Category: Sports

Alex Palou won eight INDYCAR races during a historic 2025 season, including a victory in the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500. He picked up right where he left off on Sunday, beginning the 2026 season with a dominant performance at the Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg. The Winner Is … Alex Palou, driver of the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 10 car, earned his second consecutive victory at the Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg. It was Palou’s 20th career win. How The Race Was Won Palou won the race by a gap of 12.49 seconds and led for a total of 59 laps. Scott McLaughlin led for 34 laps and finished in second. One Big Moment Newcomer Mick Schumacher crashed on Lap 1 of Sunday’s race, effectively ending his chances before things really even got started for the former F1 driver. Top-10 Results 1. Alex Palou2. Scott McLaughlin3. Christian Lundgaard4. Kyle Kirkwood5. Pato O’Ward6. Marcus Ericsson7. Josef Newgarden8. Romain Grosjean9. Rinus Veekay10. Dennis Hauger What’s Next The second race of the 2026 INDYCAR season is the Good Ranchers 250 on March 7 at Phoenix Raceway (Noon ET on FOX) as part of a doubleheader weekend with NASCAR.

Editor’s note: This piece was posted Saturday, prior to Alex Palou winning the 2026 INDYCAR season opener at St. Pete. St. Petersburg, Fla. — Alex Palou thinks he could follow his eight-win 2025 with an eight-win 2026. Kind of. “Yes, it’s possible,” Palou told me Thursday prior to the INDYCAR opener this weekend in St. Petersburg. “It’s very hard, very low chances. But it’s possible. “It’s possible to win 17 races. I’m not going to do it, but it would be possible.” The Chip Ganassi Racing driver seeks his fifth INDYCAR title, and his fourth consecutive crown, when the season kicks off Sunday (Noon ET, FOX). The race kicks off what was initially a 17-race season, but an 18th race was recently added with the announcement of an August event in Washington, D.C. The 2025 season might have been a unicorn. Palou had earned only 11 wins in the four years when he won three titles before his dominant 2025, where Palou won eight races, led 778 laps and clinched the championship with two events remaining. Palou says repeating that type of season is not something he could expect. “Although I want to win eight again, I think it’s not realistic,” he said. Other drivers are not so sure. “It’s maybe possible with Alex, but I think a lot of us — probably the whole field — are hoping that’s not true this year,” Palou teammate and six-time series champion Scott Dixon told me. “You’ve just got to beat him. And I think there’s a lot of combos this year that may have the chance, but we’ll have to wait and see.” Dixon makes it sound so simple. “It is simple,” Dixon said. “It’s just another race each run you get to.” That is the way drivers look at it. They won’t concede one race and yet they know the odds. “This is racing,” two-time series champion Josef Newgarden said after practice Friday in a news conference. “Anything is possible. It’s not unfathomable to see what he did. “He’s excellent. His team is excellent. They could have a terrible year this year, and you would think, ‘Wow, that’s a crazy contrast,’ or he could do it all over again no doubt. Or you find someone new that has some crazy year. I think you’ve got to have an open mind in these championships. Sometimes people get on runs, too.” That is what everyone who describes the season for Palou last year, that he got on a run and got hot and the team made the most even off the bad days. “When you’ve had a run like he had in 2025, the target just becomes that much bigger,” FOX play-by-play announcer Will Buxton told me. “But from everybody that we’ve spoken to in this preseason, they’re all very, very aware that the target doesn’t remain constant. “The target rises every single year because Alex improves himself. He looks within himself and finds ways that he can improve,. Alex won’t be looking for eight wins this season. He’s going to be looking for nine, 10, 11, more. And so that’s the objective. That’s the goal that everyone’s got to aim for — it isn’t the Alex Palou of 2025, but what can Alex Palou be in 2026?” Palou believes that it would take a great set of circumstances to match his 2025. “I feel our 2025 season, it was just one of those seasons where everything came together,” Palou said. “My car was the fastest. My pit stops were amazing. The strategies that the team gave me were the best — and instead of finishing third, I would finish first.” With the addition of two street courses for six on the year, that could play into the favor of other teams as Andretti Global driver Kyle Kirkwood won two of the four last year. Palou won one (St. Petersburg). Kirkwood indicated that a driver must feel that a season such as Palou’s is what will be needed to win the title. “We’ve just got to maximize every single weekend to have a chance of beating him in the championship or beating anybody in the championship,” Kirkwood told me and other reporters Friday morning. “Because he’s set the standard now, and that’s the new standard for anybody that’s going to try and win the championship. … The new standard is win a lot of races and always finish up front to win the championship. “It’s not three or four wins gets you a championship win anymore.” Palou seemed to genuinely wonder if he could have the success and win another championship. “I’m excited to just get started, see where we are, see what all the work that we’ve done [has produced],” Palou said. “Like, is it good enough? Is it not good enough? Did we improve in the areas we wanted? And see where our competitors are as well.” Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.

