The Oklahoma City Thunder are continuing their gradual march to historic greatness.

The Thunder obliterated the Phoenix Suns, 138-89, Wednesday, Dec. 10 in their NBA Cup West Quarterfinal game in Oklahoma City. This marked the largest margin of victory — 49 points — in the NBA thus far in the 2025-26 season.

The Thunder outscored Phoenix by at least 11 points in each quarter, and Oklahoma City’s stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren sat the entire fourth quarter, like they have multiple times this season.

Gilgeous-Alexander led all players with 28 points, while Chet Holmgren added 24. Oklahoma City had six different players reach double figures in scoring and also had two others score 9 points. The Thunder shot 52-of-88 (59.1%) from the floor, including an absurd 22-of-40 (55%) from 3-point range.

The Thunder will play the winner of the other West Quarterfinal game Wednesday night, between the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers. The semifinal is set to take place Saturday, Dec. 13, in Las Vegas.

Suns vs. Thunder highlights

End Q3: Thunder 110, Suns 72

This one is all but over.

The Thunder have continued to dominate the short-handed Suns, who have sputtered on offense without Devin Booker. Frustrations with Phoenix’s performance seem to be getting to the Suns, as Grayson Allen was ejected after shoving Chet Holmgren, who scored 11 points in the period, drawing a flagrant 2 foul.

The Thunder scored 36 points in the third, continuing what has been a pristine offensive night; Oklahoma City also scored 36 in the second quarter and dropped 38 in the first.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the way with an ultra-efficient 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting. The Thunder are shooting 60.3% from the field, including a ridiculous 57.1% from beyond the arc.

Expect Thunder coach Mark Daigneault to rest his star players for most of the fourth quarter, if not the entire period. To that end, none of SGA, Holmgren and Jalen Williams were on the floor to start the fourth.

Grayson Allen ejected

With the margin in the NBA Cup West Quarterfinal between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns approaching 40 points, tensions flared momentarily.

Midway through the third quarter, Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen was on defense near the right wing when he braced himself and threw his weight into Thunder center Chet Holmgren, who was trying to slide past Allen into the right corner. Holmgren crashed into Allen and tumbled to the court, which led to Thunder forward Jalen Williams walking over to Allen and shoving him.

Players from each team then squared up, though officials were quick to defuse the situation and restore calm.

Upon replay review, NBA referee James Williams announced that Allen was being administered a flagrant 2 foul, prompting Allen’s ejection from the game. Williams cited windup and follow-through in assessing the flagrant foul.

Allen recorded 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting and added 4 assists, 1 rebound and 1 steal.

End Q2: Thunder 74, Suns 48

Steady as they are, the Oklahoma City Thunder seemed to have an answer in the second quarter to any Suns offensive.

The Thunder started the second quarter shooting just 2-of-8, which allowed Phoenix to mount a 9-2 run that momentarily closed the margin. But Oklahoma City did not relent and then followed that up with a 9-4 spurt. That OKC run unsurprisingly, was sparked by the defense.

Chet Holmgren swatted away a Dillon Brooks layup that led to a Kenrich Williams pullup jumper that extended the lead to 15. Minutes later, Aaron Wiggins jumped a passing lane to steal a Royce O’Neale pass; on the other end, he flushed a 3 to push the lead to 18.

From then on, it only got worse for the Suns, as the Thunder closed the half on a 17-6 run.

Oklahoma City has three players in double figures in scoring, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way with 17.

End Q1: Thunder 38, Suns 23

As they have all season long, the Thunder were methodical, deliberate and efficient in the first quarter. They attacked the paint with drives and kickouts.

They shot it extremely well: Oklahoma City laced 60.9% of its shots in the period, compared to Phoenix shooting just 9-of-25 (36%). They also clamped down on defense, generating 3 blocks and 3 steals in the quarter.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was collected and led his team with 9 points on 3-of-5 shooting and added 3 assists.

Grayson Allen led the Suns in scoring with 8 points, including knocking down a pair of 3s.

OKC off to the races

Playing their third game without Devin Booker (groin), the Suns have started the game doing the one thing they cannot afford to do: turn the ball over.

Phoenix has already given it away twice, including a Cason Wallace swipe just seconds into the game. The Thunder, meanwhile, are pushing pace and converting their offense on their terms.

