Orioles, Shane Baz reportedly finalizing 5-year, $68 million extension months after trade

The Baltimore Orioles and right-handed starting pitcher Shane Baz are finalizing a five-year, $68 million extension,ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Friday.

Because Baz, 26, is currently under team control through the 2028 season, the reported contract would buy out his three remaining years of arbitration as well as his first two years as a free agent,according to MLB.com.

The Orioles acquired Bazin a five-player, prospect-filled trade with the Tampa Bay Rays back in December.In return, the Rays received outfielder Slater de Brun, catcher Caden Bodine, right-handed pitcher Michael Forret, outfielder Austin Overn and the No. 33 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.

Baz was the 12th overall pick in the 2017 draft. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected the righty yet then sent him to the Rays a year later in the trade that landed Pittsburgh Chris Archer. It wasn't long until Baz showcased his potential in Tampa.

But before his career could take off, injury caused it to take a detour. He had a pair of elbow surgeries. Tommy John surgery sidelined him the entire 2023 season and half of the 2024 campaign.

Advertisement

Draft your Yahoo Fantasy Baseball team for the 2026 MLB Season

Since, he's stayed away from the injured list. He made 45 of his 54 starts with the Rays over the past two seasons. Although the 4.87 ERA he posted last year was on the higher side, his 176 strikeouts inspired confidence in what he has to offer long term.

He's got quite an arm, as evidenced by the 97 mph average fastball velocity he recorded in his first full season, good for seventh among qualified starters in 2025,according to FanGraphs. His arsenal includes four other pitches, a knuckle curve chief among them. His stuff is enticing, and the Orioles are betting on him being a big part of their future on the mound.

Bringing aboard Baz was just one of the Orioles' splash additions in a head-turning offseasonthat also saw them sign slugging first baseman Pete Alonso to a five-year deal reportedly worth $155 million.

Baltimore's starting rotation got off to an auspicious start on Opening Day, when lefty Trevor Rogers spun seven shutout innings in a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins.

The Orioles are hoping outings like that are on the horizon for Baz in Baltimore, too. He's expected to make his O's debut on Sunday against the Twins.

byAdministrator

in

March 27, 2026

Orioles, Shane Baz reportedly finalizing 5-year, $68 million extension months after trade

The Baltimore Orioles and right-handed starting pitcher Shane Baz are finalizing a five-year, $68 million extension,ESPN...

Read More

USWNT forward Catarina Macario joins San Diego Wave in blockbuster move

The San Diego Wave have announced the signing of U.S. women's national team forward Catarina Macario from Chelsea.

Macario joins the Wave on a contract through 2030, with the club using the NWSL's new High Impact Player Rule to make the move.

The Wave said that the 26-year-old's contract is among the largest women's soccer history.

San Diego will pay a reported $300,000 to land Macario immediatelyper ESPN, with the forward's Chelsea contract set to expire at the end of the season.

"We're thrilled to welcome Cat home to San Diego," said sporting director and general manager Camille Ashton. "Cat is a world-class player who has consistently performed at the highest levels of the game. She is an intelligent, technical and creative attacker with exceptional vision and composure in the final third.

"Her ability to unlock defenses and influence matches in multiple ways will further strengthen an already strong foundation as we continue building toward championship success. This signing reflects the ambition of our club and having a player of her caliber return to her hometown and represent San Diego makes this signing even more meaningful for our organization."

Macario will return to San Diego, where she moved as a 12-year-old in 2011 after spending the first part of her life in Brazil.

Advertisement

"I'm really excited to join San Diego Wave FC and begin this next chapter of my career at home in San Diego," said Macario. "This city has played such an important role in my journey, and the opportunity to come back and represent it means a lot to me.

"From my first conversations with the club, I felt the ambition and the vision for what we can accomplish together, including bringing trophies to this city. I'm grateful for the belief they've shown in me, and I can't wait to get started and give everything for this team and my community."

After a stellar college career at Stanford, Macario turned pro in 2021 and signed with French power Lyon. Macario scored in the 2022 Champions League final, helping Lyon to a European title before moving to Chelsea in 2023.

Macario's progress was stalled by a torn ACL she suffered in 2022, which kept her out the better part of two years.

But the forward came back strong with the USWNT in 2025, leading the team with eight goals in 10 matches.

Overall, Macario has 16 goals in 29 caps for the USWNT.

