There’s one more match left for John Cena.

It’s less than two weeks until the wrestling legend will call it a career, as his final match will take place at Saturday Night’s Main Event on Dec. 13. While the wrestling world has been preparing to say goodbye to one of the greatest to do it, his final opponent hasn’t been determined − although it’s getting close to finding out.

To decide it, WWE unveiled the ‘The Last Time is Now’ tournament, with 16-stars competing for the opportunity to be the last person to challenge Cena. The tournament has been going on for nearly a month, and a few names are still standings, just a couple of wins away from taking the prestigious honor.

With the semifinals taking place, here’s what to know for the tournament to determine Cena’s last opponent:

Who is John Cena’s final opponent?

John Cena’s final opponent will be determined through a 16-person tournament.

When is John Cena tournament?

The tournament began on the Monday, Nov. 10 edition of Raw and the semifinals will be on Raw on Dec. 1.

Who is in John Cena tournament?

The 16 stars that made up the tournament will consist of wrestlers from Raw, SmackDown and NXT, as well as some ‘who don’t even work here,’ Cena said. 

Damian Priest 
Rusev 
Sheamus 
Shinsuke Nakamura
The Miz
Jey Uso
LA Knight
Zach Ryder
Je’Von Evans 
Gunther
Solo Sikoa
Dolph Ziggler
Finn Balor
Penta
Bronson Reed
Carmelo Hayes

John Cena tournament bracket

Rusev def. Damian Priest
Sheamus def. Shinsuke Nakamura
Jey Uso def. The Miz
LA Knight def. Zach Ryder
Gunther def. Je’Von Evans
Solo Sikoa def. Dolph Ziggler
Penta def. Finn Balor
Carmelo Hayes def. Bronson Reed

Quarterfinals

Jey Uso def. Rusev
LA Knight def. The Miz (Sheamus out due to injury)
Gunther def. Carmelo Hayes
Solo Sikoa def. Penta

Semifinals

Jey Uso vs. LA Knight (Raw, Dec. 1)
Gunther vs. Solo Sikoa (Raw, Dec. 1)

Final

Jey Uso/LA Knight vs. Gunther/Solo Sikoa (TBD)

When is John Cena’s final match?

Cena’s final match will take place at Saturday Night’s Main Event on Dec. 13 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

College football’s months-long soap opera drew to a long-awaited close yesterday, with Lane Kiffin announcing he would be leaving Mississippi for SEC rival LSU.

Kiffin became the central figure in a busy and occasionally unpredictable 2025 coaching carousel, with Florida and LSU, as well as his now-former employer, all vying for his services.

Ultimately, he chose the Tigers, who fired Brian Kelly eight games into his fourth season at the school.

Kiffin turned the Rebels into a consistent national power, going 32-6 over the past three seasons. This year, Ole Miss is 11-1, setting a program record for regular season wins, and is widely projected to make the 12-team College Football Playoff field.

To pry Kiffin away from a good situation, LSU had to pay up — to say the least.

According to The Daily Advertiser, part of USA TODAY Co., Kiffin has signed a seven-year deal with the Tigers that’s worth $91 million. Here’s what to know of Kiffin’s reported contract details and salary at LSU:

Lane Kiffin LSU contract, salary details

Length: 7 years
Total contract money: $91 million
Average annual value (AAV): $13 million

Kiffin’s average annual earnings of $13 million will make him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football. Only Georgia’s Kirby Smart, at $13.28 million, made more during the 2024 season, according to USA TODAY Sports’ coaches salary database.

It’s a considerable pay bump from the $9 million Kiffin was making at Ole Miss, which tied him with Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, Tennessee’s Josh Heupel and Kentucky’s Mark Stoops as the 10th-highest-paid coach in college football.

If Kiffin were to win a national title at LSU, his annual compensation would automatically increase to make him the highest-paid coach in the country.

In perhaps the most interesting twist to the deal, LSU has agreed to pay Kiffin’s postseason bonuses, even though he won’t be coaching Ole Miss in the playoff. That means he could make up to $1 million if the Rebels end up winning the national championship.

