SPORTS HEADLINES

Baseball players ask for expanded free agency, salary arbitration rights, almost doubling minimum

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball players seek expanded free agency and salary arbitration rights. They also want to nearly double the major league minimum salary and increase revenue sharing among teams. The union presented these proposals Wednesday, a day before Major League Baseball is expected to suggest a salary cap. The current labor contract expires Dec. 1, and a lockout is anticipated. MLB opposes the union’s proposals, arguing they worsen competitive balance issues. Players propose increased revenue sharing to guarantee small-market clubs a minimum of $240 million annually.

Key Sens. Cruz, Cantwell look to break college sports logjam in Congress with a bipartisan bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — The senators trying to fix college sports will introduce a bipartisan bill designed to break a congressional logjam that would regulate payments to players, limit them to one “free” transfer over their careers and create a “Lane Kiffin Rule” to restrict coach movement during the season. Senators Ted Cruz, a Republican, and Maria Cantwell, a Democrat, briefed The Associated Press on details of the bill they crafted in hopes it could get the 60 votes needed to clear the Senate. They are trying to overcome more than a year of inaction in Congress, which is seeking to enshrine rules created by a lawsuit settlement that allowed players to be paid.

Packers’ Jacobs released from jail as prosecutors weigh filing charges

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was released from a Wisconsin jail while authorities further investigate allegations of domestic abuse. The Brown County prosecutor gave an update Wednesday. District Attorney David Lasee said it’s too soon to make a formal charging decision. Jacobs was arrested Tuesday in Brown County on allegations of strangulation and other offenses over the weekend. Jacobs’ lawyers said they’re pleased that he’s out of jail.

New York and New Jersey are investigating FIFA’s ticket practices as World Cup prices soar

NEW YORK (AP) — FIFA is under fresh scrutiny for sky-high World Cup ticket prices and sales tactics that fans say left them with worse deals than they wanted. The attorneys general in New York and New Jersey, which is hosting eight World Cup matches including the final, announced Tuesday that they are investigating whether FIFA’s ticketing practices violated consumer protection laws. They have sent subpoenas to soccer’s global governing body demanding information on a range of ticketing issues, including FIFA’s use of “variable pricing” models that sent ticket prices soaring for most matches, and redrawn stadium maps that fans say relocated their seats far from the pitch. FIFA declined to comment.

Trump says he has been invited to watch the Knicks play in the NBA Finals

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he plans to take in an NBA Finals game in New York when the series comes to Madison Square Garden next month. Trump says New York Knicks owner James Dolan asked Trump to join him when the Knicks play either the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Knicks reached the finals for the first time since 1999 after sweeping Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals. Trump, a New York native, praised the Knicks’ performance and called their return to the championship round after decades of futility “great to see.”

Travis Kelce joins Cleveland Guardians ownership group as a minority investor

CLEVELAND (AP) — Travis Kelce is a three-time Super Bowl champion, four-time All-Pro and fiance of music superstar Taylor Swift. On Wednesday he added minority investor in the Cleveland Guardians to his resumé. The Guardians announced before their game against the Washington Nationals that the Kansas City Chiefs tight end has purchased a minority share in the franchise. The Cleveland Heights native bought a small share of David Blitzer’s 35% stake. Blitzer can become the controlling owner after the 2027 season or he can wait to exercise that option later.

Djokovic pushed in 4-set win amid heat wave at French Open. Rybakina beaten in big day for Ukraine

PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic was pushed by 74th-ranked Valentin Royer for more than 3½ hours before he reached the third round of the French Open with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (7), 6-3 victory. For the fourth straight day of this year’s tournament the temperature rose beyond 32 degrees Celsius (90 Fahrenheit). This year’s Australian Open winner Elena Rybakina was beaten by Ukrainian opponent Yuliia Starodubtseva 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4). Also advancing were Ukrainians Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk who are coming off trophies at the Madrid Open and Italian Open. Four-time champion Iga Swiatek improved her career record at Roland Garros to 42-3 by eliminating 35th-ranked Sara Bejlek 6-2, 6-3.

Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton takes a key recovery step, running outside as club awaits his return

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton has started running outside after imaging on his right calf left the team feeling optimistic about his recovery. Manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday it’s still unclear when Stanton will return to the lineup. Stanton has been out since April 24 after experiencing stiffness while running bases against Houston. Boone hopes Stanton’s running aligns with his recovery progress. Stanton was off to a good start this season, hitting .256 with three homers and 14 RBIs in the first 24 games. Meanwhile, Jasson Dominguez, plans to ramp up baseball activities this week as he tries to come back from a shoulder injury.

Late-season hire John Tortorella has Vegas in the Stanley Cup Final, poised to join an elite group

The Vegas Golden Knights have reached the Stanley Cup Final after firing coach Bruce Cassidy and hiring John Tortorella. Tortorella took over in March after the team lost six of seven games. Vegas finished the season 7-0-1 and has gone 12-4 in the playoffs, including a sweep of Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado. Tortorella could become the eighth coach to win the Cup after taking over mid-season. This achievement has happened five times since 2000. If Tortorella makes it six, that would match the combined total in the NFL, NBA, and MLB over their long histories.

Mallory Swanson returns to the USWNT first the first time since the 2024 Paris Olympics

Triple Espresso is back. The trio of Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Wilson, nicknamed Triple Espresso at the 2024 Olympics, have been named to the U.S. training camp roster for a pair of June matches against the Brazilian national team in Brazil. The three have not played together since the gold medal match at the Paris Games. Swanson recently returned to her club team, the Chicago Stars, after taking time off for the birth of her daughter. She has not played for the United States since October 2024.