March 21: The North Carolina Courage's Riley Jackson (right) fights for the ball against Gotham FC's Esther González (9) and Jessica Carter (27) during the first half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The match ended in a 0-0 draw.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> March 21: Houston Dash midfielder Kiki Van Zanten (12) controls the ball as Boston Legacy FC defender Jorelyn Carabalí (16) defends during the first half at Shell Energy Stadium. Houston won the game, 3-0.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:USWNT star Catarina Macario joins San Diego Wave from Chelsea

byAdministrator

in

March 27, 2026

USWNT forward Catarina Macario joins San Diego Wave in blockbuster move

The San Diego Wave have announced the signing of U.S. women's national team forward Catarina Macario from Chelsea. ...

Read More

Argentina coach: Lionel Messi 'earned the right' to make World Cup decision

Global soccer icon Lionel Messi has not decided whether he will help Argentina defend its FIFA World Cup title this summer in North America, national team coach Lionel Scaloni said.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and current Inter Miami superstar will turn 39 during the World Cup, which opens on June 11 and ends on July 19. He is Argentina's all-time leading scorer with 115 goals.

Scaloni said Messi has "earned the right" to weigh his decision and added there's "no rush about it."

"As far as I'm concerned, you already know where I stand," Scaloni said. "I'll do everything I can to make sure he's there. I believe that, for the sake of football, he has to be there. It's not me who decides. It's up to him, his state of mind, his physical condition."

"It's difficult because it is not just the Argentinians who want to see him, everyone wants to see him," he said.

Advertisement

"I want him to be there. It's up to him to decide. He's earned the right to make that decision with peace of mind. We're in no rush about it. We know whatever he decides will be best for the team and for him. We hope he will be there."

Meanwhile, Scaloni did confirm that Messi will play in both of Argentina's home friendlies in Buenos Aires against Mauritania on Friday and Zambia on Tuesday.

"To have two more games on home soil, for an Argentinian, it is a beautiful opportunity to see him on the pitch, to enjoy what we enjoy when he is here," Scaloni said.

Argentina is slotted in Group J for the World Cup along with Algeria, Austria and Jordan. The title defense begins on June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City.

--Field Level Media

byAdministrator

in

March 27, 2026

Argentina coach: Lionel Messi 'earned the right' to make World Cup decision

Global soccer icon Lionel Messi has not decided whether he will help Argentina defend its FIFA World Cup title this ...

Read More

Andrew Garfield Reveals He Only Watched the Harry Potter Movies 'Recently' While Refusing to Say J.K. Rowling's Name

Andrew Garfield is opening up about his decision to watch the Harry Potter films for the very first time and sharing some criticism of author J.K. Rowling

NEED TO KNOW

• During an interview on March 26, the Amazing Spider-Man alum shared praise for cast and crew members who worked on the films while also seemingly criticizing Rowling

• "You can't throw the baby out with the bathwater," Garfield said. "There are so many beautiful artists that worked on those films"

Andrew Garfieldis opening up about his decision to watch theHarry Potterfilms for the very first time — while opting not to name authorJ.K. Rowling.

During an appearance onHits Radioon Thursday, March 26, theAmazingSpider-Manalum, 42, revealed that he had never seen the hit franchise movies until recently and shared some praise for originalHarry PotteractorDaniel Radcliffeas well as many other cast and crew members who worked on the films, while also seemingly criticizing Rowling and referring to her as "she that shall remain nameless."

"Daniel is so goddamn good. Honestly, I hadn't watched theHarry Pottermovies until recently," the actor shared. "He's really good in those movies. ThoseHarry Pottermovies are really good."

"I know it's controversial and we shouldn't be putting money in the pocket of inhumane legislation right now through she that shall remain nameless, but the soul and spirit… the essence of the themes of those films and the kids and the artisans and the craft people," he continued. "I'm working with a wonderful makeup artist, Claire, who worked on the creatures… you can't throw the baby out with the bathwater. There are so many beautiful artists that worked on those films. I have a newfound appreciation for all of the artists."

TheHarry Potterseries is currently being remade as an HBO TV series. The first trailer for the project was released on Wednesday, just one day after the streamershared the first official photo of newcomer Dominic McLaughlinas the titular character, donning a Gryffindor Quidditch robe.

Rowling, who released her firstPotterbook in 1997 before the film series began in 2001, has faced backlash over herrepeated comments about the transgender community.

When the upcoming TV series went into development with Rowling involved, the network released a statement saying that the author "has a right to express her personal views."

Advertisement

"We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter — the heartwarming books that speak to power of friendship, resolve and acceptance. J.K. Rowling has a right to express her personal views," HBO said in the statement, perVariety."We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement."