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Jameis Winston quarterbacked the mic during the pre-race festivities at INDYCAR’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday. And yes, he also had a pre-race speech for one of the drivers. Winston gave Dennis Hauger a pep talk ahead of the rookie’s first INDYCAR race at St. Pete. He also gave him a nickname, calling Hauger the “Norwegian Nightmare.” “Age ain’t nothing but a number,” Winston told the 22-year-old driver. “You were built for this moment. Look at your team — everybody that’s helped you get to this point, it’s intentional. There’s a reason you’re here right now. So, I don’t care if this is your first race on this mark. I don’t care if you’re a rookie. Who cares about rookies, right? “You have put in the work. Your dedication is going to allow you to be your very best today. You better believe that. You lock in. It’s about execution. Your trust in decisions will get you to where you need to be. You wake up looking like your parents, but you die looking like your choices and decisions. So, make the decision to go out there and execute today. Hauger, who won the Indy NXT title last year, was appreciative of the remarks. “That’s good marks, thanks man. Now, we’ve got to go and do it,” Hauger told Winston. However, Winston wasn’t finished. The quarterback had Hauger and his team huddle around him to give a parting message to the group. “Rookies, no one has respect for rookies,” Winston told Hauger and his team. “But think about the work you’ve put in. Think about your desire. What would you love? You would love to come home with this victory. They call him the ‘Norwegian Nightmare.’ The people of Norway are used to winning from the Winter Olympics. But we’re out here in sunny St. Pete, Florida, doing something that you love. You love the precision. You love the detail. You love leaning on every man and woman that’s a part of your crew. So, align with them, set your vision and go out there and be precise and execute to the best of your ability.” “I’m not new to this, you’re new to this. Congratulations already in advance, man. Get locked in. Don’t worry about the rest of these people. Do what you love.” Of course, Winston has given several memorable speeches over the years, taking social media by storm with some of his clips. Maybe his latest memorable hype speech will lead Hauger to “Eat a W.”

Amid an eventful men’s college basketball weekend, there has been some significant movement in the upper lines of FOX Sports bracket forecaster Mike DeCourcy’s latest NCAA Tournament projections. Big moves for Florida, which crushed Arkansas, 111-77, while Illinois and Purdue are back up thanks to losses from Iowa State to Texas Tech and Kansas to Arizona on Saturday. Nebraska remains going strong after beating unranked USC, but Gonzaga dropped to a No. 4 seed, thanks to a stunning 70-59 loss to Saint Mary’s on Saturday. And the SEC — which could get at least 10 teams in the men’s NCAA Tournament this year — is on the rise behind Florida with Alabama, Kentucky and Missouri making upward moves. [COLLEGE HOOPS: 4 Takeaways From UConn’s Win Over St. John’s] Here is a complete look at DeCourcy’s NCAA Tournament seed list: No. 1 seeds 1. Duke2. Michigan3. Arizona4. Connecticut No. 2 seeds 5. Florida6. Houston7. Illinois8. Purdue No. 3 seeds 9. Alabama10. Michigan State11. Iowa State12. Nebraska No. 4 seeds 13. Texas Tech14. Gonzaga15. Kansas16. Virginia No. 5 seeds 17. Arkansas18. North Carolina19. St. John’s20. Vanderbilt No. 6 seeds 21. Tennessee22. Louisville23. BYU24. Kentucky No. 7 seeds 25. Villanova26. Saint Mary’s27. Saint Louis28. Wisconsin No. 8 seeds 29. Utah State30. Miami Hurricanes31. UCF32. Miami RedHawks No. 9 seeds 33. Georgia34. Clemson35. Iowa36. Missouri No. 10 seeds 37. NC State38. UCLA39. SMU40. Texas No. 11 seeds 41. Texas A&M42. TCU43. New Mexico vs. 44. Indiana45. Santa Clara vs. 46. VCU No. 12 seeds 47. Belmont48. South Florida49. Yale50. Liberty No. 13 seeds 51. Stephen F. Austin52. UNC Wilmingon53. High Point54. Utah Valley No. 14 seeds 55. Hawaii56. Navy57. North Dakota State58. Austin Peay No. 15 seeds 59. Portland State60. Wright State61. Troy62. East Tennessee State No. 16 seeds 63. Merrimack64. LIU65. Howard66. UMBC67. Bethune-Cookman68. Morehead State And it’s never too early to check in on the bubble. According to DeCourcy’s seed list, Ohio State, Auburn, Cal and Virginia are the first four teams out of the tournament, while San Diego State, USC, Seton Hall and West Virginia are the next four out. Selection Sunday is less than one month away, and this list will inevitably evolve. For now, DeCourcy’s latest seed list offers a clear snapshot of who’s rising, who’s falling and which programs are already building the résumés they’ll need when March arrives.