Oklahoma City has opened an early 17-7 lead.

Oklahoma City Thunder starting lineup

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Cason Wallace
Luguentz Dort
Jalen Williams
Chet Holmgren

Phoenix Suns starting lineup

Collin Gillespie
Grayson Allen
Dillon Brooks
Royce O’Neale
Mark Williams

Devin Booker out

The Suns will be without their biggest star when they take on the Thunder. Devin Booker remains out with a right groin strain, the team announced.

What time is Suns vs. Thunder NBA Cup game today?

The Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. local) at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

Watch NBA Cup games with Amazon Prime Video

How to watch Suns vs. Thunder NBA Cup game: TV, live streaming

The game between the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder will be live streamed nationally on Amazon Prime Video. Thunder fans in Oklahoma can catch the game on FanDuel Sports Network, as well.

Date: Dec. 10
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City)
TV: N/A
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video; FanDuel Sports Network (locally in Oklahoma)

No. 10 Iowa State handed in-state rival No. 12 Iowa its first loss of the season, 74-69, on Wednesday night at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.

Iowa State junior center Audi Crooks had a double-double with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Crooks leads the nation in scoring and helped the Cyclones dominate in the paint, outscoring the Hawkeyes, 40-30.

Iowa State led by as many as 17 points before Iowa came back in the fourth quarter. Hannah Stuelke made a layup with 49 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 72-69. But Iowa missed four 3-points attempts down the stretch to lose to Iowa State for the first time since 2021 in the CyHawk series.

Iowa State had three players record double-doubles. Besides Crooks, Addy Brown had 20 points and 12 rebounds and Jada Williams had 11 points and 12 assists.

Chit-Chat Williams had 21 points to lead four Hawkeyes in double figures. Iowa struggled to defend Crooks with both Stuelke and Ava Heiden fouling out.

Iowa (9-1) faces Lindenwood on Saturday before traveling to face No. 1 UConn in Champions Classic at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Dec. 20.

Iowa State (11-0) hosts another in-state rival, Northern Iowa, on Sunday.

USA TODAY SPORTS COACHES POLL: UConn still No. 1, Iowa State into top 10

Here’s everything you need to know about the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series battle:

Iowa fighting back

The Hawkeyes have gotten as close as three points after leading by as many as 17. Chit-Chat Wright has 18 points to lead three Iowa players in double figures.

End of 3rd quarter: Iowa State 61, Iowa 48

The Cyclones outscored Iowa 26-13 in the stanza. Audi Crooks is showing the nation her scoring skills with 20 points. Teammate Addy Brown is closing in on a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. Iowa State had five 3-pointers, after one in the first half.

Iowa State takes biggest lead

The Cyclones, led by 18 points from Audi Crooks, have taken a 48-40 lead.  Jada Williams up to nine assists after finding Audi Crooks again. It’s a 13-5 Iowa State run to start the quarter.

Ava Heiden has her three fouls for Iowa and is on the bench.

Halftime: Iowa 35, Iowa State 35

Iowa was held scoreless for the first six minutes and eight seconds of the second quarter but went on a 9-0 run to even the score at the half. Chit-Chat Wright has 13 points to lead the Hawkeyes.

The game is even in nearly every stat. Iowa is shooting 48% and Iowa State 50%, Iowa has 18 rebounds to Iowa State’s 17 and eight turnovers compared to seven by the Cyclones. Iowa State has the upper hand in points in the paint with 24 compared to 16 by the Hawkeyes.

Two Cyclones in double figures

Audi Crooks has 12 points and Addy Brown 10 each for Iowa State in a fast-paced game.

Iowa has not scored in the second quarter and has seven turnovers in the game.

End of 1st quarter: Iowa 23, Iowa State 19

Kylie Feuerbach hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Iowa a four-point lead. Chit-Chat Wright had the assist on the basket and leads the Hawkeyes with seven points. Iowa was 3-of-7 from behind the arc while the Cyclones were 1-of-5. Addy Brown made the 3.

We are underway at Hilton

What time is Iowa State vs. Iowa?

The Iowa State Cyclones host instate rival Iowa on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7:00 p.m. ET at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.