Several actors from the original film series have spoken out about Rowling's controversial comments over the years, including Radcliffe, who in April 2024 toldThe Atlanticthat her views have made him feel "really sad."

"I do look at the person that I met, the times that we met, and the books that she wrote and the world that she created, and all of that is to me so deeply empathic," Radcliffe, 36, said.

"ObviouslyHarry Potterwould not have happened without her, so nothing in my life would have probably happened the way it is without that person. But that doesn't mean that you owe the things you truly believe to someone else for your entire life," he added at the time.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Production began in Julyon the new series, which will adapt each of the seven books into separate seasons of television. The eight-episode season 1 is titledHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

A logline reads: "There is nothing special about Harry Potter — at least that's what his Aunt Petunia always says. On his 11th birthday, a letter of admittance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry opens up a hidden world for Harry: one of fun, friendship and magic. But with this new adventure comes great risk as Harry is forced to face a dangerous enemy from his past."

Read the original article onPeople

byAdministrator

in

March 27, 2026

Andrew Garfield Reveals He Only Watched the Harry Potter Movies 'Recently' While Refusing to Say J.K. Rowling's Name

Andrew Garfield is opening up about his decision to watch the Harry Potter films for the very first time and sharing so...

Read More

UK joins global push to rein in children's screen use with national guidance

By Sam Tabahriti

LONDON, March 27 (Reuters) - Britain has told parents to curb young children's screen time, advising no screens for under-2s and up to an ‌hour a day for 2- to 5-year-olds because prolonged solo use can ‌disrupt sleep and displace play and exercise.

Governments worldwide have been moving to tighten rules around children's online use, ​with countries including France, Denmark and the Netherlands pushing for new age-verification and safety requirements citing concerns about mental-health risks, cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content.

Indonesia has also imposed tougher restrictions, with under-16s set to be barred from using Roblox from Saturday after the government designated ‌the platform high-risk.

Britain's advice on ⁠the use of tablets, televisions, laptops andsmartphones, published on Thursday, marks the government's most explicit intervention yet on early-years digital habits, ⁠after it said parents had been left to "battle" devices alone.

PARENTS REPORT STRUGGLES WITH CHILDREN'S SCREEN TIME

Advertisement

A quarter of parents in Britain of 3- to 5-year-olds have said they had struggled to ​control screen ​time, while 98% of 2-year-olds use screens daily, ​according to government figures.

The guidance tells ‌parents to keep screens away from mealtimes and the hour before bed, opt for slow-paced and age-appropriate content, and watch alongside children to support early language and social development.

"My government will not leave parents to face this battle alone," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement. He added that families needed "clear, common-sense" advice amid fast-moving technology and ‌conflicting information online.

An expert panel, which recommended the ​guidance, suggested that social-media-style, fast-paced videos and some toys ​powered byartificial intelligenceshould be ​avoided for young children, while screen-based assistive technologies used by children ‌with special educational needs should not be ​subject to blanket limits.

Britain ​and other European governments have also been weighing wider online-safety measures for older children, including potential minimum ages for social media, overnight curfews and restrictions on ​AI chatbots.

On Wednesday, a Los ‌Angeles jury found Meta and Google negligent for features that allegedly harmed ​a young user in a test case that could influence thousands of similar ​lawsuits.

(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti;Editing by Alison Williams)

byAdministrator

in

March 27, 2026

UK joins global push to rein in children's screen use with national guidance

By Sam Tabahriti LONDON, March 27 (Reuters) - Britain has told parents to curb young children's screen t...

Read More

UConn's Sarah Strong returns to North Carolina roots in Sweet 16 showdown

FORT WORTH, TX―Sarah Strong grew up just down the road from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, close enough to follow the Tar Heels' program as a child. Now, the UConn sophomore is poised to eliminate North Carolina from the NCAA Tournament.

The 2026 first-team All-American and UConn's leader in points, rebounds, steals and blocks will lead the top-seeded Huskies against No. 4-seed North Carolina in the Sweet 16 on Friday (5 p.m. ET, ESPN).

"They were one of my top schools, I almost went there," Strong said. "I really am a big fan of UNC. I wanted to stay home at one point."

North Carolina head coach Courtney Banghart and her staff pursued the "generational prospect" aggressively during the 2024 recruiting cycle, hoping to keep the state's top player close to home.

"Sarah has been in my house. I spent a lot of time interviewing Sarah Strong," Banghart said. "We played them last year in Greensboro, and my kids, who were young, ran right up to her and hugged her because they clearly missed her."

