The Los Angeles Rams are making sure a handful of players won’t hit free agency next week. On Monday, the team announced it has tendered three exclusive rights free agents: kicker Harrison Mevis, wide receiver Xavier Smith and lineman Justin Dedich.
All three of them were set to become free agents if the Rams hadn’t tendered them, but they will remain in Los Angeles for another year. Players tendered as exclusive rights free agents will be paid minimum contracts, so it’s a cheap way for the Rams to keep all three of them in horns for 2026. Now that they’re tendered, they cannot negotiate with other teams.
Mevis joined the Rams in the middle of last season, replacing Joshua Karty as the team’s kicker, doing an excellent job the rest of the way. He made 12 of 13 field goal attempts and all 39 PATs, going 51-for-52 on his kicks during the regular season. He was also a perfect 6-for-6 on field goals and 9-for-9 on PATs.
Smith was the Rams’ big-play receiver off the bench. He caught 18 passes for 303 yards, with a long of 51 yards. He led the team in receiving once and averaged 16.8 yards per catch. Additionally, he was the Rams’ primary punt returner, though his muffed punt in the divisional round remains the lasting memory of his season.
Dedich backed up the Rams’ interior linemen at guard, making a total of six starts in place of Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson. He’s played 29 games the last two seasons, making nine total starts.
Head coach Jeff Walz called out the national media for failing to cover the Louisville Cardinals women’s basketball team.
“When we get a narrative, we stick with it. We aren’t very good, at as stories develop and teams develop, of talking about them. And we’re not the only team,” Walz said during a pre-ACC Tournament coaches call.
“We’re gonna beat that dead horse as long as we can. That’s just kinda what we do in women’s basketball. So, it doesn’t surprise me. I think we started the season in the 20s and worked our way all the way up to No. 6, and nobody was really talking about us.”
The Cardinals are led by guards Taj Roberts and Imari Berry, plus forwards Laura Ziegler and Elif Istanbulluoglu. All four players average double figures, but none everage more than 12 points. Walz says that could have affected the number of national stories on Louisville.
“We’ve got a really balanced group … because we don’t have the one that’s scoring 20, that’s why you’re not hearing as much about individual players,” Walz said. “But unfortunately, I’ve just been kind of shocked we haven’t heard more about what these players have done here on a national stage.”
U.S. pitcher Clayton Kershaw answers questions from reporters during a workout at Papago Park Sports Complex in Phoenix on Monday. (Chris Coduto / Getty Images)
How do you improve on the perfect ending?
Clayton Kershaw stood in the desert heat Monday, wearing a far darker shade of blue than the Dodgers do. He does not need a medal, or a chance to fail. His election to the Hall of Fame will be a formality.
In his farewell year, the Dodgers won the World Series, becoming baseball’s first back-to-back champions in 25 years. He secured a critical out. He bathed in adoration at the championship rally, and he told the fans he would be one of them this year.
“I’m going to watch,” he hollered that day, “just like all of you.”
He wore a dark blue jersey with red and white piping. As Team USA ran through its first World Baseball Classic workout, Kershaw participated in pitchers’ fielding practice and shagged fly balls during batting practice. He could have been home with his five kids, and instead he was rushing off the mound to take a throw at first base.
That November night in Toronto, as it turned out, was not the last time we would see him in uniform.
“Feels good,” he said Monday. “I wouldn’t put on a uniform for anything else. This is a special thing.”
He put the World Baseball Classic into red, white and blue perspective.
“It’s a bucket list thing for me,” he said.
He is either self-deprecating or painfully honest about his capabilities right now, or perhaps a little of both.
“I think, for our country’s sake, it’s probably better if I don’t,” Kershaw said.
Former Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw fields a ground ball during a workout at Papago Park Sports Complex on Monday. (Chris Coduto / Getty Images)
Never say never. Team USA planned to run a tremendous rotation of Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, Joe Ryan and Logan Webb, but now Skubal says he will pitch just once in the tournament. Skenes says he’ll pitch twice. Ryan says he won’t pitch in the first round, at least.
Kershaw might be needed beyond the role he was promised: save the team from using the current major league pitchers in blowouts or extra innings.
In 11 career at-bats against Kershaw, Ohtani has no hits. Kershaw won’t duck the assignment if gets it, but he considers it so unlikely he is happy to share his game plan publicly.
