If it’s true that you can’t predict baseball, there’s probably a greater maxim contained within that: You can’t predict what course the San Diego Padres will take at the trade deadline.

The Padres provided a bolt from the blue of what was a largely rote trade deadline by acquiring dominant closer Mason Miller and back-end starter J.P. Sears from the Athletics, with a four-player package headed by elite prospect Leo De Vries off to Sacramento.

The deal can’t be fully assessed until the clock strikes 6 ET on July 31, since the Padres positioned themselves to both buy and sell – perhaps trading incumbent closer Robert Suarez – at a deadline in which they hold the No. 3 NL wild card spot but are also just three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the West.

Still, we’ll attempt to assess this trade in a vacuum, even if the following grades are just a little bit incomplete:

Mason Miller trade grades

Padres grade: B

It’s quite a coup getting both the game’s most dominant closer and a guy with four years of club control remaining after this season. Miller, 26, is generally untouchable in the ninth inning and in two seasons as A’s closer has nailed down 48 of 54 save opportunities, an 89% conversion rate on par with Hall of Famers Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera. 

Miller has struck out 40% of batters in that span, and opposing batters are hitting .161 against him. That’s merely lifting the lid on his overall dominance.

In Sears, the Padres get a former Yankees prospect who’s had to pitch toward the front of the A’s rotation even as his stuff indicates he should be further down the pecking order. The expectations and the pitching conditions will be friendlier in San Diego, though the lefty with the 4.95 ERA this year (4.48 career) might see those expectations rise if the Padres turn and deal erstwhile ace Dylan Cease.

The cost? It’s huge. De Vries is the most significant international signing the Padres have had this decade, no small honor, and he’s consistently been challenged – and succeeded – at levels where the average player is four to five years older than him. Put simply: Not many 17-year-olds flash power and speed in stateside A ball and go on to the Arizona Fall League, as De Vries did in 2024.

While Miller’s controllable years mean the Padres can flip him in future seasons for either immediate help or to galvanize their system, it still stings to trade a potential (likely?) franchise player for a reliever.

Athletics grade: A

The deal begs one dark question: Will any of their young stars make it to Las Vegas, should they ever complete their ballpark there?

It’s yet another step back at the big league level for the A’s in a five-year cycle of utter desiccation that hastened their move from Oakland. And it’s perhaps not a coincidence that Miller was dealt months before he entered the first of four years of salary arbitration.

But man, what a return. Given De Vries’ speed on the uptake wherever the Padres put him – he’s got eight homers, eight steals and a .357 OBP at high A Fort Wayne this year – he has a shot to debut in the big leagues while still a teenager.

And since it’s the A’s, he also has a shot to reach Sacramento/Las Vegas/Winnemucca by the time star rookies Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz haven’t gotten too expensive for owner John Fisher’s taste.

As a cherry on top, the A’s received right-handed pitchers Braden Nett, Eduarniel Nuñez and Henry Báez, ranked seventh, 14th and 16th by Baseball America in the Padres’ system. Nuñez, 26, has already made his major league debut, making four relief appearances for San Diego, while Nett (23, 3.39 ERA in 17 starts) and Báez (22, 1.96 ERA in 20 starts) are with Class AA San Antonio. 

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We’ve now reached peak stupidity, which in this day and age, is a true rarity.

Let’s connect the dots of the nonsensical Arch madness that has officially taken over this college football offseason.

Texas quarterback Arch Manning plays well enough in his first season as starter to become the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Arch is the nephew of NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, who is close friends with Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.  

The Browns have two picks in the first round of the draft, and will trade up (if needed) to select Arch Manning, who has all of 95 career pass attempts.

After all that, more dumb enters the speculation: Nick Saban will ignore the love of his life, he beloved bride Ms. Terry, and come out of retirement to coach the Browns and Arch.

Now, the kicker: Haslam didn’t exactly throw water on the inane thought process, telling media during Browns training camp, “I think if you know the Manning family, I would bet that – and I don’t know Arch at all – I would bet he stays in college two years.”

