deal but at a lower AAV to lessen the tax-threshold
implications for his next team. His deal likely will include some combination of player options, team
options and mutual options.

Where Could He Go?

There is a strong possibility that the numbers on whatever pact Ohtani ultimately signs will be unlike any
we’ve ever seen. The team that splurges will be paying not just for Ohtani’s hitting, pitching and running
but also his marketability — and there’s a good chance that team will be well rewarded. Ohtani is headed
for a record contract, which is appropriate for baseball’s most unique player, one who has already
transcended those old comparisons to Babe Ruth.

So where will Ohtani land? Based on a poll of MLB executives, agents and insiders conducted
earlier this year, and the latest buzz around baseball, here are six of his many potential suitors to
watch.

Los Angeles Angels

2023 Payroll: $221m

Los Angeles Dodgers

2023 Payroll: $236m

San Francisco Giants

2023 Payroll: $196m

Seattle Mariners

2023 Payroll: $153m

New York Mets

2023 Payroll: $346m

Chicago Cubs

2023 Payroll: $189m

The post The Shohei Ohtani True Value Calculator appeared first on Sports News.

The post Warner to fulfil BBL commitments with Thunder before heading to ILT20 appeared first on Sports News.

• 

  Josh Weinfuss, ESPN Staff WriterAug 22, 2023, 06:00 AM ET

  Close

  Josh Weinfuss is a staff writer who covers the Arizona Cardinals and the NFL at ESPN. Josh has covered the Cardinals since 2012, joining ESPN in 2013. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and a graduate of Indiana University. You can follow him via Twitter @joshweinfuss.

​​WHEN JON RAHM started his warmup the morning of the first round of the Masters in April, he set his phone to do not disturb. The barrage of messages, most of which usually wish him luck, would have to wait a few hours.

Unbeknownst to him, one was waiting for him that would become part of Masters lore.

About 10 minutes before his tee time, Rahm wrapped up his range session and jumped in a golf cart. The putting green at Augusta National Golf Club is just far enough from the range that Rahm opted for the three-minute ride, giving him time to check his phone.

That’s when he saw a message from his group chat with Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz and former Cardinals defensive lineman J.J. Watt.

Ertz woke up that morning and turned on the Masters coverage. Even with his novice eyes, Ertz saw the first green and thought it looked “like an ocean. There’s waves and mounds and hills and it just looks impossible,” Ertz told ESPN.

So, he had a little fun with it.

“First hole green looks like a walk in the park,” Ertz texted in an effort to pump up his friend.

Rahm read it and laughed. It was the kind of message Rahm has now come to expect from Ertz and Watt. The three have grown close over the past year, building a friendship that centers on a now-famous group chat where they offer advice and encouragement, talk a little smack and discuss their growing families and unique professional lives.

“That is the comment you make when you have no idea how that first green is because it’s actually one of the hardest in Augusta,” Rahm said. “It’s funny how they show you the three groups that made birdies and you think, ‘Well, this is easy.’”

Rahm reached the green in two and proceeded to four-putt to start the first round with a double-bogey. When Ertz saw Rahm’s score on that first hole, he quickly texted Watt in a side conversation: “Man, that is not a good start to the tournament.”

Rahm couldn’t help but laugh as he walked to the second hole. He regrouped to shoot 9 under during the next 17 holes to finish the day tied for the lead. Ertz still believes that making Rahm laugh in that moment helped the Spaniard move on from what could’ve been a devastating start.

Rahm responded to the chat after the round, telling them that if he won, he was going to mention Ertz’s text in his speech.

Sure enough, Rahm won his first Masters by 4 strokes. Toward the end of the green jacket ceremony, he paused.

“I wasn’t sure I was going to do this,” he started. “But I have to do it to him.”

He told the now-legendary story of the text, naming Ertz, who wasn’t watching.

Ertz’s phone lit up.

“I think,” Ertz joked, “I deserve a piece of the green jacket.”

I apologize for absolutely nothing!

You can expect these texts every major going forward my friend!