Iowa State vs. Iowa women’s basketball: TV, streaming

Date: Wednesday, Dec. 10
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT)
Location: Hilton Coliseum (Ames, Iowa)
TV: ESPN
Stream: Fubo, ESPN Unlimited

Iowa starting lineup

Iowa State starting lineup

Iowa arrivals

All-time CyHawk women’s basketball series

The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series 32-23 and have won eight of the last nine matchups, including the last three.

Iowa State women’s basketball roster

Iowa women’s basketball roster

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

The 2025 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk women’s basketball game is underway in Ames.

No. 10 Iowa State (10-0) is hosting in-state rival No. 12 Iowa (9-0) at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.

Iowa State junior center Audi Crooks leads the nation in scoring with an average of 27.6 points per game. She has 14 points and four rebounds in the first half for the Cyclones.

USA TODAY SPORTS COACHES POLL: UConn still No. 1, Iowa State into top 10

Here’s everything you need to know about the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series battle:

Iowa fighting back

The Hawkeyes have gotten as close as three points after leading by as many as 17. Chit-Chat Wright has 18 points to lead three Iowa players in double figures.

Iowa State takes biggest lead

The Cyclones, led by 18 points from Audi Crooks, have taken a 48-40 lead.  Jada Williams up to nine assists after finding Audi Crooks again. It’s a 13-5 Iowa State run to start the quarter.

Ava Heiden has her three fouls for Iowa and is on the bench.

End of 3rd quarter: Iowa State 61, Iowa 48

The Cyclones outscored Iowa 26-13 in the stanza. Audi Crooks is showing the nation her scoring skills with 20 points. Teammate Addy Brown is closing in on a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. Iowa State had five 3-pointers, after one in the first half.

Halftime: Iowa 35, Iowa State 35

Iowa was held scoreless for the first six minutes and eight seconds of the second quarter but went on a 9-0 run to even the score at the half. Chit-Chat Wright has 13 points to lead the Hawkeyes.

The game is even in nearly every stat. Iowa is shooting 48% and Iowa State 50%, Iowa has 18 rebounds to Iowa State’s 17 and eight turnovers compared to seven by the Cyclones. Iowa State has the upper hand in points in the paint with 24 compared to 16 by the Hawkeyes.

Two Cyclones in double figures

Audi Crooks has 12 points and Addy Brown 10 each for Iowa State in a fast-paced game.

Iowa has not scored in the second quarter and has seven turnovers in the game.

End of 1st quarter: Iowa 23, Iowa State 19

Kylie Feuerbach hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Iowa a four-point lead. Chit-Chat Wright had the assist on the basket and leads the Hawkeyes with seven points. Iowa was 3-of-7 from behind the arc while the Cyclones were 1-of-5. Addy Brown made the 3.

We are underway at Hilton

What time is Iowa State vs. Iowa?

The Iowa State Cyclones host instate rival Iowa on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7:00 p.m. ET at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.

Iowa State vs. Iowa women’s basketball: TV, streaming

Date: Wednesday, Dec. 10
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT)
Location: Hilton Coliseum (Ames, Iowa)
TV: ESPN
Stream: Fubo, ESPN Unlimited

Iowa starting lineup

Iowa State starting lineup

Iowa arrivals

All-time CyHawk women’s basketball series

The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series 32-23 and have won eight of the last nine matchups, including the last three.

Iowa State women’s basketball roster

Iowa women’s basketball roster

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Luka Doncic is back in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform after the birth of his second child. His presence adds another layer of intrigue when the San Antonio Spurs and Lakers, two Western Conference contenders off to encouraging starts to the 2025-26 season, meet in an NBA Cup quarterfinal game in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

The Lakers (17-6) began the season without LeBron James, but the continued progression of Austin Reaves alongside Doncic ensured Los Angeles didn’t miss a beat while James was out. That trio combined for 71 points in Doncic’s first appearance since returning from a two-game absence in the Lakers’ 112-108 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

San Antonio (16-7) is on pace to be a playoff team for the first time since 2019, even though Victor Wembanyama has missed the past 11 games with a left calf strain. The 7-foot-5 center recently returned to practice but will not make his return in the opening knockout round of the 2025 NBA Cup.

Here’s how to watch Wednesday’s NBA Cup West quarterfinal between the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs:

What time is Spurs vs. Lakers NBA Cup game today?