Meanwhile, the unwitting central figure of this bowl of crazy was sitting on the dais earlier this month at SEC Media Days, clearly overwhelmed by an offseason of ridiculous Heisman Trophy hype.

“I didn’t ask for any of this,” Manning said, while media crammed eight rows deep around him.

I don’t want to be the guy to say this, but someone must. All of these dorks pushing Manning narratives will be the same people burying him if he throws a couple of picks in a season-opening loss at Ohio State.

This is the lunacy Manning tried to avoid when he left high school as the No.1 overall recruit, a quarterback who just happened to have the football royalty DNA of a grandfather (Archie Manning) and two uncles (Peyton and Eli Manning). 

He didn’t want to play at Georgia or Alabama because he didn’t want to be big fish, little pond. He wanted to blend. 

So he chose Texas and its massive urban campus because it gave him the best opportunity to have a typical college life, to fit in and not stick out. He didn’t start for two seasons, played well as a backup starter in a couple of meaningless games, and the next thing you know, the sharps in Vegas make him the favorite to win the 2025 Heisman.

Not long after that, he’s catching not so subtle strays from Steve Spurrier, who knows a thing or two about playing and coaching the position — and mind games with guys named Manning.

Then an enterprising soul at an NFL training camp asked Haslam a ridiculous question to get a 10-second soundbite – because that’s where we are now, people – and Haslam throws kerosene on a grease fire. 

He thinks Manning will play two more seasons of college football, which means Manning wouldn’t be available for the Browns to select in the draft. This brilliant deduction from an owner who paid DeShaun Watson $230 million guaranteed — after disturbing off-field problems. 

More than that, Haslam’s refusal to swat the stupidity completely undercut his current team and coach, and a quarterback room that includes Watson, a former bust first round pick acquired in trade (Kenny Pickett), two selections from the 2025 draft (Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders) and a 40-something lifer (Joe Flacco).

Haslam essentially said we may suck bad enough to earn that No.1 pick, but I don’t expect Arch to be around when we’re on the clock. 

The Browns locker room must have loved that.

Meanwhile, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is doing his best to shield Manning from the nonsense, and Manning is doing his best to just be one of the guys. 

For a program that has one national title in the last 55 years. 

For a team that was gifted a manageable schedule in its first season in the SEC, a schedule that suddenly looks difficult in Year 2.

Manning has thrown 95 passes, everyone. Ninety-five. 

He has yet to play in a major non-conference game or an SEC road game, or a bitter rivalry game. Yet to stand in the middle of a raucous road environment, be it Ohio Stadium or The Swamp or Sanford Stadium, where he needs a big throw on third and nine.

“Talk is cheap,” Manning said. “I have to go prove it.”

At least someone in this theater of stupidity has his head straight. 

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

CINCINNATI – Joe Burrow didn’t become “Joe Brr” by not knowing how to keep it a buck. Certainly short of soul-bearing, Burrow at least offers a glimpse into his actual self – while maintaining some level of coyness – and that’s not always the case with franchise quarterbacks in 2025. 

So when he appears genuinely optimistic about the Cincinnati Bengals’ upcoming season it’s hard not to drink the Kool-Aid that flows along the banks of the Ohio River. 

QB Joe Burrow: this group of Bengals wide receivers is deepest of my career

For starters, Burrow declared Wednesday after practice he feels the best he has while throwing the football in some time. If the eye test is worth anything, Wednesday’s practice backed up that claim. The man passed for 4,913 yards and 43 touchdowns and feels better. 

Maybe it was because edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, coming off an All-Pro year, reported to camp Wednesday amid tense contract negotiations, thus ending his holdout. He didn’t practice, making it a “hold-in,” but the vibes were better in the building as a result, Burrow said.

Back in the fold already are Burrow’s top two targets, receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, both of whom received lucrative extensions this offseason. The bad news for Burrow and the Bengals’ offense is that the offensive line still has question marks. 

