All posts by h716a5.icu

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is set to be backed over what is expected to be another eventful summer transfer window at Stamford Bridge, especially after their now-confirmed qualification for the Champions League next season.

Chelsea handed summer transfer boost with Champions League spot confirmed

While Maresca refused to get drawn into any questions about the summer window in his post-match press conference, there is little denying that Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday has seriously boosted the club’s recruitment strategy.

Talks held: Chelsea now "really pushing" to sign £67m striker before Arsenal get to him

The Blues are giving Mikel Arteta serious competition.

ByEmilio Galantini May 26, 2025

Chelsea’s finish in the Premier League top five, courtesy of a second-half strike from Cobham academy graduate Levi Colwill against Forest, means BlueCo have been handed a significant potential windfall of around £64 million.

Rank

Team

Points

GD

3

Man City

71

+28

4

Chelsea

69

+21

5

Newcastle

66

+21

6

Aston Villa

66

+7

7

Nottingham Forest

65

+12

The Blues should earn around £48 million just from finishing fourth in the table, while Chelsea are also guaranteed £15.7 million from qualifying for the Champions League, even if Maresca’s side lose every game and go out in the league phase (Sky Sports).

Alongside the financial boost, Chelsea will also have far more player-pull in the market, given they’ll be competing in Europe’s most prestigious competition next term.

In an x-rated celebratory statement, following their Sunday heroics, Maresca sent a message to his critics after Chelsea’s place.

“I didn’t have any doubt about the players. The doubt was from outside. All the ones that have the answers or the ones that have the truth, they were saying that we are too young, we are not good enough, they were waiting for Aston Villa to drop points for us to achieve the Champions League,” said Maresca on Chelsea’s finish to the season.

“They were saying that we were not able to win on this pitch because we are too young, because we are not experienced. Unfortunately for them, they have all been wrong. All the ones that have the truth and have the answer to everything. So in English, how you say? F off to all of them, because the players deserve that. The effort they have been doing is fantastic.”

Chelsea could now sign two strikers with Liam Delap set for imminent decision

According to journalist Simon Phillips, their Champions League status now means that Chelsea could sign not one, but two, strikers this summer.

One of their key targets, Ipswich Town star Liam Delap, is set to decide on his next destination “this week”, and Chelsea are firmly in contention for the Englishman after holding talks with his camp (Fabrizio Romano).

However, Maresca’s side are keen on bringing in one of their two potential new centre-forwards before the Club World Cup, so given Delap’s desire to play at the Under-21 Euros with England, this could pose a slight issue.

In terms of other high-profile number nines who could join alongside Delap, it has been reported in the last two days that Chelsea are now “really pushing” for RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko.

Chelsea chiefs have now offered a pacey striker personal terms to join the Blues, with an agreement described as just a “matter of time”.

Chelsea set for UEFA Conference League final

After qualifying for the Champions League and confirming an almighty boost for Chelsea ahead of next season, Enzo Maresca can also sign off his debut season in the dugout with a piece of major silverware.

Premier League star wants to join Chelsea more than Man Utd after U-turn

He’s leaning more towards Stamford Bridge.

ByEmilio Galantini May 27, 2025

The Italian, bullish in his post-match press conference after their vital 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday, told critics to ‘eff off’ after Chelsea sealed fourth spot and a place in Europe’s most prestigious competition for 2025/2026.

Despite their excellent finish to the Premier League season, with Chelsea briefly contending for the title at one early stage and winning six out of their final eight top-flight games to confirm a top five place, it hasn’t been an easy campaign for Maresca overall.

Rank

Team

Points

GD

Man City

71

+28

Chelsea

69

+21

Newcastle

66

+21

6

Aston Villa

66

+7

7

Nottingham Forest

65

+12

Some tepid performances and results threatened Chelsea’s chase for Europe, with Maresca’s side suffering a damp patch of form soon after the turn of 2025. This prompted some supporters to turn on the ex-Leicester City boss, which in-turn caused concern from critics.

“When the fans turn on the manager, it’s never a good sign and it’s something the board will have taken note of, I’m sure,” said ex-Premier League scout Mick Brown to Football Insider back in April.