It’s time to dust off those ball bags! MLB spring training has commenced. Pitchers and catchers are starting to report to Arizona and Florida for all 30 teams with Opening Day on March 25. Rosters are getting finalized and every team’s new offseason additions are getting their reps in — not to mention the much-anticipated World Baseball Classic that will see the world’s best players compete on the international stage. Here are all the notable news and last-minute dealings as teams ramp up to Opening Day: March 1 Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol will not be a lame-duck in 2026. Marmol and the team signed a two-year extension that will keep him under contract through at least the 2028 season on Sunday. There’s also a club option for the 2029 season. “As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time, and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” Cardinals president Chaim Bloom said in a statement. “He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow.” The 39-year-old Marmol has led the Cardinals for the past four seasons, taking them to the National League wild-card round in his first season as manager. But he has failed to return to the playoffs the last three years, and St. Louis was just 78-84 last season. The Cardinals underwent a pretty massive roster rebuild this offseason, trading the likes of Brendan Donovan, Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray. So, the deal seemingly ensures that Marmol’s job is safe for a bit as St. Louis goes through a rebuild. Feb. 27 Giants Devers misses game against Dodgers The San Francisco Giants scratched slugger Rafael Devers from the starting lineup because of a tight hamstring, keeping him out a spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. The three-time All-Star and 2018 World Series champion is starting his first full season with the Giants after they acquired him in a trade with the Boston Red Sox last year. Devers hit 35 home runs and had 109 RBIs last season, playing 90 games with San Francisco and 73 in Boston. He signed a $313.5 million, 10-year contract in 2023 with the Red Sox. He was 20 when he made his major league debut in Boston nine years ago and the following year, he helped them win the World Series. Devers, who has 235 career homers and 747 RBIs, led Boston in RBIs for five straight seasons and has finished in the top 20 in voting for AL MVP five times. Feb. 26 Max Scherzer re-signs with Blue Jays Max Scherzer has agreed to a deal to return to the World Series runner-up Toronto Blue Jays, according to a report from the New York Post. The 41-year-old pitcher joined Toronto on a one-year, $15.5 million deal in 2025. Scherzer was limited to just 17 starts during the 2025 season, but he was an asset for the Blue Jays in the postseason, most notably picking up a win in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners, where he held Seattle to two runs in 5 2/3 innings. Scherzer also made two starts in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young-winner and eight-time All-Star, has won two World Series titles, most recently in 2023. Feb. 25 Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez will wait until 2039 for full payment Verlander and Valdez will receive the final payments from their new contracts with the Tigers in 2039, with the team deferring $31 million of the $128 million it committed to the pitchers. Verlander’s $13 million, one-year deal will pay the 43-year-old right-hander $2 million this year. The $11 million in deferred money due the three-time Cy Young Award winner will be paid in $1.1 million installments each June 30 from 2030-39, according to contract terms obtained by The Associated Press. Valdez’s $115 million, three-year agreement includes a $20 million signing bonus paid in $2 million installments each June 15 from 2030-39. He gets salaries of $17.5 million this year and $37.5 million in 2027. The deal includes a $35 million player option for 2028 and a $40 million mutual option for 2029 with a $5 million buyout. Valdez’s salary each year from 2027 to 2029 can increase based on awards in the immediate preceding season as long as he doesn’t finish the prior season on the injured list. A salary would go up by $2 million if he wins a Cy Young Award, $1 million if he finishes second and $500,000 if he comes in third. It could also escalate by $2 million for winning World Series MVP and $1 million for winning ALCS MVP. Austin’s return to MLB delayed Tyler Austin’s return to the major leagues has been put on hold for what Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell says will be months following a procedure on his right knee. Counsell said Wednesday that Austin had a patellar tendon debridement procedure on his right knee Tuesday and will need a lengthy recovery period. Austin, 34, signed a one-year deal with Chicago after spending six seasons with Yokohama in Japan’s Pacific League. He was competing for playing time at designated hitter and also can play first base and the outfield. Austin was selected by the New York Yankees in the 2010 amateur draft and on Aug. 13, 2016, combined Aaron Judge to become the first teammates to homer in their first major league at-bats in the same game. Austin also played for Minnesota, Seattle and Milwaukee. and has hit .219 with 33 homers in four seasons in the majors. He was part of the 2021 U.S. Olympic team. His injury could create an opening for Michael Conforto to earn a bench spot on the team after Conforto agreed to a minor league deal on Monday. Feb. 24 Braves extend Chris Sale Atlanta has extended the star left-hander on a one-year, $27 million deal, per ESPN. The deal includes a $30 million club option for 2028. Sale, a nine-time All-Star, won the 2024 National League Cy Young Award in his first season with the Braves. Last season (2025), he was limited to 21 appearances (20 starts) due to a rib injury. Sale posted a 2.58 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 165 strikeouts, 161 ERA+ and 4.0 wins above replacement across 125 2/3 innings pitched. Feb. 23 Marlins 3B candidate Graham Pauley shut down Pauley’s bid to start at third base for the Marlins is on hold due to right forearm tightness. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Pauley had an MRI on Monday morning and has been shut down pending the results. Pauley is a left-hander hitter and the soreness is in his throwing arm. Pauley was expected to compete with Connor Norby at third base but has not appeared in a spring game due to the persistent tightness in his forearm. Pauley, 25, hit .224 with four homers in 161 at-bats as a rookie in 2025. McCullough told MLB.com some discomfort at the start of spring training is not unusual for players. McCullough said Pauley’s forearm tightness “just didn’t get any better over the course of a couple days. … He’s going to be shut down from baseball until we get a clearer picture on what’s happening.” Cubs sign OF Michael Conforto The Cubs are adding some outfield depth early in spring training, signing Conforto to a Minor League non-roster invite, the New York Post reported. Conforto, who’ll turn 33 on March 1, has largely been a plus hitter at the plate in his career. He hit .251 with a .804 OPS over the first 10 years of his career. However, he struggled with the Dodgers last season, hitting .199 with a .637 OPS and 12 homers over 138 games. Feb. 21 Dodgers add OF Jack Suwinski Los Angeles has claimed Suwinski off waivers from the Pirates, per multiple reports. Suwinski spent the first four seasons of his career with the Pirates (2022-25), most notably totaling 26 home runs, 74 RBIs and a 113 OPS+ in 2023 before being up and down from the major leagues from 2024-25. He was designated for assignment by Pittsburgh on Feb. 16. Should Suwinski, who has MLB starting experience at all three outfield positions, crack the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster, he’d join an outfield rotation that includes free agent signee Kyle Tucker, Teoscar Hernandez and Andy Pages, among others. Feb. 20 Max Scherzer reunion with Blue Jays? The three-time Cy Young Award winner is still a free agent, but the Blue Jays are showing the most interest, Sper portsnet. The two sides have been discussing a one-year deal that could strengthen Toronto’s pitching staff’s depth. Scherzer played a key role in the clubhouse’s energy a year ago, helping set the tone that propelled the team to the World Series. He started 17 regular-season games and three in the playoffs, posting a 5.19 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 85 innings, with another 14.1 innings of 3.77 ERA ball in the postseason. The Blue Jays added multiple starters to their rotation over the offseason, bringing in Dylan Cease on a seven-year, $210 million contract, as well as Cody Ponce from the KBO on a three-year, $30 million deal. Midseason trade acquisition and former Cy Young Shane Bieber will begin 2026 in the rotation, as well, and top prospect and postseason star Trey Yesavage is also slated to be in the starting five out of spring training. Twins’ Pablo Lopez undergoing Tommy John surgery Minnesota’s right-hander will have season-ending Tommy John elbow surgery. The team said Friday that López’s surgery will be performed next week in Texas by Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister. López turns 30 early next month. It will be the second Tommy John surgery for López. He had the procedure as a minor leaguer with the Seattle organization and missed the 2014 season. López ended a bullpen session early during the Twins’ first full-squad workout Monday. First-year manager Derek Shelton said he was hopeful the move was precautionary, but a day later general manager Jeremy Zoll told reporters of the UCL tear. López was the Twins’ opening-day for the past three years and was planning to pitch for Venezuela in next month’s World Baseball Classic. He made the All-Star team in his first year with Minnesota and helped the franchise end a record 18-game postseason losing streak for North American professional sports, going 2-0 with an 0.71 ERA in two starts in the 2023 playoffs. A shoulder injury limited him to 14 starts last season after he made 32 in each of three consecutive 10-win seasons, the first in his final season with the Marlins. López is making $21.75 million this season and is signed through next year. Orioles 3B Jordan Westburg out through April Westburg has been unable to take part in spring training after a right oblique injury during the offseason, and it was unclear Thursday whether an elbow issue also was keeping him off the field. Now, we have clarity on the matter, as Orioles general manager Mike Elias revealed on Friday morning that the versatile infielder has a partial UCL tear in his right elbow and will be out through April, per MLB.com. Westburg will be getting a PRP injection on Friday. “He’s just unable to participate right now,” first-year manager Craig Albernaz told reporters Thursday. “He’s getting evaluated by our medical team and also outside people to make sure we have a plan in place, and see what’s going on with Jordan to get him going.” When asked whether it was the oblique or a new elbow issue for Westburg, the manager replied, “Just physically unable to go.” Albernaz was also asked whether there was a fear that any issues for Westburg would be worse than originally thought. “Just want to make sure that we do our due diligence and make sure Jordan is in the best chance to play this year,” Albernaz said. Westburg, 27, hit .265 with 17 homers and 41 RBs in 85 games last season, when he missed time with a left hamstring strain and a right ankle sprain. He hit .265 with 18 homers and 63 RBIs in 107 games in 2024, when he appeared in the All-Star Game two weeks before sustaining a broken right hand when getting hit by a pitch. Feb. 19 Brewers manager Pat Murphy gets new deal Murphy has reportedly agreed to a new three-year deal to remain at the helm in Milwaukee, per The Athletic. The 67-year-old skipper and reigning NL Manager of the Year will now stay in Milwaukee through at least the 2028 season, with a deal that includes a club option for 2029. “I’m sincerely grateful I have a locker,” Murphy told MLB.com on Thursday. “Getting to be part of