Andre Russell retires from IPL, to join KKR as 'power coach'

Russell will work with new head coach Abhishek Nayar, Southee, Watson and Bravo in the KKR backroom

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Nov-2025Andre Russell, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) legend, has decided to call time on his IPL career after not being retained by the franchise ahead of the 2026 season, and announced that he would be joining the team’s support staff as its “power coach”.”I’ve made a decision to retire from the IPL. I’ll still be active playing in various leagues all around the world and all the other KKR franchises,” Russell said in a video message. “I had some amazing time and great memories. hitting sixes, winning games, MVP and all of those things. But sometimes you just have to know when to hang up the boots. When I made this decision, I just felt like ‘yes, this is the best decision’. I don’t want to fade out. I want to leave a legacy and it’s best to retire when fans ask ‘why, you still have some more in you, you still could go for a bit longer’ than say, ‘yeah, you should have done it years back’.”We are part of the Instagram world, so when you’re going through your feed, you keep seeing yourself in different jerseys and, you know, friends, team-mates sending you stuff and, like, ‘you’re looking good in this jersey, what do you think’ and I’m like, ‘hmmm, I look weird in that jersey’. And it’s just those thoughts that’s been going through my head. I had a few sleepless nights. There have been a lot of conversations, between me and Mr Venky Mysore, and also Mr Shah Rukh Khan, about another chapter in my IPL journey, and they have shown me respect and love and they appreciate whatever I have been doing in the field and to be in a set-up where I’m familiar, that matters to me a lot.”Russell, who was part of KKR’s title-winning teams in 2014 and 2024, was also the IPL’s Most Valuable Player in 2019. Russell won 16 Player-of-the-Match awards at KKR, only behind Sunil Narine’s mark. And that long association has been strengthened with a position in the team’s support staff as “power coach”.

“So Kolkata, I’ll be back. I’m here now just to say that I’ll be a part of the KKR support staff,” he said. “When I heard that name, you know, coming from Mr Venky, I said, you know, ‘power coach, hmmm’. That describes Dre Russ. That describes Andre Russell, because the power that I possess when I bat, the energy that I show in the field, with the ball in hand, I can help in any department.”Russell made the news public on Sunday, which also is the last day for players to register for the next IPL auction, which will be held in Abu Dhabi on December 16.At KKR, Russell will be part of a new-look back room, to be headed by new coach Abhishek Nayar, who has replaced Chandrakant Pandit. Tim Southee has been appointed bowling coach, Shane Watson has joined as assistant coach, and Dwayne Bravo remains in his capacity as team mentor.8:52

Who saw the Russell release coming?

As for releasing him ahead of the latest auction, the franchise had deliberated the move ahead of the 2025 mega auction too, before deciding to stall that call. Russell had retired from international cricket in July, having only played the T20 format after the 2019 World Cup. Ahead of the 2025 mega auction, Russell was among the five players retained by KKR, for INR 12 crore. But as per the IPL’s retention formula, INR 18 crore was added to KKR’s purse for the 2026 auction once they released Russell.Russell was among the big names released by KKR along with Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and others. KKR will have the strongest purse at the IPL auction with INR 64.3 crore, but with just 12 players currently they have a lot of slots to fill.Russell, 37, has been a constant for the franchise since IPL 2014, after starting out with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2012. A bona fide T20 great, Russell is also a legend of the IPL, one of only two players to score over 2000 runs and pick up 100 wickets in the tournament, Ravindra Jadeja being the other.In 133 appearances for KKR over the years, Russell scored 2593 runs with 12 fifties, and scored at a strike rate of 174.96, hitting 220 sixes along the way. With the ball, he picked up 122 wickets, including three four-wicket hauls, and took 40 catches.

Liverpool agree terms to sign “aggressive” Celtic teenager in first Nancy exit

In an early blow for new manager Wilfried Nancy, Liverpool have now reportedly agreed terms to sign a young Celtic defender.

