Sporting Kansas City have acquired center back Alan Montes on loan from LIGA MX side Club Necaxa, the club announced Friday. The 24-year-old Mexican, who will occupy an international roster spot, is on loan through the remainder of the 2025 season with a purchase option. Since making his LIGA MX debut for Los Rayos in 2020, Montes has spent time with the first, second, and youth teams at Necaxa and CF Monterrey. Eventually securing his spot in the Necaxa first team, Montes went on to produce 4g/1a in 59 professional appearances. Montes joins a center back core of Jansen Miller, Joaquín Fernández and Robert Voloder in Kansas City. Sporting are chasing an Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs spot, sitting six points below the Western Conference cutoff line in 13th place with 10 games remaining. They’ll be back in action on Aug. 9 when hosting Western Conference leaders San Diego FC (8:45 pm ET | MLS Season Pass; FS1, FOX Deportes).

The New York Knicks have signed forward Mikal Bridges to a multi-year contract extension, the team confirmed Friday. “We are pleased to sign Mikal to a long-term contract extension and for his commitment to what we are building in New York,” said Knicks president Leon Rose. “Since Mikal’s arrival with us a little over a year ago, he has shown his dedication, professionalism, and winning pedigree on and off the court.” According to reports, the deal is worth $150 million over four years, with a player option for the 2029–30 season. The Knicks gave up five first-round picks to acquire Bridges last summer. He reportedly accepted slightly less than his maximum to give the team more roster flexibility. Bridges could have waited until free agency next summer to earn more than $156 million. By locking in early, he extends his future alongside former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. The Knicks hope this core can take them further after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last season for the first time since 2000.

Luis Garcia toed the rubber Friday at Constellation Field for his closest start to Daikin Park in over two years. Matching up against AL West foe Bryce Miller of the Mariners, the Astros’ starting pitcher completed his fifth rehab appearance, striking out two batters across 2 2/3 innings at Triple-A. “My arm is feeling healthy,” He said. “I’m just trying to basically [put] more miles on my arm, so I can be confident in what I can do.” The righty generated five swings-and-misses, topping out at 92.7 mph on his four-seam fastball. With a pitch limit of 50, Garcia threw 28 of his 49 pitches for strikes and relied heavily on his cutter. Garcia also surrendered a season-high three runs on three hits and two walks, with No. 49 overall prospect Harry Ford tagging a third-inning home run off the 28-year-old. “I’m feeling a little weird, though,” Garcia said of his delivery. “I think I’m not moving quite as explosively as I was in the past. But I’m just trying to figure it out and everything will be better with time.” Garcia has fanned 14 total batters across 11 frames between four levels since starting his 30-day rehab assignment July 7. Garcia hit the injured list in 2023 with right elbow soreness, resulting in Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for most of the past two years. “I don’t know yet,” said He of his next rehab start. “I just keep doing my rehab starts, and hopefully, I’ll be back soon and just when I feel healthy.”

The third and fourth hitters in the Astros’ first lineup post-Trade Deadline were Jesús Sánchez, who started in left field and hit third, and Carlos Correa, who started at third base and hit cleanup against the Red Sox, and both had been acquired in trades a day earlier. Talk about your major Trade Deadline acquisitions. If that wasn’t enough to give the Astros’ lineup a jolt, Correa’s unexpected return to Houstonwas already providing some energy and renewed belief in the team’s championship chances before he even played in a game. The energy inside the visiting clubhouse at Fenway Park was palpable, with Correa slipping on his familiar No. 1 jersey while chatting with both old teammates like Jose Altuve and new ones like Mauricio Dubón. While Correa went 0-for-4 in Houston’s 2-1 loss in 10 innings to the Red Sox on Friday night, he said it was like he never left.