“It’s throw it, pitch away, play away, hope he flies out to left,” Kershaw said. “Don’t throw it in his barrel.
“I can’t imagine, if it comes down to USA vs. Japan, with the arms that we have, that I’ll be needed. But I’ll be ready.”
Kershaw’s average fastball velocity dropped to 89 mph last season, but he led the majors in winning percentage. He could eat innings for some team — maybe even the Dodgers, with Blake Snell and Gavin Stone all but certain to be unavailable on Opening Day.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, right, celebrates with teammates after the Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2025 World Series title. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
But, even with his success last year and even with the joy of wearing a uniform once again, he insists he isn’t interested in pitching beyond the WBC.
“I don’t want to,” he said. “You can’t end it better than I did last year. I had a great time last year. It was an absolute blast and honor to be on that team. I think that was the perfect way to end it. Honestly, I don’t know if I would have enough in the tank to pitch for a full season again. I’m really at peace with that decision.
“This is kind of a weird one-off thing, but you can’t really turn down this opportunity. It wasn’t easy to get ready for this, with no motivation for a season, but I actually am in a pretty good spot with my arm. I’ll be fine. If they need me, I’ll be ready.”
Kershaw said he has kept in touch with his old Dodgers teammates, with some connecting on video calls from the weight room or clubhouse at Camelback Ranch. He arrived in the Phoenix area two days before the workout, but he skipped a trip to Camelback Ranch.
“I’ve thought about it,” he said. “I miss the guys. I think it’s probably just better, at least for this first year, for me mentally to just stay away, just for spring training.”
Kershaw said he would be at Dodger Stadium for the championship ring ceremony March 27.
He is content with what he calls “Dad life.” He and his wife, Ellen, just welcomed their fifth child, and Dad life includes lots of shuttles to baseball and basketball practice.
This wouldn’t be a Dodgers story these days without some reference to the team’s big spending so, for what it’s worth, Kershaw spent some time Tuesday chatting with Skubal, who will be the grand prize on the free-agent market next winter, or whenever the likely lockout might end.
That’s a rational explanation, Kershaw says, for Skubal pitching just once in the WBC.
“Everybody knows the situation he is in, contract-wise,” Kershaw said. “Any innings we can get out of him is a huge bonus to this team. He’s great. Super competitive. We’re honored to have him.”
Should we assume Skubal will be pitching for the Dodgers next season? Kershaw laughed.
“No comment,” he said, then walked away to get ready for the first game of his post-retirement life.
Young has not played since Dec. 27 due to right knee and quad issues. Since that date, the four-time All-Star was traded from Atlanta — the only team he had ever played for — to the Wizards.
In the 10 games Young has played this season, he’s averaged 19.3 points and 8.9 assists per game, while shooting 35.1% from 3-point range. His shooting should help space the floor for Washington, and his passing will make life easier for Alex Sarr and the other Wizards big men. Young will upgrade the Wizards’ offense.
Washington also traded for Anthony Davis around the deadline, but he is out for the season after finger surgery.
While the addition of Young is exciting for Wizards fans starving for something to cheer for, the team does not want to start winning too many games the rest of this season. Washington owes its first-round pick to New York, but it is top-eight protected. Washington currently has the fourth-worst record in the league and cannot lose its pick in the lottery. However, start racking up wins and getting a better record than Utah, New Orleans or Dallas, and the odds of keeping that pick go down, slightly at first, but they drop. With that, expect the Wizards to keep Young limited this season.
Young is expected to reach a contract extension deal with the Wizards this offseason, reports Marc Stein at The Stein Line. Young has a $48.9 million player option for next season, the conventional wisdom around the league is that he agrees to a shorter extension, two or three years, worth less money per year but more money total.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – JANUARY 04: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Rocket Arena on January 04, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are familiar with injury troubles. They’ve been dealt a short hand for most of the season. So it’s no surprise they will again be without one of their key players as they host the Detroit Pistons tonight.
Donovan Mitchell is listed as OUT with a groin injury. The seven-time All-Star has missed Cleveland’s previous three games with the same injury. He last played in their win over the New York Knicks on February 24.
The Cavs will also be without Riley Minix and Darius Brown, both of whom are on G League assignment. Max Strus is still out, as well. Dean Wade is questionable with an ankle injury. Everyone else is currently available.