Nancy outlines "proactive" style as Celtic announce manager

Celtic took their time, but the Bhoys finally have their new manager in the form of Nancy. The Frenchman has arrived fresh from MLS side Columbus Crew and will be looking to pick up where interim boss Martin O’Neill left off. The 73-year-old took the Scottish giants from title despair back into the race with Hearts, but now it’s up to Nancy to complete the job.

Speaking to reporters after arriving, the new manager said: “I don’t consider myself as a boss. I am a leader. And for me the definition of a leader is create a good environment to help people express themselves. For me, that is so important. Because of my background, I was able to connect with people.

“My style of play is about the way I live. I like to be proactive in my life, I like to discover things. I also like to try things because the more you try things, the more you learn and the more you’re going to maximise your chance to have success in your life.

“We want to take care of the ball. The ball is the only tool in our life, without talking, that we can connect people. So can we use the ball to create emotions? Can we use the ball to score goals? Can we use the ball to have messages between us? So that’s why I want proactive football.”

Doak 2.0: Celtic lost "superstar" for £225k, now he's worth more than Engels

Celtic lost a young talent last year who is now valued at more than club-record signing Arne Engels.

1 ByDan Emery 6 days ago

Before the new manager’s even had the chance to look at emerging stars, however, he’s set to lose young defender Dara Jakiemi to Premier League giants Liverpool.

Liverpool agree terms to sign Jakiemi

As reported by The Secret Scout, Liverpool have now agreed terms to sign Jakiemi from Celtic. They described the 15-year-old defender as “aggressive” and there’s no doubt that he would have been one to watch in Scotland. Now, however, Nancy will seemingly never get the chance to work with him.

Whilst Jakiemi is one for the future, it still represents a frustrating blow for Celtic and shows where they’re at right now. Having lost the likes of Ben Doak in previous seasons to Liverpool, the last thing the Bhoys would have wanted is a repeat.

Nancy should be keen to turn towards the academy if given the chance, even if he is to lose one of his young defenders in the early stages of his tenure. An emerging star would, of course, save Celtic the desperate need of adding several January additions.

Celtic star with 'high ceiling' could be biggest winner of Nancy's arrival

West Indies' Test-match batting a symptom of far deeper issues

Head coach Sammy is trying to address some of those but he faces an unimaginably difficult task

Karthik Krishnaswamy07-Oct-20255:49

Bishop: Want WI batters to stop being satisfied with 20s and 30s

If West Indies harboured any hopes of causing a ripple on their two-Test tour of India, those hopes must have largely rested on their pace trio of Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph, who had taken 48 wickets at a combined average of 18.52 in their last Test series before this one, at home against Australia.With both Josephs lost to injury before the series even began, it was no surprise that West Indies looked at no stage of the first Test to be on a level footing with India. They simply didn’t have the bowling to compete with a deep, incisive and varied India attack.Even so, should West Indies really have been bowled out for 162 and 146 on that Ahmedabad pitch? It had an unusual amount of grass for an Indian pitch, but it was still one on which West Indies, winning the toss, chose to bat first, reckoning, probably correctly, that it was still enough of an Indian pitch to make batting fourth significantly harder than batting first.The Test match, in the end, didn’t need a fourth innings at all.Related

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Chase: 'There's a struggle in the Caribbean for finances'

For fans of West Indies, there was a familiar ring to how the batting unravelled. Their totals of 162 and 146 were their 12th and 13th sub-200 totals in their last 15 Test innings. Neither of their innings in Ahmedabad lasted 50 overs – it was the ninth time this had happened in that 15-innings stretch, which also includes one innings that lasted exactly 50 overs. Not once in those 15 innings had West Indies batted out 90 overs, or a full day of Test cricket.Even when you throw in the mitigating factor of tricky batting conditions – both at home against Australia and Bangladesh, and in the dustbowls of Multan, where they drew 1-1 with Pakistan – these are alarming numbers.And they point to a deeper issue in West Indies cricket, a long-running struggle to produce batters ready for Test cricket. Collectively, West Indies batters average 21.83 since the start of 2020. No batting team in Test cricket has done worse.And they have only scored 14 hundreds in 43 Tests, during which their batters have played a combined 867 innings. Their batters have scored centuries, in short, at a rate of approximately one every 62 innings. That rate is also, by far, the worst of any Test team in this decade.

