All posts by h716a5.icu

After landing in the Bronx via a trade by the Cubs last winter, Cody Bellinger could be on the move for the second offseason in a row after he turned down a $25 million option from the Yankees to pursue a better deal. He should have a number of suitors.

In 2025, Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.489, with 29 home runs, 98 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. He had a solid wRC+ of 125 and produced 4.9 fWAR. It was arguably his best season since he was named NL MVP in 2019 as a member of the Dodgers.

Somehow, Bellinger is only 30 years old. He’s a two-time All-Star, has a World Series ring, is a good defender at all three outfield positions, and can play first base. Few players have the defensive versatility he boasts, while also providing pop at the plate.

Bellinger should receive a decent-sized contract this winter, and the following four teams could give it to him. For this exercise, we've ranked them from the weakest fit to the strongest, but all four teams are reasonable possibilities for the veteran free agent.

New York Mets

The Mets need to add to their offense and find another reliable outfielder. Bellinger fits perfectly. As noted, he provides solid defense at all three outfield spots and can play first if needed. New York’s center fielders ranked 27th in OPS (.598) during the 2025 season while slashing .210/.284/.314. An upgrade is sorely needed.

Additionally, Pete Alonso’s knockdown, drag-out free agency saga last season could have left some bruises and might lead both parties to walk away this winter. If that happens, the Mets will need to find a power bat. Bellinger has a career 144 wRC+ at Citi Field and would have no problem fitting in.

New York Yankees

Bellinger obviously fits back with the Yankees, but only if they aren’t totally sold on going full-time with youngsters Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones. Bellinger and Trent Grisham are free agents, as is Paul Goldschmidt. That’s 73 home runs New York has to replace. Bellinger was second on the team in WAR this season (5.1), and he at Yankee Stadium. In 80 home games in 2025, Bellinger slashed .302/.365/.544 with 18 home runs, 55 RBIs, and a wRC+ of 151. The Yankees know what he can do, and he might be a safer bet than going elsewhere in free agency.

Seattle Mariners

With Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez both off to free agency, the Mariners need to solidify their corner infield spots. Bellinger could step right in at first base and give Seattle a left-handed bat with some thump. He could also move to the outfield, as Seattle’s right fielders ranked 28th in OPS (.618) this season, slashing an anemic .222/.281/.337. Bellinger would be an immediate upgrade.

In 11 career games at T-Mobile Park, he is slashing .333/400/.600, with three home runs and a wRC+ of 173. The Mariners came painfully close to reaching their first World Series. If they want to get over the hump in 2026, they’re going to need to spend.

Cleveland Guardians

If Cleveland follows through with trading Steven Kwan, the team’s need for outfield help will be even more dire. Chase DeLauter made his debut in the postseason and should help things, but adding a veteran bat like Bellinger’s would give the lineup a boost. It’s worth noting, he has an .831 career OPS at Progressive Field, with a wRC+ of 109.

Guardians center fielders ranked dead last in OPS this season (.574), and slashed .199/.256/.318, and Bellinger is more than capable of improving on that.

India’s selectors are due to pick the squads for the white-ball tour of Australia on Saturday

