Sports Digest.

Twins Refuse to Trade Ace Joe Ryan as MLB Deadline Looms, Plus a Massive NFL Extension and WNBA Drama

It’s all about the Twins this week as they gear up for a crucial series against the Kansas City Royals. The biggest news isn't just the game itself, but the team's firm stance on pitcher Joe Ryan. With the MLB trade d...

Quick Hits

  • Twins hold the line: The Minnesota Twins are making it clear they have no plans to trade their star pitcher, Joe Ryan, as they push to get their record above .500.
  • MLB trade deadline approaches: Monday is the last day for baseball teams to trade players, and while it's been quiet so far, big names like Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal are generating massive buzz.
  • Big money in NFL training camp: The New Orleans Saints just locked up wide receiver Chris Olave with a massive $132 million contract extension, making him one of the highest-paid players at his position.
  • WNBA shake-up incoming: The WNBA trade deadline is this Sunday, and rumors are swirling that big stars like Kelsey Plum could be switching teams.

Minnesota Teams

It’s all about the Twins this week as they gear up for a crucial series against the Kansas City Royals. The biggest news isn't just the game itself, but the team's firm stance on pitcher Joe Ryan. With the MLB trade deadline just days away, the Twins reportedly have zero interest in trading their ace. Ryan is taking the mound tonight, and the team is relying on him to finally push their win-loss record above .500 (meaning more wins than losses) for the first time since April.

NFL

Training camps are officially open, and the headlines are already flying. The New Orleans Saints made the biggest splash by rewarding wide receiver Chris Olave with a massive four-year, $132 million extension after an incredible 2025 season where he was named a second-team All-Pro.

Over in New England, the Patriots are trying to lock down their defensive star, Christian Gonzalez. Team owner Robert Kraft says they've offered him a record-setting contract to make him the highest-paid cornerback in the league, but the two sides are still negotiating and haven't finalized a deal yet.

In Tampa Bay, things are getting a bit tense as contract negotiations stall for quarterback Baker Mayfield and defensive tackle Vita Vea, though history suggests they'll eventually figure it out. Meanwhile, injuries are already taking a toll across the league, with rookie Nic Scourton tearing his ACL and ending his season before it even begins.

NBA

The NBA's investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers over how they structured star player Kawhi Leonard's contract is getting serious. League sources say the probe could drag all the way into 2027 if the team and the NBA can't agree on the findings.

Over in the WNBA, the trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, and it could be a wild weekend. Big names like Kelsey Plum, Aneesah Morrow, and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton are all rumored to be on the move. The league also had to apologize this week after deleting a social media post that jokingly referenced a bet between rival stars Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers. On the court, the New York Liberty are looking to sweep the Las Vegas Aces in their season series when they face off tonight in Vegas.

MLB

The MLB trade deadline is this Monday, and the rumors are officially heating up, even though very few trades have actually happened yet. The biggest name on the market is Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal, but stars like Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes are also drawing heavy interest from contenders looking to bolster their rosters for a playoff push.

If you're looking at the standings, the latest MLB Power Rankings show that while the top 10 teams in the league have remained pretty consistent, the teams fighting for the final playoff spots are rising and falling dramatically as the deadline approaches.

College Sports

College football season is right around the corner, and the Big Ten conference just held its annual media days to kick off the preseason. The most entertaining moment came from Curt Cignetti, the coach of the reigning national champion Indiana Hoosiers, who used his time at the podium to take some not-so-subtle shots at the SEC (another powerhouse college conference).

Down at USC, head coach Lincoln Riley is feeling the pressure to win big this year. In a fascinating move, he just hired Gary Patterson—a legendary coach who used to routinely beat Riley's teams—to run his defense and help save his job.

In player news, Oregon's star quarterback, Dante Moore, revealed that he turned down a guaranteed $55 million from the NFL to play one more year of college football. He reportedly shut his phone off and went golfing immediately after making his decision.

Other Sports

  • Golf: The PGA Tour is in Detroit this weekend for the final Rocket Classic tournament. Peter Malnati had an incredible first round on Thursday, threatening to shoot a mythical score below 60, though fan-favorite Rickie Fowler is hot on his heels.
  • MMA: UFC Serbia takes place this weekend, headlined by an incredible comeback story. Fighter Daniel Rodriguez is competing in his first-ever main event after spending nearly a year surviving a stint in a Mexican prison.

Sources

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