Congratulations! https://t.co/6yBfy5bFx7

— Zach Ertz (@ZERTZ_86) April 10, 2023

THEIR FRIENDSHIP STARTED by chance.

In June 2022, Ertz was invited to play at Silverleaf, an exclusive golf club in North Scottsdale, Arizona, where Rahm is a member. Rahm, who’s ranked No. 3 in the world ahead of this week’s Tour Championship, was asked to join his group — but it wasn’t the first time the two had met.

Rahm and Ertz were on an episode of Gordon Ramsay’s cooking show “Hell’s Kitchen” that aired in October 2017. That day at Silverleaf, while Ertz was shooting 8s and Rahm was waiting for him to finish after making birdie after birdie, Rahm reminded Ertz of their reality-TV escapades. Soon after their first round together, Rahm invited Ertz to play at Whisper Rock, an even more exclusive club in Arizona whose membership includes a number of PGA Tour players. Ertz brought along Watt and former Cardinals offensive lineman Justin Pugh, and it didn’t take long for Rahm and his new friends to hit it off.

“Jon’s very inquisitive,” Watt told ESPN. “He loves to ask questions. He loves to find out different things, so he was asking a bunch of questions about nutrition, workouts, sleep recovery, things like that.”

Watt reciprocated, asking Rahm “a ton of questions” about golf and family. From there, the friendship blossomed.

“Those two are amazing humans, first and foremost,” Ertz said of Watt and Rahm. “They’re great people to be around, but we’re also three people that have very similar outlooks on life and are at very similar phases in life.”

The three have plenty of common ground: They share similar senses of humor; they’re around the same age (Ertz is 32, Watt 34 and Rahm 28); their wives are athletes — Julie Ertz is a two-time World Cup winner, Kealia Watt played in the National Women’s Soccer League, and Kelley Cahill Rahm threw the javelin at Arizona State.

And they’re all relatively new fathers. When they met, only Rahm had a child, Kepa, and was expecting his second, Eneko, a couple of months later. At the time, Julie and Kealia were both pregnant with each couple’s first child. Ertz, whose son, Madden, was born in August, and Watt, whose son, Koa, was born in October, started asking Rahm all sorts of questions about fatherhood. Do you need someone in the hospital room with you? Is a sleep sack important? Julie would even have Zach ask Rahm questions.

Rahm said he didn’t have many answers but did tell them about what to pack for the hospital and the emotions of becoming a new dad — as well as all the exhaustion that comes with it.

In the early days, Rahm felt like the outsider because Ertz and Watt were already friends and had spent two years together playing for the Cardinals. It didn’t help that Rahm felt out of place next to the much larger football players.

“Maybe they just wanted golf tips at some point and they wanted to invite me in,” Rahm said.

But Ertz and Watt have welcomed Rahm into their circle with open arms, and these days they usually hang out together whenever they have the time.

The Rahms spent a weekend with the Watts in Idaho in July, and it was the first time Eneko, Kepa and Koa got to play together.

“The best part,” Watt said, “is we get to just hang out and our kids can hang out.”

WHILE GOLF WAS their gateway and fatherhood their link, their careers as professional athletes helped cement their relationship.

“We live in a very different world, and our experiences are very different,” Rahm said of his friends who aren’t in the spotlight. “So, even though I can talk to them, sometimes they will never understand the situation of being in the public eye and what that entails. Zach and J.J. obviously understand that to a perfection and both of them being a much bigger deal than I am in their lives.”

Watt earned $129.7 million in his career. Ertz has made $62 million and counting. Rahm is at $51.4 million and counting.

Their lives are different from those of almost everyone else. And it goes beyond money and fame.

“Whether it’s the mental aspect of sport, whether it’s the physical aspect of it, the highs of winning, the lows of losing, and then just the day-to-day things — the travel, the grind, the getting your body ready, all the different things that nobody else has experienced and can talk about,” Watt said.

Having shared those experiences and emotions, Watt said the three can be open and honest with one another.

