Category: Sport

The 2025-26 college football bowl schedule is set, including the matchups for the first round of the College Football Playoff. Indiana is the No. 1 seed in the CFP, while Notre Dame surprisingly missed out on the CFP altogether and won’t play in any bowl game as a result.

There are plenty of teams playing in bowls, though, and below are all of the matchups (and odds, courtesy of BetMGM), as bowl season spans over five weeks — starting Dec. 13 and ending on Jan. 19.

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All times are Eastern.

Saturday, Dec. 13

Bucked Up LA Bowl, 8 p.m., ABC

Tuesday, Dec. 16

IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl, 9 p.m., ESPN

Wednesday, Dec. 17

StaffDNA Cure Bowl, 5 p.m., ESPN

68 Ventures Bowl, 8:30 p.m., ESPN

Thursday, Dec. 18

Xbox Bowl, 9 p.m., ESPN2

Friday, Dec. 19

Myrtle Beach Bowl, 11 a.m., ESPN

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl, 2:30 p.m., ESPN

College Football Playoff first-round game, 8 p.m., ABC

Saturday, Dec. 20

College Football Playoff first-round game, Noon, ABC

College Football Playoff first-round game, 3:30 p.m., TNT

College Football Playoff first-round game, 7:30 p.m., TNT

Monday, Dec. 22

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 2 p.m., ESPN

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Tuesday, Dec. 23

Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl of Beans, 2 p.m. ESPN

New Orleans Bowl, 5:30 p.m., ESPN

Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl, 9 p.m., ESPN

Wednesday, Dec. 24

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, 8 p.m., ESPN

Friday, Dec. 26

GameAbove Sports Bowl, 1 p.m., ESPN

Rate Bowl, 4:30 p.m., ESPN

ServPro First Responder Bowl, 8 p.m., ESPN

Saturday, Dec. 27

Go Bowling Military Bowl, 11 a.m., ESPN

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, Noon, ABC

Wasabi Fenway Bowl, 2:15 p.m., ESPN

Pop-Tarts Bowl, 3:30 p.m., ABC

Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl, 4:30 p.m., CW

Isleta New Mexico Bowl, 5:45 p.m., ESPN

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, 7:30 p.m., ABC

Kinder’s Texas Bowl, 9:15 p.m., ESPN

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Monday, Dec. 29

JLAB Birmingham Bowl, 2 p.m., ESPN

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, 2 p.m., ESPN

Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl, 5:30 p.m., ESPN

Valero Alamo Bowl, 9 p.m., ESPN

Wednesday, Dec. 31

ReliaQuest Bowl, Noon, ESPN

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, 2 p.m., CBS

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, 3 p.m., ABC

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl, 3:30 p.m., ESPN

Goodyear Cotton Bowl (College Football Playoff quarterfinal), 7:30 p.m., ESPN

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Thursday, Jan. 1

Capital One Orange Bowl (College Football Playoff quarterfinal), Noon, ESPN

Rose Bowl presented by Prudential (College Football Playoff quarterfinal), 4 p.m., ESPN

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Allstate Sugar Bowl (College Football Playoff quarterfinal), 8 p.m., ESPN

Friday, Jan. 2

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, 1 p.m., ESPN

AutoZone Liberty Bowl, 4:30 p.m., ESPN

Duke’s Mayo Bowl, 8 p.m., ESPN

Holiday Bowl, 8 p.m., FOX

Thursday, Jan. 8

Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (College Football Playoff semifinal), 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Friday, Jan. 9

Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl (College Football Playoff semifinal), 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Monday, Jan. 19

National Championship Game, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

The running back position wasn’t hit as hard by injuries last season, but we know how quickly things can change at one of the most physical positions in football. Fantasy football managers who stay prepared and know which backs are next in line for touches will always have an edge on the competition.

It’s also important to understand which backups have a chance to rise up the depth chart based on talent, which ones are poised for a leading role when injuries strike and those who would max out as part of a less-appealing replacement committee.

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Here’s how I’m ranking the top backup running backs heading into Week 15 — based on their fantasy potential for the remainder of 2025.

1. Kyle Monangai, Bears

Monangai moved to the top of the list thanks to his strong play and the Bears’ overall success on the ground. The rookie has now turned Chicago’s backfield into more of a 60-40 or 55-45 split with D’Andre Swift still in the lead. But Monangai is a valuable fantasy asset, who scored a touchdown in four straight games prior to Week 14. We also saw what he’s capable of back in Week 9 when he started for an injured Swift and poured in 198 scrimmage yards on 29 touches in a favorable matchup with the Bengals. Given how well Ben Johnson’s rushing attack has been performing, Monangai will continue to offer weekly fantasy RB3 results with the chance to be a top-12 option if Swift was forced to sit out at any point.