The Los Angeles Lakers will host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local) at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Watch NBA Cup games with Amazon Prime Video

How to watch Spurs vs. Lakers NBA Cup game: TV, live streaming

The game between the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers will be live streamed nationally on Amazon Prime Video.

Date: Dec. 10
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
TV: None
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video

Lakers will not use NBA Cup court vs. Spurs

The Los Angeles Lakers will not use the alternate NBA Cup court for their quarterfinal game against the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The decision not to use the yellow alternate court was made ‘out of an abundance of caution.’

Lakers star Luka Doncic was among the players who had issues slipping on the court during the team’s 135-118 victory over the L.A. Clippers on Nov. 25. — James H. Williams

ORLANDO, FL — It’s like Elon Musk trading in his Tesla for a rusted Ford Taurus.

It’s seeing Beyonce giving up her career to be a lounge singer.

It’s Leonardo DiCaprio walking away from films to do local tire commercials.

And in real life, we are witnessing the dismantling of the New York Mets, piece by torturous piece.

Mets All-Star outfielder Brandon Nimmo was traded one week, All-Star closer Edwin Diaz defected the next, and now the trilogy is complete with hometown hero Pete Alonso departing Wednesday without even getting a contract offer to stay.

You can take Mets president David Stearns out of Milwaukee, but you simply can’t take Milwaukee out of Stearns.

Stearns didn’t make himself available for comment to answer the vitriol directed his way on Wednesday.

He didn’t have the chance to being asked:

“You don’t think Alonso, their tremendously homegrown product who’s one of the game’s premier power hitters, is worth more than a three-year contract?
“You have so little respect for Alonso that you didn’t bother to even make an offer?’’
“Do you actually believe that after losing your all-world closer, your left fielder who hit 25 homers is shipped off to Texas, and your first baseman who hit 36 homers, the team is still a contender?’’
“Are you out of your stinking mind?‘

“I’m very optimistic about where our offseason is headed,’ Stearns told reporters Tuesday. “We’ve certainly got work to do, but there are a lot of good players out there, and I’m confident that we’re really going to like where our team is once we get to Opening Day.”

Well, unless those players are Darryl Strawberry, John Franco and Keith Hernandez coming back in their primes, Mets fans can’t find a possible world in which this would be true.

The cruel, cold-hearted facts Mets’ fans don’t want to hear is that their team has been grossly underachieving.

They’ve had record-setting payrolls since owner Steve Cohen bought the team four years ago.

They spent a record $765 million on free agent Juan Soto a year ago.

They gave shortstop Francisco Lindor $341 million in 2021.

And what has it gotten them?

Nothing more than heartache.

They had a historic collapse down the stretch last season, and just like the Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Angels, failed to make the playoffs.

Sure, they could have brought back Diaz on another five-year, $100 million contract instead of seeing him leave for a three-year, $69 million deal with the Dodgers.

They could have given Alonso three times as much as his five-year, $155 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles without blinking.

And they certainly didn’t need to trade Nimmo for Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien.

Yet, the reality is that their three longest-tenured players had seven years to win in Queens, and miserably failed.

Just once did they win more than 90 games.

Just twice did they make the playoffs.

And only once did they win a playoff series.

The way Stearns saw it, it’s time for a culture change.

“I think once we got into the offseason and had the time to fully reflect on our team,’ Stearns said after the Nimmo trade, “is when I became convinced that we weren’t just going to run it back. That we were going to make some changes.’’

Sure, the folks in Queens hate it.

The talk shows already are filled with disgust.

The back pages in the New York tabloids will be vicious.

They’re furious that Cohen, who’s worth $21 billion, doesn’t open up his checkbook and make the Dodgers look like a small-market team.

Yet, Cohen recruited and made Stearns, the second-highest paid executive in the game behind only Dodgers president Andrew Friedman, to have him shape the team.

Stearns told Cohen that anyone can simply write checks. He wanted to build the East Coast version of the Dodgers – only with a smaller payroll.

Now, we’ll see what Stearns has up his sleeve. He could steal outfielder Cody Bellinger away from the Yankees, sign power-hitting infielder Munetaka Murakami, and load up on pitching with a combination of starters Tatsuya Imai, Framber Valdez, Michael King or Zac Gallen, and relievers Robert Suarez and Luke Weaver.