They’ve been each other’s sounding boards, whether it was after a bad round by Rahm or during Ertz’s rehab from ACL surgery. They feel comfortable being vulnerable with one another, and each helps the others be the best version of themselves, Ertz said.

“They’re there for me to help me, build me up,” he added. “There’s no judgment involved, and it’s just we care about each other based on people and not based on sport. I think that’s the root of any great relationship.”

That trust may have helped catapult Rahm to that green jacket.

The week before the Masters, after Rahm had finished tied for 31st at the WGC-Dell Match Play in Austin, Texas, he told Ertz and Watt that he needed to clear his head and suggested a dinner. Ertz made a reservation at a seafood restaurant in Phoenix and told Watt and Rahm when to be there.

Ertz and Watt spent the meal talking through things with Rahm and pumping him up. In no uncertain terms, Watt reminded Rahm that he was one of the best players in the world.

“That’s what good friends are for, when someone’s going through something and they want to vent or you want to take their mind off whatever’s going on,” Ertz said.

Ever since Rahm won the Masters, Watt and Ertz have claimed the title of Rahm’s coaches — and co-winners of the Masters.

“They say they are my coaches — my mental coaches, my nutritionist, my everything,” Rahm said. “It’s pretty funny.”

Said Watt: “We’ve told him many times what our commission is, and we have yet to receive our payments. So, we’re a little frustrated. His caddie gets paid every single week, and our invoices are falling flat.”

NOT A DAY goes by that the three don’t talk in the group chat.

Shortly after breakfast on a Wednesday in July, they had already exchanged a handful of texts. The topics vary. Watt estimated it’s one-third about kids, one-third “random dumb stuff” and one-third about sports. Ertz said it’s mostly checking in on one another.

When Rahm won the Masters, the name of the group chat was “Birdies and Babies.” Since then it’s been changed to “Masters champ and coaches,” and now it’s “Birds, Birdies and Burnley.”

Watt is well aware that, in most cases, people don’t want to constantly be sent pictures of their friends’ kids. That’s not the case with Rahm, Watt and Ertz. They fill the group chat with pictures and videos and ask about what they’re feeding their kids. And then there’s golf talk.

Watt hasn’t been shy about asking for tips, like what to do if the course is wet and he’s hitting everything chunky. Rahm told him to shallow out the angle of the clubhead. Has it helped? Not yet, Watt said. Ertz gets a kick out of Watt asking for tips.

“He’ll ask, ‘What should I do for this?’ and then J.J. will just resort to his own swing,” Ertz said with a smile.

Early in tournament weeks, Watt and Ertz have developed a routine. They’ll check in with Rahm to see how he’s feeling, how the course is setting up and how he’s looking.

As they did before the Masters, Watt and Ertz will try to hype Rahm the morning of tournament rounds. There have been times when Ertz and Watt are watching the coverage of a tournament on TV and see Rahm on screen picking up his phone minutes before teeing off, and then their phones light up with a text from him.

“I’m like, ‘Dude, you got to focus, man,’” Watt said. “But, then he’ll go out and shoot a 64, so it’s hilarious.”

Then during tournaments, the three-man group chat usually turns into a two-man conversation.

Watt and Ertz will fire messages back and forth about Rahm’s play. If he hits a great shot, they’ll tell him in real time, even if he won’t see the message until hours later. If Rahm duffs a shot, the two don’t hold back.

“I’ll just be like, ‘I literally could have hit a better shot than that,’” Watt said.

As soon as Rahm is done with a round, Watt and Ertz are quick to find out.

“There’s times where he gets off the 18th green and we have a text 34 seconds later,” Watt said. “He was pissed after one round recently, and 30 seconds after the 18th hole, he was so angry and so mad and he just fired off a text to us. It’s awesome.”

Bad rounds don’t mean Watt and Ertz will take it easy on Rahm.

“If he has a rough tournament or something, I’ll be like, ‘Wow, I thought that course looked really easy. I don’t know what happened out there.’ Something like that,” Watt said.

That is their relationship in a nutshell.

It’s friendship personified: There’s razzing, advice, trust and understanding.