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2. David Montgomery, Lions

The Lions’ offense has gone away from Montgomery in recent weeks with Dan Campbell taking over as the playcaller. The veteran back has now seen 10 touches or less in four consecutive outings, which makes him just a TD-or-bust RB3 for fantasy. However, he can still be useful in that role since he’s found the end zone in each of the last two weeks. Plus, Montgomery’s potential ceiling remains unchanged as a fantasy RB1 if Jahmyr Gibbs were ever sidelined.

3. Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks

Kenneth Walker III has reestablished himself as the clear lead back in Seattle, outsnapping Charbonnet in six straight games since the Seahawks’ Week 8 bye. Even in a complementary role, Charbonnet continues to be fantasy relevant and remains a TD-or-bust fantasy RB3 who would be a top-12 back if Walker were ever forced to sit out.

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4. Blake Corum, Rams

Corum has capitalized on his increased opportunities over the last six weeks and now has at least 55 scrimmage yards in four of his last six outings, including 81 yards and a touchdown in Week 13 and 131 yards and two TDs last Sunday. Corum isn’t a threat to Kyren Williams’ job, but he has turned into a fantasy RB3 with enticing upside in favorable game scripts. The 25-year-old also carries more fantasy value thanks to being the No. 2 back in a Sean McVay system that tends to turn any starter into a quality fantasy option. Bottom line, Corum should be rostered in all fantasy leagues.

5. Chuba Hubbard, Panthers

After taking a backseat to Rico Dowdle following an early-season calf injury, Hubbard finally appears to be getting his legs back. Hubbard was treated as the hot-hand in Week 13, gaining 124 scrimmage yards and scoring a receiving touchdown in an upset of the Rams. Dowdle was less efficient, with just 79 yards on 20 touches. This presents a difficult situation for fantasy managers, since either back could take the lead in a given week depending on their in-game performance. For now, I’ll keep Dowdle in the RB2 range and Hubbard as an upside RB3, but don’t be surprised if Hubbard is the more valuable fantasy asset down the stretch. He definitely appeared to have more juice in that last outing.

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6. Brian Robinson Jr., 49ers

Unlike a lot of the other names on this list, Robinson doesn’t offer much in terms of flex value. However, he’s just one year removed from posting 1,101 scrimmage yards and nine total touchdowns, while finishing as the RB21 in fantasy points per game. Robinson would definitely produce as a top-20 fantasy RB in the Kyle Shanahan run game if Christian McCaffrey gets banged up.

7. Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots

We could waste our time debating whether Stevenson is the starter or the backup in New England, but for the moment I’m still treating the veteran as the No. 2 option. That became more difficult to do after he outsnapped and out-touched TreVeyon Henderson in Stevenson’s second game back after recovering from a toe injury. I’d like to think the Patriots leaned on Stevenson in a favorable matchup, which they won easily, but it’s possible we see a more even split continue. In this role, Stevenson is an RB3 with RB2 upside when he finds the end zone.

8. Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars

Tuten has been held to 30 yards or less in 10 of his past 11 games, but he’s found the end zone four times during that span. More importantly, the rookie looks the part of an impact player when he gets opportunities. If it weren’t for Travis Etienne Jr. playing as well as he has, Tuten would have a chance to earn more work. Instead, Tuten remains an RB3/flex option who is one injury away from being a fantasy league-winner.

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9. Tyler Allgeier, Falcons

Allgeier is a mainstay on this list as the unquestioned backup to superstar Bijan Robinson. Even in a supporting role, Allgeier has found a way to be productive for fantasy with seven touchdowns this season. The former 1,000-yard rusher continues to be a premier backup who offers flex value and would crush as a top-20 fantasy RB if Robinson wasn’t able to play for any reason.

10. Kenneth Gainwell, Steelers

Gainwell has seen at least 15 touches in three games this season and delivered every single time. He posted 134 yards and two TDs in the first, 105 yards in the second and 122 yards in the third. Overall, he has six touchdowns on the year while mostly playing a complementary role behind Jaylen Warren. That makes Gainwell an RB3/flex option in most matchups, but he would become a fantasy RB2 with RB1 upside if Warren got hurt.