Stearns has the power and flexibility to create the team he wants, one with sustained success, and who knows, one day end their World Series drought that has lasted since 1986.

This is what Stearns deeply desired all along, a chance to be creative just as he did in Milwaukee, formulating a team that will make Mets’ fans proud again.

He’s fully embracing the pressure that comes with it.

He just better be right.

Like trains passing each other en route from one city’s Penn Station to the other, the fortunes of the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets changed in an instant Dec. 10.

The largest position-player transaction so far this offseason will have significant repercussions, as the Orioles continue a focused and determined roster upgrade while the Mets, for the moment, appear flat-footed as they aim to bounce back from a desultory conclusion to the 2025 season.

Alonso’s five-year, $155 million deal is a relative bargain for a guy who’s belted at least 40 home runs in three of his six full seasons, who will still be just 35 years old when the contract ends, whose glue guy ethos will greatly galvanize Baltimore’s clubhouse.

With that, let’s take a look at the winners and losers of the Polar Bear’s migration:

Winners

Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Co.

There once was a time you couldn’t type these guys’ names without dropping “best young core in the game” in there. A season and a half of collective digression gradually altered that narrative, particularly for Rutschman, who fell into a sinkhole halfway through the 2024 season and never got out.

Yet perhaps all the twenty-somethings needed was a veteran anchor. Alonso will more than provide that.

He’ll slide his right-handed bat right into the cleanup spot at Camden Yards, likely between Henderson and Rutschman. Immediately, the pressure to produce should lessen, and Alonso will tote with him seven years of battle tales playing in New York.

In a clubhouse missing a consistent voice, the Polar Bear can provide that as well. The entire squad should be uplifted on and off the field.

Mike Elias

After a meh offseason a year ago led to a 75-87 disaster, the architect of Baltimore’s extreme teardown and highly successful buildup was starting to lose his shine in Charm City, where fans wondered if three 100-loss seasons in four years was worth it.

Yet he insisted owner David Rubenstein – in his second full year at the helm – OK’d enough resources to get a significant bat and, more important, an arm or two for the rotation. The Alonso get, as big as it is on the field, serves as significant reassurance to both the clubhouse and fan base that the franchise is in it to win it. The earlier acquisition of Taylor Ward adds a 36-homer bat to the lineup, even if Ward, a free agent after 2026, is simply a rental.

And since Alonso was tendered a qualifying offer by the Mets last season, Elias doesn’t even have to surrender a coveted draft pick as compensation. Now, to find an ace…

Mets infield defense

A Pyrrhic victory? Club president David Stearns identified improving the defense as a key offseason goal and walked that walk in trading veteran Met Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for defensively-elite Marcus Semien, who will supplant Jeff McNeil. Alonso’s -9 outs above average ranked 39th out of 40 qualifying first basemen.

So, be it Mark Vientos or somebody else, the defense should be far improved on the right side of the infield. The lineup? Check back in January.

Kyle Tucker

Another big boy is off the board – and to a club that typically doesn’t swim in the nine-figure contract waters. A handful of massive-market teams are getting antsy. The Mets’ current outfield consists of Juan Soto, Tyrone Taylor and McNeil, while the 2-3-4 of the lineup goes Semien-Soto-Vientos.

Can the Mets carry a billion dollars worth of corner outfielders?

Tucker may get the chance to find out, as the Toronto Blue Jays – the presumed favorite to reel in this winter’s top prize – may find competition as the monied and desperate run out of options to improve, or simply maintain.

Losers

Owners who like to cry poor

Yes, a team that’s not from New York, Philly, Chicago or Los Angeles can get a big deal done. We saw evidence of that when the Orioles matched the Phillies’ $150 million outlay for Kyle Schwarber and the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds checked in around $120 million.

Then again, we always knew they were capable.

Alonso’s pact isn’t even a franchise record for total value, falling short of Chris Davis’s $161 million deal in 2016. The Reds once signed Joey Votto to a $225 million extension. The Pirates? Ah, surely they’ve Biggie-sized a few meals over the years, but you get the idea.

Point is, it’s been an interesting winter preceding what everyone assumes will be the nuclear one – lower-revenue teams showing out in the open market. Who knows if there’s various grievance-avoiding, fan-appeasing darker motives to it all.

But believe it or not, the money is out there! Things can be done!

