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Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez and Arizona Diamondbacks finalize $80 million, 4-year contract

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Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez and Arizona Diamondbacks finalize  million, 4-year contract


PHOENIX — Eduardo Rodriguez and the Arizona Diamondbacks finalized an $80 million, four-year contract on Friday.

The sides had agreed to terms Wednesday subject to a successful physical. The agreement includes a conditional option for 2028 that could make the deal worth $100 million.

Rodriguez gives the National League champions another quality starter for their rotation. The 30-year-old left-hander from Venezuela spent the past two seasons with the Detroit Tigers and went 13-9 with a 3.30 ERA in 2023.

He joins an Arizona rotation that includes NL Cy Young Award finalist Zac Gallen, veteran Merrill Kelly and youngsters like righty Brandon Pfaadt and lefty Tommy Henry.

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During their recent run to the World Series, the Diamondbacks had only three primary starting pitchers, using the bullpen to get through Game 4 of the NL Championship Series and World Series.

Rodriguez used his no-trade clause this year to block a deal to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Aug. 1 deadline. He and his agent cited family reasons.

After the season, Rodriguez opted out of the final three years and $49 million on his contract with the Tigers to become a free agent.

Rodriguez broke into the big leagues with Boston and spent his first six seasons with the Red Sox from 2015-21, helping them win the 2018 World Series. He went a career-best 19-6 with a 3.81 ERA in 2019, finishing sixth in AL Cy Young Award voting. He surpassed 200 innings pitched and made 34 starts that year — tied for most in the majors.

But he missed the pandemic-shortened 2020 season because of a heart issue caused by COVID-19. The Red Sox said Rodriguez showed evidence of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart.

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The team called it a mild condition and said the pitcher was expected to make a full recovery.

A healthy Rodriguez returned the following year, going 13-8 with a 4.74 ERA over 157 2/3 innings for Boston. He became a free agent and signed a $77 million, five-year contract with Detroit in November 2021 that included an opt out following the 2023 season. After two years with the Tigers, he chose to end a deal that would have paid him $18 million in 2024, $16 million in 2025 and $15 million in 2026.

In June 2022, the Tigers placed Rodriguez on the restricted list after he informed them he would not rejoin the team due to personal matters. He returned later in the year and put together a strong 2023 season for a rebuilding franchise that finished second in the AL Central at 78-84.

Rodriguez is 82-53 with a 4.03 ERA in 202 games, including 196 starts, over eight major league seasons. He signed with Baltimore as an amateur in 2010 and was traded to Boston at the July 2014 deadline for reliever Andrew Miller.



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Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers live score updates for NFL Week 16 game today

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Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers live score updates for NFL Week 16 game today


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The Arizona Cardinals continue their 2024 NFL regular season schedule with an NFL Week 16 game against the Carolina Panthers today.

The Cardinals are coming off a 30-17 win against the New England Patriots at home in NFL Week 15.

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The Panthers lost to the Dallas Cowboys, 30-14.

The Cardinals are 7-7 on the season. The Panthers are 3-11.

Follow our live updates of the game, which is being played at Carolina’s Bank of America Stadium, for the latest score, news, notes and analysis of the Week 16 NFL game Sunday.

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Cardinals vs Panthers schedule: What time is NFL Week 16 game?

The game is on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 11 a.m. MST, 1 p.m. ET.

Cardinals vs Panthers TV: What channel is NFL Week 16 game on?

The game can be seen on FOX.

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Cardinals vs Panthers streaming: How do I watch NFL Week 16 game on livestream?

Streaming options for the Cardinals at Panthers game include FUBO and other streaming services that carry FOX.

Cardinals vs Panthers announcers: Who is calling the NFL Week 16 game?

Chris Myers (play-by-play) and Mark Schlereth (analyst) are scheduled to be the announcers for the Cardinals-Panthers Week 16 NFL game.

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Cardinals vs Panthers game odds: Who is favored in NFL Week 16?

The Cardinals are a four-point favorite over the Panthers in NFL Week 16 odds for the game, courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.

Arizona is -225 on the moneyline, while Carolina is +180.

The over/under (point total) is set at 47 points.

Pregame reading for Cardinals at Panthers game today

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Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.



