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The Open distant fourth among majors with $17.75M prize pool
Jul 13, 2026; Southport, England; The Claret Jug on display at the driving range during a practice round for The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images While the Claret Jug that is handed to the winner of The Open Championship remains one of the most respected trophies in golf, the payouts for the tournament are lacking among sport’s four majors.
The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, will hand out $17.75 million in prize money on Sunday.
The Masters and U.S. Open each handed out $22.5 million in prize money this year, while the PGA Championship had a $20.5 million purse. Of those three events, the U.S. Open had the biggest increase from 2025, adding $1 million.
The Open Championship increased its purse this year by $750,000, but that number is behind all three of the other majors.
Prize money for PGA Tour and DP World Tour events has increased steadily since the advent of LIV Golf in 2022.
LIV is paying out $32.3 million at each of its tournaments this year but recently lost its prime source of funding when Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced it would no longer bankroll the tour.
The winner of The Open Championship, which tees off Thursday, will receive $3.2 million. That sum is up $100,000 from last year.
Rory McIlroy earned $4.5 million for winning The Masters in April, while Aaron Rai took home $3.69 million for winning the PGA Championship in May and Wyndham Clark earned $4.5 million for winning the U.S. Open in June.
–Field Level Media
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Senior League Softball World Series schedule 2026: Scores, times, channels to watch every game
Senior League Softball World Series schedule 2026: Scores, times, channels to watch every game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Delaware plays host to the nation’s best 13-to-16-year-old softball players this week.
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The 2026 Senior League Softball World Series brings 10 teams to the Lower Sussex Little League Complex for tournament play beginning Monday, Aug. 3, and running through the championship game on Sunday, Aug. 9.
Delaware D3 hosts a Pool A that also features teams from the Philippines, Pennsylvania, Brazil and Texas, while Pool B is stacked with squads from Canada, Michigan, Czechia, South Carolina and Hawaii. The 10-team field plays round-robin within its pool before crossing over into a single-elimination bracket.
Here’s everything you need to know about watching the 2026 Senior League Softball World Series.
Where to watch Senior League Softball World Series
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The 2026 Senior League Softball World Series won’t air on broadcast TV. Every game will instead stream live on the ESPN app.
Senior League Softball World Series schedule
The 2026 Senior League Softball World Series begins on Monday, Aug. 3, and concludes on Sunday, Aug. 9. All games will take place at the Lower Sussex Little League Complex in Lower Sussex, Delaware. Times below are listed in Eastern time.
Monday, Aug. 3
|
Game |
Pool |
Matchup |
Time (ET) |
Watch |
|
Game 1 |
A |
Delaware D3 9, East 5 |
— |
— |
|
Game 2 |
B |
Canada 10, Southeast 0 |
— |
— |
|
Game 3 |
B |
Central vs. West |
8:30 p.m. |
|
|
Game 4 |
A |
Latin America vs. Southwest |
8:30 p.m. |
ESPN app |
Tuesday, Aug. 4
|
Game |
Pool |
Matchup |
Time (ET) |
Watch |
|
Game 5 |
B |
West vs. Canada |
2 p.m. |
|
|
Game 6 |
B |
Southeast vs. Central |
2 p.m. |
ESPN app |
|
Game 7 |
A |
Latin America vs. Asia-Pacific |
5 p.m. |
ESPN app |
|
Game 8 |
B |
Southeast vs. Europe-Africa |
5 p.m. |
ESPN app |
|
Game 9 |
A |
East vs. Asia-Pacific |
8 p.m. |
ESPN app |
|
Game 10 |
A |
Southwest vs. Delaware D3 |
8 p.m. |
ESPN app |
Wednesday, Aug. 5
|
Game |
Pool |
Matchup |
Time (ET) |
Watch |
|
Game 11 |
B |
Europe-Africa vs. West |
5 p.m. |
|
|
Game 12 |
B |
Canada vs. Central |
5 p.m. |
ESPN app |
|
Game 13 |
A |
Delaware D3 vs. Latin America |
8 p.m. |
ESPN app |
|
Game 14 |
A |
Asia-Pacific vs. Southwest |
8 p.m. |
ESPN app |
Thursday, Aug. 6
|
Game |
Pool |
Matchup |
Time (ET) |
Watch |
|
Game 15 |
B |
West vs. Southeast |
2 p.m. |
|
|
Game 16 |
A |
Asia-Pacific vs. Delaware D3 |
2 p.m. |
ESPN app |
|
Game 17 |
A |