the Brewers’ organization for the last 10 years has been a great journey. Getting to continue in this position is an honor.” Murphy has led the Brewers to two straight NL Central crowns, while also being the team’s bench coach when it won the division in 2023. He took over in 2024 when Craig Counsell bolted for the Cubs. Guardians trying Steven Kwan in center Kwan will get some time in center field during spring training, as manager Stephen Vogt assesses the best possible outfield combination. Kwan is a four-time Gold Glove winner in left field. That is tied with Kenny Lofton for the most Gold Gloves in franchise history by an outfielder. Vogt told reporters on Thursday that Kwan has expressed an interest in playing center at times. Kwan was primarily a center field in Cleveland’s minor-league system but has seen action there in only eight games over his five seasons in the majors. Rookie Chase DeLauter, who made his big-league debut in last season’s AL wild-card series against the Tigers, could see time in center and right. DeLauter dropped a high fly hit by Detroit’s Gleyber Torres during the first inning in his first game. Three innings later, he made a pinpoint throw to third base, where Zach McKinstry was tagged out by Jose Ramirez. George Valera will likely play left field during Cactus League games. Kwan, a two-time All-Star, and Ramírez were the lone consistent offensive threats on the Guardians last season as they repeated as AL Central Division champions. Feb. 18 Dodgers reliever Brusdar Graterol injury update Graterol won’t be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season, manager Dave Roberts revealed, per The Athletic. Graterol hasn’t pitched for Los Angeles since the 2024 World Series due to a shoulder injury, and the Dodgers continue to “take things slow” with the right-hander, with the aim of him pitching at some point in the 2026 season. In a combined 181 innings pitched with the Dodgers (2020-24), Graterol has recorded a 2.69 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. Feb. 16 Padres sign RHP Walker Buehler to minor-league deal The Padres have signed Buehler to a minor league deal. After seven seasons with the Dodgers, including two World Series victories, Buehler struggled in 2025. He started 22 games for the Red Sox, earning a 7-7 record. The Red Sox released him midseason, and the Phillies picked him up before the end of the season. Mike Trout wants to return to center field for Angels Trout says he would prefer to return to center field for the Angels, and the star slugger says he will skip the WBC because of insurance issues. The 11-time All-Star, who has been plagued by injuries since 2021, says his familiar position isn’t as physically demanding as the corner outfield spots, contrary to traditional thinking. Trout played his most games since 2019 last season, finishing at 130. The three-time American League MVP started 22 of his first 29 games in right field before a knee injury sidelined him for a month. The 34-year-old was exclusively a designated hitter when he returned in late May. Trout had 26 home runs but hit just .232, by far the worst average of his career when he had at least 400 at-bats. He spent time in left field early in his career but was a center fielder for 11 consecutive seasons before the switch to right. Injuries limited Trout to 111 games the previous two years. Trout said conversations with first-year manager Kurt Suzuki have included the idea of a return to center. “I feel like I’m at my best when I’m in center,” Trout told reporters at the club’s spring training facility Monday. “If I have to go to the corner, I’ll go to the corner.” Trout believes a return to center will be good for his health. Padres extend GM A.J. Preller The Padres have agreed on a multiyear contract extension with their general manager, who has the second-longest tenure among baseball operations chiefs in the big leagues behind Brian Cashman of the Yankees. The Padres, who announced the deal Monday without disclosing terms, have made the postseason four of the past six years following a stretch of 13 seasons without reaching the playoffs that started in 2007, seven years before the club hired Preller. Cashman has been general manager of the Yankees since 1998. The 48-year-old Preller, who also has the title of president of baseball operations, has presided over the free agent signings of Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts; trades that landed the likes of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Juan Soto; and a farm system that produced center fielder Jackson Merrill, who was an All-Star as a rookie in 2024. The Padres are coming off consecutive 90-win seasons for the first time in club history and have set attendance records at Petco Park each of the past three seasons. San Diego reached the National League championship series in 2022, losing to Philadelphia in five games. “Under his guidance, our organization has continued to invest in elite talent at both the major and minor league levels while building a strong baseball operations, scouting and player development group,” Padres chairman John Seidler said. “We are confident he will continue to tirelessly pursue the first World Series championship for San Diego.” Feb. 14 Padres signing Nick Castellanos, Griffin Canning San Diego is signing Castellanos to a one-year deal two days after the veteran outfielder was released by the Phillies, according to The Athletic. Castellanos, who will primarily play first base for the Padres, was released by the Phillies prior to entering the final season of a five-year, $100 million deal. Last season, the 33-year-old right fielder totaled 17 home runs, 72 RBIs and -0.8 wins above replacement, while posting a .250/.294/.400 slash line. The Padres have also signed Canning to a one-year deal. Canning made 16 starts last season for the Mets, posting a 3.77 ERA and 1.38 WHIP before suffering a season-ending ruptured left Achilles tendon. Feb. 13 Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen stays put The right-hander has signed a one-year, $22 million deal to stay with the Diamondbacks, per