David Stearns

When he was hired by the Mets, it looked for all the world like he’d be Andrew Friedman East, taking his smaller-market chops and combining it with Steve Cohen’s bottomless trove of cash to create a smart and spendy club to rival Friedman’s Dodgers.

And when, in a reloading year, Stearns’ Mets pushed the Dodgers to Game 6 of the NLCS, they seemed well on their way – and then added Juan Soto for $765 million.

Yet the roster went south in 2025 – Stearns’ gambles on pitchers Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas both blew up – and now three perceived pillars (Alonso, Diaz and Nimmo) are all gone.

Stearns already tried ducking Alonso a year ago, when he festered on the market while tied to draft-pick compensation, only for a summit with owner Steve Cohen to smooth things over and bring him back one more year – a year he hit 38 homers with an .871 OPS.

Yet this time he had no interest in a longer-term commitment. That’s fine; we all have our tastes. But going forward, Stearns may be wise to heed the words of Friedman, who in 2017 pivoted from the guy trying to achieve “value” with every transaction into the bloodless exec who’s now produced consecutive World Series championships.

“If you’re always rational about every free agent,” he said at the 2016 winter meetings, “you will finish third on every free agent.”

Ryan Mountcastle, Coby Mayo

The presumed time-sharers at first base in Baltimore suddenly find themselves either blocked or facing a diminished role. The likely scenario: Mountcastle platoons at DH with catcher Samuel Basallo, who will play against righties, while getting Alonso off his feet now and again.

As for Mayo? Well, the Orioles are in win-now mode and even if he didn’t get sufficient runway in cameos the past two seasons, the odds just increased he’s included in a package for pitching.

The AL East

For so many years we had to hear the overwrought narrative of “how tough this division is,” when really it was the Yankees and Red Sox and maybe a third party occasionally sticking their nose in.

Now, it’s more than legit.

A division that sent three teams to the playoffs has already added Alonso and Dylan Cease, two of the top 10 free agents. The Red Sox traded for Sonny Gray, the Blue Jays are intent on finishing the job in the Fall Classic and the Rays, again, are trying to pretty things up for a stadium hunt.

Who’s next? Tucker? Alex Bregman? Ketel Marte? Framber Valdez? The cost of poker will only keep going up.

ORLANDO, FL — The Baltimore Orioles wasted no time pivoting from their pursuit of slugger Kyle Schwarber and signed first baseman Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract.

Alonso becomes the latest fan-favorite to leave the New York Mets after the team traded outfielder Brandon Nimmo and All-Star closer Edwin Diaz left for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Alonso, who originally was seeking a seven-year contract and badly wanted to return to the Mets, departed when it was clear New York didn’t want to offer more than three years. And once teams started making offers for more than that, the Mets never budged or submitted a formal offer.

Alonso is one of the premier power hitters in the game with 264 homers since coming up with the Mets, including 38 home runs and 126 RBIs last season. He also has played at least 160 games in each of the past three seasons.

Alonso’s $31.6 million average salary is now the highest for a first baseman in baseball history.

The Orioles met with Alonso in person on Tuesday, and once Schwarber’s five-year, $150 million deal became official with the Phillies, agent Scott Boras used his deal to inform the Orioles to establish the baseline of Alonso’s deal.

“Right-handed power is a commodity,’ agent Scott Boras said Tuesday of Alonso. “Guy who can play on the dirt is a commodity. All the teams we met with, not one doesn’t want Pete to play first base, I think because of his digs and what he does, there’s a lot said about his defense. But we’re learning it’s very positive, because they don’t have many first basemen who can play every day in the field and carry the offensive thrust of it.”

It was the latest blow for the Mets who are now being re-made in president David Stearns’ style, showing there’s no room for sentimentality.

“I’m very optimistic about where our offseason is headed,’ Stearns said Tuesday. “We’ve certainly got work to do, but there are a lot of good players out there, and I’m confident that we’re really going to like where our team is once we get to opening day.”

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

Michigan has fired head coach Sherrone Moore after a university investigation found evidence of an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
Moore, who succeeded Jim Harbaugh, coached for two seasons and was previously suspended for his role in a sign-stealing scandal.
The university will conduct a national search for a replacement, with potential candidates including Jeff Brohm, Mike Elko, and Kalen DeBoer.

