The Los Angeles Angels are entering a new era after longtime owner Arte Moreno agreed to sell the franchise, paving the way for an unexpected change to the organization after years of frustration on and off the field.
The incoming owner, Stan Kroenke, already has deep ties to Los Angeles sports and there's reason to believe he will be more aggressive about funding a contending roster.
"In a surprise development that puts an end to a tumultuous ownership tenure, longtime Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno agreed to sell the team to Stan Kroenke, who presides over the NFL's Los Angeles Rams," ESPN's Alden Gonzalez reported. "The Angels were sold for a valuation of $4 billion, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney, beating the previous MLB record for a sale of $3.9 billion set by the (San Diego) Padres' new owner earlier this year."
While the sale represents a major development for the franchise, the Angels continue to make immediate roster decisions as they attempt to navigate the remainder of the season. And the first official transaction following the momentous sale news saw a long-time MLB pitcher exercise his right to terminate his contract with the team.
Yankees' Backstop Castoff Gets Roster Update After Surprising Trade

#Angels #owner #sale #arte

Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke has reached an agreement to buy the Angels, ending the tenure of longtime owner Arte Moreno.
The deal was made through Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE), Kroenke's holding company.
The Angels were sold for a valuation of $4 billion, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney, beating the previous MLB record for a sale of $3.9 billion set by the Padres' new owner earlier this year.
"The Angels are a storied franchise anchored in a great market. We look forward to an exciting future with the Angels organization" Kroenke said in a press releasing announcing the deal.
The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, and needs to be approved by Major League Baseball. Details about the sale and the terms were not immediately available.

#kroenke #owner #Rams #arte

Pat McAfee is a bigger name today as a sports show host than he was as a player. But for veteran Michael Wilbon, the flamboyant sportscaster's appeal couldn't move the needle. Wilbon does not see McAfee as one of the network's biggest faces.
"Two of them must be [Mike Greenberg] and Stephen A. [Smith], right? And Scott Van Pelt," Wilbon told Awful Announcing when asked about his top choices for ESPN's 'face.' "I'd say that those are the leading candidates for the face [of ESPN]. There can't be one.
"I don't consume Pat McAfee, so I don't have a sense of it," he added when host Brandon Contes asked about McAfee. "… It's not in the world in which I am. And that's just a matter of time. You know, the other guys have been at ESPN a **** of a lot longer than McAfee."
Wilbon also mentioned that it really depends on the circumstances; Adam Schefter could also be looked at as a face on transactional coverage grounds. Baseball would mean Buster Olney and Jeff Passan.
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#host #biggest #michael

Photo via ****** nal.com
Arsenal have confirmed on social media that Martin Odegaard is back in training at their London Colney training centre, making his comeback for pre-season after his post-World Cup holiday.
The rest of the senior squad are currently in Dublin for the friendly match against Real Betis on Wednesday evening, so Odegaard hasn't quite linked up with his teammates yet. The ****** nal captain is set to miss Wednesday's friendly.
But that's no surprise, considering Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli made their own late comebacks last week, and neither of them were in the subsequent matchday squad against Girona.
The ****** nal medical and fitness staff clearly want to give players a few days to get up to speed before throwing them into match situations.

#arsenal #odegaard

Phillies predicted to make two pitcher deals by MLB trade deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Philadelphia Phillies have yet to make a single trade ahead of the MLB trade deadline, as Dave Dombrowski is still weighing his options.
But the needs for this team are clear. An upgrade in the infield and outfield would be nice, and it's become apparent this team needs to add to its pitching staff.
ESPN insider Buster Olney is predicting that the Phillies will make two pitcher trades, one for a reliever and another for a starter, by the MLB trade deadline on Monday.
In predicting what some teams will do by this year's deadline, Olney noted, "The Phillies will add a starting pitcher and a reliever."

#trade #deadline #sporting #olney

Arsenal have agreed an £80 million deal to sign Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, according to The Times. The Magpies star is a top target for Gunners manager Mikel Arteta and he is expected to have a medical on Monday at London Colney. The Brazilian has signed a five-year contract to join ***** nal, and the Emirates Stadium club could announce his arrival officially next week. Guimaraes is joining the Gunners for an initial £70m, while Newcastle are set to receive a further £10m in add-ons going forward.
His impending arrival will see Christian Norgaard depart after Everton agreed a deal in principle with ***** nal for the midfielder worth about £7m. The North London club were willing to pull all the stops to sign Guimaraes, and they have finally got their man from the look of things.
He will improve their fortunes on the pitch given his attacking prowess from the middle of the park.
The Gunners want to win back-to-back Premier League ***** les for the first time next term, and adding the Newcastle star to their ranks is a huge boost.

