Alan Montes

Sporting Kansas City sign defender Alan Montes from Necaxa

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).

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Knicks Sign Mikal Bridges to Long-Term Extension

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.

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Anthony Volpe Powering Through Scrutiny With His Bat

Anthony Volpe has been under fire for his defense lately, but he’s starting to let his bat do the talking for the Yankees. While Aaron Judge remains sidelined with a flexor strain, Volpe has stepped up offensively. The 24-year-old shortstop has hit seven home runs in his last 13 games, including a four-hit, two-RBI performance in Friday’s wild 13-12 loss to the Marlins. “He’s swinging it great,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said earlier in the week. “He’s locked in.” Volpe’s recent surge brings him to 17 homers and 60 RBIs on the year, putting him on pace for a potential 30-homer season. Only Francisco Lindor and Elly De La Cruz have more long balls among shortstops in MLB. While the Yankees brought in Amed Rosario and Jose Caballero at the trade deadline for depth, Volpe remains in the spotlight — and he’s responding with power.

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Garcia makes 5th rehab start in latest step toward return from Tommy John

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.”

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Correa, back like he never left, already reinvigorating Astros’ clubhouse

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.

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Crawford Walks It Off, Snaps Slump in Mariners’ Crucial Win

J.P. Crawford picked the perfect moment to break out of his slump. The Mariners shortstop crushed a walk-off homer, the first of his career, to seal a dramatic 4-3 win over the Texas Rangers on Friday night at T-Mobile Park. Facing a 2-0 count, Crawford jumped on a 95 mph fastball from Rangers closer Robert Garcia and sent it 370 feet into the right-field stands. “Just don’t miss the fastball,” Crawford said postgame. “I put a good swing on it… and thankfully I didn’t miss.” Crawford had been mired in a rough stretch, hitting just .109 (6-for-55) since the All-Star break and without a home run in 160 at-bats. But his timely blast delivered Seattle’s seventh walk-off win of the season and gave them sole possession of the final AL Wild Card spot. They now sit two games ahead of Texas and 3.5 games behind Houston in the AL West.

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original-atlanta-hawks-owner-tom-cousins-dies-at-93

Original Atlanta Hawks Owner Tom Cousins Dies at 93

Tom Cousins, the original owner who brought the Atlanta Hawks to the city, has died at the age of 93. In a statement, the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena paid tribute to Cousins as “a visionary builder of communities, unmatched philanthropist, and a former Hawks owner who had an enduring impact on the city’s sports landscape.” Cousins, alongside former Georgia Governor Carl Sanders, purchased the Hawks and moved them from St. Louis to Atlanta in 1968, helping establish the city as a key sports hub in the Southeast. He also developed the team’s original home, the Omni Coliseum, which stood for 25 years. Beyond basketball, Cousins was celebrated for his transformative community work, especially the revitalization of Atlanta’s East Lake neighborhood. “We are grateful for his legacy and the countless lives he impacted,” the team’s statement concluded.

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anthony-delivers-first-career-walk-off

Anthony Delivers Walk-Off as Sox Silence Trade Deadline Doubts

Rookie Roman Anthony turned frustration into celebration at Fenway Park. With criticism swirling after a quiet trade deadline, the Red Sox found a spark Friday night as Anthony delivered his first career walk-off hit, a 10th-inning single to center that sealed a 2-1 win over the Astros. “It’s amazing. It’s fun. I want to do it again already,” said the 21-year-old. “Credit to the fans… it makes it so fun to play in.” The win, Boston’s fourth walk-off of the season, came as they wore their lucky green City Connect jerseys and put post-deadline questions on pause, at least for one night.

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Victor osimhen

Victor Osimhen completes £65 million move from Napoli

He was absent as Napoli, the freshly crowned Serie A champions, resumed training at the start of the week as the finer details of the deal were concluded. Napoli coach Antonio Conte seemingly did not have the 26-year-old in his plans for his side’s Scudetto defence next term. Negotiations with Galatasaray had been ongoing for several weeks, but up to Thursday had stalled over the terms of payment for the transfer. Napoli recently recruited Kevin De Bruyne from Premier League club Manchester City. Osimhen becomes Galatasaray’s most expensive player ever.

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Mateta

Crystal Palace reject £30m Atalanta bid for striker Mateta

Crystal Palace have turned down a £30 million offer from Atalanta for striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, according to BBC reports. The 28-year-old forward, Mateta who has two years left on his current deal, has been in strong form, prompting interest from the Serie A club. Palace quickly rejected the approach, and it remains unclear if they would consider a higher bid. Atalanta are actively searching for a new striker after selling last season’s Serie A top scorer Mateo Retegui to Saudi club Al-Qadsiah for £56 million. Other forwards on Atalanta’s radar include Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz, Lecce’s Nikola Krstovic, and Genk’s Tolu Arokodare.

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