multiple reports. Gallen, a 2023 All-Star, posted a career-high 4.83 ERA last season. From 2022-24, he averaged a 3.20 ERA and 1.09 WHIP per season and was the D-backs’ ace en route to them winning the National League pennant in 2023. Astros closer Josh Hader warming up again Hader played catch again Friday after the six-time All-Star left-hander dealt with biceps tendinitis while throwing bullpen sessions in the offseason. Astros manager Joe Espada said Hader, who missed the end of last season with a shoulder capsule strain, had stopped playing catch after a series of offseason bullpens before getting to Florida for the start of spring training this week. The 31-year-old Hader was 6-2 with 28 saves and a 2.05 ERA in 48 appearances last season, his second since joining the Astros in free agency. His last game was a two-inning outing against the Yankees on Aug. 8, which was before Houston missed the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons. Joey Loperfido sent to Astros The Blue Jays acquired outfielder Jesús Sánchez from the Astros for outfielder Joey Loperfido on Friday. The 28-year-old Sánchez hit .237 with 14 home runs and 48 RBIs in 134 games last season between the Marlins and Astros. The left-handed hitter has 73 home runs in 580 games over six major league seasons. Loperfido, 26, split last season between Toronto and Triple-A Buffalo, batting .333 in 41 games with the Blue Jays. He has appeared in 122 career major league contests between Houston and Toronto. Feb. 12 Dodgers bring back Kiké Hernandez Hernandez has signed a one-year deal worth $4.5 million to stay with the Dodgers through the season. Hernandez, 34, has played nine of his 12 major league seasons with the Dodgers. Last season, he hit .203 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs in 92 games during which he played in the outfield, first base, second base and third base. Phillies release Nick Castellanos Philadelphia announced that it has released Castellanos. It was reported that Philly was trying to trade the right fielder, but it was to no avail. Castellanos, a two-time All-Star, was reportedly told not to report to the Phillies’ spring training facility as the parties worked toward a resolution. Castellanos is coming off a 2025 campaign where he totaled 17 HRs, 72 RBIs and a career-low -0.8 wins above replacement, while posting a .250/.294/.400 slash line. Dodgers All-Star Max Muncy signs extension The Dodgers have signed Muncy to a one-year, $10 million guaranteed extension, the team announced. It includes a $7 million salary for 2027 and a $10 million team option for 2028. Last season, Muncy, a two-time All-Star who has won three World Series with the Dodgers, totaled 19 home runs, 67 RBIs and 3.6 wins above replacement in 100 regular-season wins, while posting a .243/.376/.460 slash line. He missed time due to knee and oblique injuries. Muncy then hit three home runs in the postseason en route to the Dodgers winning the 2025 World Series. Feb. 11 Orioles sign Chris Bassitt The O’s and pitcher Bassitt agreed to a one-year deal worth $18.5 million. Bassitt spent the last three seasons with the Blue Jays. In 2025, he finished 11-9 with a 3.96 earned runs average. Bassitt was an All-Star with the Athletics during the 2021 season and led the American League with 16 wins in 2023. Mets SS Francisco Lindor  undergoes surgery The Mets are optimistic Lindor will recover for opening day after having surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his left hand. He’s the third prominent player to suffer hamate bone injuries in the opening week of spring training. Diamondbacks OF Corbin Carroll fractures hand Carroll won’t play for Team USA in the WBC after breaking his right hamate bone in batting practice. He’s having surgery for the injury and could begin the 2026 regular season on the injured list. A two-time All-Star who was set to play in his first WBC for Team USA, Carroll led the National League in triples in each of the past three seasons. Orioles 2B Jackson Holliday to undergo surgery The former No. 1 draft pick will have surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his right hand and will miss Opening Day. O’s president of baseball operations Mike Elias said that Holliday sustained the injury during batting practice. He also said that third baseman Jordan Westburg is recovering from a right oblique injury that could delay his participation in spring training games. Holliday, 22, hit .242 with 17 home runs, 55 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 2025. Blue Jays OF Anthony Santander out for foreseeable future The switch-hitting outfielder will miss the next five-to-six months due to left labral surgery. Santander, who’s entering the second season of a five-year, $92.5 million deal, was limited to just 59 combined games in 2025 (regular and postseason) due to a shoulder injury. In the regular season, he totaled just six home runs, 18 RBIs and -1 wins above replacement, while posting a .175/.271/.294 slash line. In 2024, Santander was an All-Star for the Orioles, hitting a career-high 44 home runs and averaging 35 home runs and 95.3 RBIs per season from 2022-24. Feb. 10 Rockies’ Kris Bryant on 60-Day IL The Rockies will continue to be without one of their oft-injured big signings through at least two months after Bryant landed on the 60-day injured list due to a degenerative lumbar disc disease (lower back). The slugger has appeared in just 170 games with the Rockies since agreeing to a $182 million, seven-year contract in March 2022. In other news, the Rockies added Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano to their rotation, agreeing to a $5.1 million, one-year deal with the right-hander. Sugano, 36, went 10-10 with a 4.64 ERA in 30 starts with the Orioles last year. He pitched in Japan before agreeing to a $13 million, one-year contract with the O’s in December 2024. Sugano played for the Yomiuri Giants for 12 seasons, winning three MVPs in Nippon Professional Baseball’s Central League. Mets’ Juan Soto changing positions Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns announced that Soto will be