Michigan has fired coach Sherrone Moore after a university investigation found credible evidence he “engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member,” athletics director Warde Manuel said.

The successor to Jim Harbaugh lasted just two seasons with the Wolverines. Moore went 16-8 overall, counting one game as the replacement for a suspended Harbaugh in 2023. Moore was also suspended for two games this past season due to his part in the program’s sign-stealing scandal.

Michigan has promoted Biff Poggi, this year’s associate head coach, into the interim role for the Citrus Bowl against No. 14 Texas. Poggi was the interim coach this season when Moore served his suspension.

Look for Manuel and the administration to conduct a national search to find Moore’s replacement.

Michigan remains one of the premier positions in college football. But with many candidates off the market at this point in the calendar — with some hired elsewhere and more drawing lucrative contract extensions — there is definite uncertainty over where the search will land.

Here are the early candidates for the opening:

Jeff Brohm, Louisville

Brohm was connected to the Penn State search before stepping away to recommit to Louisville. While he’s settled into a very secure situation with the Cardinals, Brohm was at the very least interested in the vacancy with the Nittany Lions and would seemingly be receptive to Michigan’s overtures. He has Big Ten experience at Purdue, a clear area of expertise on offense and has developed multiple high-end quarterbacks dating to his three-year run at Western Kentucky.

Mike Elko, Texas A&M

Elko, like Brohm, was part of Penn State during the school’s winding search and opted to remain at A&M with a reworked contract. That he could be pulled away by a different Big Ten opening is unknown. But Elko would be nearly a perfect fit, thanks to his defensive expertise, program-building experience and winning ways across his four years as a Power Four head coach.

Kalen DeBoer, Alabama

This will take some work. Leaving Alabama for Michigan is a lateral move at best, though there is slightly less competitiveness for the top three spots in the Big Ten compared to the SEC. Here’s why the Wolverines might have a shot: DeBoer continues to be compared to his predecessor, Nick Saban, and might be looking for a soft landing after two stressful seasons with the Crimson Tide. The South Dakota-born former Washington coach previously worked at Eastern Michigan and Indiana.

Clark Lea, Vanderbilt

Lea was another sitting Power Four coach to earn an extension on the heels of Penn State’s interest. That new contract might include a significantly bigger buyout, which could eliminate Lea from contention. But he’s young, has shown a deft touch in transforming the Commodores into a College Football Playoff contender and previously worked for three years at Notre Dame. Younger than DeBoer, Elko and Brohm, Lea could represent a forward-looking hire with room for continued growth on the job.

Jesse Minter, San Diego Chargers

Tapping into Harbaugh’s coaching tree to hire Moore didn’t work out well for Michigan with Moore. That may lead to some queasiness over hiring Minter, who was the defensive coordinator for the Wolverines from 2022-23 and then followed Harbaugh to the San Diego Chargers. But Michigan has historically placed intense value on connections to the program. That makes Minter a strong candidate, though he is also under consideration for NFL openings.

Dan Mullen, UNLV

The former Mississippi State and Florida coach hit the ground running at UNLV, leading the Rebels to 10 wins, the Mountain West championship game and a matchup against Ohio in the Frisco Bowl. Mullen’s name came up in the past for other Michigan searches, thanks to his success in the SEC and Northeast ties. As much as any potential candidate, Mullen has a proven program-building formula and the personality to handle the stress and expectations in Ann Arbor.

Josh Heupel, Tennessee

Heupel denied any interest in Penn State and seems locked into bringing Tennessee back into the playoff after a slightly disappointing season. That seems doubly true after his recent decision to fire longtime defensive coordinator Tim Banks and the expected hire Jim Knowles, who previously worked at Ohio State and Penn Stated. But Heupel is an offensive technician who would quickly get the best out of rising sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood, who had a hit-and-miss debut season.

Jedd Fisch, Washington

While there are other Big Ten coaches who could factor into this search, including Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck and potentially even Nebraska’s Matt Rhule — Rhule did sign an extension in October that boosted his buyout to $15 million — Fisch is the most logical candidate from within the conference. He previously spent two years as Harbaugh’s quarterbacks coach from 2015-16, did an outstanding job rebuilding Arizona over his three seasons and won eight games in his second year with the Huskies.

(This story was updated to add a video.)