Lane Kiffin LSU buyout

If Kiffin were to be fired by LSU without cause while he’s under contract, he would be owed 80% of his remaining salary, according to the term sheet obtained by The Advocate.

That buyout would be paid out in monthly installments for the remainder of the deal. Additionally, it doesn’t include any mitigation or offset clause if Kiffin were to get another job after being fired. The buyout terms are particularly notable after Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry decried lengthy coaching contracts with hefty buyouts in a news conference shortly after Kelly was fired, a move that came with a $54 million buyout.

‘Right now, we’ve got a $53 million liability,’ Landry said. ‘We are not doing that again. And you know what? I believe that we’re going to find a great coach. I may even let President (Donald) Trump pick it. He loves winners. I’m not going to be picking the next coach, but I can promise you, we’re going to pick a coach and we’re going to make sure that coach is successful and we’re going to make sure that he’s compensated properly and we’re going to put metrics on it. Because I’m tired of rewarding failure in this country.”

Lane Kiffin record

Kiffin is 117-53 in 14 years as a college head coach, going 7-6 in one year at Tennessee, 28-15 in four years at USC, 27-13 in three years at Florida Atlantic and 55-19 in six years at Ole Miss.

As the NFL regular season winds down, several teams are beginning to turn their attention toward the offseason. The New York Giants are already there.

Yes, the Giants last week became the first NFL team eliminated from playoff contention. But the organization shifted its focus even earlier with the November firing of head coach Brian Daboll, who went 2-8 in 2025 prior to his dismissal.

In announcing the move, team president and CEO John Mara revealed that general manager Joe Schoen would be retained to lead the search for the next head coach. On one hand, the job should have no shortage of suitors, as promising rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart and a few other staples – including wide receiver Malik Nabers, left tackle Andrew Thomas and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence – constitute a solid foundation on which the next coach can build. But the Giants have typically skewed toward the familiar in past searches, and it remains to be seen whether the organization will go outside the box this time around.

With Mara having stated his impatience with the franchise’s trajectory, the team would surely pay attention if a sitting head coach with a proven track record were to become available in the next five-plus weeks. But failing that, the Giants will be left to sort through an array of candidates from differing backgrounds.

With all that in mind, here’s an early ranking of the potential coaching candidates for New York based on how viable each looks for the vacancy:

10. Mike Kafka, Giants interim coach

Tasked with seeing out the season, Kafka has made a strong initial impression, including implementing an aggressive game plan that helped the Giants storm to a 10-point lead on the road against a Detroit Lions team that eventually proved too formidable in overtime. But close calls didn’t cut it for Daboll, and they won’t get Kafka the full-time job, either. Interim coaches tend to have an exceedingly difficult time convincing owners to hold off on wider searches, and Kafka’s candidacy will hinge on the entire team showing serious progress in a short amount of time.

9. Antonio Pierce, former Las Vegas Raiders head coach

If Big Blue’s brain trust wants to mine organizational connections with head-coaching experience, it stands to reason that Pierce would be of some interest. A Pro Bowl selection in 2006 who helped lead the team to a Super Bowl 42 title the following year, the former Giants linebacker had plenty of success with the organization during his playing days. He also helped pull the Raiders out of a tailspin when he took over for as interim coach in 2023, though his full-time stint leading the team would last just one year. Maybe he’s not immediately at the top of the list, but it wouldn’t be a surprise for Pierce to at least get an interview.

8. Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator

Any franchise seeking a rapid turnaround would be wise to look in Jim Harbaugh’s direction. No, they won’t be prying away the Chargers coach, who managed a six-win improvement and wild-card berth in Year 1 at the helm. But Minter’s stout defenses have been integral to Harbaugh’s success, and the 42-year-old figures to become a fixture of the coaching interview circuit in January. His zone-heavy scheme could cause some whiplash for personnel accustomed to a healthy dose of man coverage, and Los Angeles hasn’t been as consistent as it was a year ago, when the defense surrendered the fewest points of any team. But even if he seems like a long shot, he should be intriguing to an organization that clearly hasn’t gotten the desired return on investment from its defensive talent.

7. Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator

The vision of a fearsome pass rush keying the Giants’ resurgence never fully came to life, even with Brian Burns enjoying a career year. Joseph, who orchestrates the NFL’s most dominant unit in a Broncos defense on pace to shatter the single-season sack record, could be the right man to get the group going. His two-year run at the helm for Denver didn’t inspire much faith, but he was also left to pay the toll for the franchise’s inability to move on from the Peyton Manning era, particularly at quarterback. A second chance should be in store, even if it doesn’t end up materializing with the Giants.

6. Matt Nagy, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith or Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury could also occupy this spot, as the Giants understandably would be interested in an offensive mind with head-coaching experience. But are any of the available options all that enticing? Even with Kansas City’s offense merely scraping by, Nagy might be next in line for another shot at a top job given the pedestrian crop of candidates coming from the offensive coordinator ranks. If the Giants go with him or another option with similar credentials, it will speak volumes about how highly the organization is prioritizing Dart’s development relative to all other factors.

5. Steve Spagnuolo, Chiefs defensive coordinator

If the Giants truly want to turn to the familiar in their moment of need, they could give Spagnuolo a look for a third time. New York brass interviewed the defensive coordinator twice – in 2016 and 2018, following his run as interim head coach after Ben McAdoo’s firing – but opted against giving him the top job both times. A reconsideration seems unlikely given where things stand for the franchise and Spagnuolo, who turns 66 later in December. But he should get another interview, and maybe he’ll get a look as someone who can help get the Giants’ house in order in the short term.

4. Jeff Hafley, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator

Boston College alumnus John Mara sure has an affinity for his alma mater, and Hafley – who was head coach at the school from 2020-23 – could benefit from his tie-in. But the candidacy of the Montvale, New Jersey, native is about far more than mere connections. His aggressive Green Bay defense could provide a blueprint for Big Blue, especially as it pertains to the utilization of promising rookie pass rusher Abdul Carter, who has drawn comparisons to fellow Penn State product Micah Parsons.

3. Mike McCarthy, former Dallas Cowboys head coach

Sitting out a season might pay off for McCarthy, who could be an attractive option in a pool of candidates with few assurances. He’s certainly a familiar figure to Giants leadership after interviewing with the team in 2020 before joining the rival Cowboys. Given his extensive track record as a head coach, play-caller and quarterback developer, he could present a higher floor than some of the less established alternatives. This, too, might be an enticing on-ramp for the 61-year-old, who is accustomed to having to work around existing infrastructure after his time in Dallas.

2. Lou Anarumo, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator

After being dumped by the Cincinnati Bengals, Anarumo has breathed new life into a previously stagnant Colts defense. In the process, he’s re-established himself as someone who could receive consideration for his first head-coaching gig. There are certainly strong links to the Giants, where Anarumo served as defensive backs coach in 2018. He also overlapped with Schoen during his six-year run as an assistant with the Miami Dolphins, and his son, Louis, is a pro scout for New York. Anarumo interviewed for the Giants’ vacancy in 2022 amid the Bengals’ Super Bowl run, and perhaps now the timing could be right for the partnership to come together.

1. Chris Shula, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator

The grandson of legendary former coach Don Shula would certainly fit in well with a franchise that’s long on legacy. But Shula has made a name for himself this season, becoming arguably the hottest assistant coach thanks to his work guiding a defense that ranks 31st in overall spending, according to Over The Cap. Plucking the next big name from the Sean McVay coaching tree might be appealing to Mara and Schoen, even though the 39-year-old is greener than some of the other options and lacks head-coaching experience. But his work developing young talent could push him to the top of the list, and the possibility that he could bring along some McVay-minded assistants for his offensive staff could help assuage any concerns about going the defensive route.

Nau’Jour Grainger, better known as rapper Toosii, announced on social media he will suit up to play for the Orange.

