Sports
With Ohtani gone, how are the Angels? Baseball isn't priority for Rendon. Trout may want out
Media magnet Shohei Ohtani left Anaheim for Los Angeles, where he was greeted in Chavez Ravine as if he descended from above.
Angels owner Arte Moreno refused to match the Dodgers’ $700-million offer and Ohtani’s departure not only left huge holes in the lineup and starting rotation, but opened a lot of seats in the press box. Nearly 40 Japanese media members trailed Ohtani on the 5 Freeway from the “Big A” to Dodger Stadium.
Ohtani produced a staggering 34.7 wins above replacement in six seasons with the Angels, who nevertheless posted a losing record in all six seasons. Without the two-way star, what possibly could be of interest this spring?
Well, it hasn’t been as bereft of news as expected. Here is a brisk look at the Angels’ offseason and spring training bullet points.
Nov. 9: The unabashedly positive Ron Washington is hired to replace the fired Phil Nevin as manager, bringing the number of Black managers in MLB to two after Dusty Baker retired. The number of Black managers in Southern California? Two, with Washington joining the Dodgers’ Dave Roberts.
Feb. 14: A year after Moreno changed his mind about selling the team and pulled the Angels off the market, he tells the Orange County Register, “I am here long term.” He does leave the door ajar, saying, “I’m a business person. If someone gets really stupid, then you have to go.” Moreno, who paid $183.5 million for the team in 2003, said a year ago he turned down an offer of more than $3 billion, so it’s difficult to imagine what would constitute a “really stupid” offer.
Feb. 19: Spring training begins and players exude excitement, part-time Angels employee Anthony Rendon excepted. The oft-injured third baseman, who has played in only 200 of the 546 Angels games since signing a seven-year, $245-million contract before the 2020 season, told reporters baseball has “never been a top priority for me. It’s a job. I do this to make a living.”
Not since J.D. Drew has a player with so much talent displayed such a lack of enthusiasm. Rendon’s comments weren’t a surprise, though. Days earlier on a podcast he said: “We gotta shorten the season, man. There’s too many dang games.”
Feb. 19: Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Angels clubhouse, superstar Mike Trout for the first time nudged the door open to a potential trade, saying “maybe down the road if things change.” Trout, 32, signed a 12-year, $426.5-million contract in 2019 and has spent his entire 13-year career with the Angels.
Feb. 19: Trout tries to convince Moreno to sign free agents, saying, “I’m going to keep pushing as long as I can, until the season starts or until those guys sign.” At this point, “those guys” are down to standout starting pitchers Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, down-market starters Mike Clevinger and Michael Lorenzen, and extremely old starters Zack Grienke, Johnny Cueto and Rich Hill. Designated hitter J.D. Martinez also is available, although the Angels would prefer to keep the DH spot free for Rendon and Trout to rest their legs while still getting at-bats.
The Angels’ free-agent signings so far are relievers Robert Stephenson, Matt Moore and Adam Kolarek, reclamation project starter Zach Plesac, and reserve outfielder Aaron Hicks.
March 5: First baseman Miguel Sanó stands out as the most promising of several minor league free agents signed by the Angels. Once one of the most feared power hitters in baseball, Sanó told the Athletic that he dropped 58 pounds and is attempting to resurrect his career at age 30.
Other former major league position players trying to win a roster spot include corner infielder/outfielder Hunter Dozier, whom the Kansas City Royals are paying $9 million after releasing him last May; veteran reserve outfielders Jake Marisnick and Willie Calhoun; and good-field, no-hit shortstop Richie Martin.
An intriguing bullpen piece could be left-hander Drew Pomeranz, who spent the last two seasons recovering from a torn flexor tendon. A starter early in his career, he was 17-6 for the Boston Red Sox in 2017 and posted a 1.62 earned-run average with the San Diego Padres in 2020 and 2021 after becoming a reliever.
All of which makes for a mixed bag less than a month from opening day. Yet despite the scars of eight consecutive losing seasons, Angels fans continue to believe. The Athletic’s annual “Hope-O-Meter” poll of fans is underway, and last year, 81.4% of Angels fans were optimistic about the team’s fortunes. Astonishingly, that was higher than Dodgers fans (75.6%).
Last year, of course, the Angels had Ohtani and still went 73-89.
A bulk of the at-bats this spring have gone to a cadre of promising young players: shortstop Zach Neto, first baseman Nolan Schanuel, catcher Logan O’Hoppe and outfielders Mickey Moniak and Jo Adell. Any optimism from Angels faithful must bank on those players delivering, Trout and Rendon staying healthy and Rendon prioritizing his chosen profession.
Sports
Stefon Diggs, still seeking new NFL home, insists no team has a better No 2 receiver ‘than me’
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Stefon Diggs is still looking for his next NFL team after one season with the New England Patriots, which ended in a Super Bowl LX defeat.
With NFL training camps across the country set to kick off at the end of the month, Diggs, who will be entering his 12th season, made quite the statement during a recent YouTube video on his channel.
Diggs stated that he is the best No. 2 receiver in the league, and he explained why.