Southwest vs. East |
5 p.m. |
ESPN app |
|
Game 18 |
B |
Central vs. Europe-Africa |
5 p.m. |
ESPN app |
|
Game 19 |
A |
East vs. Latin America |
8 p.m. |
ESPN app |
|
Game 20 |
B |
Europe-Africa vs. Canada |
8 p.m. |
ESPN app |
Friday, Aug. 7
|
Game |
Matchup |
Time (ET) |
Watch |
|
Game 21 |
No. 2 Pool A vs. No. 3 Pool B |
11 a.m. |
|
|
Game 22 |
No. 2 Pool B vs. No. 3 Pool A |
2 p.m. |
ESPN app |
|
Game 23 |
No. 1 Pool B vs. No. 4 Pool A |
5 p.m. |
ESPN app |
|
Game 24 |
No. 1 Pool A vs. No. 4 Pool B |
8 p.m. |
ESPN app |
Saturday, Aug. 8 — Semifinals
|
Game |
Matchup |
Time (ET) |
Watch |
|
Game 25 |
Winner of Game 21 vs. Winner of Game 23 |
5 p.m. |
|
|
Game 26 |
Winner of Game 22 vs. Winner of Game 24 |
8 p.m. |
ESPN app |
Sunday, Aug. 9 — Championship
|
Game |
Matchup |
Time (ET) |
Watch |
|
Game 27 |
Winner of Game 25 vs. Winner of Game 26 |
3 p.m. |
Senior League Softball World Series teams
There are 10 teams split into two pools competing in the 2026 Senior League Softball World Series.
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Pool A
|
Region |
Team |
Location |
|
Asia-Pacific |
Bulacan LL |
Malolos, Philippines |
|
Delaware D3 |
Georgetown LL |
Georgetown, Delaware |
|
East |
Conneaut Lake Area LL |
Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania |
|
Latin America |
Cantareira LL |
São Paolo, Brazil |
|
Southwest |
Northwest LL |
San Antonio, Texas |
Pool B
|
Region |
Team |
Location |
|
Canada |
On Field LLS LL |
Repentigny, Quebec |
|
Central |
Michigan District 4 |
Grand Blanc, Michigan |
|
Europe-Africa |
Czech Republic District 01 LL |
Prague, Czechia |
|
Southeast |
Irmo LL |
Irmo, South Carolina |
|
West |
Honolulu LL |
Honolulu, Hawaii |
Sports
BCCI Selectors Left Red-Faced Over Jasprit Bumrah’s Unavailability, Centre of Excellence Faces Question
A glaring communication disconnect between the Centre of Excellence’s (CoE) sports science and medical team and the senior national men’s selection committee has come into sharp focus once again, with Jasprit Bumrah‘s absence from the Test series against Sri Lanka emerging as the latest example. It has been learnt that the national selection committee was initially made to believe that Bumrah would be available for the Sri Lanka series, starting August 15, before it was realised that his injury was more serious than expected.
There was a virtual meeting between the top officials of the CoE, including VVS Laxman, and the head of the selection committee, Ajit Agarkar, on Monday to discuss the injury management issue concerning centrally contracted players.
While injuries are part and parcel of sport, the performance of the sports science team at the state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence, with all modern amenities available, hasn’t been something to write home about.
The BCCI has been without an official head of sports science since Nitin Patel’s exit, and the department’s recent functioning suggests it has done little to justify the vacuum at the top.
Hence, the focus is on CoE’s interim head of sports science, Dhananjay Kaushik, who is currently running the show at the Bengaluru High Performance Centre.
While his credentials are beyond doubt, questions have emerged over the rehabilitation timelines being set for players and whether the prescribed ‘Return to Play’ protocols are being adhered to consistently in every case.
In the case of Harshit Rana, the question remains: how did the sports science team declare him fit when he was distinctly overweight, which once again led to the recurrence of his hamstring injury? There was a popular T20 specialist batter from one of the southern states who was reportedly “overweight” when he arrived in England. However, every India player reports to the CoE for mandatory tests before a tour. Why didn’t the CoE flag that particular batter? Washington Sundar‘s fitness has also been pretty dodgy, and this is not the first time that he has had hamstring issues, which is a worrying trend for a young spinner. Did the sports science team take cognisance of Washington’s repeated breakdowns? The question also arises as to whether Nitish Kumar Reddy got a green light from the CoE and BCCI to train independently under freelance fast-bowling coach Stefan Jones to increase his bowling speed from the late 120 kmph range to the mid-130s. Did the sudden increase in speed affect Reddy’s hamstring?