When decision time came, the opportunity to join one of the sport's most decorated programs proved too compelling for the No. 1 overall recruit.

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong (21) named Big East Player Of The Year as they celebrate their Big East Championship win over the Villanova Wildcats at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 9, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Sarah Strong, UConn look for perfection and another championship

UConn Huskies forwardSarah Strong(21) named Big East Player Of The Year as they celebrate their Big East Championship win over the Villanova Wildcats at Mohegan Sun Arena on Mar 9, 2026.

"I just looked at winning, and I saw coach (Geno) and what he's built here, the great history, and I just really wanted to be part of that," Strong said.

Basketball has surrounded Strong since her childhood. Her mother, Allison Feaster, starred at Harvard ― where the No. 16 seed Crimson defeated No. 1 Stanford in the 1998 NCAA Tournament ― before playing in the WNBA from 1998-2008. Her father, Danny Strong, played collegiately at NC State, and both parents later built professional careers overseas.

Strong spent the first decade of her life in Spain while her parents played, then moved to Durham, North Carolina. Tar Heels sophomore center Blanca Thomas remembers high school matchups against Strong, noting her skills even then.

"It's been really cool to see how she gets better every year, seeing how she has grown since the first year I ever played her as a true post to now, where she's such a versatile player," Thomas said. "She was always good, and after two or three years playing against each other, and seeing the big growth year to year, I knew that she could be something super special."

Advertisement

Despite the deep basketball pedigree, Strong said her parents did not insist she play.

"They always made sure that I wanted to do it, that I wanted to one day play college basketball and hopefully one day professionally – she always asked me that," Strong said. "So they never pushed me to do anything. I like it, I was always on it."

The result has been one of the most impactful sophomore seasons in the country. Strong was named the USWBA Player of the Year and became the first UConn player since the 2016-17 season to record more than 100 steals in a single season ― all with a WNBA top-five pick in Azzi Fudd on the team.

Strong noted she enjoys the culture she felt upon arriving in Storrs, Connecticut. The relationships inside the Huskies' locker room quickly reinforced her decision.

"I have a bunch of sisters that I've made friends with when I first got here," she said. "All the relationships that I made out of basketball are really important to me."

Now, Strong's path circles back to the school she nearly chose. UConn and North Carolina have met only once before in the NCAA Tournament: a 1994 Tar Heels' victory in a season that ended with their only national championship.

While Benghart recognizes the challenges Strong and the Huskies possess, she knows at least one Tar Heel fan will be happy to see her.

"When we saw we would draw UConn if we kept winning, my daughter said, 'Oh, I get to see Sarah Strong,'" she said.

Andy Mathis is a student in the University of Georgia 's Carmical Sports Media Institute

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:North Carolina native Sarah Strong will lead UConn against UNC in the Sweet 16

byAdministrator

in

March 27, 2026

UConn's Sarah Strong returns to North Carolina roots in Sweet 16 showdown

FORT WORTH, TX―Sarah Strong grew up just down the road from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, close enough to follow the Tar ...

Read More

Ireland's Szmodics gives positive update after being knocked out during World Cup playoff

PRAGUE (AP) — Ireland forward Sammie Szmodics says he is "on the mend" after losing consciousness following a heavy collision with an opponent during the World Cup qualification playoff against the Czech Republic.

Czech Republic Ireland WCup Soccer

Szmodics collided with Czech player Stepan Chaloupek as they moved toward a high ball during extra time of Thursday's game in Prague, where the Czechs won on a penalty shootout. Szmodics collapsed to the ground immediately and seemed to display involuntary arm movement.

Medical staff treated Szmodics on the ground for several minutes before he was moved onto a stretcher with support for his head and neck and reportedly taken to a hospital.

In an update that he posted on Friday on Instagram, Szmodics thanked the medical staff "who acted so quickly to help me."

"On the mend — we go again," he wrote.

Advertisement

Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrímsson said after the match that Szmodics, who plays for Derby County in England's second-tier Championship, would be staying in Prague overnight.

Szmodics had been on the field for less than two minutes when the incident happened. He came off the bench late in extra time and had to be substituted himself.

The score was 2-2 after extra time and the Czechs won the shootout 4-3.

AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

byAdministrator

in

March 27, 2026

Ireland's Szmodics gives positive update after being knocked out during World Cup playoff

PRAGUE (AP) — Ireland forward Sammie Szmodics says he is "on the mend" after losing consciousness following a ...

Read More