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Marcus Stroman opts out of final year of Chicago Cubs deal while the White Sox decline Tim Anderson’s $14M option

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

Chicago Cubs and White Sox fans knew there would be plenty of new faces in 2024 and on Saturday learned that two former All-Stars are on their way out of town.Cubs starter Marcus Stroman opted out of the final season of his three-year, $71 million deal, according to multiple reports, while the Sox declined Tim Anderson’s option, making the shortstop a free agent.Neither move was a huge surprise, though Stroman was set to make $21 million in 2024, an amount that could be difficult to match after a subpar ending to a season marred by injuries. Stroman, 32, was dominant in the first half, going 9-6 with a 2.96 ERA in 19 starts and earning an invitation to the All-Star Game, which he declined to participate in.Stroman made noise about the lack of talks over a contract extension, which ultimately proved to be a wise decision by the Cubs. After a hip injury followed by a mysterious right rib cartilage fracture while rehabbing the hip, Stroman went 1-3 with an 8.63 ERA in the second ...

Sails sag for US offshore wind projects, jeopardizing Biden clean energy goals

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

The cancellation of two large offshore wind projects in New Jersey is the latest in a series of setbacks for the nascent U.S. offshore wind industry, including three projects in New England, jeopardizing the Biden administration’s goals of powering 10 million homes from towering ocean-based turbines by 2030 and establishing a carbon-free electric grid five years later.The Danish wind energy developer Ørsted said this week it’s scrapping its Ocean Wind I and II projects off southern New Jersey due to problems with supply chains, higher interest rates and a failure to obtain the amount of tax credits the company wanted. Together, the projects were supposed to deliver over 2.2 gigawatts of power.The news comes after developers in New England canceled power contacts for three projects that would have provided another 3.2 gigawatts of wind power to Massachusetts and Connecticut. They said their projects were no longer financially feasible.In total, the cancellations equate to nearly one-...

Wellesley puts on an offensive clinic, shuts out Belmont

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

WELLESLEY — After a sterling performance against Belmont on Saturday, Wellesley senior Robby Broggi said this was the best his team has played offensively all season.Was it ever.In a Div. 2 first-round game against No. 10 Belmont, No. 7 Wellesley did just about everything right in a 42-0 rout.Belmont drops to 5-4. Wellesley (5-4) advances to the state quarterfinals, where it will face powerhouse No. 2 seed Catholic Memorial.That will be a steep challenge, but Wellesley will be going into it on a high note.“Yeah, for sure (it is fun playing in this offense),” Broggi said. “We definitely mixed things up from the start of the year. I think the offense is the best it’s looked all year. It was a blast.”“It’s how they practiced this week, so I think that’s the big message,” Wellesley coach Jesse Davis said. “Big turnaround after our loss to Weymouth. The kids really showed up this week ready to go. They executed today.”Brog...

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown: NBA’s in-season tournament has ‘mixed reviews’ around league

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

NEW YORK — The NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament began on Friday night, and like anything else that’s new, the reception of the idea has been polarizing.The tournament puts every team in one of six five-team groups. Each team plays four pool play games to determine six group winners and two wild-card teams to determine who advances to the knockout stage, with the semifinals and championship being played in December in Las Vegas. Every game except the championship counts toward the regular-season standings.The in-season tournament concept is common in other sports around the world, especially soccer, but has inspired debate about its place in the NBA. Some critics view it as gimmicky, especially after crazy court designs were unveiled this week. Others have been open-minded about it. It makes these early-season games more interesting, but there could be more done to incentivize players to care.Inside the league among the players, there has certainly been some pushback. Former Celt...

Montez Sweat reportedly agrees to a 4-year, $98 million extension with the Chicago Bears

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

Ryan Poles was unflinching in his confidence Montez Sweat would be part of the future of the Chicago Bears, and a new deal for the defensive end materialized quickly.The Bears have finalized a contract extension for the 27-year-old Sweat, NFL Media reported, ensuring he will be much more than a half-season rental after the team acquired him Tuesday before the NFL trade deadline, sending a 2024 second-round draft pick to the Washington Commanders.Before making his debut for the Bears on Sunday at New Orleans, Sweat will sign a four-year extension worth $98 million. The annual average of $24.5 million ranks fifth among edge rushers in the NFL, nudging just past the four-year, $96 million contract the Green Bay Packers gave Rashaan Gary. Sweat’s deal runs through the 2027 season.Some criticized the aggressive move because the Bears weren’t guaranteed to keep Sweat even though they would have had the franchise tag at their disposal after the season. But Poles was certain all...