“They’ve got the core of what could be a very good squad with a little bit of work and improvement. I expect he will be backed in the summer because everything you hear from Chelsea is that the board are going to stick by him.

“But as I said, when the fans start to turn, it’s never a good sign and questions will be asked.”

While it hasn’t been plain sailing for Maresca, Chelsea can end 2024/25 with the knowledge of Champions League football, and if they beat Real Betis on Wednesday evening, the Stamford Bridge side will also have a trophy to show for their efforts.

BlueCo also have every intention of backing Maresca in the transfer market, and are reportedly turning their attention to sister club Strasbourg in pursuit of a rising star.

Chelsea offer Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha a six-year contract

Reports in France previously stated that Emanuel Emegha was attracting serious interest from Chelsea, and talks had been held with the 22-year-old’s representatives (Foot Mercato).

Now, journalist Santi Aouna has shared an update on the matter via X, claiming that Chelsea have offered Emegha a six-year deal and an agreement is inevitable.

The 6 foot 5 Dutchman has been ranked as the fastest player in Ligue 1 this season, which showcases his serious explosiveness and power as a forward player, and Emegha is said to be valued at £21 million.

This could end up being an astute pre-contract deal for 2026 and an ideal signing for the future, especially considering that he ended this season as one of the French top flight’s top scorers with 14.

Sheffield United eased past Bristol City once more at Bramall Lane to reach the Championship playoff final in emphatic style.

Over two legs, the Blades would run out as comprehensive 6-0 victors, with the Robins actually showing some fight in the early stages in South Yorkshire during the second leg, only for Chris Wilder’s hosts to eventually show off their superiority again to clinch a second successive 3-0 win.

Now, Wilder’s side are only one match away from an instant return to the dizzy heights of the Premier League, with the United display overall just oozing class from several standout performers.

Sheffield United's key performers in the second leg

The Blades did have a three-goal cushion to fall back on heading into the late-night clash at Bramall Lane, but that didn’t culminate in the home side resting on their laurels to try and edge out a result.

Instead, the likes of Kieffer Moore and Gustavo Hamer looked dangerous throughout in the attacking areas, with the pair up top sharing out the first two goals courtesy of two assists from a rampaging Harrison Burrows.

The ex-Coventry City man’s effort was helped into the net by a fortuitous deflection, but neither he nor a beaming Wilder on the sidelines would care as United booked their rightful place at Wembley.

Away from those already named ensuring United’s night was straightforward, Michael Cooper did have to stay alert early on when Liam Manning’s visitors came racing out of the traps. In total, the ex-Plymouth Argyle stopper would make six saves to preserve his team’s clean sheet.

But, not every single United face played out of their skin during the second leg victory, with one out-of-sorts attacker now surely fearful for his starting spot at Wembley.

Sheffield United dud could now be axed at Wembley

The beauty of Monday night’s affair was the fact that Wilder could rest a handful of United players here and there, knowing that the 3-0 lead from the first leg gave them an immediate advantage.

Yet, Tom Cannon – who remained on the bench throughout at Ashton Gate – didn’t exactly put in a performance that is now befitting of a start at Wembley when handed his own first-team chance.

Minutes played

62

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

18

Shots on target

0

Accurate passes

2/5 (40%)

Total duels won

5/9

Frustratingly, Cannon’s lacklustre showing against the visitors from Bristol was indicative of his whole goal-shy spell at Bramall Lane to date, with only one goal coming his way since making the £10m move from Leicester City back in January.

Judging by the grim numbers above, the Irishman very rarely looked like adding to his meagre one-goal account, with his shooting all off once more when failing to register a single on-target effort at Max O’Leary’s busy net.

To add insult to injury, his link-up play with the likes of Moore up top was also way off, with Cannon only managing two accurate passes all game, meaning he closed out his dire 62-minute stint with just a 40% pass accuracy next to his name.

The obvious alteration Wilder could make ahead of the final is to bring Tyrese Campbell back into the first team fold, considering it took the ex-Stoke City striker around 20 minutes of action to assist Callum O’Hare’s late goal.