How often batters score centuries is a good indicator of a team’s batting health. If a batter scores hundreds frequently over a five-year period, it means they have the technique, the physical and mental endurance, the awareness of their own game, the strengths and weaknesses of the bowlers they are up against, and the adaptability to bat for long periods in different conditions while keeping the scorecard moving.If you have two or three batters like that, your line-up can keep bowling attacks on the field for longer, and test their wicket-taking depth and stamina. Your own bowlers tend to get more rest between innings, as well as the chance to bowl on pitches that have undergone more wear and tear.Some of the attributes that go into making batters frequent scorers of centuries are innate or developed at an early stage. Many others, however, come with experience: this is why so many batters take time to replicate their Under-19 run-scoring feats in first-class cricket, where they find themselves facing bowlers who won’t give them a boundary ball every second over, who suss out their strengths and weaknesses quickly, and who make sure to bowl and set fields accordingly.The batters’ scoring rate might drop, and this might yield errors either from taking risks to manufacture runs or from lacking the physical and mental endurance to bat time and let runs come at their pace.Roston Chase: “The pitches in the Caribbean are not really batsman-friendly. So guys don’t really bat for long periods and score those big scores”•Associated PressOver time, good young batters learn from these experiences, and learn to construct long innings.Good, balanced pitches that reward skilful, hard-working batters and bowlers play an important role in this. They make sure batters have to develop a good defence to score runs, but they also allow batters to trust their defence. And they allow batters to repeat good processes and turn them into habits.West Indies’ alarming lack of Test centuries over recent years points to a lot of issues, and first-class pitches are one of them. Roston Chase, their captain, pointed this out in his post-match press conference in Ahmedabad.”Yeah, that is [one] of the infrastructure problems that we do have,” he said. “The pitches in the Caribbean are not really batsman-friendly. So guys don’t really bat for long periods and score those big scores. And then, too, the outfields in the Caribbean are really slow. When you hit the ball in the gaps, you probably end up struggling to get two.”Those are just some of the problems that we are faced with in the Caribbean. That’s why you see guys averaging so low.”Kevlon Anderson is the only member of the West Indies squad in India who has a 40-plus first-class average•AFP/Getty ImagesOnly one member of West Indies’ squad in India – Kevlon Anderson, who has only played one Test, and did not play in Ahmedabad – has a 40-plus first-class average. And the squad is a reflection of West Indies’ domestic cricket: since its post-pandemic return in 2022, only five of the top ten run-getters in CWI’s Regional Four-Day Tournament average over 40, and only one of them – Kraigg Brathwaite, recently dropped after playing 100 Tests – over 50.Compare that to the Ranji Trophy, India’s main domestic first-class tournament. Since that tournament’s post-pandemic resumption, also in 2022, none of the top ten run-getters average below 40. Only four of them, in fact, average below 50.This doesn’t mean that the best Indian domestic bowlers are struggling to take wickets. The top ten wicket-takers in the Regional Four-Day Tournament in this period average between 18.80 and 25.01, and the top ten Ranji Trophy wicket-takers between 18.22 and 24.06. Barely any difference.This suggests that while there might be a pitches-and-outfields issue in West Indian first-class cricket, there probably is a batting-quality issue too. And why wouldn’t there be, when so much of the best batting talent in the Caribbean has been funnelled away from first-class cricket and into T20s? The names lost to red-ball cricket are far too many to list here, but here’s an idea for an ESPNcricinfo fan poll: an alternative-reality West Indies top seven in Test cricket in 2025, in a universe where the T20 format never existed.Coach Daren Sammy has brought into or back to Test cricket players who’ve enjoyed white-ball success•Getty ImagesIn the universe we inhabit, West Indies have no choice but to make do with what they have available to them, and in his limited time in charge of the Test team, their head coach Daren Sammy has made an effort to broaden this pool. He has brought into or back to Test cricket players who’ve enjoyed white-ball success for West Indies, such as Chase – he returned as captain after more than two years out of the Test side – Shai Hope, John Campbell, Brandon King and Keacy Carty.In a press conference before this India tour, Sammy revealed he had even tried to sound out Sherfane Rutherford – the last of whose 17 first-class matches came all the way back in 2019 – to see if he might make himself available for this Test assignment.These are signs, perhaps, that Sammy is trying to approach Test-match selection like England do, placing attributes above first-class records, and looking for batters with attacking styles of play. It’s a sound idea in theory, given just how much attacking talent West Indies cricket is blessed with.But try translating it into an actual Test-match line-up. Sammy must face an unimaginably difficult task to get anyone with any stake in the T20 circuit to commit to the Test team for any length of time given all the franchise cricket going on all around the world and all through the year.In the end, there’s only so much a coach and a group of players can do when they’re up against the skewed economics of a sport determined to maintain a dangerous status quo. West Indies’ Test-match batting is a problem, but like so much else in West Indies cricket, it’s a symptom of far deeper issues that extend far beyond that region.

