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Tigers ace Tarik Skubal wins record $32M arbitration case for 2026 season

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Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal made MLB history Thursday, reportedly winning an arbitration case that will pay him $32 million this season after his team proposed a $19 million salary.

Skubal, who won his second straight American League Cy Young Award in 2025, had a three-person salary arbitration panel rule in his favor, ESPN reported.

Skubal’s victory marks a new salary record awarded to a player in the arbitration system by $1 million. The New York Yankees avoided arbitration with Juan Soto in January 2024, awarding him a $31 million deal for that year.

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Tarik Skubal looks on

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal reacts after giving up a hit against the Minnesota Twins in the fourth inning at Target Field in Minneapolis Aug. 14, 2025. (Jesse Johnson/Imagn Images)

Skubal had a unique position heading into arbitration with five-plus years of service time, while also being able to use the “special accomplishment” clause, which factors in winning Cy Young Awards. It allowed Skubal to compare his proposed salary not just to those who have faced arbitration, but the entire league.

As a result, Skubal could point to pitchers like Zack Wheeler ($42 million), Jacob deGrom ($38 million) and Gerrit Cole ($36 million) heading into 2026.

TIGERS, TARIK SKUBAL FAIL TO REACH DEAL, FACE RECORD $13M SALARY GAP AS TRADE RUMORS SWIRL

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The Tigers’ previous arbitration high was $19.75 million paid out to David Price, another talented left-handed starter for the organization, to avoid a hearing in 2015.  

Tarik Skubal greets his teammates

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal high-fives teammates in the dugout after a pitching change during the seventh inning at Comerica Park in Detroit May 14, 2025. (Junfu Han/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

As for his future, Skubal will become a free agent at the end of the 2026 season, though lots can happen until then. This arbitration victory doesn’t necessarily guarantee he will spend the entire season in Detroit, especially considering the trade rumors that have swirled around the organization.

The Tigers did, however, bolster their chances at repeating as AL Central champions, acquiring veteran left-handed starter Framer Valdez via free agency. They inked a three-year, $115 million deal with Valdez Wednesday, hours before the panel’s decision on Skubal.

Now, Detroit heads into the season with one of the best one-two punches in a starting rotation in all of MLB.

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Tarik Skubal pitches

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal pitches in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park in Detroit Sept. 6, 2025. (Rick Osentoski/Imagn Images)

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After a fantastic 2024 campaign that ended with some much-deserved hardware, Skubal followed it up with an AL-leading 2.21 ERA over 195⅓ innings in 31 starts. He also struck out 241 batters, 13 more than his league-leading mark the previous year.

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Moses Itauma names who he wanted to face next after brutal Franklin KO: “He’s not available”

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Moses Itauma has already started plotting his future following his victory over Jermaine Franklin.

Itauma extended his unbeaten record to 14-0 with a fifth round knockout win over Franklin at Co-Op Live in Manchester, doing something that Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte were unable to do by stopping the American inside the distance.

It was a dominant performance from the Brit, first knocking down Franklin in round three before securing the win two rounds later with a massive uppercut that sent his rival face flat onto the canvas.

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Attention has already turned to who Itauma could face next, but the 21-year-old has admitted that his ideal opponent isn’t achievable.

Speaking in his post-fight interview, Itauma revealed that he would have liked to face Filip Hrgovic next, but will now be unable to do so after the Croatian instead agreed to take on British rival Dave Allen.

“If I’m completely honest I wanted the Hrgovic fight but he’s boxing Dave Allen. We’ll go back to the drawing board and see who’s available and we’ll be back out soon.”

Hrgovic has claimed wins over Joe Joyce and David Adeleye in his last two contests, and will look to make it three straight wins over British opponents when he meets Allen at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster on May 16.

While a fight with Hrgovic seemingly won’t be next, Itauma’s promoter Frank Warren insisted it will be a noteworthy bout.

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“He’ll be out again probably in July. He’s number one in the WBO and number one in the WBA. There’s a lot of fights happening in the next few months and don’t worry we’ll sort something out. It will be a big fight. He’s a big name and he’s a big fighter.”

A solid option for Itauma’s next bout is instead WBA Regular champion Murat Gassiev, who earned the belt with a win over Kubrat Pulev back in December.

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NHL roundup: Flyers beat Stars in OT as East playoff race tightens up

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PHILADELPHIA — Trevor Zegras wristed a sharp-angle shot past Casey DeSmith with 1:33 remaining in overtime, leading hard-charging Philadelphia to a victory over slumping Dallas.