After all, it would be an almighty risk on Wilder’s end to persist with Cannon when other attackers are in a richer vein of form, especially if the 22-year-old’s wastefulness costs his side big time in their one-off shot for immediate promotion.

Premier League ready: Sheffield United have struck gold on incredible star

This Sheffield United star is already Premier League ready ahead of the Blades’ mission to go up via the playoffs.

ByKelan Sarson May 6, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are in talks with the representatives of a forward once tipped to bag 40 goals per season, as chairman Daniel Levy and the Spurs recruitment team aim to make him their first signing of the summer window.

Ange Postecoglou praises Spurs squad ahead of Bodo/Glimt

The Lilywhites are set to take on Bodo/Glimt in their vital Europa League semi-final second leg this evening.

£8m manager "wants the Tottenham job" with Postecoglou under threat

The Australian faces a very uncertain future as he chases silverware.

ByEmilio Galantini May 7, 2025

Ange Postecoglou and the squad travel to Norway knowing that, if they avoid a humbling defeat, Tottenham will book their place in the Europa final and present themselves with a golden opportunity to win the club’s first piece of major silverware in over 17 years.

Goals from Brennan Johnson, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke handed Spurs a crucial win at home in the first leg, and despite a late consolation goal from Ulrik Salnes, the 3-1 victory means Postecoglou’s side go into tonight with an important two-goal cushion.

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

However, Bodo/Glimt’s very impressive home record is a cause for concern for Postecoglou. The Aspymyra Stadion, located above the Arctic Circle in freezing-cold temperatures, has become an icy fortress for the Scandinavians, with Kjetil Knutsen’s side winning 28 of their last 34 European matches hosted on their artificial turf.

Postecoglou will be wary of this, but the Australian has praised his team’s mentality in Europe so far when it comes to these big knockout games.

“I think all the lads have done well and right through the campaign,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham’s European form.

“Particularly through the knockout stages in the second legs, whatever we’ve needed to do, they’ve done it, within the confines of our game plan and being organised, whether that was when we had to beat AZ at home and it could have got nervy and the boys handed that really well.

“We had to go to Frankfurt and win and tough venue and imposing atmosphere, and again I think the lads handled it really well, so it’ll be a similar sort of mindset tomorrow.”

Tottenham open talks with Mathys Tel over permanent deal

Bayern Munich loanee Mathys Tel will likely play a role in tonight’s clash, and behind-the-scenes, work has begun on making his stay at Spurs permanent.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, writing in a piece for The Boot Room, Tottenham have opened talks with Tel’s camp and are suggesting they want the 20-year-old to remain in north London.

The club have an option to buy him worth around £45 million inserted into his loan deal, but it is believed they aim to whittle down this price tag and re-negotiate more favourable terms with Bayern.

For their part, Vincent Kompany’s side are open to selling him for good this summer, though it is unclear what their final demands would be for Tel at this point if they agree to make concessions on the initially agreed £45m fee.

Dubbed “very quick” and “strong” by ex-Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann, the tactician also once claimed Tel could become one of the best strikers in world football, all while backing him to eventually score “40 goals a season”.

Tel has taken a while to get going in a Spurs jersey, but immediate adaptation to Europe’s most competitive league can often be challenging. Despite his slow start, there is reason to believe the exciting starlet could go on to become an excellent player.

Ahead of what could be a big summer, PIF have reportedly joined the race to sign an in-demand Premier League midfielder who scored in a 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle United this season.

Newcastle eyeing impressive summer

With Champions League football in their grasp, Newcastle could be back to flexing their financial muscles for the first time in two transfer windows this summer. PSR constraints have forced the Magpies to take a step back in the last year or so but it remains to be seen whether those same obstacles are in place this time around.

Of course, without them, Newcastle’s spending could take Eddie Howe’s side to another level given PIF’s position among football’s richest owners. Just who arrives with that potential spending power in mind remains to be seen, but that hasn’t stopped the rumours from coming thick and fast.