'Absolutely rapid' Wood pushes for first Test selection after injury scare

The fast bowler hit his stride in the Perth nets three days from the start of the Ashes

Vithushan Ehantharajah18-Nov-20257:21

Can Ollie Pope reward England’s faith?

Mark Wood’s chances of playing the first Test against Australia took a positive step forward on Tuesday with a 40-minute spell in the nets at Perth’s Optus Stadium, where the Ashes begins on Friday.Returning from a hamstring scare during the warm-up match against England Lions last week, Wood, left leg heavily strapped, watched on initially as England returned to training after a couple of days off. However, he was soon into meaningful work with the ball, with Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum taking a closer look at their prized asset from the standing umpire’s point-of-view.Related

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Scans clear Mark Wood of hamstring injury

Will this Ashes be the making of Bazball 2.0?

“He was absolutely rapid today, I can tell you that firsthand,” said Jamie Smith, who was one of the batters facing Wood. “He’s definitely one to avoid on the list. He’s near enough full tilt so it’s good signs for us.”England are expected to opt for an all-pace attack on a pitch regarded as one of the fastest in the world. They had their first look at the surface, which was watered yesterday, ahead of training.Wood is a key component of their plan, not just as the quickest in the touring party – and, perhaps, the circuit – but also as the only specialist bowler with previous Ashes tour experience. Wood was the standout quick during the 2021-22 series, taking 17 wickets at 26.64, with a number of batters he troubled still part of the current Australia side.Mark Wood steams in at training•Getty ImagesMuch will depend on how Wood pulls up on Wednesday, and whether he can get through another session later in the day. He has not played competitive cricket since February, spending the last nine months recovering from left knee surgery, having suffered a stress fracture of the right elbow in September 2024.Selecting Wood remains a risk, albeit one that will be cushioned among four other quicks, including Stokes, and with Jofra Archer able to provide further support on the express pace front. It is also a risk England are more than willing to take.The management were not overly worried when Wood left the field against the Lions with a tight hamstring after two four-over spells. The soft outfield at Lilac Hills contributed to that discomfort in what was Wood’s first bowl since England’s penultimate Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan, on February 26. And given the investment in Wood, which includes a three-year central contract with this Ashes in mind, there is a sense now is the time to cash in.Josh Tongue, the likely beneficiary if Wood is deemed unfit for selection, reiterated that sentiment: “It feels like if he’s good to go and the management feels he’s good to go, I don’t see why not.”

Salah will love him: Liverpool looking to hire a “legend” to replace Slot

In an astonishing set of quotes, Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah has thrown his own future at Anfield into doubt after being left on the bench in the 3-3 draw with Leeds United on Saturday.

The Egypt international has been a substitute for the last three matches for the Reds, and has claimed that someone at the club does not want him there.