Travis Konecny scored in regulation for the Flyers, who are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. With 86 points, they pulled within two of both Columbus — which is in the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference — and Pittsburgh — which is in third place in the Metropolitan Division. Samuel Ersson made 17 saves.

Rookie Arttu Hyry, playing his sixth game since being recalled from Dallas’ AHL affiliate, scored the lone goal for the Stars, who are in second place in the Central Division but have lost five of their last six. DeSmith finished with 28 saves.

NEW YORK — Adam Sykora broke a scoreless tie early in the third period and Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves and the New York Rangers defeated the Florida Panthers 3-1 on Sunday.

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Sykora, a rookie who was a second-round pick in 2022, scored his second goal of the season at 5:10, tipping Adam Fox’s shot past Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

Conor Sheary then scored his fifth of the season — on a short-handed breakaway — at 11:14 before Fox added an empty-netter at 16:06.

Sykora also scored in the Rangers’ 6-1 win against Chicago on Friday. The Rangers are just 11-18-7 at home this season.

Florida’s Mackie Samoskevich scored with 40.2 seconds left to end Shesterkin’s shutout bid.

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NASHVILLE — Jake Guentzel had a goal and two assists while Corey Perry broke a third-period tie to give Tampa Bay a victory against Nashville to move into first place in the Atlantic Division.

Brandon Hagel also scored for the Lightning, who improved to 6-0-2 in the past eight games. Guentzel has scored in four consecutive games.

Jonas Johansson finished with 29 saves.

Joakim Kemell and Filip Forsberg scored for the Predators who hold the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference despite three consecutive losses. Justus Annunen finished with 25 saves.

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CANADIENS 3, HURRICANES 1

RALEIGH, N.C. — Nick Suzuki scored two goals and had an assist to lead Montreal to a win over Carolina.

Suzuki fueled a three-goal second period for the Canadiens, who have won five straight and won all three regular-season games against the Eastern Conference-leading Hurricanes.

Cole Caufield added a goal and assist for Montreal and goalie Jakub Dobes made 34 saves in his third win of the season over the Hurricanes.

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Andrei Svechnikov scored for the Hurricanes, and Frederik Andersen stopped 15 shots.

BRUINS 4, BLUE JACKETS 3, SO

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Viktor Arvidsson scored the decisive goal in the shootout and had three assists in the third period as Boston rallied from a three-goal, third-period deficit to defeat Columbus.

It is the ninth time in franchise history the Bruins have posted a three-goal, third-period comeback, and the first since March 13, 2018, when they defeated Carolina 6-4.

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Fraser Minten also scored in the shootout for the Bruins, who have won three straight and five of six. The victory also kept Boston in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 92 points.

Pavel Zacha had two power-play goals — including the tying score with 11 seconds remaining — and an assist while Charlie McAvoy had a goal and an assist. Jeremy Swayman stopped 21 shots.

NEWARK, N.J. — Dougie Hamilton and Jack Hughes scored 19 seconds apart late in the third period and Jake Allen made 28 saves as New Jersey rallied to defeat Chicago.

With New Jersey trailing 3-2, Hamilton scored at 14:32 before Hughes scored at 14:51 to put the home team ahead and electrify the Prudential Center crowd. Hughes — who also had two assists — added his 22nd goal of the season into an empty net with 31 seconds left.

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Connor Brown and Simon Nemec also scored for New Jersey, which has won six of its last eight games.

With the Blackhawks on a 5-on-3 advantage, Frank Nazar rifled a pass from Connor Bedard past Allen at 10:51 of the third for his second goal of the night. Ilya Mikheyev also scored for Chicago, which ended its four-game trip with a third-straight loss after resounding defeats to the Flyers and Rangers.

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Aryna Sabalenka tops Coco Gauff to secure Miami crown and Sunshine Double | Other Sports News

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Aryna Sabalenka beat Coco Gauff in the Miami Open women’s singles final 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 on Saturday.


The world No. 1 overpowered fourth-ranked Gauff in the first and third sets with sizzling groundstroke winners and became the first player to accomplish the “Sunshine Double” – winning Indian Wells followed by Miami in the same season – since Iga Swiatek in 2022.


It was Sabalenka’s second straight title at the Miami Open, Gauff’s hometown tournament, and put her ahead of Gauff in their head-to-head record, 7-6.


“You’ve pushed me to be a better player,” Sabalenka said during the ceremony, before adding about the crowd, “You always bring a full stadium.” 
The match lasted 2 hours, 11 minutes and ended on Gauff getting broken for the fourth time with a wide backhand.

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Gauff fought back to force the third set, but couldn’t maintain the momentum she appeared to get from the deafening crowd supporting her.