Yash Jha03-Oct-2025India’s selection panel, which includes RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha for the first time, is meeting on Saturday to pick the squads for the ODI and T20I tour of Australia beginning on October 19. It is likely to mark the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are retired from T20Is and Tests and haven’t represented India since the Champions Trophy victory in March.The tour begins with three ODIs on October 19, 23 and 25, followed by five T20Is between October 29 and November 8. Here are some of the key questions ahead of the selection.Should the all-format players get a break?After a rare break following the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England, India have a packed calendar, with the Asia Cup followed by the ongoing two-Test series versus West Indies, and the first ODI in Australia scheduled five days after the end of the second Test. Less than a week after the fifth T20I in Australia, India host South Africa for a two-Test series followed by three ODIs and five T20Is.Three players appear to be certainties in all three formats: Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav. Given the workloads, the quick turnarounds between formats, and the fact that the next major ODI tournament is the World Cup in 2027, India might consider resting these players for the ODIs in Australia. If they are picked for the 50-overs games, they could be released midway through the T20I series to prepare for the Tests against South Africa.If Gill were to be rested for the ODIs, Yashasvi Jaiswal – who was withdrawn from the Champions Trophy squad after being named in the provisional squad – should be his replacement. He could also join Abhishek Sharma at the top in the T20Is.Will Jasprit Bumrah get a break?•Associated PressWhile Kuldeep does not have a like-for-like replacement, India might have to reconfigure the spin-heavy squads they picked for the ODI Champions Trophy and the T20 Asia Cup to suit Australian conditions.Who’s in for Hardik Pandya?Hardik Pandya missed the Asia Cup final with a left quadriceps injury and there are doubts over his availability for the tour of Australia too. Nitish Kumar Reddy is an option to join Shivam Dube as the seam-bowling allrounder in the T20I squad.The replacement for Hardik in ODIs is an interesting question: Dube played the last of his four ODIs in Sri Lanka last year, while Reddy is yet to feature in the format. The 2027 ODI World Cup is in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. India will want to explore their options for seam-bowling allrounders as back-up for Hardik, and Australia might be the right place to get started.Who are the specialist quicks?Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana are Nos. 1 and 2 in the line behind Bumrah – both were part of India’s squads at the Asia Cup as well as the Champions Trophy. But who is the third specialist fast bowler should Bumrah be rested in either, or both, formats in Australia?Mohammed Siraj could be in line for an ODI comeback, having last played in Sri Lanka over a year ago. Prasidh Krishna is an option too, should India prefer his hit-the-deck style as a middle-overs enforcer. Prasidh – the Purple Cap winner at IPL 2025 – is the likely third seamer in the T20I squad if Bumrah is rested.Will Tilak Varma make it to the ODI squad?•AFP/Getty ImagesSpin allrounders: who and how many?India’s most recent ODI and T20I squads have featured several spin allrounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar were at the Champions Trophy, while Axar played the Asia Cup where Washington, along with Riyan Parag, was a standby.A similar number of spin allrounders is unlikely given the conditions: it’s hard to see India picking both Jadeja and Axar in an ODI in Australia, and the series could be a good opportunity to blood some seam-bowling allrounders instead.Parag featured in both white-ball teams last year, and had scores of 67 and 58 in two List A games for India A against Australia A this week. Tilak Varma – who scored 94 in the second of those matches after his Asia Cup final heroics – could also be a contender for the ODI squad.No Pant – who’s back-up wicketkeeper in the ODI squad?Rishabh Pant is unlikely to make it to the squads for Australia as he is still recovering from the fractured foot he suffered in England. While he hasn’t played a T20I since August 2024, Pant was India’s back-up wicketkeeper to KL Rahul at the Champions Trophy.Sanju Samson’s last ODI was in December 2023 in South Africa, where he batted No. 3 and scored his maiden hundred. Jitesh Sharma and Dhruv Jurel are the other wicketkeepers to feature in India’s recent T20I squads, but neither has compelling List A credentials.

Liverpool have taken decisive action in the wake of Mohamed Salah’s shock outburst against the club, with the Egyptian superstar set to be left out of the Reds’ Champions League squad for the trip to Inter. The Premier League title holders are due to face Italian opposition at San Siro on Tuesday, and will do so without their leading goal-scorer from the last eight seasons.

Why has Salah been dropped by Liverpool?

Salah has been named among the substitutes in Liverpool’s last three fixtures. He stepped off the bench in a home draw with Sunderland, but saw no game time as the Reds headed out on the road to West Ham and Leeds.

It was in the wake of the trip to Elland Road, which delivered a dramatic 3-3 draw and more points dropped for Arne Slot’s side, that Salah opted to speak out and air his grievances in public. He accused his current employers of throwing him under the bus, believing he has become a scapegoat for the struggles being endured as a collective, and admitted to having no working relationship with his current head coach.

He said: "I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season. Now I'm sitting on the bench and I don't know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That's how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame." Salah added on his dealings with Slot: "I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden, we don't have any relationship. I don't know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn't want me in the club."

AdvertisementGetty/GOALWho made the decision to exclude Salah from Champions League squad?

Plenty of criticism has come Salah’s way in the wake of his explosive comments, with many accusing the 33-year-old of allowing ego to get the better of him. He has suggested that past achievements should almost guarantee him a regular role with Liverpool.

The two-time Premier League champion has, however, seen it made clear to him that everybody – regardless of their standing at Anfield – must earn their place in the team. Salah will be left to reflect on that stance when his team-mates line up against Inter. is reporting that the decision to leave Salah out of the Reds’ travelling party was made “by the board and Arne Slot”.

Authority undermined: Why Slot had to make an example of Salah

Dutch tactician Slot was under pressure to make an example of Salah, with it vital that he does not allow his authority to be undermined by one frustrated individual. He has responded to calls for action to be taken.

The Egypt international did, however, take part in Liverpool’s training session on Monday. The Reds were put through their places ahead of boarding a plane to Italy. Salah will be left watching on from afar as his colleagues seek to deliver a positive response to the surprising 4-1 reversal they suffered at the hands of PSV in the club’s last European outing.

While Salah is likely to be forced to sit out a crunch clash with Inter, claims that his exclusion is not considered to represent “disciplinary action” by those working behind the scenes on Merseyside.

Instead the “step is viewed in isolation, rather than having a bearing on Salah’s possible selection going forward – including for Saturday’s Premier League game at home to Brighton & Hove Albion”. A home date with the Seagulls will be Liverpool’s last before Salah heads off on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesJanuary transfer: Liverpool's stance on Salah exit talk

Salah has said, after accusing some of trying to force him out of Anfield, that he intends to bid farewell to Liverpool fans against Brighton. According to , the Reds are expecting him back.