Grainger is from Syracuse and played high school football in North Carolina before embarking on his music career. His hit 2023 song, ‘Favorite Song,’ went double platinum and topped at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. He has 4.5 million followers on Instagram and 3.9 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

In the summer, Grainger posted on social media he was pursuing a chance to play college football and pausing his music career.

‘I’m chasing history first multi-platinum recording artist to go back to school and play Division I football,’ he wrote in August. ‘Next year I’m gonna be on somebody’s team mark my words.’

Since then, the 25-year-old has posted videos of him working out, along with taking recruiting visits to Duke, Maryland and Sacramento State. It led to his announcement to play for his hometown university, which he said he decided after receiving a call from Syracuse coach Fran Brown.

‘To be born in Syracuse and move to North Carolina at age 12 and haven’t been back since. When Coach Fran called, I knew it was a sign from God. So with that being said, Cuse I’m coming home,’ he said.

Grainger is listed as a receiver on recruiting site Rivals and is part of the 2026 recruiting class. When asked by USA TODAY Sports for more information, Syracuse said it could not comment on prospective student-athletes due to NCAA rules.

The Orange finished the 2025 season with a 3-9 record and went 1-7 in ACC play, finishing last in the conference. Syracuse currently is ranked No. 26 in the 2026 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. Grainger is not listed on the site.

Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers hope to keep the good times rolling as they welcome the Phoenix Suns to downtown for a Monday night game on Peacock.

The Lakers enter Monday with a nice little seven-game winning streak, which started back on Nov. 14 in a win over the Pelicans. They sit just four games behind the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.

Phoenix enters this away game as winners of six of their last 10 games and sits four games behind L.A. in the Pacific Division.

Notable on the injury report, LeBron James (foot) and Deandre Ayton (right knee) are both game-time decisions. Isaiah Livers, Ryan Dunn and Jalen Green are all listed as out for Phoenix.

Here is how to watch this Western Conference showdown on Monday night.

What time is Suns vs. Lakers?

The Los Angeles Lakers will host the Phoenix Suns in a regular season game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The game is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.

How to watch Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Time: 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
TV: Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), Arizona’s Family 3TV (Phoenix)
Stream: Peacock

Watch the Lakers take on the Suns with Peacock

A chaotic coaching carousel saw schools miss out on their top choices and pivot to other candidates.
Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss for rival LSU, prompting outrage from Mississippi fans.
Florida, Auburn, and Arkansas all hired new coaches from the American Athletic Conference.

If you’ve never been to the University-Oxford Airport, you’re not missing much. Small place, one building, looks like a bank.

So small, in fact, that you can yell from the fence line outside the airstrip, and if the props or small jet engines aren’t whirling, it’s not that difficult to hear it all.

Especially the four-letter words. 

Welcome, everyone, to coaching searches in the SEC. Where things aren’t just different, they’re downright nasty. 

Because when your school’s football coach leaves for one of your rival schools in the conference — in the middle of the greatest season in Mississippi history, no less — well, that just won’t stand. So you line up six or seven deep behind a chain-link fence, at a tiny airport that serves the Norman Rockwell painting of a bucolic southern town, and yell obscenities just as loud as you can to anyone remotely associated with formerly beloved coach Lane Kiffin. 

His kids, his brother, his ex-wife. And then, of course, for the man at the center of the cratered world where you now suffer. 

Listen closely, and hear one tortured soul scream, “You absolute scum of the earth” when Kiffin exits a black SUV and walks toward a private jet set to whisk him off to the safety of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Until he loses his first game as the LSU coach, that is.

But no, we’re not done yet. This beast is always hungry and never satiated.

Even when eating its own.

Let me introduce the fan bases of Florida, Auburn and Arkansas, three programs who believe in their heart of hearts that they’re truly something. When they’re really not — or haven’t been in years.

Follow along on this strange trip of three schools hiring three different coaches from the American Conference — apparently the new training ground for the SEC — and all three fan bases puking at the very thought of the three men now set to run the show. 

Florida fans desperately wanted Kiffin, especially after the previous four swings at replacing Urban Meyer fell about as flat as Paynes Prairie, the ecological wonder that sits just outside Gainesville city limits. Or right about where the Jon Sumrall hire sits with the rabid Gator Nation.