A significant percentage of the team’s success, however, hinges on the defense. The unit was among the league’s worst in 2024 and received much of the blame for the team’s 9-8 record and failure to make the playoffs. 

Al Golden replaces Lou Anarumo (now with the Indianapolis Colts) as defensive coordinator. Burrow has been a fan of what he’s seen from the opposite side of the ball through the first week of camp, despite the installation of a new defense. The defensive backs are understanding where their help is, an example of grasping nuances within coverage schemes, Burrow said. The absence of mental errors is encouraging, he added. 

Burrow, by name, called out defensive tackle T.J. Slayton as somebody who “is going to be a great player for us, the energy he brings, the physicality he brings. I’m really excited to watch that on Sundays.” 

The games and stunts to create pressures by the defensive line is something Burrow said he has gone against – and knows from experience is difficult to deal with. 

“And they’re doing it at a high level,” Burrow said.

With Hendrickson back in the fold – it appears – Burrow wasn’t afraid to reveal his aspirations. 

“I think it’s got a chance to be a special year,” he said.  

After cornerback Josh Newton picked Burrow off during 7-on-7 drills in the end zone, the defense as a unit started jawing. The smack talk from the secondary lasted all practice. 

“Need that energy from them,” Burrow said. “Defense is built off that energy. Great defense is not always necessarily played with the mind. A lot of times it’s energy, emotion, physicality.” 

Trey Hendrickson’s holdout becomes hold-in at Bengals training camp

Unlike last season, Burrow wants to play in the preseason to get used to hits and speed at which the pocket disintegrates. No decisions have been made regarding his participation on Aug. 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles. 

The Bengals started 1-4 last season and never recovered, even with five straight wins to close out the year. Burrow has been intentional in his public statements about the need for a better start in 2025. That’s another reason why Burrow has placed more value on the preseason. 

“We’ll find out,” Burrow said of the team’s goal to start fast, “…I’m very positive about the energy, the morale that we have in the locker room right now.” 

And given all that’s been said about the Bengals for the past several months, maybe it’s been cool – “Joe Brr” cool – all along. 

The National Women’s Soccer League is back.

The second half of the 2025 NWSL season kicks off Friday with three matchups — Chicago Stars FC vs. Gotham FC (8 p.m. ET, Prime Video), Racing Louisville FC vs. Kansas City Current (8 p.m. ET, NWSL+) and Seattle Reign FC vs. Angel City FC (10:30 p.m. ET, NWSL+) — following a five-week summer break.

The NWSL may have been paused from June 23 to July 31, but it was far from a vacation for dozens of players that represented their native countries on the international stage in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 tournament in Switzerland, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and the 2025 Copa América Femenina in Ecuador.

Gotham FC teammates Esther González and Jess Carter, for example, represented Spain and England, respectively, in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 final. England ultimately won back-to-back titles after defeating Spain via a penalty shootout, but Carter’s celebration was cut short. She opted to skip England’s parade in London to return to the states ahead of Gotham’s match Friday.

‘I couldn’t be prouder to have been part of this England team,’ Carter wrote on Instagram after their Euro 2025 victory. ‘Gotham has quickly become a family and a team to me that I truly enjoy being part of so coming back to them straight away to prep for our upcoming game was a decision I made myself.’

As action is set to get underway in the NWSL, here are four burning questions going into the second half of the season:

Who leads MVP race, will it overlap with the Golden Boot?

Esther González is leading the 2025 Golden Boot Race and shows no signs of slowing down. González has a league-leading 10 goals in 13 games, becoming the fastest player in Gotham history to reach double-digit goals in a season. She was named the player of the month twice this season and has been pivotal to her team’s success. Gotham is fighting to stay in playoff contention and is 5-1-0 this season when González scores.

The Golden Boot winner has won the NWSL MVP award in every season but one since the league began play in 2013. (Lindsey Horan was named the 2018 MVP, while Sam Kerr won the 2018 Golden Boot.) So it’s safe to say González leads the MVP race as well, but she will face stiff competition down the stretch.

Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga and Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda are right behind González with eight goals each. Chawinga won the 2024 NWSL Golden Boot and MVP after becoming the first player in league history to score 20 goals in a season. If Chawinga repeats, she’ll be the first player to win multiple Golden Boots since Sam Kerr won three consecutive (2017-2019).

NWSL stars shine on international stage: Who competed?

The NWSL not only features the best players in the country, but the best players in the world as evidenced by international competitions held this summer, including the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and the 2025 Copa América Femenina.

Esther González was the top scorer of the UEFA Women’s Euro in Switzerland, scoring four goals for Spain across six matches. Despite Spain leading the tournament in goals (18), possession (65.8%), passing accuracy (88.5%) and attempts (147), the Spaniards lost to England, which featured Gotham defender Jess Carter, Orlando Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse and Washington Spirit defender Esme Morgan.

In addition to González, five other NWSL stars found net during the Women’s Euro 2025: San Diego Wave forward Delphine Cascarino scored two goals for France, Utah Royals midfielder Janni Thomsen scored for Denmark, Seattle Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock for Wales, Angel City FC forward Sveindís Jónsdóttir for Iceland and Chicago Stars defender Natalia Kuikka for Finland.

That same weekend, Nigeria won its record 10th WAFCON title in a comeback 3-2 victory over host Morocco. Bay FC forward Asisat Oshoala and Houston Dash forward Michelle Alozie were part of Nigeria’s championship team.

‘I love seeing fellow NWSL athletes here represented in WAFCON,’ Alozie told ESPN on July 24. ‘It is so important to see that African players are excelling in the NWSL, and then coming and excelling at WAFCON, just like Banda and Racheal Kundananji have shown.’

Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda and Bay FC forward Racheal Kundananji each scored three goals for Zambia in the tournament.

The 2025 Copa América Femenina champion will be crowned on Saturday when Brazil faces Colombia in the final. Brazil’s national team includes Pride forward Marta (one goal) and midfielder Angelina, Gotham FC forward Gabi Portilho, Current goalkeeper Lorena and Racing Louisville FC forward Ary Borges. Colombia’s national team includes Racing Louisville FC centre-back Ángela Barón, Washington Spirit midfielder Leicy Santos (one goal) and San Diego Wave FC centre-back Daniela Arias.

Can anyone catch the Kansas City Current?

The Kansas City Current sits atop the standings and are clear favorites to win the NWSL Shield, which is awarded to the team with the best regular season record. Kansas City is eight points ahead in the standings and has the highest goal differential (19), in addition to a perfect 6-0 record at home.

The defending champion Orlando Pride (25 points) are in second place, followed by San Diego Wave (24 points) and Washington Spirit (23 points).

A NWSL Shield doesn’t equate to a NWSL Championship by any means. Since the league began play in 2013, only three teams have won the shield and championship in the same season, most recently the Pride in 2024.

Will Trinity Rodman return to the Spirit?

The Spirit are likely to have a boost in the second half of the season as forward Trinity Rodman nears a return. Rodman has been limited to four matches (one start) this season due to a chronic back injury that left her ‘in pain all the time,’ but the Olympic gold medalist is training with her team again.

‘I’m just happy to be back and actually in team trainings and not coming back on the side from step one,’ Rodman told reporters on Tuesday. ‘I’m still gonna be Trin. But, I think the way that I would throw my body around [before], maybe not. Maybe just being smarter about certain tackles, certain runs, certain 50-50s.’

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CINCINNATI – Troy Walters often thinks of the fortunate situation in which he finds himself.

“Every day,” the Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers coach told USA TODAY Sports. “Because every day (the receivers are) doing something out on the field, you just sit back, it just amazes you. So every day someone’s making a play and just truly blessed and honored and don’t take any day for granted.” 

Few NFL coaches in the league enjoy the talent pool in Walters’ room. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are arguably – and it’s a logically sound argument – the best one-two punch at receiver in the league. The guy throwing them the ball is Joe Burrow. They are productive, and after seasons of contract-related drama, both are paid. 