“The safest thing is to rule a player out, but is the current sports science staff at the CoE doing enough to get top players back on the park on time? Selectors were assured that Bumrah would be available for at least one Test.
“Now they have been informed that Sai Sudharsan is batting in the nets for 75 minutes and is showing signs of a good recovery after suffering a foot injury. But what if selectors are later told that Sai won’t be fit in time for the first Test against Sri Lanka?” a BCCI official tracking developments at the CoE told PTI on condition of anonymity.
Will Kamlesh Jain’s performance be part of the BCCI review?
Another person whose role is being re-evaluated is Indian team physio Kamlesh Jain. The former Bengal Ranji Trophy team physio, who later worked at the NCA and with the India A team, has been with the national side for close to five years and is known to be very popular with the players.
But with a spate of injuries rocking the Indian team, it is understood that his role in the Team India set-up is also being reviewed.
A review meeting is on the cards following the England debacle, and it won’t be surprising if Kamlesh Jain’s role is also discussed and deliberated upon by the men who matter.
It is understood that head coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of selectors Agarkar are waiting for the BCCI review meeting, which will also involve CoE Head of Cricket VVS Laxman and secretary Devajit Saikia (as convenor).
Now that Gambhir will be in Sri Lanka for the next three weeks, it is not known whether the proposed review meeting will take place physically or virtually.
There is also a question as to why the meeting wasn’t held in July when both Gambhir and Agarkar were in India and available for a face-to-face discussion with the BCCI secretary
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a press release)
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Rookie edge rusher tries out for Steelers
The Steelers hosted edge rusher Terrell Tilmon for a visit Monday, PennLive’s Nick Farabaugh reported.
Undrafted in 2026, Tilmon posted a 6.70 RAS coming out of college. The 6’4, 242-pound outside linebacker reportedly ran a 4.72-second 40-yard dash pre-draft.
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Tilmon spent the final three years of his college career at Texas Tech, where he played under now-Steelers outside linebackers coach C.J. Ah You. Tilmon was also a tryout player at Steelers rookie minicamp in the spring.
Tilmon was a rotational player with the Red Raiders. He recorded eight total tackles in 2025 and one sack, finishing his college career with 5.5 in total. He played notable special teams snaps on kickoff return, kickoff coverage, punt return and punt coverage teams for much of his time with Texas Tech.
The Steelers have not immediately signed Tilmon following his tryout. Reports indicate he was the only player Pittsburgh worked out Monday.
The Steelers will resume their second week of training camp Tuesday.
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The Vikings Play it Cautious with Young Speed Demon as Camp Gets Physical

Rookie running back Demond Claiborne is in town to put a fright into the opposition due to his blistering speed. Unfortunately, he’s sorting through some early bumps and bruises, leading to time away from the main action so he can return to full health.
Kevin Seifert of ESPN was among those to make note of the Vikings’ runner working off to the side: “Running back Demond Claiborne is in full pads but running on the rehab field during the early part of practice.”
Similarly, Warren Ludford of Daily Norseman noted that Claiborne was mostly off to the side, explaining, “Claiborne present but not participating – baseball cap on.”
On the most basic level, seeing the kid lose reps isn’t a great sign. What’s encouraging, though, is that he’s out there. Clearly, he can’t be hurting too much. Some work is better than no work. Consider, as well, that Minnesota just moved on from a depth runner before adding a corner. In all likelihood, the Vikings would have snagged some fresh legs if there was major concern inside TCO Performance Center for when the rookie could come back.
The Vikings Keep Young Fella Off to Side in 1st Padded Practice
Best guess as of early August is that Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason are going to get the meatiest portion of the workload. Mason, in particular, looks like somebody who could explode.
There’s then the presence of rookie fullback Max Bredeson, somebody who is inspiring a lot of optimism in the Twin Cities. The Vikings believe that the Michigan blocker can do good things early in his career. Quite possibly, the move will be to ask the rookie to line up in the backfield, inline as a tight end, and in the slot. He, too, is going to be a crucial piece of the puzzle for the ground attack, albeit as somebody who doesn’t carry the ball very often (if at all).

The Vikings are leaning on Claiborne to be a bolt of lightning, a quick flash to ignite the field as he chews up yards fast. He’ll need to get healthy to do so.