Names such as Liam Delap and Ademola Lookman have both found themselves in the headlines in recent weeks, with Newcastle among the sides interested in securing their services. There’s no doubt that both players would add that extra injection of quality in Newcastle’s squad as Howe seeks the depth he’s desperately lacked in recent times.

What is certain is that the Newcastle boss deserves to be backed this summer if it is possible. Howe has not only ended the club’s long wait for a trophy this season, but he also has them sat as high as third and on course for Champions League qualification all without significant arrivals in the last year.

With four games to go, the former Bournemouth boss recently had his say on the crucial battle for European football, telling reporters: “It will go down to the wire. The important thing today was that we bounced back from last week. We have been very consistent, and now we have four huge games.”

Newcastle now want "incredible" 18 y/o gem as PIF step up scouting mission

He’s already a full international.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 29, 2025

Of course, he will need no reminder over the impact that Champions League football would have on Newcastle’s transfer business, especially in pursuit of one particular midfielder.

Newcastle join James McAtee race

According to Esteemed Kompany, PIF have now joined the race to sign James McAtee for Newcastle this summer, standing alongside the likes of Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund in a European tug-of-war for his signature. With just one year left on his Manchester City deal too, the academy graduate will reportedly be available for just €30m (£26m) in the coming months.

Newcastle should, of course, already know all about McAtee’s quality after he scored in a 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle for City earlier this season in a moment that showed only a glimpse of his full potential.

Pep Guardiola hasn’t shied away from praising the 22-year-old this season, either. The Spaniard told reporters after McAtee’s hat-trick against Salford in the FA Cup: “I am so happy for him, he is a special player.

“A hat trick is not easy. He has an incredible sense in front of goal, he has the right tempo, he changed the rhythm to score and I am very happy for him.”

Tottenham Hotspur technical director Johan Lange is believed to have held recent talks over bringing a “special” player to Spurs, with the Lilywhites showcasing a newly-found interest in his services.

Ange Postecoglou under pressure as Tottenham make plans

Under-fire head coach Ange Postecoglou could depart north London regardless of what happens in Europe (John Cross), leading to chairman Daniel Levy and the board to make contingency plans in the event they sack him.

Tottenham plan to ask £10m manager to replace Postecoglou instead of Iraola

He’s climbed up Daniel Levy’s managerial shortlist.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 17, 2025

It has been a lacklustre campaign for the Lilywhites on all fronts, with Postecoglou suffering from a serious lack of player availability midway through the season after an injury crisis swept through the Spurs squad.

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

This seriously debilitated the 59-year-old’s options, but Postecoglou has attracted fierce criticism regardless, as Tottenham endure their worst ever Premier League season, with 17 top flight defeats in total so far.

Tottenham firing Postecoglou after just two years in charge is a very real possibility, with Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Fulham’s Marco Silva, Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner and Brentford boss Thomas Frank all linked with the job in this past fortnight.

Bournemouth are planning a new contract for Iraola amid Spurs’ interest, though, so it is believed the likes of Silva and Frank are becoming more genuine contenders to replace Postecoglou at Tottenham.

Tottenham would also want a new manager as soon as possible, so they could work with their potential fresh appointment on summer transfers ahead of the first window’s opening on June 1st (Pete O’Rourke).

However, Lange appears to be making a head start on that himself, according to a fresh report out of Germany this week.

Lange holds Tottenham talks over Eintracht Frankfurt star Kaua Santos

According to Sport Bild, the Dane is taking a firm interest in Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper Kaua Santos, following the Brazilian’s heroics during Tottenham’s Europa League quarter-final first leg clash with the Bundesliga side.

Santos made a series of excellent saves in an overall stunning performance to keep Spurs at bay, impressing on-lookers and the north Londoners themselves, who witnessed his quality first-hand at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Sport Bild report that Lange held Tottenham talks with Eintracht over Santos after their encounter, with the 22-year-old shot-stopper making quite an impression after stepping in for the injured Kevin Trapp this season.

The South American has already been praised for his excellence in-between the sticks, but he won’t come cheap, as Sport Bild highlights that Eintracht value him at around £50 million.