“It sucks not to come out with a better result but I had a lot of joy this week,” Gauff said to the crowd. “You guys brought energy every day this week.” 
Sabalenka at times was frustrated by the fan noise, including when someone yelled “out” during a long rally. She used a curse word at the fan and the chair umpire warned the crowd, but also gave a code violation to Sabalenka.


“I shouldn’t be that rude, but come on, you cannot do that,” Sabalenka said at the ceremony. “So let’s agree we were both wrong, so sorry.” 
Gauff’s off-and-on serve created seven double faults while Sabalenka registered none.

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Sabalenka broke Gauff in the first game of the third set, helped by a Gauff double fault and an unforced error. On break point, Sabalenka crunched a backhand winner.


“I was disappointed about that first game of the third set up 30-0 with momentum,” Gauff said. “It was an important game to win in that moment.” 
The match was attended by Kai Trump, President Donald Trump’s granddaughter and a golfer at the University of Miami. She posted a photo with Sabalenka at the tournament on social media Friday.


Sabalenka, who earned her 24th pro title, said before the match she was happy Gauff had found her best tennis in her home tournament at which she had never gotten past the fourth round.

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Amnesty warns 2026 World Cup across North American risks becoming ‘stage for repression’

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Amnesty International warned this summer’s football World Cup, spread across three North American countries, risks becoming a “stage for repression” in a report published Monday.

The London-based human rights organisation’s report — “Humanity Must Win” — called on both FIFA and host countries the US, Canada and Mexico to take urgent action to protect fans, players and other communities.

FIFA has promised a tournament where everyone “feels safe, included and free to exercise their rights”. 

But Amnesty said that pledge sits in “stark contrast” to conditions on the ground in all three host nations, especially the US, which hosts three-quarters of the 104 matches.

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Amnesty described the US as facing a “human rights emergency” under the Trump administration, marked by mass deportations, arbitrary arrests and what it called “paramilitary-style” Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.

The acting director of ICE said last month the agency will be “a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup”. 

This comes despite anger at the killing of two American citizens who were protesting aggressive ICE raids in Minneapolis in January.

Read moreIran ‘negotiating’ with FIFA over moving World Cup games from US to Mexico

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‘Pay the price’

Amnesty said none of the published host city plans address how fans or local communities will be protected from ICE operations.

Fans from four nations taking part this summer — Ivory Coast, Haiti, Iran and Senegal — face US travel bans and LGBTQ+ fan groups from England and across Europe have said they will not attend matches in the US, citing risks to transgender supporters in particular.

“This World Cup is very far from the ‘medium risk’ tournament that FIFA once judged it to be, and urgent efforts are needed to bridge the growing gap between the tournament’s original promise and today’s reality,” the report said.

FIFA said earlier this month the 48-team tournament — the biggest World Cup in history — will proceed “as scheduled” with all teams taking part, despite uncertainty over Iran‘s presence due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

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The global football governing body, which has been heavily criticised over its decision to award a newly created “Peace Prize” to President Trump in December 2025, stands to earn $11 billion from the tournament cycle.

“While FIFA generates record revenues from the 2026 World Cup, fans, communities, players, journalists and workers cannot be made to pay the price,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty’s head of economic and social justice.

“It is these people — not governments, sponsors or FIFA — to whom football belongs, and their rights must be at the centre of the tournament.” 

The World Cup kicks off on June 11 at the Mexico City Stadium with the final scheduled for July 19 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

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(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

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UConn stuns Duke in Elite Eight matchup

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The UConn Huskies needed to dig themselves out of a hole in the second half against the Duke Blue Devils, and behind Braylon Mullins’ clutch 3-pointer and Tarris Reed Jr.’s high-percentage scoring, they were able to pull off an incredible comeback victory to advance to the Final Four.

The Huskies were able to effectively pressure the Blue Devils into a turnover with less than seven seconds left. Caden Boozer had his pass deflected and the ball got into Mullins’ hands.

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Braylon Mullins celebrates

UConn guard Braylon Mullins (24) celebrates after a basket against Duke during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington.  (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Braylon Mullins with his teammates

UConn guard Braylon Mullins, right, celebrates his game winning basket with guard Malachi Smith (0) during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Duke, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington.  (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

The freshman was well beyond the 3-point line when he chucked up the ball. His prayer was answered as the ball went through the back of the net. UConn’s 19-point comeback was complete as the Huskies’ bench jumped in jubilation.

UConn was able to get the ball into Reed many times over the course of the game and for nearly half of the second half, the Huskies were in the bonus. Reed finished with 26 points on 10-of-16 from the field with nine rebounds. He was 6-of-9 from the free-throw line.