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Just missed the top 10

Backups turned temporary starters with RB2/RB3 value

Backups with RB3/Flex potential

Backups with Flex potential

• Rachaad White, Buccaneers

• Ollie Gordon II, Dolphins

• Michael Carter, Cardinals

• Jeremy McNichols, Commanders

Backups to stash

• Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders

• Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos

Backups with injuries

• Emari Demercado, Cardinals

Backups to stash in deep leagues

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The annual baseball Winter Meetings were quiet — until suddenly they weren’t. Within a span of minutes, news broke that the Philadelphia Phillies had re-signed Kyle Schwarber, bringing him back to the City of Brotherly Love. While the move wasn’t entirely surprising, it was the news that followed that left the baseball world shaking.

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On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss the Los Angeles Dodgers signing Edwin Díaz away from the New York Mets to a three-year, $69 million contract, taking the trumpets out west. The move fills a much-needed void in the Dodgers’ bullpen and has people wondering if it could be key to a potential three-peat.

Later, Jake and Jordan talk about the Phillies bringing Schwarber back and why it made sense for them to commit five years and $150 million. They also discuss Philadelphia giving manager Rob Thomson a contract extension and speculate about the possibility of Don Mattingly joining as a bench coach to support the veteran skipper.

1:25 – Dodgers sign Edwin Díaz

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9:42 – How this affects the Mets

19:00 – Phillies re-sign Kyle Schwarber

31:00 – Rob Thomson gets an extension

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

The fantasy football playoffs are upon us (for most leagues) as we head into Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season. Each year, when we look back and reflect on our teams, there are always 1-2 players who helped you get to the postseason. Most of those players pop up pretty frequently on playoff rosters, your Jonathan Taylor’s and Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s of the world.

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Below we’re going over the top-10 players who are most commonly appearing on playoff rosters in Yahoo fantasy football leagues.

Top-10 players most commonly on playoff rosters

1. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts (60.0% of Yahoo Fantasy playoff rosters)

Taylor was key in getting managers to the postseason but now you have to question if the Colts RB can get you a championship. From Weeks 2-10, Taylor had one of the best stretches of performances by a RB in fantasy football history, recording five games with at least three touchdowns. He topped out in Week 10 against the Falcons with over 48 fantasy points, going for nearly 300 total yards and three scores. Now, Indy is without QB Daniel Jones and Taylor’s value going into the playoffs has diminished significantly. Hopefully he can shake things off and be the RB1 we saw from earlier in the season.

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2. Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers (58.6%)

Many managers were worried about drafting CMC so high given his injury concerns going into 2025. Those who took that risk and took the Niners’ top back have been rewarded handsomely. McCaffrey has had a vintage season, entering Week 15 second in RB fantasy scoring at 286 points in half-PPR. In 13 games, he failed to reach double-digit fantasy points just once, one of the safest floor plays in the game.

3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seahawks (57.0%)

If we had to choose a fantasy MVP at the end of the regular season, many would vote for JSN given where he was drafted. Smith-Njigba ranks first in fantasy scoring among WRs and is fifth overall among flex options with 242.9 fantasy points entering Week 15. He went from a Pro Bowler in 2024 to arguably the best WR in the world in 2025. JSN has also made Seattle history, setting the record for most receiving yards in a season at 1,428 (with plenty of games left to add to that total).

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4. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Lions (55.0%)

Talk about volatility. Gibbs has produced a wide range of outcomes for fantasy managers this season. Fortunately, some of those ceiling games are 35.3, 36.7, 49.9 and 33.5 fantasy point totals. The 49.9-point game against the Giants in which Gibbs had 219 rushing yards, 11 catches and 45 receiving yards with three total TDs is the highest scoring game by anyone in the 2025 season. Gibbs was drafted as a top-five fantasy asset and he’s come through for managers.

5. De’Von Achane, RB, Dolphins (53.1%)

If CMC and Achane have shown us anything it’s that injury concerns in preseason need to be taken with a grain of salt. Like McCaffrey, managers were worried about drafting Achane in the late-first, early-second round back in August. Instead of hurting those rosters, Achane elevated them, mostly to the postseason. He ranks foruth in FLEX scoring in fantasy at 244.4 fantasy points entering Week 15 and has been arguably the most consistent player this season. Let’s hope this rib injury Achane sustained in Week 14 against the Jets doesn’t hold him back.

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6. George Pickens, WR, Cowboys (52.2%)

Pickens was brought in by Dallas via trade from Pittsburgh to complement CeeDee Lamb in the passing game. Nobody thought Pickens would surpass Lamb. The speedy wideout has been a top-3 fantasy asset at receiver this season, entering Week 15 third in receiving yards at 1,179 on the season. Injury absences by Lamb have helped Pickens elevate his game to true WR1 territory. He’s arguably the most valuable draft pick relative to ADP this season.