Last year, Claiborne offered the Wake Forest Demon Deacons some excellent football. His final stats show 179 carries for 907 yards and 10 touchdowns. The 5.1 yards-per-carry average is very healthy. Proving capable of replicating that level of production as a pro will mean that Claiborne has a long NFL career.
Claiborne’s job as a rookie is to function as the RB3. Can he turn a screen into an explosive gain? Maybe turn the corner on an outside toss?
But then there’s another path toward touching the football: as a kickoff returner. In college, Claiborne brought 22 kickoffs back for a total of 579 yards and 2 scores. Pretty tidy.
Kevin O’Connell keeps vowing that the Vikings are going to offer up a reinvigorated ground attack in 2026. In the past, the skipper has said something similar, so some skepticism is warranted. What’s clear is that the Vikings like the rookie runner, as evidenced by their willingness to trade up into the 6th to pick him. He has a path toward early touches, even if the workload is likely to be modest initially.

The Vikings tend to be careful with injury, preferring to play things pretty cautiously rather than rush somebody back. Look for Minnesota to try to thread the needle. Claiborne’s injury doesn’t appear too serious, so the hope is that he’ll get back in action sooner rather than later.
Claiborne, 22, can hopefully get going in practice before too long.
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USA cricketer Akhilesh Reddy handed 8-year ban by ICC for corruption offences | Cricket News
USA cricketer Bodugum Akhilesh Reddy has been banned from all forms of cricket for eight years after being found guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Code.According to a press release from the ICC, the 26-year-old’s punishment is linked to corruption during the 2025 Abu Dhabi T10 tournament in the UAE. The ban has been backdated to November 21, 2025, when he was provisionally suspended. The ICC, which was overseeing anti-corruption matters for the tournament on behalf of the Emirates Cricket Board, found him guilty on three counts.According to the ICC, Reddy violated: “Article 2.1.1: Attempting to fix, contrive or otherwise influence improperly, or being party to an agreement or effort to fix or contrive in any way or otherwise influence improperly, the result, progress, conduct or other aspect of matches in the ADT10 2025.“Article 2.1.4: Soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating (or attempting to do the former) another Participant to breach Article 2.1.1 of the Code in one or more Matches in the ADT10 2025.“Article 2.4.7: Obstructing the DACO’s investigation through deletion of data and messages from a mobile device which may have been relevant to the DACO’s investigation.”
How the case unfolded
The case relates to an incident on November 19, 2025, before the opening match of the Aspin Stallions. The tribunal found that Reddy approached a teammate, identified as ‘Player A’, and asked him to “give runs” while bowling, allegedly on the instructions of team management.After the teammate refused and reported the approach to the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit, he was dropped from the playing XI. Investigators also found that Reddy deleted WhatsApp chats and call logs with the player before the probe. Although he claimed it was routine “data hygiene,” the tribunal ruled that he had deliberately destroyed evidence.Reddy has played four T20Is for the USA, claiming one wicket. The verdict was delivered by a three-member ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal.
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Aaron Rodgers blasts Fauci for pleading the Fifth at Senate hearing
Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment 111 times in hearing
Former federal prosecutor Jonathan Fahey discusses Dr. Anthony Fauci’s congressional testimony where he invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times while facing questions related to his personal diary and the COVID-19 pandemic.
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A simple question from Pat McAfee led Pittsburgh Steelers four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers to unload on Dr. Anthony Fauci, mocking the former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for recently invoking the Fifth Amendment during a Senate hearing this past week.
“Can you tell us about your mindset coming into your last season?” McAfee asked.
The ESPN personality couldn’t have guessed where the four-time NFL MVP was about to take this.
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Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers stands for the national anthem before the AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Jan. 12, 2026. (Getty Images)
“I’m gonna plead the Fifth,” Rodgers said, as McAfee and the Steelers fans watching at training camp laughed in unison, “like that absolute coward Tony Fauci. Absolute coward. Are you kidding me? You get a pardon and you’re and you pleaded over 100 times at the White House? What are you scared of, Tony? I thought you were the science. ‘I am science,’ and you get up there and can’t answer a question? What are we doing?”
Rodgers is referencing an infamous remark by Fauci during a 2021 interview, where he defended his public health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying “I am the science.”