Salah also revealed that he has told his parents to go to the Brighton game because it is his last match before the African Cup of Nations and that he “doesn’t know what is going to happen” whilst he is there, during the January transfer window.

However, the situation could develop if there is a change in the dugout at Anfield in the coming days or weeks, as the Reds are reportedly looking at potential replacements for Arne Slot.

Liverpool considering Arne Slot replacement

According to Dave OCKOP, Liverpool have their eyes on managers to step in, as an interim or permanent appointment, if they decide to part ways with Slot.

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The Dutch head coach has lost ten of his 23 matches in charge of the club this season, per Transfermarkt, and the Reds are currently eighth in the Premier League with six losses in 15 games.

This latest report claims that Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has been sounded out as a possible candidate to come in as an interim replacement for Slot, should he be sacked.

The English head coach, who has managed Aston Villa and Rangers, is under consideration to take the top job at Anfield, and it is a move that Salah would love.

Why Mo Salah would love Steven Gerrard at Liverpool

Gerrard, who was described as “a true legend of the game” by Xabi Alonso, played 710 matches for the club during his playing days, per Transfermarkt, and scored 186 goals.

Without trying to sound too cliché, the 45-year-old boss is a manager who would ‘get it’ at Liverpool and arrive as a unifying figure who could create a positive mentality at Anfield again, as a personality already loved by supporters.

Salah, in particular, would love it if Gerrard were appointed as Slot’s replacement because he would know that the Englishman respects and rates him incredibly highly.

Speaking earlier this year, Gerrard named Salah as the one player in history that he would have loved to have played with during his playing days.

As you can hear in the clip above, the Liverpool legend also declared the Egyptian as his favourite player in 2023, which is further evidence of the respect that he has for the left-footed superstar.

Al-Ettifaq

55

1.33

Aston Villa

40

1.18

Rangers

192

2.15

Liverpool YL

8

2.25

Liverpool U18

24

1.71

Gerrard, as evidenced by the statistics above, is not a proven top-level manager who has won numerous league titles in the major leagues in Europe, but he did enjoy a good spell with Rangers when tasked with managing a dominant team.

He may not be the long-term solution in the dugout for Liverpool, although you never know, but as an interim appointment to steady the ship and repair the club’s seemingly fractured relationship with Salah, it could make a lot of sense.

Getting Salah, who produced 34 goals and 23 assists last season (Sofascore), back onside and at his best could be a better move than any tactical changes that a manager could make to the system, which is why Gerrard could be a shrewd appointment.

Bringing in a head coach who loves the Egypt international and would want to make him a key member of the team again could solve this problem, which has emerged from these latest quotes from Salah, and bring a feel-good factor back to Anfield.

As bad as Konate: Slot must axe 6/10 Liverpool star who made 0 tackles

Liverpool blew a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 against Leeds United at Elland Road.

ByAngus Sinclair 5 days ago

This could then buy Liverpool time to assess Gerrard’s suitability for the job on a permanent basis, whilst also giving them time to look at and identify a long-term successor to Slot.

'I'll be wearing them' – Smith commits to anti-glare tape in day-night Test

Steven Smith has confirmed he will use the anti-glare strips under his eyes when batting during the day-night Test at the Gabba after some advice from Shivnarine Chanderpaul ensured he was wearing them the correct way up.Smith trained with them under lights in the lead-up to the second Test against England and said he definitely felt a positive impact. However, initially he had not quite used them the way they were designed.”I actually messaged Shivnarine Chanderpaul and asked him what his thoughts were, whether he wore the chalk or the strips,” Smith said. “He said the strips, and he thinks it blocks out 65% of the glare. And he also said, ‘I’ve seen photos and you’re wearing them the wrong way’. So yesterday I put them on the right way.”I agree with him. I think it certainly stops the glare. Yeah, I’ll be wearing them.”Related