MICHIGAN ROUTS TENNESSEE TO WIN REGIONAL FINAL, ENTER NCAA MEN’S FINAL FOUR

Duke's Dame Sarr celebrates a basket

Duke guard Dame Sarr celebrates a basket against UConn during the first half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington.  (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Duke was up three points with 28 seconds to go. UConn guard Silas Demary Jr. was fouled and went to the free-throw line for two shots. He missed the first and made the second. The second free throw enabled UConn to set up its press defense and force the turnover in the end.

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The Huskies outscored the Blue Devils 44-28 in the second half after being down 44-29 in the first half.

Cameron Boozer led Duke with 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Tarris Reed Jr dunks the ball

UConn forward Tarris Reed Jr. (5) dunks during the second half against Duke in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Washington.  (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

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UConn is back in the Final Four for the third time in three years. The Huskies will be looking to get back to the national championship after winning two titles in the last three years. UConn will take on Illinois and Michigan will go up against Arizona in the Final Four.

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Fans slam Bubba Wallace for causing a 15-car wreck at Martinsville

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Bubba Wallace was at the center of the biggest wreck of the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway. Fans online reacted strongly after a late-race crash triggered by the 23XI Racing driver caused a multi-car pileup and ended the race for three cars.

Wallace spent much of the race hovering around the middle of the field, struggling to move forward on a track where passing often comes down to tight, physical racing. Martinsville’s nature means bumpers are constantly in play, especially in congested traffic. But this time, what initially looked like routine contact escalated.

Wallace made repeated contact with Carson Hocevar while entering Turn 4 and through the corner. With limited space on the outside lane, Hocevar was forced up into Zane Smith. The contact sent Smith hard into the outside wall and triggered a stack-up behind. Within seconds, the track had over a dozen cars piled in with nowhere to go.

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The crash involved Austin Dillon, Daniel Suarez, Chris Buescher, Erik Jones, Connor Zilisch, Riley Herbst, and others. Wallace spun in the incident, ending his race along with Herbst and Ty Dillon. Smith retired initially but returned later. The incident drew strong reactions from fans online, many of whom placed the blame squarely on the No. 23 driver.

Some comments on X did not hold back, pointing to what they felt was excessive aggression from Bubba Wallace in a tight corner.

“Bubba Wallace, what an F-ing joke,” a fan wrote.

Bubba Wallace, what an F-ing joke.

“Retard wrecks half the field bc he got passed,” another one commented.

Retard wrecks half the field bc he got passed.

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Others echoed the sentiments.

“Didn’t mean to?? He plowed him 4 times in 1 turn 🤣🤣,” someone wrote.

Didn’t mean to?? He plowed him 4 times in 1 turn 🤣🤣

“Bullsh*t, he hit him three times. What a disgrace,” another one chimed in.

Bullsh*t, he hit him three times. What a disgrace.

“Awww little man baby, trying to avoid a penalty. Nice try. Can’t wait to see what that penalty is,” a fan tweeted.

“Awww little man baby, trying to avoid a penalty. Nice try. Can’t wait to see what that penalty is.”

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Others questioned whether the move was avoidable, especially given the lack of space Carson Hocevar had on the outside. While the language varied, the overall sentiment remained consistent, as many viewed it as a preventable incident.


Bubba Wallace reacts after crash ends his race early: “I misjudged”

Bubba Wallace (23), Ross Chastain (1), and Carson Hocevar - Cook Out 400. Source: GettyBubba Wallace (23), Ross Chastain (1), and Carson Hocevar - Cook Out 400. Source: Getty
Bubba Wallace (23), Ross Chastain (1), and Carson Hocevar – Cook Out 400. Source: Getty

After being released from the infield care center, Bubba Wallace addressed the incident and accepted responsibility for the contact with Carson Hocevar. His explanation pointed to a misjudgment rather than intent, though the result had already reshaped the race.

“I misjudged. I didn’t appreciate the three-wide in (Turn) 1 fine, and then I misjudged the center of the corner. Didn’t mean to turn him… What a frustrating day, man,” he said.

Wallace also reflected on the expectations heading into Martinsville, a track he has often considered one of his better opportunities.

“So much expectation coming here, favorite track, Hardee’s on the car. Just wasn’t the day we wanted. We really really have to figure out what it is at this place. We can win Saturday in practice, just don’t show up on Sundays. I hate it for our team,” he added.

It marked another setback for Bubba Wallace in what has otherwise been a strong start to the season. The 23XI Racing No. 23 finished inside the top 11 in the first five races. However, a DNF at Darlington followed by this crash at Martinsville has now dropped him nine places in the standings.