Auburn, meanwhile, desperately wanted Sumrall, whose coaching career in the Group of Five conferences closely resembles that of Billy Napier’s before Florida blew four years on him. No matter, Auburn offered him the gig, promised to do whatever it took, and was turned down at the last moment — when it was clear Florida had lost out on the Kiffin sweepstakes, and was looking for a backup plan. 

Hey, everybody needs a backup plan, right?

So Auburn — this is just so juicy — hired South Florida coach Alex Golesh, who had arguably the best Group of Five job with the most powerful NIL collective in the G5 (I see you, Fowler Avenue Collective), and didn’t come close to winning the American. He did, however, beat Florida in Gainesville this season. 

Although to be fair, that wasn’t exactly a heavy lift with Napier leading the charge.

Arkansas, meanwhile, had its sights on Golesh, and nearly had a deal before negotiations stalled earlier this Thanksgiving weekend while some i’s needed dotted and t’s needed crossing — and the next thing you know, Auburn needs a coach because it lost out on Sumrall. 

So Golesh pulls back from Arkansas, and says hello to the Loveliest Village on the Plain. Until he loses his first game, that is. 

Back at Florida, the fan base was losing its mind over losing out on Kiffin. Because had athletic director Scott Stricklin fired Napier last season when Napier should’ve been fired, he could’ve had Kiffin without a fight — and for much cheaper than the reported $12 million annually Kiffin was currently fetching this time around.

He who waits, ends up begging glorious heroes of the past to help make it right. Or something like that. 

In a mater of an hour after hiring Sumrall, Florida had public declarations from Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer about Sumrall, and his ability to lead the Gators back from nearly two decades in the college football hinterlands. Even Danny Wonderful himself, Gators legendary quarterback Danny Wuerffel, implored all Gators to get behind Sumrall and support him as he leads the program in the most competitive conference in all of college football.

Then there’s this overwhelming irony: if Napier is fired last season, none of this crazy happens. Florida has Kiffin, Ole Miss has Pete Golding one season earlier than it does now, and LSU probably doesn’t even fire Brian Kelly and pay him the second-largest buyout in the history of the sport.

Auburn gets Sumrall, Golesh does’t beat Florida in Gainesville with Kiffin coaching the Gators, and stays at South Florida to enjoy a new stadium and a growing NIL beast. And Arkansas eventually finds its way to Silverfield.

Easy breezy.

The only school that got its first choice this time around was LSU, which flew into University-Oxford airport as soon as Kiffin called and said it’s time to get, and flew out with its high-stakes booty just as fast as humanly possible — a trail of four letter words in its wake. 

Welcome to the SEC, everyone. Where it’s downright nasty.

Without a ball being snapped. 

Georgia and Oregon have moved into the top four of the latest NCAA Re-Rank.
Virginia and Arizona climbed in the rankings after significant rivalry wins.
Five teams from the Group of Five conferences are ranked within the top 25.

Georgia is up to No. 3 and Oregon to No. 4 after both capped the regular season with rivalry wins. The Bulldogs smothered Georgia Tech and the Ducks did the same to Washington.

The Aggies are down two spots to No. 5 after losing 27-17 to Texas. The Longhorns move up one spot to No. 14 as the highest-ranked three-loss team.

Teams climbing in the rankings include No. 16 Virginia, up three after beating Virginia Tech to clinch a spot in the ACC championship game, and No. 21 Arizona, which is up eight spots after winning the Territorial Cup against Arizona State.

The Wildcats’ rise gives the Big 12 four teams in the top 25. Ahead of Arizona are No. 6 Texas Tech, No. 11 Brigham Young and No. 15 Utah.

No. 20 Michigan dropped four spots after losing to No. 1 Ohio State. The Big Ten has five teams in the top 20 and three of the top four in the Buckeyes, No. 2 Indiana and Oregon.

There are five Group of Five teams in the top 25, led by No. 17 Tulane and No. 18 North Texas. The two are set to meet this weekend in the American championship game to decide which Group of Five conference winner goes to the College Football Playoff.