#arsenal #london #midfielder

Arsenal could conduct a medical at London Colney to complete the signing of Bruno Guimaraes next week, according to the Daily Mail's Isaan Khan. Mikel Arteta's side have reached an agreement in principle to sign the Gunners target in a £77 million deal. The ****** nal manager is eager to bring top players to the Emirates Stadium club, and Guimaraes is desperate to move to North London. A deal is close to being completed, and the Newcastle star could become an ****** nal player next week.
The 28-year-old is set to become the Gunners' third signing of the summer transfer window after deals for French goalkeeper Illan Meslier and Greek winger Christos Tzolis. Guimaraes has everything it takes to improve the ****** nal midfield, and it is clear to why Arteta wanted him. He brings Premier League experience and quality to the table, and the North Londoners could do with his attacking abilities.

#gunners #week

The MLB trade deadline is four days away, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are in desperate need of bullpen help.
Everyone knows it. That's not an industry secret that the 29 other teams are unaware of.
As the deadline nears and the Pirates hover around .500 and the final wild card, it's time for the Pirates to become the most aggressive they've been in a decade.
ESPN insider Buster Olney labeled the Pirates as one of 12 teams that are most desperate to make moves to their major league roster.
The greatest area of need? The bullpen.

#espn

ESPN insider reveals what Phillies will 'certainly' add at MLB trade deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Philadelphia Phillies have three clear needs for the 2026 MLB trade deadline. They need to upgrade their offense by adding a right-handed hitting outfielder, another reliever due to Brad Keller's injury, and a new starting pitcher amid some major struggles from the No. 5 spot and Aaron Nola.
All of those areas of need have to be addressed for this Phillies team to have a chance come October, if they even make it there. So, of those three needs, is there one more likely to be resolved than the others?
ESPN's Buster Olney revealed that there is one position the Phillies "will most certainly" add by the August 3 MLB trade deadline, and that position is the No. 5 starter.
"Aaron Nola has struggled, and the No. 5 spot in the rotation has been a mess," Olney writes. "The Phillies will most certainly add a veteran starting pitcher before the deadline."

#olney

ESPN insider reveals Yankees priority at MLB trade deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Yankees are heading towards the 2026 MLB trade deadline with a clear need at a few different spots. Another righty-hitting outfielder, a new catcher, and some bullpen help all would be useful for the Yankees.
But, which of those needs do the Yankees require the most? It's an interesting question, and one that the Yankees need to answer themselves to figure out where they should allocate the most resources.
ESPN's Buster Olney revealed the Yankees' trade deadline priority this summer, indicating that the team's bullpen is the top need for Brian Cashman and the Yankees.
"But bullpen help is the priority, and if the Yankees can get a Miller or a Morejon, they might have the sort of pitching staff that could win in October," Olney writes.

#bullpen #Help

The New York Yankees' offense is missing some key bats right now, but their starting rotation is still one of the best in baseball.
Cam Schlittler, Max Fried and Gerrit Cole are an elite trio to have in a rotation. Carlos Rodón will return soon as well, but the Yankees may be interested in making the group even better. According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Detroit Tigers are "super close" to making Tarik Skubal available, and MLB insider Jim Bowden has been told the Yankees would pursue him.
"If the Tigers were to trade Tarik Skubal, (the Yankees) will play there," Bowden said on the Foul Territory Network.
A rotation featuring Skubal, Schlittler, Fried and Cole would be a nightmare for any team in a postseason series. Pair that with a healthy offense that has Aaron Judge, Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton, and the Yankees are favorites in the American League.
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#schlittler #fried

The clock is ticking on the Detroit Tigers, who have just six days to decide if they will trade ace left-hander Tarik Skubal.
Here are the latest rumors as Monday's trade deadline approaches.
"The Detroit Tigers are starting to make it a much easier decision for the front office to unload ace Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline," USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Monday. "The Tigers drop their third consecutive game, 8-5 to the Baltimore Orioles, and are now 50-57."
Clearly, the Tigers have entered the trade deadline no-man's land.
"Rival executives remain uncertain about what the Tigers will do before the deadline, and they can see the logic behind either path," ESPN's Buster Olney reported Monday.

#trade #detroit #skubal #nightengale

LeBron James is not just a basketball star; he's a big business, and where he goes, that business follows.
That fact was immediately clear here in Philadelphia on Friday. Fans are quickly buying up jerseys and tickets.
"When are the jerseys coming, so when can we buy them as soon as possible?" said Christopher Robinson of Olney.
Robinson says he immediately left work in search of a LeBron James Sixers jersey.
Action News met Robinson at Rally House on Chestnut Street in Center City.

