April 18, 2026 5:13 am
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The family of late San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler is nearing a sale of the team, a person with knowledge of the negotiations tells The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Padres aren’t commenting publicly on the process. The Wall Street Journal first reported the progress of a deal with private equity billionaire Jose E. Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones. While the deal hasn’t been finalized, the team is expected to be sold for $3.9 billion, a record valuation for a Major League Baseball team.
April 18, 2026 5:12 am
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Jon Rahm says he isn’t worried about the future of LIV Golf despite uncertainty about its funding. The two-time major champion has shown it’s not affecting his golf. After a poor week at the Masters, Rahm has started 65-67 for a one-shot lead at LIV Golf Mexico. Speculation centers around Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund cutting financial backing of the rival golf league. Scott O’Neil is the CEO of LIV. He has told the staff funding would continue without interruption. But in another interview, he suggests the league will have to “work like crazy” to create a business plan.
April 18, 2026 5:09 am
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Former Angels outfielder Garret Anderson has died. He was 53. The multitalented player became the Angels’ career hits leader and led the team to its only World Series title. The Angels announced Anderson’s death without immediately disclosing the cause or location. Anderson reached the majors with the then-California Angels in 1994 and played for the club until 2008, primarily as a left fielder. He was a fixture in the heart of their batting order for his entire tenure, becoming the franchise’s leader in hits, RBIs and games played among many other achievements. Anderson was a three-time AL All-Star from 2002-05.
April 18, 2026 5:10 am
SAO PAULO (AP) — Oscar Schmidt, the Basketball Hall of Famer known to his Brazilian compatriots as the “Holy Hand,” died Friday. He was 68. Schmidt’s family said in a statement that he fought a brain tumor for 15 years “with courage, dignity and resilience . . . while remaining a role model of determination, generosity and love of life.” Schmidt is beloved in Brazil for committing to the national team for 19 years and becoming one of the most prolific scorers in basketball history. He also starred in a historic victory over the United States in the final of the 1987 Pan American Games.
April 18, 2026 5:08 am
The United States heads into the World Cup hoping for its first knockout-stage victory since 2002. While the Americans enter with their weakest goalkeepers in four decades and few central defenders playing in a top league, they benefit from being seeded as a co-host in the expanded tournament, which could keep them from playing an elite opponent until the round of 16. The U.S. hopes to advance far in the tournament and show it is making progress in a sport that trails the NFL, MLB and NBA in popularity at home. The Americans face Paraguay, Australia and Turkey in Group D.
April 18, 2026 5:04 am
[AP] Fernando Mendoza, who will reportedly not be in Pittsburgh next week when Roger Godell announces his name during the NFL Draft, will get a chance to learn from Kirk Cousins before the Las Vegas Raiders give him an opportunity to start. The only question surrounding the Heisman Trophy winner is when he’ll make his debut. Mendoza, who led Indiana to its first national championship, is an overwhelming favorite to be the No. 1-overall pick. The intrigue starts with the second pick. Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese was widely considered the choice for the New York Jets but Texas Tech edge David Bailey has gained momentum.
April 17, 2026 4:23 am
The eight first-round series in the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs are set. The matchups include the bitter cross-Pennsylvania rivalry between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Elsewhere in the East, top-seeded Carolina plays Ottawa, while Atlantic Division-champion Buffalo takes on Boston and Tampa Bay goes up against Montreal. In the Western Conference, it’s Colorado vs. Los Angeles, Dallas vs. Minnesota, Vegas vs. Utah and Edmonton vs. Anaheim.
April 17, 2026 2:43 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — James Wood singled to score automatic runner Jorbit Vivas in the 10th inning and the Washington Nationals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-7. Reliever Clayton Beeter got his first career win despite giving up the ninth-inning run that sent the game to an extra inning. Brandon Lowe hit an infield single to score Jake Mangum, who Beeter walked. Dennis Santana pitched the top of the 10th for the Pirates. Orlando Ribalta earned his first career save. The Nationals scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning. The Pirates responded in the bottom of the inning with four runs of their own.
April 17, 2026 4:26 am
NEW YORK (AP) — The Dodgers shattered Major League Baseball’s spending record with a combined $515 million in payroll and luxury tax last year en route to their second straight World Series title, according to final figures compiled by the commissioner’s office, and Los Angeles is projected for the highest total again in 2026. Los Angeles’ 2025 spending included records for payroll at $345.3 million and tax of $169.4 million. Despite having several contracts discounted to reflect deferred payments, the Dodgers’ total was seven times the $68.7 million payroll of the Miami Marlins, the lowest-spending team, and more than the payrolls of the bottom six clubs combined.
April 17, 2026 4:29 am
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods’ attorney plans to fight prosecutors’ attempts to subpoena the golfer’s prescription drug records. The attorney argues that Woods has a constitutional right to privacy regarding his medications. He asked a judge in Florida this week to hold a hearing to determine if the records are necessary for the investigation. Woods has pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence. Authorities say he showed signs of impairment after an accident last month. Prosecutors are seeking his prescription records from a pharmacy in Palm Beach. Prosecutors also demanded the names and locations of any witnesses Woods plans to present in his defense.