“Kaua did very well and showed what we have seen from him in training over the last few weeks and months,” said manager Dino Toppmoller.

“He’s a very courageous goalkeeper.”

Meanwhile, Santos has also attracted acclaim from his teammates, with defender Robin Koch suggesting he has that unique “special” quality which makes him stand out among goalkeeping peers.

However, while Guglielmo Vicario has come under some fire lately, it is debatable whether Spurs need to splash out that sort of money on a keeper right now.

Tottenham chiefs are internally discussing the possibility of appointing a highly-rated alternative to Andoni Iraola, with current boss Ange Postecoglou currently hanging onto his job by a thread after an underwhelming Premier League campaign.

Spurs' managerial shortlist to replace Ange Postecoglou

The Australian has led Spurs to seventeen defeats in the top flight alone, and a total of 21 losses in all competitions, which makes for inexcusable reading from the perspective of a ‘big six’ side.

£4m-per-year boss "emerging" as favourite for Spurs job after Iraola blow

There’s another frontrunner coming into play.

4 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 15, 2025

There is a serious case to be made that injuries to key players throughout 2024/2025 have really debilitated Postecoglou’s options, making it a huge task to make any success of this Premier League campaign, but the sheer number of losses is far too reminiscent of relegation form.

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Tottenham’s entire campaign is now riding on their Europa League quarter-final second leg away to Eintracht Frankfurt, with the tie currently level 1-1 on aggregate and Postecoglou set for his most important game as manager on Thursday.

As tensions between the fanbase and Spurs ownership reach breaking point, chairman Daniel Levy is under serious pressure, and his next managerial appointment will need to be the right one, if they do indeed decide to part company with Postecoglou.

The arrival of CEO and ex-Arsenal chief Vinai Venkatesham will also play a major role in who they appoint, with the new boardroom member and Levy already having a number of managerial candidates on their agenda.

According to recent reports, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is a top target for Tottenham, but the Spaniard is now more inclined to snub their advances and remain at the Vitality Stadium for another season (The Telegraph).

This means that Fulham manager Marco Silva is now emerging as a frontrunner for the Spurs job (Alex Crook), but there are other names on Levy’s agenda.

Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi, ex-Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzić, free agent Thiago Motta, Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner and Brentford head coach Thomas Frank have all been cited as names to watch out for in the last two months, but an update has surfaced on the latter.

Tottenham internally discuss appointing Thomas Frank

According to GiveMeSport, Tottenham have held internal talks over appointing Frank, who could be another alternative to Iraola, with the 42-year-old increasingly likely to remain at Bournemouth right now.

The Dane guided Brentford to promotion from the Championship in 2021, after beating Swansea City 2-0 in the Play-Off final at Wembley, and Frank hasn’t looked back since then.

The 50-year-old has since transformed Brentford into a solid Premier League side, despite operating on a shoe-string budget and losing key players, having taken charge of 311 matches for the Bees overall as a legendary figurehead.

Frank’s earned a reputation for being a “class” manager in that period, not to mention gaining the respect of his elite peers, like Man City’s Pep Guardiola, who called him “one of the best” in the business.

“They are an extraordinary team,” said the City boss.

“What they do always makes sense. Every corner is a headache. They are compact. This season, they have a high press. Thomas is one of the best.”

Other reports state that Frank is also expected to leave Brentford this summer, making him potentially available for hire.

Tottenham Hotspur are now making moves to sign a striker, who they are planning to offer a place in the starting XI next season, according to a report.

Solanke's first season at Spurs

Dominic Solanke’s first season as a Tottenham player has been marred by a number of injury issues, having suffered with hamstring and ankle problems, but he hasn’t exactly been prolific in front of goal when fully-fit.

The striker started the Premier League season well, netting six goals prior to Christmas, but since then the Englishman has struggled to score as regularly, with just one league goal to his name in 2025.

With Richarlison also missing the majority of the campaign due to injuries, it would make sense for Spurs to bring in a more dependable striker in the summer transfer window, and a report has now revealed they could bring in a Premier League player on a free transfer.