PAT MCAFEE POKES FUN AT ANTHONY FAUCI PLEADING THE FIFTH AMENDMENT LIVE ON ESPN
Fauci pled the Fifth 111 times during a Senate hearing, on the advice of his attorneys, to answer questions from the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. He was questioned over his response to the pandemic and his policy decisions, where the former White House COVID advisor was accused of funding gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China.
Paul argued Fauci using the Fifth Amendment was unsupported because former President Joe Biden, whom Fauci advised during the pandemic, pardoned him. Paul said the committee will vote this week on a resolution to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress.
“Spending the entire time writing in his diary about how fun it is to be famous. You gotta be kidding me,” Rodgers’ diatribe continued. “What are you going to say about me now? Seriously, what are they going to say about me now? Now, you can’t talk about the COVID stuff because obviously it was made in a lab in China. That’s like not even questionable anymore. Tony Fauci is an absolute criminal.
“It’s been a great life and a great career, and it’s nice to be sitting on this side now especially after that coward pled the Fifth over 100 times. I thought you had a pardon there, Tony. Why couldn’t you answer one question the entire time?”

Former NIH Director Anthony Fauci listens during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on July 29, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Fauci declined to answer questions, asserting his Fifth Amendment right. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
But Rodgers wasn’t just airing out his grievances with Fauci, which he’s had many since the days of the pandemic. He pointed the finger directly at the network he was being interviewed on.
No matter how McAfee and his supporting cast tried to get the conversation back on track, Rodgers took aim at ESPN, the sports network giant which airs “The Pat McAfee Show” daily.
Rodgers was vilified for his own 2021 COVID saga, where his “immunized” remark in August, months prior to testing positive for COVID-19 in November of that season, led to immediate backlash in the media.
SEN RAND PAUL QUESTIONS WHETHER FAUCI’S INVOKING THE FIFTH AMENDMENT WAS VALID AFTER BIDEN PARDON
“How much time did the network spend on that? How much time did they spend on my responses every week? On my vaccination status? On Taylor’s [Swift] and Travis’ [Kelce] wedding? Did they do even a minute on Tony Fauci? No, I bet they didn’t,” Rodgers said on Monday.
Rodgers even mentioned his recent reconciliation with his family, as he shared pictures with his parents, as well as his brother Luke and his children, after a decade-long estrangement.
“I’m on good terms with my family – what are you going to say now?” Rodgers said right into the ESPN camera lense.
Rodgers even brought up the Dianna Russini scandal and the lack of coverage from ESPN with it. Russini, who worked for ESPN before joining The Athletic, was entrenched in a scandal as an inappropriate relationship with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was exposed this offseason, ultimately leading to her exit from The Athletic and Vrabel leaving the Patriots during the NFL Draft to enter counseling.
In 2021, Rodgers was asked by reporters if he was vaccinated, to which the then-Green Bay Packers signal caller said he was “immunized”. He later sought an appeal from the NFL and the NFLPA to treat his alternative antibody treatment as equivalent to being vaccinated for COVID-19. The league denied it.
Rodgers was officially classified an unvaccinated player, and then he tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 3, 2021, leading to a mandatory 10-day quarantine period that forced him to miss a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Two days later, he used McAfee’s show to explain his stance, stating he had an allergy to an ingredient in mRNA vaccines, and explained his alternative treatment. Rodgers later admitted on another episode of the show that he “misled people” by calling himself immunized, though he doubled down that he did not lie.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks on after being sacked during the first half of the NFL Wild Card game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Jan. 12, 2026. (Michael Longo/For USA Today Network-PA / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Now, Fauci’s refusal to answer has Rodgers going full tilt years after dealing with constant scrutiny, whether it’s the man himself or the network he has issues with. Rodgers has never shied away from sharing his feelings about certain individuals, media networks, or anything in between.
This season marks 22 years Rodgers has starred in the NFL, and he doubled down recently saying this will be his final year.
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Save $30 on Michael Thorbjornsen’s Rocket Classic-winning shoes
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Lars Nootbaar trade grades: Diamondbacks add help for wild-card race; Cardinals stick to the plan
The Arizona Diamondbacks are set to acquire outfielder Lars Nootbaar from the St. Louis Cardinals minutes before Monday’s Major League Baseball trade deadline, ESPN reports. The Cardinals are receiving two pitching prospects, right-hander Daniel Eagen and left-hander Sandro Santana, the Athletic reports, as well as a player to be named later.