“But what I love most about those guys is they’re just good people,” Walters said of Chase and Higgins. “They’re fun to be around. Every day’s a good day.” 

That was even before they became the highest-paid receiving duo in NFL history this offseason. (They broke the news simultaneously and share an agent.) Chase signed a four-year extension worth more than $40 million in average annual value, which made him the highest-paid non-quarterback until the Pittsburgh Steelers’ T.J. Watt inked his new deal this month. His megadeal came after he won the receiving triple crown, as he led the league in all three major categories: 127 catches, 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns. 

Higgins, meanwhile, also signed a four-year pact that, at $115 million total, made him a top-10 wideout in terms of salary. Previously, he’d threatened to hold out, and the Bengals applied the franchise tag to him in consecutive years. He responded to speculation that his early-season hamstring injury had more to do with his dissatisfaction with the tag than actually being hurt. Chase sat out all of training camp last year and rejoined practice with less than a week before the team’s regular-season opener and took out a $50 million insurance policy on himself to protect against injury. 

“First, you’re happy that they got what they deserved, what they’ve worked hard for. I’m happy for them,” Walters said. “And then, it’s not a distraction. Not to say it was a huge distraction last year, but any time you got guys missing practices and not here and so forth, it’s tough. But they’re locked in.”  

The new challenge for Chase and Higgins, Walters said, is to make sure that the production matches the paycheck. 

“The standard is high and they got to meet it every day,” he said. “And they do that.”

During Wednesday’s practice, Higgins made plays during the move-the-ball portion of practice Chase was his usual self in the red zone. Andrei Iosivas is always primed to make one or two big plays that go unnoticed, Walters said. Mitchell Tinsley made plays that caught Walters’ eye. Isaiah Williams, a second-year player from Illinois, has had moments. 

Burrow specifically mentioned Jamoi Mayes and Charlie Jones as two other young receivers who have looked sharp during their reps with No. 9. 

“We’re as deep at the receiver position as we’ve been since I’ve been here,” Burrow said.  

He continued: “When somebody goes down, you can put somebody right there that we have a lot of faith in.” 

Not all of those wideouts have a ton of game reps, but they keep making plays in practice. There have not been many mental errors to this point in camp, which is rare, Burrow said. 

“I feel great about where that room is,” he said. 

The leadership in the Bengals’ receivers room is young. Higgins is the most experienced as a sixth-year veteran who was part of Burrow’s draft class, and Chase is one year behind them. What Iosivas admires about them is the way they find ways to improve what they already excel at. 

“Seeing greatness in front of you makes me want to be great as well and that’s why I think our receiving room is so good,” Iosivas told USA TODAY Sports. 

Even when Chase held out last year until the start of the regular season, nobody was bothered. The coaches want him in the room, of course. But Chase never lacked the support of his teammates. 

“Off the field, it’s more like you want your guys to win,” Iosvias said. 

And off the field, Chase and Higgins are best friends. They are never going at each other over who is getting the ball more.

‘There’s never any ego. There’s never any jealousy,’ Walters said. ‘As coaches, that gives you some ease, that gives you some comfort.’

Trey Hendrickson’s holdout becomes hold-in at Bengals training camp

They are complements from a skillset perspective. Chase is versatile and can play on either side of the formation. If teams focus on him, then Higgins – a bigger, still fast, more vertical threat – can make them pay. Chase wins 1-on-1 matchups almost every time. 

“One has size, the other has versatility,” Walters said. “Ja’Marr is strong run-after-the-catch. Tee is a big body. He’s going to make all the 50-50 catches. 

“They set the standard,” Walters added. “Everyone wants to be like them.” 

Can Jermaine Burton, Andrei Iosivas make plays for Cincinnati Bengals? 

Defenses know Burrow would throw the ball to Higgins and Chase every chance he can. Burrow also understands that defenses can divert enough resources to take both guys out of a play. 