#immediately

Matthew and Elijah Upson made history this week by becoming the first father and son to sign professional contracts with **** nal.
Matthew Upson made 57 appearances for the Gunners, playing his part in the club's memorable domestic Double-winning campaign in 2001/02.
What are the odds of your child not only making it to the professional game in the same position, but also signing his first professional contract with the very club his father represented?
Upson senior must have felt incredibly proud walking back into London Colney.
Interestingly, the 47-year-old was also 18 when **** ne Wenger brought him to **** nal.

#matthew #made #father #elijah

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Arsenal Fixture News reports that the first-team players who didn't go to the World Cup are believed to be flying out to the Marbella Training Centre in Spain today, for fitness training.
The same source adds that those same players will then reunite at **** nal's London Colney training centre on Monday for screening and their official pre-season training start.
Photo via **** nal.com
Simon Collings confirms for The S*n that **** nal will indeed hold a training camp in Marbella this week, continuing a recent tradition of holding a mini training camp before pre-season properly gets underway.

For years, the Yankees have survived by leaning entirely on Aaron Judge.
When Judge is healthy, there are a few players in baseball who can carry an offense as he can. He is one of the greatest right-handed hitters of this generation. He’s putting up seasons that share real estate with legends. Now, the New York Yankees are lifeless without him. They’re not just in a slump. They’re spiraling out of control, letting the division slip away.
Judge has been out of the lineup since May 31st with a right rib fracture. While lingering with the injury since late April, the three-time MVP still slugged out 17 home runs in 59 games this season. Though he wasn’t having his expected season of pure dominance, the Yankees were 36-23 up to that point.
Since being put on the injured list, they are 14-17. Without him, the lineup looks completely lost. An offense built on the shoulders of a giant is crashing down rapidly.
Worst of all, Judge isn’t even close to returning. ESPN’s Buster Olney said on Just Baseball Media that, “If you told me that he played next in mid-August or the beginning of September, that wouldn’t be a surprise,” when discussing Judge’s timeframe to return.

Buster Olney has an intriguing trade idea for the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants to trade one problem contract for another.
The Mets overhauled their roster in a major way this offseason after a disastrous finish to the 2025 season. While they looked to address certain spots on the roster, it seemed like improving their locker room culture was a top priority. It was reportedly a major factor in trading for Marcus Semien and the $72 million left on his contract.
However, over the first few months of his Mets career, he has been a big disappointment. The three-time All-Star has a slash line of .219/.275/.351/.627 with just nine homers and 29 runs batted in after 77 games. The worst fears have been realized, and they are stuck with a fast-aging 35-year-old with a lot of money left on his deal.
When the Giants gave former Milwaukee Bucks star Willy Adames a huge seven-year, $182 million deal last offseason, they had high hopes for the 30-year-old. Unfortunately, while he slugged 30 homers and 87 RBIs last season, he posted underwhelming numbers and has continued that play in 2026. Both the Mets and Giants have a problem, and ESPN's Buster Olney believes they should talk to each other about solving them.
"Pure speculation, but worth exploring for the Mets and Giants: A deal involving Willy Adames and Marcus Semien. The Giants would have to eat a good chunk of money in Adames's deal to make it happen, but Adames could play third, Bo Bichette could move to second, and Semien would return to the Bay Area. SF has signaled a willingness to listen to offers for Adames, Chapman, and Devers."

Mets' new trade rumor involves Willy Adames, Marcus Semien and a change for Bo Bichette originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Mets' season isn't going how they would've hoped.
That has mostly led to talk of selling before this summer's trade deadline, but there's also another fascinating path available to the Mets, one floated by ESPN's Buster Olney on Tuesday morning.
Olney wonders about the Mets acquiring Willy Adames from the San Francisco Giants. The trade wouldn't be as much about this year as it would be about the future with Adames on a long-term contract.
The ESPN writer speculates that Marcus Semien going the other way could make the deal happen, and that it could also get Bo Bichette moved to second base.

Yankees get bad trade prediction on Orioles' All-Star catcher originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Yankees have the best record in the American League and can improve the roster at the trade deadline.
New York has a clear need for a right-handed hitting catcher. Austin Wells and J.C. Escarra have provided little on offense, and Wells' injury replacement, Ali Sanchez, is a short-term option.
ESPN's Buster Olney recently linked the Yankees to Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins, and he appears to be the best potential available backstop if the AL Central club decides to sell.
If Jeffers stays with the Twins or goes elsewhere, the Yankees could turn to the Baltimore Orioles. But the odds of the two AL East teams connecting for a trade seem unlikely.