Soriano back with the Yankees
The Yankees and Cubs have completed a deal that will bring back outfielder Alfonso Soriano to the Bronx. The Blue Bears get pitching prospect Corey Black back in the trade. Soriano broke into MLB with the Yankees back in 1999 hitting 98 home runs and stealing 121 bases in parts of five seasons in pinstripes before being traded to the Rangers for Alex Rodriguez in February 2004. Soriano has enjoyed a bit of a resurgence over the last 30 days hitting 10 of his 17 home runs in the last month. He hit 32 homers last year and his bat is much needed by the offensively challenged Bombers.
MLB News and Notes
With the non-waiver trade deadline coming up next Wednesday, teams are scrambling to make deals for their final playoff pushes. The rumor mill has the Rangers looking for an outfield bat that could mean re-acquiring fan favorite Michael Young from the Phillies. Alex Rios, Hunter Pence and Marlon Byrd are also said to be in the mix.
Not that he had a whole lot of choice in the matter but A-Rod has accepted a new rehab assignment that could have him back on the bigs by August 6th. Rodriguez, who may or may not have a quad injury, will start a five-day rehab on August 1st and could be back in the Yankee lineup against White Sox five days later.
Matt Ryan gets 5-year $103 million dollar extension
Less than a week after the Lions locked up Matt Stafford to a big extension, the Atlanta Falcons have made quarterback Matt Ryan the second highest paid player in pro football. The five-year extension is worth $103 million of which $59 million is guaranteed. Ryan passed for 4,719 yards last season (68.6 completion percentage), including 32 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, and has 18,957 passing yards in his career to go along with 127 touchdowns and 60 interceptions.
Did Biogenesis supply PEDs to sports other than baseball ???
Porter Fisher, the man who made the Biogenesis PED scandal public, said in an interview with “Outside the Lines” that there were several athletes in sports other than baseball that received PEDs from clinic founder Tony Bosch. Fisher would not identify the players but did identify the sports as the NBA, NCAA, professional boxing, tennis and MMA. Fisher further said that to the best of his knowledege, players in the NHL and NFL were not involved. To read the skinny on this story, click here.
Jaromir Jagr signs with the Devils
The New Jersey Devils have signed 41-year-old Jaromir Jagr to a one-year deal for a $2 million dollar base with a $2 million dollar games played (45) bonus. Jagr scored 16 goals and had 19 assists in 46 regular season games this year for Dallas and Boston. On face, this looks to be a nice low risk/high reward stop gap measure to fill in the gap left by Ilya Kovalchuk’s departure to Russia.
Hernandez home surveillance video shows gun before and after killing
More police documents released yesterday include photographs apparently showing Aaron Hernandez in his home with a gun taken shortly after the murder of Olin Lloyd. The pictures were taken by Hernandez’s home surveillance camera. You can see the picture and read about the newest revelations in the case by clicking here.
Free Play
(MLB) Mets (Harvey) -128 over Nats (Ohlendorf) (Friday, July 26, 7:05 PM EST)