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The ‘eye blacks’ – small, black, adhesive strips worn on the cheekbone – that Smith wore in training are commonplace in several American sports, and are designed to reduce the glare from floodlights by absorbing the light that would otherwise reflect off the skin.Smith is known to not be a fan of batting against the pink ball. In day-night Tests he averages 37.04 with one century compared to 58.31 in day matches with 35 hundreds.”It’s hard to bat all the time,” he said of any difference between twilight and complete darkness. “It’s a tricky one. The ball reacts obviously differently to a red one. It can change quickly. It can start moving randomly.”You’ve got to try and play what’s in front of you at that time and when it does shift on you and the ball starts doing something different, you’ve got to try and come up with plans to counter that, whether it be more aggressive, whether it be going to your shell and trying to get through that period. Everyone’s different. It’s trying to be one step ahead when it does start to shift.”Steven Smith wears black tape under his eyes•Getty Images

During the previous day-night Test at the Gabba, when West Indies famously won by eight runs in early 2024, Mitchell Starc commented about how the harder surface at the venue meant the pink ball went softer than it does in Adelaide where extra grass can act as a cushion.”I think Adelaide, the wicket they have down there, it’s quite furry, and the ball can kind of stay harder for longer,” Smith said. “Here it’s obviously renowned to be quite a hard, fast wicket, and it’s difficult to change your characteristics of the wicket. So at times [the ball] can get a little bit soft, and you can see guys batting comfortably at stages. So that’s one thing we have to weigh up going into this game, and see how it plays out.”Amid uncertainty over how Australia would line up for the Test, Smith said they would be open to in-match flexibility around the batting line-up, referencing the possibility of two nightwatchers. But he was not fully buying into the belief of Pat Cummins and Travis Head that batting orders were overrated despite having opened the batting in four Tests in 2024 at his own request, including the last pink-ball game at the Gabba where he carried his bat to finish 91 not out in Australia’s failed fourth innings chase.”I think [with the] pink ball, anything’s possible,” Smith said. “We’ve been pretty open in the past around maybe having two nightwatchmen and things like that, so it’s a completely different game.”You’ve got to play what’s in front of you at any given stage, but I’m not sure I completely agree with those two on the batting orders being overrated. I think it’s nice to be in a similar role and get used to that role over and over again.”So, it can change in games, and maybe that’s the way forward. But having certain spots for one innings and other spots for a second innings, I’m not sure about. I think it’s nice to have a single role and try to get used to that as much as possible.”

What to Know About Chase DeLauter As Guardians Rookie Makes Historic MLB Debut

Chase DeLauter is making some history on Wednesday.

The Guardians have decided to call up their No. 2 prospect to make his first MLB start in Game 2 of their wild-card round matchup with the Detroit Tigers. Trailing 1-0 in the series, Cleveland has added DeLauter to the lineup for a do-or-die game.

DeLauter will start in center field and bat seventh in the lineup. The 23-year-old will become the sixth player in MLB history to make his debut in the postseason. It's a huge move in a big spot for the franchise, but after losing Tuesday's series opener 2-1, the team is looking for a spark. Maybe the rookie can provide it.

Everything you should know about Chase DeLauter

The Guardians selected the 6'3" 235-pound DeLauter with the 16th pick in the first round of the 2022 MLB draft. He was not a highly recruited prep player, but he crushed pitching at James Madison for three years, including posting a 1.404 OPS as a junior. In that season, he slashed .437/.576/.828 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs.

While his college numbers were huge, DeLauter made a name for himself during the 2021 Cape Cod League, where he led the circuit with nine home runs and a .589 slugging percentage. That boosted his stock entering his draft year and led to his selection. He broke his foot midway through the 2022 season, but it didn't hurt his stock. Cleveland inked him to a $3.75 million signing bonus, but he reinjured his foot, stunting his rise.

After making his minor league debut in 2023, DeLauter absolutely raked, which helped him jump three levels in one season. He slashed .355/.417/.528 with five home runs, 22 doubles, and 39 RBIs, reaching Double-A by the end of the campaign. He re-broke his foot in April 2024, and his hitting fell off, but he did reach Triple-A by the end of the season.