Joining the Green Wave and Mean Green are No. 22 James Madison, No. 23 Navy and No. 25 UNLV.

The St. Louis Cardinals are looking to trade third baseman Nolan Arenado, who has two years and $27 million left on his contract.
Arenado’s offensive production has declined in recent seasons, making a trade more challenging.
As a 10-time Gold Glover with a full no-trade clause, Arenado must approve any potential destination.

It is a saga dragging on through a second winter, with little guarantee of resolution before the calendar turns and Major League Baseball teams begin assembling in Arizona and Florida.

Still, the St. Louis Cardinals will try to trade Nolan Arenado. And their third baseman might be a little more agreeable to accept the destination.

Arenado, 34 and with two seasons and $27 million remaining on his contract, is no longer a fit for the pivoting Cardinals, who have already dealt ace Sonny Gray to the Boston Red Sox. Yet new baseball operations chief Chaim Bloom still has a key task on his to-do list that predecessor John Mozeliak could not cross off: Find a taker for Arenado, and a destination the 10-time Gold Glover finds agreeable.

Recent returns won’t help that cause: Arenado’s home run total has diminished sharply the past three seasons, from 30 in 2022 to 26, 16 and 12. That’s coincided with a drop in hard-hit balls (39% in 2022, 33% last season) and a rise in groundball rate (30.5%, 36.5%).

Consequently, Arenado was worth 1.3 WAR in 103 games last season, a sharp fall from his career-best 7.9 in 2022. That’s the version of Arenado the Cardinals must shop. Yet more than a few clubs can use a steady glove and veteran presence at third base, even if Arenado is not the spectacular defender and dynamic all-around talent he once was.

A look at five potential trade partners for Arenado, who has a full no-trade clause:

Arizona Diamondbacks

There is an immediate opening at the hot corner in the desert. And the Diamondbacks’ motivation to explore an Arenado deal would likely be informed by two factors: Their confidence, or lack thereof, in prospect Jordan Lawlar and their desire to move on from Ketel Marte.

For now, Lawlar is lightly sketched in at third, though injuries limited him to 114 games in the minors and majors the past two seasons, and he’s struggled in limited stints with the big club in 2023 and ’25.

Marte is a three-time All-Star, but the relationship with club and player was strained when he extended his All-Star break a couple of days after his home was burglarized. Marte’s reasonable contract could attract suitors.

Moving him and acquiring Arenado could bump Lawlar, and perhaps a platoon partner, to second base. Arenado’s contract wouldn’t be too onerous for Arizona to take on, and it’d be a savings if they move Marte’s relatively team-friendly deal, which has $91 million remaining.

Arenado’s curious defensive metrics – his Outs Above Average the past four seasons: 14, 5, 10, 3 – would be mitigated paired with cornerstone shortstop Geraldo Perdomo. Not a bad fit.

Seattle Mariners

Hey, at least these clubs have a fairly recent track record making big deals.

The Diamondbacks nearly pushed the Mariners across the finish line to their first World Series appearance, shipping them first baseman Josh Naylor and third baseman Eugenio Suarez at the trade deadline, both players spearheading a run to Game 7 of the ALCS.

The Mariners were so smitten with Naylor that they re-signed him to a four-year, $92.5 million deal. They still need to replace Suarez.

Hmm.

What makes Arenado a nice fit in Seattle is the notion of him serving as a bridge to the passel of elite infield prospects in the Mariners system. Seattle is in win-now mode, for certain, yet also has top prospects Cole Young – who debuted last season – and Colt Emerson banging on the door. Feinin Celesten lurks a little deeper in the system.

With Naylor back in the fold and All-Stars Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez bearing much of the offensive load, Arenado could slide a little deeper in the lineup – he’d look nice in the five hole behind Naylor – and simply play elite defense at third.

Miami Marlins

Let’s start with potentially the biggest hurdle: Would Arenado accept a trade to the perpetually-in-flux Marlins?

