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MLB trade deadline tracker: Astros reunite with Carlos Correa, Padres swing several deals

Major League Baseball’s trade deadline has sparked a whirlwind of activity as teams rush to strengthen their rosters for the postseason. All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa is reuniting with the Houston Astros. The San Diego Padres have been busy, acquiring closer Mason Miller. The New York Yankees have added reliever David Bednar. Outfielder Cedric Mullins has moved to the New York Mets, and former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber is joining the Toronto Blue Jays. These moves are part of a flurry of trades as teams aim to boost their chances in the final stretch of the season.

Wide receiver Terry McLaurin has requested a trade from the Commanders, AP sources say

Two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry McLaurin has asked the Washington Commanders to trade him because of a contract dispute. That’s according to two people with knowledge of the request. Both people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the negotiations were private. McLaurin has been holding in at training camp. The veteran reported to camp Sunday after skipping the first four practices and parts of the offseason program. He remains on the physically unable to perform list with an ankle injury while contract talks continue. McLaurin had 82 catches for 1,096 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns last season.

NFL kicks off preseason with moment of silence after shooting that killed 4 people in New York

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — The NFL season kicked off at the annual Hall of Fame game with a moment of silence for the four people killed earlier this week by a shooter who was targeting league headquarters in New York. The gunman also wounded a league employee in the shooting Monday night. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told NBC he visited the employee for an hour on Wednesday and said he was improving. There was increased security Thursday night around Tom Benson Stadium, where Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Antonio Gates and Sterling Sharpe will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Trey Lance tosses 2 touchdown passes, leading the Chargers over the Lions 34-7 in Hall of Fame game

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — On his third team in his fifth season, Trey Lance played like a No. 3 overall pick. Lance threw for 120 yards and two touchdowns, and the Los Angeles Chargers beat the Detroit Lions 34-7 in the Hall of Fame game that kicked off the NFL’s preseason Thursday night. The game opened with a moment of silence for the four people killed earlier this week by a shooter who was targeting league headquarters in New York. The gunman also wounded a league employee in the shooting Monday night. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told NBC he visited the employee for an hour on Wednesday.

Carlos Correa is reuniting with the Astros after a trade from the dismantled Twins

HOUSTON (AP) — Carlos Correa is returning to Houston. The Astros reacquired the three-time All-Star shortstop from the Minnesota Twins just before Thursday’s trade deadline. Correa spent his first seven years in Houston. He became one of the most beloved players in franchise history, helping the team to six playoff appearances, three American League pennants and its first World Series title in 2017. That title was tainted by a sign-stealing scandal. The Twins are covering some of Correa’s remaining contract and getting minor-league pitcher Matt Mikulski in return.

Mikal Bridges agrees to a $150 million extension with the Knicks, AP source says

NEW YORK (AP) — A person with knowledge of the details says Mikal Bridges has agreed to a four-year, $150 million extension with the New York Knicks. The Knicks gave up five first-round picks to acquire Bridges last June and he rewarded them by taking less than he could have earned to lock in to a future with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. Bridges could have earned $156 million in this deal, or even more by waiting until his contract expired next summer. The person who confirmed the deal to The Associated Press spoke on condition of anonymity because it hadn’t been announced.

Deal on ‘valid business purpose’ avoids threat of college NIL settlement heading back to court

The new agency vetting name, image and likeness deals in college sports reached an agreement that relaxes standards on player deals with third-party collectives and avoids taking the issue back to court after years of legal wrangling. The College Sports Commission said it will now consider a third-party company that seeks to pay a player to have a “valid business purpose” if the deal “is related to the promotion or endorsement of goods or services provided to the general public for profit.” It did away with the concept that collectives established simply to pay players did not have a valid business purpose even if they sold products for profit.

Léon Marchand might be French but he led a Texas-flavored moment at the swim worlds

SINGAPORE (AP) — Léon Marchand of France has won gold in the 200-meter individual medley at the swimming world championships in Singapore and it had a Texas flavor to it. American swimmer Shaine Casas claimed the silver and Hubert Kós of Hungary took the bronze. The top trio all train with American Bob Bowman at the University of Texas in Austin. Marchand shattered the 200 IM world record just 24 hours earlier in the semifinal. He almost did it again as he finished in 1 minute, 53.68 seconds. That was just off his Wednesday mark of 1:52.69.

Padres are very busy at another trade deadline, adding Mason Miller, Ryan O’Hearn, Ramon Laureano

The San Diego Padres made several bold moves at yet another trade deadline. General manager A.J. Preller added hard-throwing closer Mason Miller from the Athletics and All-Star first baseman Ryan O’Hearn from Baltimore while swinging five total deals for seven major league players. The Padres got Miller and starter JP Sears from the A’s, landed catcher Freddy Fermín from Kansas City and acquired O’Hearn and outfielder Ramón Laureano from the Orioles. Miller bolsters the Padres’ already deep bullpen, while O’Hearn, Laureano and Fermín could all address obvious holes in the Padres’ lineup.

A winner either way: José Caballero traded from Rays to Yankees while teams were playing each other

NEW YORK (AP) — José Caballero turned an inning-ending double play for the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth inning, then batted in the sixth. By the bottom of the seventh, he was on the other team. In a strange development even for trade-deadline day around Major League Baseball, the Rays shipped Caballero to the New York Yankees — while the teams were still playing each other Thursday afternoon. Caballero was removed from Tampa Bay’s lineup during the seventh-inning stretch, and the deal was announced after the Yankees nailed down a 7-4 victory in a game interrupted by rain for nearly three hours in the fifth.