In 2025, he opened the season in Triple-A, but underwent surgery for a right hamate fracture and hasn't played since July 11. So far in 2025, he's hitting .264 with a .379 on-base percentage and a .473 slugging percentage, with seven home runs and 24 RBIs in 42 games.

During his three-year career, DeLauter has played only 138 minor league games due to his multiple injuries. Over that time, he's slashing .302/.384/.504 with 20 home runs and 87 RBIs.

MLB Pipeline currently has him ranked as the 54th-best prospect in all of baseball.

It will be quite a jump for DeLauter to go from the injured list to starting an MLB playoff game. The Guardians clearly have faith in him.

MLB Winter Meetings Rumors: Latest on Padres Trade Options, Dodgers' Plans and More

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.

Botafogo x Fluminense: confira informações sobre ingressos do clássico

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo abriu o check-in para o primeiro clássico do Brasileirão no Estádio Nilton Santos. O Alvinegro vai enfrentar o Fluminense, no dia 11 de junho, às 20h.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Fogão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance!

Confira todas as informações sobre os ingressos para Botafogo e Fluminense:

“Ordem de abertura de ingressos no site www.botafogo.com.br/ingressos:
– Plano Glorioso (29/05 – 12h);
– Plano Alvinegro (30/05 – 10h);
– Plano Preto (31/05 – 10h);
– Plano Branco (01/06 -10h);
– Público Geral – Online (06/06 – 12h);
– Venda Física (09/06 – 9h).

SERVIÇO:
Botafogo x Fluminense
Data/Hora: 11/06, às 20h
Estádio: Estádio Nilton Santos
Venda no site: www.botafogo.com.br/ingresso
Abertura dos portões: 18h

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SETORES EM FUNCIONAMENTO:
Leste Inferior, Leste Superior e Oeste Inferior (Botafogo)

ATENÇÃO: O acesso ao estádio será encerrado aos 5 minutos do segundo tempo.

VALORES DOS INGRESSOS

SETOR LESTE INFERIOR
Inteira: R$ 100/ Meia: R$ 50

CAMISA 7
Plano Glorioso – Grátis – Check-in
Plano Alvinegro – Grátis – Check-in
Preto: R$ 40
Branco: R$ 50
OFF Rio: R$ 20

SETOR LESTE SUPERIOR:
Inteira: R$ 60/ Meia: R$ 30

CAMISA 7
Plano Glorioso – Grátis – Check-in
Plano Alvinegro – Grátis – Check-in
Plano Preto: R$ 24
Plano Branco: R$ 30
Plano Alvinegro Off Rio : R$ 12

OESTE INFERIOR

Inteira: R$ 150/ Meia: R$ 75

CAMISA 7

Plano Glorioso – Grátis – Check-in
Plano Alvinegro – Grátis – Check-in
Plano Preto: R$ 60
Plano Branco: R$ 75
Plano Alvinegro Off Rio: R$ 30

ÁREAS PREMIUM (EXCLUSIVO PARA A TORCIDA DO BOTAFOGO)

O Estádio Nilton Santos dispõe de espaços premium para você aproveitar com amigos e família: o Camarote Firezone e a Star Arena Kids. Os novos camarotes oferecem serviços diferenciados como open bar, open food, recreação para a criançada, shows ao vivo e muito mais opções de entretenimento.
Saiba mais informações em:

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Camarote Firezone:camarotefirezone.com.br
Star Arena Kids:camarotearenakids.com.br/star-arena-kids-botafogo

PONTO DE VENDA FÍSICA

ESTÁDIO NILTON SANTOS (Bilheteria Oeste)

Domingo (09/06): de 9h às 17h
Segunda (10/06): de 9h às 17h
Terça (11/06): de 9h às 17h

GENERAL SEVERIANO

Domingo (09/06): de 9h às 17h
Segunda (10/06): de 9h às 17h

IMPORTANTE: NO DIA DA PARTIDA, SE HOUVER INGRESSOS, BILHETERIA DO RESPECTIVO SETOR DE 16h ÀS 20h25

GRATUIDADE

Há gratuidade para crianças (menores de 12 anos), idosos (acima de 60) e Portadores de Necessidades Especiais. Para acesso ao Estádio, será necessária a apresentação dos documentos comprobatórios.