Mitchell is averaging 28.5 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds this season while shooting 48.3% from the floor and nearly 37% from downtown. He’s having a career-best year while the Cavs are 3-4 without him this season. He’s been surprisingly available for a player carrying such a massive load each night. It makes sense that the Cavs are being cautious with his latest groin injury. They’ll need him moving forward.
Cleveland is better equipped to withstand a stretch without Mitchell than they were at the start of the season. Trading for James Harden has given them an All-Star-caliber guard to replace Mitchell during these stretches. While Darius Garland was previously capable of doing the same thing — Garland’s own injuries became too much of a roadblock. Harden, albeit currently dealing with a broken finger, has historically been more durable than both Mitchell and Garland.
Harden had 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists in the Cavaliers’ latest win over the Brooklyn Nets. He’s capable of carrying the offense on his own.
The Cavs will have their hands full against a Pistons team that probably feels they shouldn’t have gone to overtime with this shorthanded Cleveland squad last week. But the Cavs are upset with themselves for not sealing the deal in that one. This should be a fun game even without Mitchell.
Luisangel Acuña continues to make his case for a spot on the plane to Chicago with a home run at Camelback Ranch. | (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
The Arizona sun was blazing, Giants fans were howling (it was so obnoxious on the live stream), and the White Sox? Well, tally up another one-run loss. Despite 101 mph on the gun, a bomb by Luisangel Acuña, and Miguel Vargas flashing leather, none of it mattered. The Sox couldn’t hold on late and dropped another one, 6-5, at Camelback Ranch.
Davis Martin got the ball and looked every bit a guy still searching for his stuff. He survived the first two innings, mostly because Vargas bailed him out with a double play that screamed ‘best glove in camp.’
Then came the third, and it all unraveled. Martin forgot where the plate was, walking two with two outs. Then, the desert sky swallowed a routine fly for Jarred Kelenic, gifting the Giants a run-scoring double. Martin’s final line: three innings, four hits, three runs, two walks, two Ks. Not exactly a ‘remember me’ outing.
While the pitching was a bit of a mess, at least the bats and legs woke up. After sleepwalking early, the Sox finally got to Giants prospect Carson Whisenhunt in the third. Korey Lee kept his ‘hey, look at me’ spring rolling, ripping an RBI double and swiping a bag for good measure. He even gunned down Christian Koss, trying to steal, just to remind everyone he’s got a cannon.
Luisangel is turning ‘Acuña Matata’ into a South Side rallying cry. He stayed scorching, yanking a solo shot in the fifth to put the Sox up 5-3 for a hot minute.
Luisangel Acuna goes deep for the first time this spring. 104 mph and 419’. 5-3 White Sox. pic.twitter.com/Hg71nrVzR3
Between the power and the constant contact, he’s one of the at-bats you don’t want to miss this spring. There were also doubles everywhere as Sosa and Kelenic both smoked two-baggers, with Kelenic’s in the fourth putting the Sox ahead.
Jarred Kelenic stays through the ball to LCF for a RBI double bringing in Sosa for a 4-3 White Sox lead. pic.twitter.com/zjUtUUWt8n
The bullpen? A grab bag, as usual. Grant Taylor came in for the fifth and looked like he was hurling thunderbolts. Seven pitches, six strikes, and 101 mph on the gun. The kind of stuff that makes you wonder if there’s hope for the rotation someday.
However, the late innings were the same old pain. Jonathan Cannon ate up three frames, but the Giants kept chipping. Nate Furman tied it with a solo shot in the eighth, and the Sox offense faceplanted in their half with Dustin Harris, who was in for Hill, getting caught in a rundown between third and home.
By the ninth, the air was out of the balloon. Zach Franklin took over, and Braden Montgomery made a diving grab to keep hope alive for about five seconds. Unfortunately, next up, Buddy Kennedy crushed a 416-foot bomb to center. Sox went down with a whimper, and they’re now 7-5 on the spring.
The White Sox will try to scrape off the desert dust and maybe win one tomorrow. Sean Newcomb gets the ball against the Padres at Camelback Ranch. The first pitch is at 2:05 p.m. CST. We’ll be right back at it here at South Side Sox!
The Denver Nuggets will reportedly sign point guard Tyus Jones, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Jones has moved around a lot this season.
He started the season with the Orlando Magic before being traded to the Charlotte Hornets and then re-packaged to the Dallas Mavericks. Jones was waived Saturday to clear roster space for the team to sign two-way guard Ryan Nembhard.