Arrest made in Chula Vista mall shooting

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- A 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection to a shooting that left three people wounded at a shopping mall in Chula Vista last weekend.The Chula Vista Police Department said authorities arrested the juvenile in San Diego without incident on Friday, Nov. 3. Due to his age, no additional suspect information is being released at this time. Can you believe it? These five San Diego zip codes are among priciest for homebuyers The shooting took place at Novo Brazil, located in the Otay Ranch Town Center. Three gunshot victims were located by officers, and all were transported to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries, police said.A video was released that shows the moments leading up to the shooting.Police are still asking that those with additional information about this case to contact San Diego Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 or submit a tip via p3tips (online or mobile application) http://p3tips.com/409 if they wish to remain anonymous...

Spanish league slams racist abuse targeting Vinícius Júnior during ‘clasico’ at Barcelona

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

MADRID (AP) — The Spanish league has denounced racist abuse targeting Vinícius Júnior at last weekend’s “clasico” match between host Barcelona and Real Madrid.Madrid forward Vinícius, who is Black, has been the victim of repeated racist verbal attacks from fans in the past two seasons.On Saturday, the league included the incident from the Oct. 28 game in its weekly report to the Spanish soccer federation. The report compiles incidents at stadiums that could “incite violence or have insulting or intolerant contents.”The league says that Brazil star Vinícius was targeted by a fan during the game that Madrid won 2-1 at Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium.Barcelona has said it will investigate all alleged racist acts by its supporters.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerThe Associated Press

German airport closed after armed man breaches security with his car

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — The airport in the northern German city of Hamburg was closed to passengers, and flights were canceled Saturday night after a vehicle broke through security and entered the premises, German news agency dpa reported.Federal police said an armed man had broken through a gate with his vehicle and fired twice into the air with a weapon. Police also said that the man’s wife had previously contacted them about a possible child abduction.Several local German media reported that the man had two children inside his car.Federal police spokesman Thomas Gerbert told dpa that a large number of officers from state and federal police were on site and in the vicinity of the vehicle.The Associated Press

Group commits 6 armed robberies, carjacking across on South Side Friday evening

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

CHICAGO — A half dozen armed robberies took place across three South Side neighborhoods Friday evening, including one that ended in a victim's car being stolen, according to a community alert sent out by the Chicago Police Department Saturday.Police said the robberies happened in the Armour Square, Near South Side and Bridgeport neighborhoods. In each incident, four males approached a victim or victims, pulled out black handguns and demanded victims' property. In one of the incidents, the victim's vehicle was taken. After stealing victims' property, the group then fled in a previously reported stolen vehicle.Incident Times and Locations200 block of West 31st Street on Nov. 3, 2023 at 4:33 p.m. 2000 block of South Calumet Avenue on Nov. 3, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. 2000 block of South Wabash Avenue on Nov. 3, 2023 at 8:10 p.m.  3700 block of South Lituanica Avenue on Nov. 3, 2023 at 8:18 p.m. 400 block of West 28th Place on Nov. 3, 2023 at 8:22 p.m.  2200 block of South Michigan Avenue on No...

Zuckerberg undergoes surgery after tearing ACL during MMA training

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:25 GMT

(The Hill) — Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg underwent surgery on Friday after experiencing a knee injury during martial arts training.The tech billionaire shared the news in an Instagram post, explaining that he tore his anterior cruciate ligaments — commonly called the ACL — while training for an MMA fight. “Grateful for the doctors and team taking care of me,” Zuckerberg posted. “I was training for a competitive MMA fight early next year, but now that’s delayed a bit.”He added that he still plans to compete in a fight, but will be “looking forward to doing it after I recover.” The photo he shared showed the billionaire in a hospital bed with his left knee bandaged.The news of his injury comes as Zuckerberg and X owner Elon Musk have mulled competing in a cage fight.A potential match between to the tech moguls began in June, when Musk said he was “up for a cage match if [Zuckerberg] is,” while responding to a post about Threads, Meta’s new alternative to X. Zuckerberg responded, writing,...