shifting from right field to left field next season. Soto has extensive experience at both corner outfield positions but has primarily started in right field over the last two years. Last season was Soto’s first with the Mets and saw him total -7 defensive runs saved in right field. At the same time, the six-time Silver Slugger totaled a career-high 43 home runs, 105 RBIs, a National League-high 38 stolen bases and 6.2 wins above replacement, while posting a .263/.396/.525 slash line. Tigers sign RHP Justin Verlander It’s a full-circle moment for the 43-year-old future Hall of Famer, who returns to the club where he became a breakout star. The three-time Cy Young winner inked a one-year deal with the Tigers for $13 million. Verlander’s 266 wins are tied for 34th on baseball’s career list, while his 3,553 career strikeouts are eighth and closely trailing Don Sutton with 3,574. Verlander now bolsters an already stacked rotation that includes two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez, who also signed with Detroit in free agency. Verlander was traded to Houston in August 2017 and helped the Astros win the World Series that same year and again in 2022. Now he gets an opportunity to chase a third championship with the Tigers, who are looking for the franchise’s first title since 1984. Feb. 9 Diamondbacks 2B Ketel Marte “happy” to stay put Marte said he remains happy staying with Arizona despite an offseason of speculation that the All-Star could be traded. “We talked a lot and hashed some things out, talked it all through and everything is great,” Marte said ahead of reporting to spring training early. “[GM] Mike [Hazen] knows I love the D-backs, I love my teammates. Everyone knows what type of player I am, and I’m just happy it all worked out and [that] I’m here.” Hazen said that he did listen to offers but that a potential deal “never ended getting that close.” “I felt like I had to do my job just to listen to what people had to say,” Hazen said. “He’s a superstar player for us, and has been for a long time, and is going to continue to be.” In his nine seasons for the Diamondbacks, Marte has made three All-Star teams, won two Silver Slugger Awards, finished third (2024) and fourth (2019) in NL MVP Award voting, as well as being named MVP of the 2023 National League Championship Series. Marte will take part in the WBC for the Dominican Republic. Diamondbacks LHP Andrew Saalfrank to miss 2026 Saalfrank will miss the season after shoulder surgery. The 28-year-old was expected to be an important part of the team’s bullpen after compiling a 1.24 ERA over 28 appearances last season. It’s another hit for the pitching staff, which already is without relievers A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez, along with ace starter Corbin Burnes, for the first few months of the season. All three are recovering from elbow surgery and hope to be back during the summer. Saalfrank called the surgery a “tough pill to swallow,” adding that “the game of baseball can be a brutal one, but it’s also given me some of the best moments of my life, and I don’t expect that to change moving forward.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.

INDIANAPOLIS – There are countless stories about players who showed up at the NFL scouting combine and wowed scouts enough to send their draft stock soaring. Sometimes it was the beginning of their journey to stardom. Sometimes they proved to be “workout warriors” who didn’t actually work out.But every year, some player gets the NFL talking, either with a record-breaking performance or one that unexpectedly comes close. Here’s a look back at some of the best and most memorable combine performances of the last 25 years: 10. Jordan Davis, 2022 Davis was a mountain of a man at 6-foot-6 and 341 pounds and clearly the best, run-stuffing nose tackle in the draft. Everyone knew the Georgia product was athletic, but what he did in the 40-yard dash was just freakish. He ran a 4.78, beating the times of some prospects who weighed 100 pounds less than he did. NFL scouts were amazed – “It’s still crazy that a guy that big could run like that,” a scout told me. And Davis did more than just run. He had a 32-inch vertical leap and recorded a 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump, which were big parts of why the Eagles took him with the 13th overall pick in the draft. 9. Pat O’Donnell, 2014 Don’t ever say punters aren’t athletes – or at least don’t say it to O’Donnell, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound punter out of Miami who took his combine by storm. O’Donnell did most of the drills, which was unusual for any specialist, and was outstanding in all of them. He ran a 4.64 in the 40, had a standing long jump of 10 feet, and put up 23 reps on the bench press. That last feat of strength was the most impressive for the eventual sixth-round pick (by the Chicago Bears), because it was more than 19 running backs, 21 defensive linemen, and every one of the 37 wide receivers at the combine. It was also two more reps than Jadeveon Clowney put up that year, and he ended up being taken with the first overall pick. 8. DK Metcalf, 2019 A few weeks before the combine, the Ole Miss receiver was caught in a jaw-dropping, shirtless picture on Twitter that showed off his remarkably ripped and large physique. The real jaw-dropper was the remarkable performance he put on during the actual workouts. Metcalf dominated with both speed and strength. He ran a blazing fast, 4.33 in the 40, surprising considering he was 6-foot-3 and weighed in at 228 pounds. He also tied the combine WR record with 27 reps on the bench press. Nobody thought a receiver that size could have that combination of speed and strength. As then-Raiders coach Jon Gruden said back then, “You look at him and ask, ‘Who’s tackling this guy?’” 7. Byron Jones, 2015 No prospect had ever broken the 12-foot barrier in the standing long jump. In fact, no prospect had ever come closer than 11-foot-9. Then along came Jones, a 6-foot-1, 199-pound cornerback out of UConn. He shattered the record and the barrier, jumping 12-feet, 3-inches, which also broke