7. Puka Nacua, WR, Rams (51.4%)

A preseason back issue for QB Matthew Stafford suppressed Nacua’s ADP to the late-first, early-second range, which was a mistake. He should have been a lock for the first round. Stafford has turned back the clock and Nacua ranks second behind JSN in fantasy scoring (212.4) at the wide receiver position entering Week 15. All of that despite losing TD equity to teammate Davante Adams (14 TDs this season).

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8. Josh Allen, QB, Bills (51.3%)

It’s surprising to see Allen on this list because it feels like he’s had a down season by his standards. That “down season” still has the Bills signal-caller as far-and-away the QB1 in fantasy this season with 320 points. There have been plenty of low points but Allen has three games of 37+ fantasy points this season, and he’s been buoyed most weeks by his rushing TD upside. His near-40-point game in Week 14 likely helped a lot of you clinch playoff berths as well.

9. Michael Wilson, WR, Cardinals (50.4%)

One of these players is not like the others. Wilson is the only outlier on this list, a waiver-wire pickup late in the season who has paid major dividends for managers. With Marvin Harrison Jr. undergoing an emergency appendectomy before Week 11, Wilson was thrust into the spotlight as the top wideout for Arizona. Over the past four games, Wilson is the WR1 overall in fantasy scoring with 79.6 points in half-PPR. It’s unclear if Wilson can maintain his value through the fantasy postseason but he helped plenty managers get there.

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10. Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons (50.1%)

We close out this list with the player we all thought would be at the top of it. Sure, Robinson hasn’t had a bad season but he also hasn’t lived up to the hype as the top-ranked back in preseason. Despite the highs and lows — many of which were out of his control — Robinson still ranks among the top five in RB scoring at 236.3 fantasy points going into Week 15. Unfortunately, the Falcons have nothing left to play for and injuries have stunted the offense a bit. But that’s just made Robinson even more important.

Expectations were high for Vaughn Grissom when the Boston Red Sox made him the centerpiece of the Chris Sale trade. But injuries wrecked Grissom’s time in Boston, leading to the team trading the shortstop to the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Grissom, 24, will now look to reestablish himself in the majors with his third professional team.

The Red Sox will receive outfielder Isaiah Jackson in exchange for Grissom.

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As a member of the Atlanta Braves, Grissom flashed as a potential star in his first taste of the big leagues. Injuries pushed him to the majors as a 21-year-old, and he more than held his own with the bat. As a rookie, Grissom slashed .291/.353/.440 over 156 plate appearances.

Grissom was expected to open the 2023 MLB season as the Braves’ shortstop after Dansby Swanson left in free agency. But he failed to win the job in spring training and then spent the majority of the season in the minors. He received just 80 plate appearances in the majors that year, hitting .280/.313/.347.

While it was a disappointing performance, the Red Sox still saw something in Grissom’s bat. That December, Boston traded Sale to the Braves in exchange for Grissom and cash. The move was essentially a salary dump by Boston, which no longer wanted to pay Sale’s lengthy contract. Although Grissom was coming off a rough season, he was still young, and the memory of his rookie season hadn’t faded just yet.

But injuries wrecked Grissom’s first year in Boston. Multiple issues limited the infielder to 114 plate appearances, and he hit just .190 in 2024. Sale, meanwhile, won his first career Cy Young award in his first year with the Braves.

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Following yet another down year, Grissom started the 2025 MLB season in the minors. Oft-injured Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story managed a comeback season, picking up 654 plate appearances. Because of that, the Red Sox had no incentive to call up Grissom last season. He spent the entire year in the minors, hitting .270/.342/.441.

With Story healthy and Ceddanne Rafaela slated to start at second base, Grissom was expendable in Boston. He should have an easier time finding playing time with the Angels, who are unsettled at both second and third base. Grissom, whose defense at short was always suspect, played every single infield position — except catcher — in the minors last year.

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Jackson, 21, is unlikely to play a major role for the Red Sox this season. After being an eighth-round draft pick by the Angels last season, Jackson struggled in High-A, hitting just .219 in 37 plate appearances. The Red Sox will work to develop him after a disappointing debut, albeit in an extremely small sample.

ORLANDO, Fla. — On Tuesday morning, Kyle Schwarber walked into a deli in Philadelphia and ordered an egg sandwich with sausage and bacon.

Recognized immediately, the affable slugger posed for pictures and chatted with staff. Eventually, somebody brought up the elephant in the City of Brotherly Love.

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“You’re sticking around, right?”