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Arizona ‘villain’ Charles Smith arrested after filming himself spray bug killer pesticide on food inside Walmart

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Arizona ‘villain’ Charles Smith arrested after filming himself spray bug killer pesticide on food inside Walmart


A self-described Arizona social media “villain” was arrested after he filmed himself allegedly spraying bed bug killer on groceries inside a Walmart as he boasted to police about his prank videos.

Charles Smith, 27, is accused of grabbing a can of Hot Shot Ultra Bed Bug and Flea Killer and unleashing the pesticide on a series of perishable items in the Mesa, Ariz. megastore around 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 19.

In the now-deleted video, the influencer filmed himself wearing a black hoodie and pink bandana while spraying the toxin on bananas, acorn squash, potatoes, lemons, green apples and Roma tomatoes at the store — located in a neighborhood southeast of Phoenix.

Charles Smith was accused of spraying a bed bug killer on groceries inside a Walmart. ImTheMainCharacter/Reddit

Police claim the TikTokker, who goes by the username WolfieKahletti, intentionally went to the store to film pranks for his channel.

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Smith identifies as an online “troll,” according to court documents viewed by Az Family. He has more than 300,000 followers on TikTok.

The troublemaker allegedly told police that he makes between $6,000 – $10,000 per month filming his provocative prank videos.

”I think social media has got people doing crazy things out here,” Walmart shopper Xavier Griego told the outlet. “It’s unfortunate that somebody would mess up their whole life, potentially, for something on social media for views.”

Smith voluntarily turned himself over to police on Dec. 21.

The prankster reportedly posted the video on his TikTok page with over 300K followers. ImTheMainCharacter/Reddit
Walmart claimed it removed the contaminated items and cleaned the areas that were hit. ImTheMainCharacter/Reddit

He faces charges of introducing poison (a felony) as well as three misdemeanors that include criminal damage, endangerment and theft.

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A spokesperson from Walmart told AZ Family that store employees removed the directly impacted products and cleaned the affected areas of the store.

It’s not clear if any customers were injured from eating the contaminated items.

Smith voluntarily turned himself over to the police on Dec. 21. ImTheMainCharacter/Reddit

“This incident underscores the potential dangers of reckless actions disguised as social media pranks,” the Mesa Police Department said in a statement. 

Other videos posted online by Smith include the posts of him seemingly mixing in bacon and eggs in a stranger’s load at the laundromat as well as locking people inside a different grocery store.

Smith is charged with a felony and three misdemeanors. ImTheMainCharacter/Reddit

The spray is “harmful if swallowed” and “prolonged or frequently repeated skin contact may cause allergic reactions in some individuals” per HotShot’s website. 

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Suspects convicted of tampering with consumer products face up to 5 to 20 years in prison.

In 2022, an Arizona man was sentenced to 10 years of probation after being convicted of adding harmful chemicals to food at several retail stores in the Phoenix area.

David Lohr was ordered to pay restitution to a grocery chain for $390.42 and ordered to participate in a mental health evaluation and any additional recommended treatment.

There were no reported injuries or illnesses associated with the tampered items during the 2018 stunt, prosecutors said.

Lohr was accused of tampering with products at stores in California one year later and sentenced to a 51-month prison term followed by three years of supervised release with mental health services.

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Love scores 24 points as Arizona rolls to a 94-41 win over Central Michigan

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Love scores 24 points as Arizona rolls to a 94-41 win over Central Michigan


Associated Press

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Caleb Love matched his season-high with 24 points to help power Arizona to a 94-41 rout of Central Michigan on Saturday.

The Wildcats (6-5) won back-to-back games for the first time since beating Canisius and Old Dominion to open the season.

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The Chippewas (5-6) scored the game’s first three points but Love knocked down three 3-pointers and scored 18 first-half points to put Arizona firmly in charge at intermission, 44-23.

Arizona shot 54.5% from the field, including 10 of 29 from distance, and got 44 points from its bench. K.J. Lewis hit 4 of 8 from the field and 5 of 5 from the line for 13 points to lead the reserves. Tobe Awaka added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildcats dominated the boards, outrebounding the Chippewas 45-27.

Central Michigan struggled from the field, hitting just 14 of 54 (25.9%), including just 3 of 16 from distance. Cayden Vasko hit 4 of 13, including 2 of 5 from 3-point range, to lead the team with 10 points.

Arizona opens Big 12 Conference play at home when it plays host to TCU on Dec. 30. Central Michigan will look to snap its three-game losing string on Dec. 30 when it plays host to Cleary.

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