Os beneficiários de gratuidade por lei, que estejam de acordo com os requisitos, poderão realizar o resgate da entrada, nos dias de funcionamento nos pontos de venda do Estádio Nilton Santos e General Severiano, a partir das 9h até o horário de encerramento. Lembrando que os acessos são limitados e há a possibilidade de esgotamento.

Importante: Os setores com acessibilidade destinados aos Portadores de Necessidades Especiais e seus acompanhantes são apenas os setores pertencentes ao anel inferior do Estádio Nilton Santos.

MEIA-ENTRADA

Obrigatório documento que comprova benefício. Documento oficial com foto no momento da compra e no momento do acesso ao Estádio. (Limitado a 40% da carga de ingressos vendáveis.)

BIOMETRIA FACIAL

Torcedores que adquirirem ingresso para o jogo terão a OPÇÃO de acessar o estádio utilizando a biometria facial. Para isso, é ESSENCIAL realizar o cadastro prévio através do site botafogo.com.br/biometria.

ATENÇÃO: O reconhecimento facial ainda NÃO é obrigatório, mas extremamente recomendável. Em breve, o recurso será a única maneira de assistir aos jogos no Nilton Santos.

A tecnologia permite o acesso da torcida alvinegra à nossa casa de forma mais rápida, fácil e segura. Separe um documento com foto e realize seu cadastro em menos de 2 minutos.

ESTACIONAMENTO NORTE 1 (EXCLUSIVO PARA A TORCIDA DO BOTAFOGO)

O estacionamento Norte 1, localizado na Rua das Oficinas. Sócios possuem direito a desconto. O fechamento se dará 1 hora após o término da partida.

A venda antecipada pelo aplicativo da Ingresse vai até 4 horas antes da partida.

Glorioso –  R$30 (Antecipado ou na hora)
Outros planos – Antecipado – R$40 / Na hora – R$50
Não sócios – Antecipado – R$60 / Na hora – R$70″

Tudo sobre

BotafogoBrasileirãoFluminenseFutebol Nacional

مدرب فلسطين: على شعبنا أن يفخر بهذا الجيل.. وأي منتخب نلعب ضده يشجعنا

أبدى إيهاب أبو جزر، المدير الفني لـ منتخب فلسطين، سعادته بالتأهل إلى دور ربع النهائي من بطولة كأس العرب، المقامة حاليًا بدولة قطر 2025.

واستطاع منتخب فلسطين أن يتأهل في صدارة المجموعة الأولى، بعدما حقق فوزًا وتعادلين خلال الـ3 جولات في دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس العرب.

وفاز منتخب فلسطين على قطر 1-0 وتعادل مع تونس 2-2 وتعادل سلبيًا مع سوريا بالجولة الأخيرة.

طالع.. ترتيب المجموعة الأولى من كأس العرب 2025 بعد تعادل فلسطين وسوريا

وقال أبو جزر خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “الكأس”: “مباراة صعبة ومجموعة صعبة، في البداية نهدي هذا الفوز للشعب الفلسطيني ولأهلنا في غزة والخيام، نهديه لكل فلسطين حر وكان يشجع المنتخب بكل حرارة وانتماء، يحق لكم أن تسعدوا بهذا الجيل”.

وأضاف: “فوز مهم وتأهل تاريخي بالنسبة لنا، الهدف من هذه البطولة أن يتجمع العرب، أي منتخب نلعب ضده يشجعنا”.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي منتخب فلسطين مع ثاني المجموعة الثانية التي تضم السعودية والمغرب وعمان وجزر القمر، في دور ربع النهائي من بطولة كأس العرب.

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