Which makes players such as Iosivas, Burton, tight end Mike Gesicki (and Erick All Jr. once he returns from injury), among others, all the more integral to what the Bengals want to accomplish through the air. 

Iosivas popped out with multiple nice plays during Wednesday’s practice.

“He’s having a great camp,” Burrow said of the sixth-round pick from Princeton. 

Jermaine Burton has also flashed during camp, Walters said. Following an unsettling rookie season, Walters had a good spring. But the team is still seeking consistency on and off the field from Burton, who was accused of assaulting a 19-year-old woman he dated in January (no charges were filed) and had a handful of other behavior-related issues during his rookie season. 

In his second season, Walters said, Burton knows where to line up and plays with more speed. But he still has to master the details so Burrow can trust that he’ll be where he is supposed to be. 

Contested catches was a weakness of Iosivas’ as a rookie and first couple of seasons in the league. Burrow took note of the improvement he’s seen. 

“He’s doing a great job of locating (the ball), finding it, and making an aggressive play on the ball … he continues to show that in practice and he’s going to continue to get opportunities like that in games,” Burrow said. “You build that trust, you’re going to get opportunities.” 

Walters said Iosivas has been focused on gaining yards after the catch because, with Chase and Higgins dominating the target share, he may have 40 to 50 catches on the season. But if he can make them productive and “explosives,” Walters said, “he’s going to have a good season.” 

It helps Iosivas can play all three receiver spots and has the size and intelligence to do so. He’s big enough to block. Putting him outside helps create slot looks for Chase or can give Higgins a spell. 

“That goes unnoticed, just the value in terms of the multiple positions he plays and the multiple roles … he’s a valuable piece of the offense,” Walters said.  

Not bad for a sixth-rounder from Princeton. 

“I think he came in with a chip on his shoulder and he’s definitely produced better than a sixth-rounder would,” Walters said, “and he keeps getting better and he’s not satisfied.”

Shohei Ohtani seemingly pulled himself from his start against the Cincinnati Reds July 30 in the fourth inning, following a stretch of six consecutive balls.

Ohtani, who took the mound for the first time as a Dodger on June 16, has had a slow ramp-up back to pitching. Entering Wednesday he had maxed out at three innings pitched, allowing two runs in six starts and striking out 13 batters to three walks surrendered.

The three-time MVP expressed discomfort Wednesday in the top of the fourth and spoke to the Dodgers training staff and manager Dave Roberts briefly, covering his mouth with his glove, before being pulled from the game. The two-way star kicked at the mound while talking, but what caused the apparent discomfort was unclear. He was seen sitting in the dugout after being removed following a brief stint in the clubhouse.

Ohtani’s last six pitches were five fastballs − three of which missed the zone down and away and two of which were wild pitches − and a sweeper, his final pitch of the night. His 51 pitches were a season high.

He remained in the game as the Dodgers’ designated hitter, however. In his next at-bat in the top of the sixth inning, Ohtani struck out looking.

Shohei Ohtani injury update

According to the SportsNet LA broadcast, Ohtani was removed from the game due to cramps, ultimately making it seemingly a precautionary measure.

Ohtani told reporters after the game that he began to feel cramping in his hip in the first inning and it eventually began to impact his delivery.

Watch: Shohei Ohtani pitch sequence before leaving mound

Here’s a look at the aforementioned Ohtani pitch sequence before his removal:

Why can Shohei Ohtani stay in game after leaving mound?

MLB and the MLBPA’s latest collective bargaining agreement introduced the ‘Ohtani Rule’ in 2022, which accommodates Ohtani’s unique skill set.

The rule essentially splits Ohtani into two players: Ohtani the pitcher and Ohtani the hitter. If Ohtani the pitcher is removed from the game, even due to injury, Ohtani the hitter is able to stay in the lineup. If Ohtani the pitcher is replaced or Ohtani the hitter is pinch-hit for, that ‘version’ of him cannot come back in the game.

Therefore, Ohtani was able to stay in the game as a hitter, but his day on the mound must end.

This story has been updated with new information.