New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (8) walks to the podium to speak to the media after a minicamp held in the WIN Field House at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on June 10, 2025. (Eric Canha/Imagn Images)
“Everybody got a 1,,” he said. “Opportunities aside, people might say there’s seven real 1s. In my opinion, I can compete with anybody, but take those as your 1s. You can’t name a No. 2 better than me. There’s not a No. 2 on a team. Let’s presumably give people the credit and just say, ‘OK, you want to take the No. 1 spot away.’ Name your No. 2 receiver right now. Tell me how much he makes. My last question is: Is he better than me?”
Diggs put up 1,013 yards in his 11th season, his first and only with the Patriots, on 85 receptions (102 targets) with four touchdowns from breakout star quarterback Drake Maye . It marked Diggs’ seventh 1,000-yard season in the NFL, which have come in seven of the last eight seasons.
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The 32-year-old did note being a No. 2 option, which means he could be willing to take a pay cut to join a squad that he could help get back to the playoffs and, as ever player hopes, the Super Bowl. But no team has pulled the trigger just yet.
Could Diggs’ off-the-field issues be a factor? He faced some serious allegations in December after being charged with felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault in a dispute with his private chef.
New England Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs speaks during his introductory press conference on March 28, 2025. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
However, Diggs was found not guilty by a jury, with the NFL closing its review on the matter, stating there was insufficient evidence to warrant a suspension for violating its personal conduct policy. Diggs’ attorney said that “professional athletes have a target on their back” following the non-guilty verdict.
“We have taken these allegations seriously from Day One and that’s exactly why we were eager for the facts to come to light through the legal process,” Mitch Schuster of Meister, Seelig & Schuster, the firm that represented Diggs, said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital in May.
The Patriots released Diggs in March, but he has been staying in shape and looking for the next opportunity since the league cleared him last month.
New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs plays against the Seattle Seahawks during Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 8, 2026. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
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Teams to watch could be the Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Kansas City Chiefs, or even a Buffalo Bills reunion with Josh Allen, who built such a rapport with him to earn four straight Pro Bowls from 2020-23.
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Sports
Dodgers swept by Diamondbacks in first winless series of season as they stagger into All-Star break
The Dodgers needed to turn things around Sunday to wrap up the first half on a high note. Manager Dave Roberts said as much the night before.
“When you give teams free bases, extra outs, it’s hard to win a game, regardless of the opponent,” he said. “Emmet [Sheehan] needs to go out there and throw the baseball well tomorrow. We’ve got to find a way to win a game tomorrow to feel somewhat better about going into the break.”
Instead, the Dodgers fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3, swept for the first time this season. It was Arizona’s first sweep at Dodger Stadium since September 2017.
Perhaps the break is coming at a good time.
“I guess,” Roberts said. “Gives guys a reset. … We’ve got some good teams coming up and we’ve got to play good baseball.”
Sheehan at least did his job, holding the Diamondbacks to three runs in 5⅓ innings. It was clear from the first at-bat that his pitch count could limit how deep he pitched into the game. Sheehan won a 14-pitch battle to strike out Ketel Marte.
The right-hander then struck out the side and was efficient enough to pitch into the sixth. He exited after his pitch count reached 101.
Max Muncy swings at a pitch in the seventh inning.
(Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)
Shohei Ohtani sparked the offense with his ninth leadoff home run of the season — and 22nd overall — on a two-hit day. But he’ll get treatment this week instead of playing in the All-Star Game.
It wasn’t a clean defensive game for the Dodgers. In the midst of the Diamondbacks’ two-run fifth, All-Star center fielder Andy Pages tracked a long fly back to the wall but missed the catch as the ball bounced off his glove for an error.
In the sixth, the tying run scored when All-Star third baseman Max Muncy’s throw to the plate hit Geraldo Perdomo in the back as he ran home for another error.
“Just a slump,” Muncy said. “You go through slumps both offensively and defensively, mentally. It’s just one of those stretches for us right now, and I think everyone’s ready for the break.”
Regardless of some sloppiness, the Dodgers have had a successful season going into the break.
“Just flush it,” Roberts said. “We’re still in a really good spot. Don’t let it carry over to the second half.”
They have the best record in the majors (61-36) and an 11½-game lead in the National League West. They also had six players selected as All-Stars.
So, as Major League Baseball pauses play and honors some of the best performers in each league, now’s a good time to hand out our first-half awards.
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Ask anyone who is favored to win Young Player of the Tournament for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, and presumably, you would struggle to hear a name other than Lamine Yamal.
The Spanish sensation, at only 18, is already viewed as one of the game’s greatest players — and he hasn’t even come close to his prime.
With that, let’s check out the odds for who will win Young Player of the Tournament as of July 12.
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Young Player of the Tournament odds
Lamine Yamal: +130 (bet $10 to win $23 total)
Desire Doue: +280 (bet $10 to win $38 total)
Pau Cubarsí: +380 (bet $10 to win $48 total)
Nico O’Reilly: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)
Here’s what to know about this oddsboard:
The Race: Lamine Yamal has been the favorite since before the tournament began and has not moved from the top of the oddsboard. Statistically, Yamal has only one goal and no assists in this World Cup, but his presence on the field has clearly opened up things for Spain on numerous occasions en route to its semifinal berth. Doue has a goal and an assist in three starts for France.
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