Daniel Levy handed Tottenham boost after talks to appoint 52-year-old

The chairman has apparently been “working hard” on his hire.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 5, 2025

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham are now making moves to sign Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is looking increasingly likely to exit Goodison Park upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the season.

Spurs are willing to offer Calvert-Lewin a ‘prominent’ place in the starting XI, having been impressed by his goalscoring ability and physicality, which indicates Solanke may be forced to drop to the bench, after a mixed debut season in north London.

Tottenham Hotspur’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Wolverhampton Wanderers (a)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (h)

April 21st

Liverpool (a)

April 27th

West Ham United (a)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (h)

May 10th

The Everton forward could offer the Lilywhites a different kind of threat in attack, and they believe he can rediscover his best form at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having been hampered by a number of injury issues during his time with the Toffees.

Calvert-Lewin isn't what Tottenham need

The 28-year-old has impressed in the Premier League in the past, netting 16 goals for the Toffees in the 2020-21 campaign, at which point he was lauded as a “monster” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

If the Englishman were able to replicate those numbers for Spurs, he could be an excellent addition to the squad, but there are signs his best days are behind him, having scored just three goals in the Premier League this season.

Not only that, but the Sheffield-born striker’s injury issues are well-documented, having suffered a series of setbacks during his time on Merseyside, which will also be a concern for Tottenham.

Ange Postecoglou has had to make do without Richarlison and Solanke for large parts of the current season, and another injury-prone striker isn’t what the manager needs.

Calvert-Lewin’s availability on a free transfer perhaps makes him a slightly appealing option, at least as a squad player, but he arguably should not be brought in as the first-choice striker, given his patchy goal and injury records.

Major League Baseball’s winter meetings are underway, which means rumors are flying and deals are likely to be struck.

On Monday, plenty of reports made the rounds as teams attempted to get a jump on the offseason and best position themselves for 2026. Here are all the latest rumors we’re hearing as the winter meetings heat up.

Nationals listening on CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore

The Nationals have a new head of baseball operations, and he’s looking to reshape the franchise to his liking. Paul Tobobi is MLB’s youngest president of baseball ops, and the long-time Red Sox scouting director and assistant general manager is not wasting any time. Turning Washington around likely means moving on from two young All-Stars.

Shortstop CJ Abrams and lefty starter MacKenzie Gore are being targeted by multiple teams at the winter meetings. The 25-year-old Abrams is an athletic shortstop coming off his best season, while Gore is a 26-year-old with elite stuff who had a brilliant first half but struggled down the stretch. Both came to the Nationals as part of the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Padres. Gore is under team control through 2027, while Abrams won’t hit free agency until 2029.

In 2025, Abrams slashed .257/.315/.433 with 19 home runs, 60 RBIs, 92 runs scored, 31 stolen bases, and a career-best 3.1 fWAR. He’s not a good defender at short, but could easily move to second base or the outfield. Gore made 30 starts and went 5-15, with a 4.17 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP, and 185 strikeouts against 64 walks in 159 2/3 innings. But in his first 19 starts of the season, he went 4-8 with a 3.02 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and 138 strikeouts against 35 walks. He faded hard down the stretch, which is something a new team would need to figure out.

Given the weak free agent market for shortstops, Abrams could fetch a significant haul. Meanwhile, Gore, a young lefty with ace stuff, could also net a hefty return. Teams will need to meet Toboni’s high price, but both players can be had.

Royals looking for multiple outfielders

The Royals are canvassing the league for help in the outfield and may need to make a trade to fill out the roster. Kansas City missed the playoffs by five games in 2025, as the team surprised the rest of MLB by staying in the race as late as it did. But the team’s outfield is a bit of a mess.

While Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, and another option like Harrison Bader would all be too expensive for the Royals, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal insists the team is pursuing all options. That could include trading starter Kris Bubic, who is set to make a projected $6 million before hitting free agency after next season. The 28-year-old lefty went 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and 116 strikeouts against 39 walks in 116 1/3 innings this season. He could fetch a solid return as a rental.