Jones has averaged 7.3 points and 4.3 assists in 11 seasons in the NBA. Jones is also known for his playmaking and solid assist-to-turnover ratio, similar to former Nuggets point guard Monte Morris.
The 29-year-old could give the Nuggets a boost behind All-Star Jamal Murray. The Nuggets average the third-fewest assists per game off the bench in the NBA at 6.5 per game.
Jones started his career with the Timberwolves after getting drafted in the first round in 2015. After spending four seasons with the Timberwolves, Jones spent four years with the Grizzlies before playing with the Wizards and Suns.
The Denver Nuggets will reportedly sign point guard Tyus Jones, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Jones has moved around a lot this season.
He started the season with the Orlando Magic before being traded to the Charlotte Hornets and then re-packaged to the Dallas Mavericks. Jones was waived Saturday to clear roster space for the team to sign two-way guard Ryan Nembhard.
Jones has averaged 7.3 points and 4.3 assists in 11 seasons in the NBA. Jones is also known for his playmaking and solid assist-to-turnover ratio, similar to former Nuggets point guard Monte Morris.
The 29-year-old could give the Nuggets a boost behind All-Star Jamal Murray. The Nuggets average the third-fewest assists per game off the bench in the NBA at 6.5 per game.
Jones started his career with the Timberwolves after getting drafted in the first round in 2015. After spending four seasons with the Timberwolves, Jones spent four years with the Grizzlies before playing with the Wizards and Suns.
Tyler Soderstrom got the scoring started today in Peoria with a two-run homer in the top of teh first inning. The A’s never lost that lead. | Getty Images
Spring Training entered week two as the Athletics took on the San Diego Padres at Peoria Stadium in Arizona today, the Padres Spring Training Facility.
Right-hander Mason Barnett got the start for the A’s today. He made five starts for the Athletics in 2025. logging 22+ innings. Righty Michael King got the nod for the Padres this afternoon. After an injury-plagued season he went 5-3 in fifteen starts for San Diego last year, finishing up with a 3.44 ERA.
The A’s bats continued where they left off after yesterday’s twelve-run barrage in the first inning when Tyler Soderstrom got them on the board with a 2-run blast to right field that was a no-doubt homer.
Two young prospects who may likely see some real playing time for the A’s this season showed why the team loves them. Henry Bolte singled and showed his speed going from first to third on a single to left field by Junior Perez. After a walk to Kurtz to load the bases, Shea Langeliers singled to drive in both Bolte and Perez. That gave the A’s a 4-0 lead with two outs in the top of the second inning. After 48 pitches, that was it for King.
Barnett, who threw strikes and stayed out of trouble in the first, lost control to start the second with two walks on just nine pitches. He got some help from a missed fair ball call that likely would have scored two. He coaxed a double play ball and then struck out the final batter to end the inning. He ended up with forty pitches over the first two innings.
Bolte continued to impress with an RBI single scoring Max Muncy and moving DeVries from first to third. DeVries scored on a throwing error by the Padres third baseman. Kurtz hit a ground ball to the second baseman, but Castellanos roamed too far off first base and the pitcher didn’t get there on time, scoring Bolte from second base. Nice hustle by a youngster fighting to make it to the bigs.
Barnett’s day was over after 2.1 innings and forty-seven pitches. He gave up no hits but allowed two runners via walks. Brady Basso replaced him and got four straight outs keeping the Padres off the scoreboard through four innings.
Luis Medina replaced Basso in the fifth inning. He gave up the first two hits of the day to Padres batters and one run but also worked out of a jam.
By the seventh inning the Padres had subbed all their starters, and the A’s were beginning the process. Wander Suero replaced Medina in the sixth with a 1-2-3 inning and escaped the seventh after giving up just one hit.
By the start of the eighth inning all starters but DH Brent Rooker had ended their day. Colby Thomas replaced him in the ninth, striking out on three pitches.
Nick Hernandez gave up one hit and struck out two in the eighth and returned to pitch the ninth. He gave up a leadoff homer to Jace Bowen to open the inning. That trimmed the lead to 7-2. Zane Taylor replaced Hernandez with two outs in the ninth and got the final batter to ground out to end the game.
The A’s scored all of their runs in the first three innings but held on to win their third game of the Spring 7-2 over the Padres.