They are said to “remain fully committed to Salah and his contract, which runs through until 2027, while maintaining that the current situation is temporary and can still be turned around”. Despite future rumours being sparked, Liverpool are “not currently planning for the forward’s exit, nor making plans to use the January transfer window for possible replacements”.

ECB announce fixtures for men’s and women’s competitions in 2026, in new two-month window

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2025Warwickshire have retired their Birmingham Bears moniker for T20 Blast matches, and will instead revert to being called Warwickshire Bears when the rebooted men’s and women’s competition gets underway in 2026.The club won their sole T20 title as Birmingham Bears in 2014, but have reverted to their county name after more than a decade, following feedback from members and in recognition of the women’s county competition that got underway this season.”Warwickshire has and always will be at the heart of who we are,” Stuart Cain, the county’s chief executive, said. “It’s our identity and has been for well over a century.”Over a decade ago, the club decided to be bold with a city-based name for our T20 team and it saw attendances grow to record levels and attract new fans to the Bears. But with our long-term future in mind, and following feedback from members through the members committee, now is the right time for change.”We represent the county and that’s what returning to Warwickshire Bears is about.”The announcement came ahead of the ECB’s unveiling of next year’s Blast fixtures – which, for the 14th consecutive year, will be hosted at Warwickshire’s home ground of Edgbaston (or EdgBLASTon, as per the club’s “bold and electrifying move” to rebrand the stadium for the duration of the tournament).The Blast schedule has been compromised in recent years, following the introduction of the Hundred in a mid-summer block in July and August. This year’s event featured a final on September 13, almost two months after the conclusion of the group stage in July, meaning that each of the four teams were missing key players – a situation described by Lancashire’s captain, Keaton Jennings, as “ludicrous”.The new-look tournament will take place in a tightened two-month window. The group stage for men and women will run from May 22 to July 12, with the men’s quarter-finals taking place three days later on July 15 and Men’s Finals Day on July 18. Women’s Finals Day will take place 24 hours earlier, on a Friday, at the Kia Oval.Related

PCA reiterates fatigue concerns ahead of county domestic review

'Wanted six sixes more' – Lynn makes history with first Finals Day hundred

Smeed 94 powers Somerset to Blast glory in record 195-run chase

Smeed delivers his knock-out blow as Somerset seal record chase

'Ludicrous' scheduling leaves T20 Finals Day shorn of star billing

The men’s groups have been rejigged, with three groups of six teams replacing the long-standing North and South Groups, albeit with a retention of many of the more traditional rivalries – including Yorkshire versus Lancashire in Lancashire in Group A, Gloucestershire versus Somerset in Group B, and Surrey versus Middlesex in Group C.Each team will now play 12 group-stage matches instead of 14, which has allowed the schedulers to place 80% of these fixtures in fan-friendly slots on a Friday, Sunday or a Bank Holiday. Following feedback from the PCA, which warned of the dangers of player fatigue in a recent survey, the total number of back-to-back matches in the men’s competition has been reduced to six – which is down from more than 50 two years ago – while there is just one in the women’s competition.”The changes to the men’s and women’s Vitality Blast competitions for 2026 have been made in order to benefit fans and players alike,” Neil Snowball, ECB managing director, competitions and major events, said. “Every county will host a men’s and women’s double header, with 61 double-headers in total, while the significant reduction in back-to-back games gives players more opportunity to perform at their very best throughout the competition.Surrey’s Grace Harris poses with the Women’s T20 Blast trophy•ECB via Getty Images”The narrative of both competitions will also be easier to follow with the knockout stages following on immediately after the group stages, culminating in a true celebration of T20 cricket with the women’s and men’s Vitality Blast Finals Days being hosted at the Kia Oval and Edgbaston on consecutive days.”PCA Chief Executive, Daryl Mitchell, said: “Throughout the past 12 months, the PCA has worked tirelessly alongside the professional game to improve standards for players across all formats. The Vitality Blast competitions for 2026 highlight considerable improvements with a real energy injected into them.”Players want to be at their optimum levels to perform at their best in county cricket’s flagship T20 competition and a significant reduction of back-to-back fixtures across the men’s and women’s Blast, alongside more men’s and women’s double headers and reduced travel in the men’s game will allow this.”The tournaments will begin with 16 men’s and women’s double-headers across the May Bank Holiday Weekend. Somerset, the men’s defending champions, will face Hampshire Hawks in a rematch of last year’s final at Taunton, while Surrey – the women’s winners – will face Lancashire.Yorkshire’s women, who will be embarking on their maiden Tier 1 season, will take part in their first Roses double-header at Old Trafford on 10 July.Vitality Blast Men’s CompetitionGroup A: Derbyshire Falcons, Durham, Lancashire Lightning, Leicestershire Foxes, Notts Outlaws, Yorkshire
Group B: Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Somerset, Warwickshire Bears, Worcestershire Rapids
Group C: Essex, Kent Spitfires, Hampshire Hawks, Middlesex, Surrey, Sussex Sharks