Rosenthal listed Mike Yastrzemski, Adolis Garcia, Max Kepler, and Mike Tauchman as options in Kansas City’s price range. Jac Caglianone is almost certain to have right field locked down, but the two other spots remain open.

Padres entertaining Nick Pivetta trade

Padres general manager A.J. Preller pulled off a coup last offseason, as he waited out the market before signing Nick Pivetta to a shockingly affordable four-year, $55 million deal. The 32-year-old rewarded the Padres, turning in a career-best season in which he went 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and 190 strikeouts against 50 walks in 181 2/3 innings. That success, and a contract that is jumping to $19 million in 2026 has made Pivetta a trade candidate.

While The Athletic’s Dennis Lin points out that a Pivetta trade isn’t likely, the Padres need multiple starting pitchers and at least one bat. Moving the team’s ace would require a significant return that would improve San Diego at multiple spots, but no one should ever rule out Preller’s appetite for wheeling and dealing.

If Pivetta doesn’t move, San Diego could look to deal second baseman Jake Cronenworth. There aren’t a lot of middle-infield options on the market, and free agents won’t come cheap. The 31-year-old Cronenworth is a steady presence who is under contract for five more years at an affordable $60 million.

As the Padres face a salary crunch and a potential sale, cutting payroll to fill multiple spots makes a lot of sense.

Dodgers looking to get younger

Even the Dodgers have work to do this offseason. While the two-time defending World Series champions will enter 2026 as favorites to win again even if they don’t make a single move this winter, there are areas the team needs to shore up. Most pressing, is the desire to get younger.

Bill Punkett of the reports that L.A.’s president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, says there’s “not as much heavy lifting required” this offseason. But the team does have an aging core. Andy Pages, Dalton Rushing, and Hyeseong Kim were the only three position players under 30 on the Dodgers’ roster in 2025. While Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki give the team younger starters to build around, much of the roster is leaving its prime.

Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith will both be 31 next season, while Freddie Freeman is 36, and Mookie Betts is 33. The team does have a fairly loaded farm system, but outfielders Josue De Paula and Zyhir Hope are both 20 and have some growing to do. Meanwhile, MLB-ready infielder Alex Freeland doesn’t currently have an open spot to fill with Betts, Tommy Edman, and Max Muncy on the roster.

L.A. is expected to be involved in the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes this winter, but they could also opt to use their farm depth to pursue an outfield upgrade. White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. or Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan would fit the bill and make the team a bit younger.

“You’ve got to have a bit of trust in what you’re trying to do,” Smith says after scoring his 34th Test century on a heady day for Australia

Alex Malcolm27-Dec-2024Just before Steven Smith raised his arms to celebrate his 34th Test century, there was a little knowing nod to the dressing room.It wasn’t the release of emotion that erupted from him after his drought-breaking century at the Gabba. The running joke within the Australia team at the start of each summer is that Smith has found his hands again. This nod suggested he had found something else, his old self.His 140 against India at the MCG was the closest Smith has resembled to the run-making machine he once was. The movement patterns, the scoring shots, the defensive strokes, the calmness and the ease of his accumulation all looked familiar. There was an air of inevitability about his century. It was a matter of when, not if, as it had been so often in the past.Related