the world record – set by Norwegian shot-putter Arne Tvervaag in 1968 – by an inch. Jones’ combine record and world record – which is technically unofficial – both still stand, 11 years later. In fact, until Texas Tech safety Tyler Owens jumped 12-2 in 2024, no NFL prospect had come within six inches of Jones’ mark. 6. Stephen Paea, 2011 Nothing gets people fired up at the scouting combine quite like the bench press, where a Tongan who grew up playing rugby once stole the show. At 6-foot-1, 303, the Oregon State defensive tackle barely seemed to break a sweat as he shattered the bench press record with 49 reps – four more than had ever been done at the combine before. His arms didn’t slow down until he hit 40. He didn’t pause at all until he hit 43. And he even got halfway to a 50th rep before his arms finally gave out. And yeah, he really wanted that last one. “I feel like I did OK,” he said. “I didn’t do great. My goal was 50, and I was a little bit mad at myself after.” 5. Jadeveon Clowney, 2014 There were a lot of questions about the South Carolina edge rusher heading into the combine, and he didn’t answer all of them. He had a disappointing showing in the bench press with only 21 reps, and he angered scouts by skipping positional drills because he said he had a hip flexor injury. Neither that injury nor concerns about his weight stopped him in the 40, which saw him dazzle everyone with a 4.53. That was a stunning, receiver-like result for a player who stood 6-foot-5 and weighed more than 270 pounds (possibly much more). It showed how explosive a pass rusher he could be, and it helped him become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft. 4. Xavier Worthy, 2024 Everyone knew the 5-foot-11, 165-pound Texas receiver was the fastest man in the 2024 draft, but the question going in was whether he was record-breaking fast. On his first attempt at running the 40-yard dash, he wasn’t. He was clocked at 4.25 seconds. On his second attempt, he was. It was first clocked unofficially at a record-tying 4.22, but shortly after, the NFL announced he broke the seven-year-old record with an official 4.21. When the revised time was announced in Lucas Oil Stadium, the crowd roared. 3. John Ross, 2017 In the days before the combine, the 5-foot-11, 188-pound receiver from Washington had the nine-year-old 40 record in his sights. “I’m definitely going to try (to break it),” he said. “I’m definitely going to go for it.” And he did, officially running a 4.22, beating the old record by two one-hundredths of a second. “He called his shot!” an NFC scout told me. “He said he was going to break the record and he did. He was flying!” There was only one downside to his record-setting performance. The sneaker company Adidas had promised to give away an island to anyone who broke the record wearing their shoes. Ross did it while wearing Nikes. 2. Chris Johnson, 2008 Johnson once said he thought he had the speed to beat Usain Bolt in a race. At his scouting combine, he showed that’s not as crazy as it sounds. The East Carolina running back was literally a breakout star when he tied the combine record with a 4.24 in the 40, equaling what Eastern Kentucky receiver Rondel Melendez had done nine years earlier. Melendez was about 20 pounds lighter and a receiver, though. A running back tying the record was stunning. It even vaulted Johnson from a third-round prospect at best to a late first-round pick. Even more stunning was that it took nine years for anyone to touch his record. “Think about how impressive that is,” an NFL scout told me. “He’s a 200-pound RB and he held that record for a decade. That’s amazing.” 1. Saquon Barkley, 2018 The devaluation of running backs in the NFL was already beginning when the Penn State star burst onto the scene, proving at the combine that he might just be too athletic, too good, for anyone to pass up. Despite being 6-foot and 233 pounds, he showed off his burst by running a 4.40 in the 40. He then showed off his athleticism with a 41-inch vertical leap. And then he showed his strength with 29 reps on the bench press. “Maybe the best individual combine I ever saw,” a former NFL executive told me. “(He) didn’t shatter records, but (it was) a complete performance. He was great at everything.” The New York Giants agreed and took him with the second overall pick in the draft. Barkley’s combine performance helped convince former Giants general manager Dave Gettleman that the running back was “touched by the hand of God.”

Now is the time that NBA playoff positioning becomes a real thing. With that, let’s take a look at the odds for the biggest games on the schedule this week (at DraftKings Sportsbook as of March 1), as well as what to know about each matchup. And check back throughout the week, as the games draw nearer and the odds update. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. MONDAY, FEB. 23 Spurs 114, Pistons 103 Spread: Pistons -1.5 (Spurs cover)O/U: 231.5 (Under hits) TUESDAY, FEB. 24 Knicks 94, Cavaliers 109 Spread: Cavaliers -4.5 (Cavs cover)O/U: 232.5 (Under hits) WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25 Thunder 116, Pistons 124 Spread: Pistons -8.5 (Thunder cover)O/U: 219.5 (Over hits) Celtics 84, Nuggets 103 Spread: Nuggets -3.5 (Nuggets cover)O/U: 228.5 (Under hits) FRIDAY, FEB. 27 Nuggets 121, Thunder 127 Spread: Thunder -8.5 (Nuggets cover)O/U: 233.5 (Over hits) SUNDAY, MARCH 1 Spurs @ Knicks Spread: Spurs -1.5Moneyline: Spurs -112, Knicks -108O/U: 227.5 What to know: The Knicks are 13-7 overall against the Western Conference and 11-9 ATS against the West. These two faced off in the NBA Cup title game, and the Knicks won and covered as 2.5-point favorites. They then squared off again in San Antonio and New York lost by two, but covered as 3.5-point underdogs. Wolves @ Nuggets Spread: Nuggets -3.5Moneyline: Nuggets -155, Wolves +130O/U: 239.5 What to know: Minnesota and Denver — also Northwest Division rivals — have faced off three times this season, with the Nuggets favored all three times. And each time, Denver has won and covered. Two of their meetings went Over, while one went Under by 1.5 points.