“It’s a type of friend group that it’s true friends,” Watt said. “… I think the phrase goes like, ‘You always talk s— to your best friend’s face and you talk nice about them behind their back.’ That’s kind of what we do.”

The post Inside Jon Rahm’s texts with ‘true friends’ Zach Ertz, J.J. Watt appeared first on Sports News.

Folau had switched his allegiance to the Pacific Island nation under World Rugby’s eligibility laws, which were updated at the start of 2021, and was poised to join a number of former All Blacks in a beefed-up Tonga squad in France.

But he was unable to overcome a knee injury and was on Monday omitted from the team’s 33-man squad, which still has one position to be filled before Tonga opens its World Cup campaign against heavyweights Ireland in Nantes on Sept. 16.

Rugby World Cup 2023 would have been only Folau’s second appearance at the global showpiece, after he was sacked by Rugby Australia [RA] for repeated anti-gay social media posts ahead of the 2019 tournament.

Folau then launched legal action against RA for unfair dismissal, the two parties later reaching an undisclosed settlement that was reported to be anywhere between $1.5 and $6m. He then made his debut for Tonga in 2022, playing against Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup.

While Folau won’t don the red jersey of Ikale Tahi in France, his former Wallabies teammate Adam Coleman was included among coach Toutai Kefu’s 32-man group. Coleman joins former All Blacks Charles Piutau, Vaea Fifita, Augustine Pulu, Malakai Fekitoa and George Moala in Tonga’s squad.

Moala’s inclusion comes despite the centre’s five-week ban for a dangerous tackle during Tonga’s recent World Cup warmup clash with Canada. Moala has launched an appeal against the ban in a bid to feature at the World Cup, his case drawing extra attention after Owen Farrell’s dangerous tackle on Wales back-rower Taine Basham was downgraded to a yellow from a red by an independent disciplinary panel.

World Rugby has since appealed that decision with Farrell to face a second hearing on Tuesday.

All Blacks star Richie Mo’unga was one of many to add his voice to the discussion in the discrepancy between the two incidents and their respective hearings, despite the contrasting nature of the tackles of Farrell and Moala.

“The Farrell incident, someone who has history and who has been banned earlier this year, for them to turn around and say he’s got a zero-week ban, it’s a slap in the face,” Mo’unga told Radio New Zealand last week.

“There are boys in this [All Blacks] camp who feel for him [Moala] deeply and a lot of Pacific Island boys in the camp who are pretty gutted about that scenario and the way it’s unfolded.

“It seems there’s a double standard going on, especially with the tier two teams and the Pacific Island nations around how they get judged or how they get treated.”

Kefu, meanwhile, said Tonga were excited to showcase their talents on the global stage once more.

“This is the squad that will be taking us to the 2023 Rugby World Cup,” Kefu said in a statement.

“It’s a squad I’m very proud to coach and I know all the players are looking forward to representing their families and all Tongans around the globe with pride.

“Unfortunately a couple of our brothers, Israel Folau and Telusa Veainu, won’t be joining us to due to existing injuries.”

Tonga will be at long odds to progress from a stacked Pool B in France, but they will represent a far sterner opposition following the addition of Piutau, Fekitoa and Fifita, in particular, while they should also benefit from the creation of Moana Pasifika who have contributed eight players to Kefu’s World Cup squad.

TONGA

Forwards: Sosefo ‘Apikotoa, Adam Coleman, Vaea Fifita, Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, Feao Fotuaika, Solomone Funaki, Tanginoa Halaifonua, Sione Havili Talitui, Tau Kolomatangi, Paula Latu, Samiuela Lousi, Sitiveni Mafi, Siua Maile, Samiuela Moli, Paula Ngauamo, Semisi Paea, Ben Tameifuna, Sione Vailanu.

Backs: Pita Ahki, Malakai Fekitoa, William Havili, Fine Inisi, Solomone Kata, Otumaka Mausia, George Moala, Manu Paea, Charles Piutau, Augustine Pulu, Sonatane Takulua (captain), Kyren Taumoefolau, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Anzelo Tuitavuki.