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The nod was telling when juxtaposed with Smith shaking his head as he walked off Adelaide Oval three weeks ago, having been strangled down the leg side for 2.Then, he wore the look of a man bereft of answers, exasperated to the point of exhaustion that he could not find his old self. He was averaging 23.20 for the calendar year at that point and 10 in his last seven Test innings. The move back to No. 4 had yielded scores of 0, 17 and 2. Ten-thousand Test match runs was only 296 away but it was starting to feel like a matter of if rather than when.Three hits later, there was a moment at the MCG where he looked like he might get there before tea, until he was bizarrely bowled 51 runs short of the milestone after scoring a second century in as many Tests.”You’ve got to have faith,” Smith said after play. “You’ve got to have a bit of trust in what you’re trying to do. I’ve played the game for long enough now to know that you can have your ups and downs. Sometimes you can be hitting the ball really nicely, which, I think I said when I wasn’t scoring the runs, I actually felt like I was batting pretty well. And there’s a difference, I think, between being out of form and out of runs.”I think you need a lot of luck on these wickets to get big runs as well.”Australia will be grateful Smith has found his old self again. It may be a fleeting plateau amid a gradual decline. It could also be a regression, as he would hope, in the opposite direction back towards his extraordinary mean.As always with Steven Smith, it didn’t always look orthodox, but that’s kind of the point, isn’t it?•Getty ImagesBut it comes as Australia have found a functioning batting order. That too may be fleeting. It also could be because the MCG pitch has finally given the batters some grace.”This one’s probably offering a little bit less perhaps, than some of the others,” Smith said. “That’s probably more the ball getting a little bit softer quicker than the other wickets, but yeah, there’s certainly still something on offer”Coincidentally, the order has functioned as a collective for the first time in a long time. Sam Konstas’ extraordinary and chaotic innings dragged Australia’s struggling top-order in its slipstream. Each of the top four passed 50 for the first time in 28 Test matches. Smith walked out to bat in the 45th over, the first time he had faced his first ball as deep into an innings in 32 walks to the crease, during which time he had averaged 36.32.Australia piled up 474 without the need for an exceptional rearguard from Travis Head or Mitchell Marsh, who contributed just four runs between them.And apart from finding his old self, Smith found a rare ally at No. 8. Pat Cummins made an excellent 49 in a stand of 112 with Smith. It was the highest score by an Australia bowler at No. 8 in six years. Only Alex Carey has reached 50 batting in that position in that time due to a nightwatcher dropping him down one spot.

“I thought Patty played really nicely, really good, positive intent,. We were able to get a nice partnership together and sort of take a bit of a momentum of the game from that point”Steven Smith on the partnership with Pat Cummins

Cummins has been a clutch contributor for Australia with the bat in the last 18 months. But his heroics at Edgbaston, Brisbane and Christchurch had all come at No. 9. For all the talent that he and Mitchell Starc possess with the bat, they both average 14 at No. 8 in Test cricket. It is the reason they have switched positions as often as they have. Cummins has repeatedly spoken about how little batting positions matter when talking about his top order, yet it seems to matter a great deal to him and Starc as both have declared a preference to bat at No. 9.Of the 18 players to have batted at No. 8 more than 25 times since Cummins’ Test debut in 2011, only New Zealand’s Doug Bracewell has a worse average than Cummins and Starc.Starc averaged 25.40 in his first 18 innings in the position but has averaged 9.33 in his last 34 since 2017, hence Cummins has taken the role this summer.Getting such poor contributions from No. 8 has meant Australia’s batters have not been able to form lower-order partnerships. In the last ten years, Australia had only four century stands for the seventh wicket or lower. Only Ireland and Afghanistan have had fewer.Steven Smith and Pat Cummins put together a century partnership for the seventh wicket•Cricket Australia via Getty ImagesBut Cummins, like Smith, looked as comfortable as he had all series. Like the top-order batters, he has been tormented by Jasprit Bumrah. In his career, Cummins had been dismissed by Bumrah eight times for just 45 runs at an average of 15.75 deliveries per dismissal. Having entered against the second new ball on the first evening at 299 for 6, and then faced Bumrah again on the second morning, he was able to survive 20 balls against him without being dismissed.Smith and Cummins then attacked at the other end. They rattled along at five-an-over to grind India down. Smith got inside the line and hooked two balls for six, including one of Bumrah. Cummins stayed leg side and carved balls either side of point.”I thought Patty played really nicely, really good, positive intent,” Smith said. “We were able to get a nice partnership together and sort of take a bit of a momentum of the game from that point.”They needed the stand. Without it, a score under 350 would have looked vulnerable on a surface that became splendid to bat on in the afternoon. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli were made Australia’s attack look toothless for significant period in the afternoon. But the scoreboard pressure they had created with that first innings total played a part as India imploded late via a calamitous run-out and another special MCG spell from Scott Boland.”We’ve posted a nice score and we’re in good spot,” Smith said with another knowing nod. “That last hour, that was a big last hour in the game.”