Nootbaar, 28, underwent offseason surgery to correct a congenital deformity on both heels and didn’t make his 2026 debut until early June. Since being activated, he’s put up a 96 OPS+, albeit with much better quality-of-contact metrics and with time spent at all three outfield positions. For his career, the lefty-swinging Nootbaar has an OPS of .764 against right-handed pitching with 212 walks in 1,601 plate appearances in such situations. He’s not eligible for free agency until after the 2027 season, and he’s owed the balance of a $5.35 million salary for this year.
Nootbaar in Arizona will join former Cardinals teammates Nolan Arenado, who was traded to the Diamondbacks this past offseason.
On the Cardinals’ side of the trade, Eagen is the most notable addition. The 23-year-old former third-rounder out of Presbyterian College in South Carolina has made 20 starts for Amarillo in the hitter-friendly Texas League this season. He has a 4.95 ERA for them, but he’s also struck out 109 batters in 87 ⅓ innings. Eagen has a four-pitch repertoire fronted by a mid-90s fastball with good carry at the top of the zone. Santana, 21, has a 3.46 ERA and a 2.30 K/BB ratio over 71 relief appearances and four starts spread over parts of four minor-league seasons. In 2026, he’s taken a step forward at the Double-A level, with an 0.57 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 15 ⅔ innings since his promotion.
Now for some grades.
Arizona Diamondbacks: B+
Injury history makes Nootbaar a risk, but he’s a boon regardless
Nootbaar isn’t a star by any means, and his offensive numbers have been down across the last two seasons. He does have a long history of very strong batted-ball metrics, and perhaps on Arizona’s watch, his outputs will rise to match those. Even if they don’t, the Diamondbacks badly needed help against right-handed pitching as they strive to remain in wild-card position in the NL. This season, the Arizona offense has an OPS of .784 against lefties, but that figure falls to .677 against right-handers. Nootbaar should help that figure increase, and his OBP-first, patient approach at the plate can have some cascading positive effects that don’t show up in his numbers. As noted, the D-backs are also getting Nootbaar for the 2027 season.
St. Louis Cardinals: B+
Chaim Bloom has a vision
It’s not a massive return, but it wasn’t expected to be given Nootbaar’s substantial injury history and merely okay offensive numbers this season. As has been the case since Chaim Bloom assumed the big chair in St. Louis, they’ve continued to add arms and swing-and-miss to a system that needed it. Eagen has real potential to be a bat-misser at the highest level, and the Cardinals under Bloom have built out the player-development system to help pitchers like him reach their full potential. The trade of Nootbaar also clears the decks for the call-up of power prospect Joshua Báez at some point down the stretch.
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Trade Deadline Reactions (player/coach sound, home only)
Trade Deadline Reactions (player/coach sound, home only)
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Lennox Lewis sums up Anthony Joshua’s chances of beating Tyson Fury now
Lennox Lewis suspects one man is closer to his prime as Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua remain on a turbulent collision course.
The two British heavyweights are expected to lock horns later this year, though there has been no announcement regarding a specific date and location.
Nevertheless, they both completed their respective warm-up fights last weekend, with ‘AJ’ coming through a tougher-than-expected shootout against Kristian Prenga.
While far from a formidable contender on paper, Prenga managed to floor Joshua in the first 20 seconds of their contest, landing an unassuming right uppercut in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The 36-year-old then scrambled back to his feet but was dropped a second time in the opening round, before ultimately stopping his man in the following three minutes.
Fury, on the other hand, was afforded a straightforward night’s work against the 46-year-old Mariusz Wach, who he stopped in seven rounds in Pattaya, Thailand.
This followed his unanimous decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, when the ‘Gypsy King’ ended 16 months of inactivity after suffering back-to-back points defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024.
Based on their recent performances, former undisputed heavyweight champion Lewis has told The Ring that he wonders whether Joshua should even still be fighting, let alone preparing for arguably the biggest showdown of his career.
“Does he really belong in the ring right now? A virtual novice put him on the ground twice in the first round. Is that it, have we seen the last of him? It’s not like he’s his old self.
“Fury is closer [to his prime] but both are shadows of their former selves. I’d side with Fury – he showed me more in his two fights [against Makhmudov and Wach] than Joshua has recently.
“He boxed a YouTuber [Jake Paul in December], now boxed a guy who knocked him down twice and next faces Fury? That’s a big step up.”
With Joshua’s punch resistance having been plunged into serious doubt, many will be agreeing with Lewis and backing his 37-year-old domestic rival.
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