Heck, he turned down a ready-made opportunity in Houston last winter, so agreeing to a deal in any of baseball’s purgatories – and Pittsburgh would be a nice fit, too – seems unlikely.

But let’s suspend that reality for just a moment and focus on the Marlins’ 49-38 finish – a sample that stretches to June and suggests this wasn’t an end-of-season anomaly. Throw in the fact the Marlins are reportedly looking to add payroll, perhaps motivated by baseball’s revenue-sharing regulations.

And consider that the biggest thing this team lacks is a veteran presence in a projected lineup where everyone’s younger than 30 and four are 24 or 25.

The Cardinals want to unload some cash. The Marlins want to spend some. And Arenado wouldn’t even have to switch spring-training environments – simply walking to the other side of the clubs’ shared facility in Jupiter, Florida.

Los Angeles Angels

If ever a team would finally cut ties with its veteran albatross at third base, only to enter into an agreement with another highly-paid veteran, well, it’d probably be the Angels.

Reportedly closing in on a retirement settlement with Anthony Rendon – thus ending the $245 million saga with their oft-injured, lineup-averse player – it seems the last thing the Angels would want to do is take on more money for a talent who has seen better days.

Yet owner Arte Moreno seems to enjoy creating the impression that the Angels are this-close to contending, and GM Perry Minasian has dutifully indulged him, drafting a string of close-to-the-majors talents and spackling with short-term free agents to get Anaheim right up around, oh, 72 wins each year.

In this sense, Arenado is a perfect fit, and the price tag not too exorbitant for a club that still somehow draws pretty well.

Additionally, the dude grew up in Orange County – he and Matt Chapman put El Toro High School on the map long before Paul Skenes played there – and might realize there aren’t too many superior options in terms of location and, well, playing on an at least serviceable team.

Athletics

Hey, since we’re testing the limits of sanity, why not go all-in?

Yeah, it’d be remarkably counterintuitive for a veteran player to accept a deal shipping him to a minor-league park for the final two years of his contract. But let’s focus on the down time and imagine Arenado taking a shine to Yolo County.

Arenado would be an hour’s flight home on off days. Additionally, the man has an interest in a Napa Valley vineyard and would be an hour’s drive should he want to keep an eye on the vines or unwind with a nice bottle of his red.

Would such convenience – and batting in a lineup anchored by burgeoning superstars Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz – make up for the creature discomforts of Sutter Health Park? Perhaps a trade reassignment bonus would sweeten the pot – and the A’s, too, are trying to keep the revenue-sharing gendarmes off their back.

St. Louis Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko is out week-to-week after suffering burns to his legs in a home accident.
Toropchenko is the third recent NHL player to be sidelined by an off-ice injury, joining Jack Hughes and Eetu Luostarinen.
The Blues also announced rookie Jimmy Snuggerud will have wrist surgery and be re-evaluated in six weeks.
In response to the injuries, the Blues have recalled forward Aleksanteri Kaskimaki.

The NHL has been hit with another off-ice injury.

The St. Louis Blues announced on Monday, Dec. 1, that forward Alexey Toropchenko will be out week-to-week after he sustained scalding burns to his legs in a home accident.

He will join New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes and Florida Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen on the sidelines because of something that happened to them away from the rink.

Hughes had surgery on his finger after an accident at a team dinner, where he reportedly was cut by glass. He’s expected out eight weeks and is expected to return around Jan. 10.

Toropchenko was in the news on Saturday when he received a kneeing major and game misconduct on a play that knocked Utah’s Logan Cooley out of the game.

Toropchenko had a goal and an assist in 17 games while averaging 11 minutes, 30 seconds a night.

Alexey Toropchenko injury update

Toropchenko will be out week-to-week after suffering burns on his legs in a home accident.

Jimmy Snuggerud injury update

The Blues also announced Monday that rookie Jimmy Snuggerud will have surgery on his left wrist and be re-evaluated in six weeks.

The forward has five goals and six assists in 26 games, ranking sixth on the team with 11 points.

 The Blues recalled forward Aleksanteri Kaskimaki.