The post No Folau for Tonga, but banned Moala included appeared first on Sports News.

• Associated Press

Aug 21, 2023, 06:39 PM ET

United States standout Christian Pulisic began his AC Milan career in impressive style by scoring one goal and setting up another as Bologna was beaten 2-0 on Monday in their opening match of Serie A.

Pulisic, who joined Milan last month, had a hand in Olivier Giroud‘s opener and his former Chelsea teammate returned the favor in the 21st minute.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

“It was a fantastic start for sure,” Pulisic said. “I’m really excited to be a part of this team. The two early goals really helped us because it was a difficult game after that. And for me just a great start personally as well, nice to get a goal.”

Pulisic is one of several new Rossoneri faces. Milan was the busiest Serie A club in the offseason, bringing in six new players. Pulisic said the presence of former teammates played a part in his decision to join the storied Italian club.

“It was just speaking with those guys,” Pulisic said. “With Olivier we had some good experiences together, I played with Fikayo [Tomori], I played with Ruben [Loftus Cheek] and the connection is just there, as you can see tonight again.

“And it was great to get the assist from Ollie again. It just felt like the perfect step in my career and I feel really, really welcome.”

Pulisic’s U.S. teammate Yunus Musah was suspended for the season opener. But other new players Loftus-Cheek and Tijjani Reijnders were given starting debuts, and the latter also had a hand in the opener in the 11th minute.

Pulisic put in a precise crossfield pass to the back post where Reijnders cut it back for Giroud to slot in at the other side.

Pulisic did even better 10 minutes later when he played a one-two with Giroud before firing into the far side.

“We are very happy with this first match and I am even happier for Christian,” Giroud said. “I know him very well, we played together and had a good relationship on the field.”

With a comfortable lead and the heat nearing 30 degrees — even at night — in Bologna, Milan’s intensity dropped.

Rafael Leão could have made it three in the final minute, but his effort came off the inside of the far post.

The post Pulisic scores stunner in ‘fantastic’ Serie A debut appeared first on Sports News.

• 

  Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff WriterAug 21, 2023, 08:30 AM ET

  Close

  Michael Rothstein is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta Falcons. You can follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein.

Brandon Copeland, who played for six teams across 10 seasons in the NFL, is retiring, he told ESPN on Monday.

The 32-year-old free agent linebacker went undrafted out of Penn in 2013. After stints on the practice squads of the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans in 2013 and ’14, he made the 53-man roster of the Detroit Lions in 2015 and played there until 2017.

Copeland then played two years with the New York Jets and then a year each with the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons. Last season, he played three games with his hometown Ravens.

“It’s time,” Copeland said. “One of the pieces of advice I got from my granddad, going into my rookie year in the NFL, we sat down and did an interview and somebody said — because he was a Baltimore Colt and I was a Baltimore Raven — they asked what advice would you give to your grandson as he enters the NFL?

“And he said, ‘If I could tell him anything, if I could do anything different, it would be don’t play as long.'”

Roy Hilton, Copeland’s grandfather, played in 151 games for the Baltimore Colts, New York Giants and Falcons from 1965 to ’75.

Copeland said that advice remained in his mind throughout the final years of his career, especially as he had three surgeries on his knees and tore both his pectoral muscles. He joked toward the end that it was like, “I’m Tin Man out there, trying to keep everything together from falling apart and, at a certain point, you got to know.”

During his stint with the Ravens last season, he said he recognized it was probably time to walk away.

Copeland played in 85 career games with 21 starts, making 163 tackles with eight sacks, two forced fumbles and six passes defended.

Copeland, who declined to divulge his post-football plans, has been involved in off-field work throughout his career, including teaching a course in financial literacy at Penn since 2019. He worked for an offseason as an analyst at an investment firm, was a contributing editor for Kiplinger’s for two years and was a real estate investor last year on the Netflix show “Buy My House.”

The post Veteran LB Copeland retires after 10 NFL seasons appeared first on Sports News.