August 2, 2025 3:53 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington believes the team’s moves at the trade deadline created flexibility going into 2026. The Pirates sent away third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, closer David Bednar and starting pitcher Bailey Falter in exchange for prospects. Cherington says the team will use the next two months to provide opportunities for younger players and will explore adding a veteran bat through trade or free agency during the offseason. Pittsburgh is in last in the NL Central despite a strong pitching staff led by Cy Young candidate Paul Skenes.
August 2, 2025 3:51 am
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Quarterback Kenny Pickett returned to the field for the Cleveland Browns after missing three practices because of a hamstring injury. Pickett did only individual work and did not participate in any team drills Friday. It was still a step forward for the four-year veteran, who was expected to be out at least a week after getting hurt during a red-zone drill late in practice on July 26. The Browns have three more practices scheduled before traveling to Charlotte, North Carolina, for a joint practice with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday.
August 1, 2025 2:47 am
After dealing Gold Glove third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes to the Cincinnati Reds and left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson to the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, the Pirates traded two-time All-Star closer David Bednar to the New York Yankees and left-handed starting pitcher Bailey Falter to the Kansas City Royals, then flipped newly acquired lefty reliever Taylor Rogers to the Chicago Cubs. Cherington says the moves add more talent to the system and creates “some maneuverability” to reallocate payroll to other parts of the team including improving its offense.
August 1, 2025 1:41 am
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres acquired hard-throwing closer Mason Miller and left-hander JP Sears in a deal with the Athletics on Thursday, adding major upgrades to their pitching staff in a trade deadline blockbuster. Miller, with his fastball regularly eclipsing the 100 mile per hour mark, a devastating slider and a burgeoning changeup, few would believe the unbelievable details of the future star’s journey to the Big Leagues. Four crucial years of that journey were spent at Waynesburg University, making him one of the very few to go from the NCAA Division III ranks to the starting rotation of a Major League club.
August 1, 2025 4:40 am
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.
July 31, 2025 4:51 am
WASHINGTON, Pa. – Washington and Jefferson College has announced that Vicki Staton passed away on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. Vicki was a legendary women’s volleyball and basketball coach, trailblazer for women’s sports, and mentor to thousands of Washington & Jefferson College student-athletes. A pioneer of women’s athletics at W&J and the College’s all-time coaching victory leader with 646 combined wins, Vicki devoted nearly four decades to building programs, mentoring student-athletes, and advancing opportunities for women in sports. She began her volleyball coaching career on October 15, 1975, and went on to lead the program for 28 seasons, compiling 367 victories. Just a few months later, on January 15, 1976, she coached her first women’s basketball game, directing the Presidents to 279 wins over 25 seasons. A 2012 inductee into the W&J Athletics Hall of Fame, Vicki’s volleyball squads secured five Presidents’ Athletic Conference titles (1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999) and two ECAC South Region Championships (1996, 1997). She was honored as the PAC Volleyball Coach of the Year five times. Her basketball teams captured seven Pennwood Athletic Conference Championships (1978-1981, 1983-1985), three Presidents’ Athletic Conference titles (1994, 1996, 1998) and an ECAC Southern Division III Championship (1994). Upon her retirement from head coaching, Vicki ranked 24th in NCAA Division III history for all-time coaching victories in both volleyball and basketball. In June 2001, she was inducted into the Washington-Greene chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. A Celebration of Life service is planned for Thursday, August 14, at 3:30 pm on the Washington & Jefferson College campus at Salvitti Family Gymnasium.
July 31, 2025 4:23 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pirates have traded Gold Glove-winning third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes to the Cincinnati Reds for veteran reliever Taylor Rogers, shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura and cash. The 28-year-old Hayes gives the Reds an elite defender at the hot corner who is under contract for the rest of the decade. The 20-year-old Stafura, a second-round pick by the Reds in 2023, is considered one of the better prospects in Cincinnati’s system. Later, in a seperate deal, left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson was dealt to Seattle. The trade gives their bullpen another arm as they make a playoff push. Seattle sent right-handed pitching prospect Jeter Martinez to Pittsburgh. The 29-year-old Ferguson is 2-2 with a 3.74 ERA in 43 1/3 innings this season. He has a 3.69 ERA in 308 appearances over seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Houston Astros and Pirates. Seattle entered Wednesday in position for the third and final American League wild-card spot.
July 31, 2025 4:26 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Henry Davis’ fielder’s-choice grounder brought home the go-ahead run in the 10th inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates completed a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants with a 2-1 victory. Pittsburgh has won five in a row. San Francisco went 0-6 on its homestand. It’s the first time since 1896 the Giants franchise has gone winless on a homestand of six or more games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Giants also dropped below .500 for the first time this season. San Francisco was swept last weekend by the New York Mets.
July 31, 2025 4:25 am
LATROBE, Pa. (AP) — Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is embracing what could be the final training camp of his career. The 41-year-old says he’s enjoying his time during Pittsburgh’s annual three-week stay at Saint Vincent College. Rodgers says living in a dormitory allows the group to build the kind of camaraderie necessary to find success on the field. Rodgers got an up-close look at the physical nature of Pittsburgh’s training camp during the team’s first fully padded practice. While Rodgers and the rest of the offense have struggled against the defense during the opening week of camp, he is optimistic things will improve quickly.
July 31, 2025 4:28 am
Shannon Sharpe will not return to ESPN, according to a person familiar with the decision. The decision follows his recent settlement of a lawsuit accusing him of sexually assaulting a woman during their relationship. Sharpe’s last appearance on ESPN was in late April when the lawsuit was filed. No details of the settlement have been released. The lawsuit sought $50 million. Sharpe called the accusations false and hoped to return for the NFL season. Instead, ESPN decided to part ways with the Hall of Fame tight end. Sharpe joined ESPN in 2023 after leaving FS1’s “Undisputed” and was a panelist on “First Take.”