Schwarber laughed and nodded, informing the small gaggle of employees that yes, he is indeed sticking around. Three hours later, the news broke beyond the Middle Child sandwich shop on South 11th Street, with ESPN’s Jeff Passan reporting that Schwarber and the Phillies had agreed to a five-year, $150 million contract.

While interest in the three-time All-Star was significant, with the Orioles, Red Sox, Pirates, Mets and Reds making real pushes, a reunion in Philadelphia always felt like the likeliest outcome. There was interest on Schwarber’s part in a return to the Cubs or a journey home to Cincinnati, but neither club was willing to make the necessary financial investment. And so, with deep-pocketed owner John Middleton leading the way, the Phillies simply went above and beyond to retain one of their most important players, who will now be in Philadelphia through his age-37 season.

[Get more Philadelphia news: Phillies team feed] 

The stocky slugger, drafted fourth overall in 2014, burst onto the scene for the 2015 Cubs, becoming a main character of the franchise’s first World Series victory in more than a century. But Schwarber never unlocked his full potential on the North Side, and the Cubs non-tendered him after the shortened 2020 season. He rebuilt his value the following year after latching on with the Nationals, who traded him to Boston at the deadline.

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That bounce-back campaign earned Schwarber a four-year, $79 million deal with the Phillies ahead of 2022, a contract that turned out to be a huge bargain for the club. Only Aaron Judge hit more long balls than Schwarber over that span as the Phillies reached October in four consecutive seasons. More importantly, Schwarber progressively upgraded his offensive game year over year, revamping his approach against left-handed pitchers to solidify himself as one of the sport’s most fearsome hitters. It all culminated in an offensive season for the ages in 2025: 56 homers, a .928 OPS and a runner-up NL MVP finish.

Along the way, Schwarber established himself as a legitimate game-changing clubhouse presence. To call him integral to the operation in Philly would be an understatement. Schwarber is the team’s cultural glue, its guiding light and one of the few players in baseball whose interpersonal skills make a needle-moving impact on clubhouse chemistry. In a room full of well-paid stars, he’s the big dog.

Those off-field attributes certainly helped Schwarber on the open market. From a purely empirical, quantitative perspective, this new contract is a massive overpay. No team’s analytical model — not even the Phillies’ — would green-light a $150 million deal for a 33-year-old designated hitter. But clubs were clearly willing to push mountains of cash Schwarber’s way regardless.

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That’s a testament to just how imposing of a slugger he has become, his influence on a clubhouse and the belief that, as he ages, Schwarber will continue to get the most out of his skills. This is not a man eager to rest on his laurels. Nobody understands that reality more thoroughly than the Phillies.

This move checks off the biggest box on president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski’s to-do list, but the Phillies’ offseason is far from complete. Longtime backstop J.T. Realmuto remains a free agent. Ace Zack Wheeler won’t be ready on Opening Day, creating a temporary opening in the starting rotation. The bullpen could use another arm or two. Outfielder Nick Castellanos will either be traded via salary dump or released; as such, the outfield alignment remains uncertain.

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But the largest uncertainty of Philly’s winter is officially settled. It is yet another sign that this team is pot-committed to much of the current roster. While the Mets have chosen to offload stalwarts (Brandon Nimmo) or let them leave in free agency (Edwin Díaz), the Phillies are staying the course, going down with the ship. Whether this era of Phillies baseball ends with a parade will hinge on a very familiar cast of characters: Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and, of course, Schwarber.

Considering how important Schwarber has become to the entire operation, it was always going to end this way.

Nate Tice & Matt Harmon break down the biggest potential X-factors that could define the most chaotic AFC playoff race we’ve seen in years. The duo start with their instant reactions to the Indianapolis Colts signing 44-year-old Philip Rivers. After giving their takeaways from the Los Angeles Chargers’ overtime win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, the duo dive into the AFC playoff race and reveal their 8 X-factors that could determine who goes home early and who goes the distance.

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Matt breaks down the Jacksonville Jaguars’ shaky offense line, the Denver Broncos rookies on the ascent, the Buffalo Bills tight ends and the confusing New England Patriots secondary. Nate analyzes the Pittsburgh Steelers passing game, the Bills defensive spine and the Houston Texans pass protection abilities.

(2:45) – Colts sign Philip Rivers to practice squad

(12:45) – Chargers beat Eagles on MNF

(24:25) – Jaguars X-factor

(34:05) – Steelers X-factor

(45:35) – Broncos X-factor

(55:35) – Bills X-factors

(1:13:35) – Texans X-factor

(1:16:55) – Patriots X-factor

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco is headed back to trial.

An appeals court in the Dominican Republic ordered a new trial for Franco on Tuesday, months after he was convicted of sexually abusing a minor, according to the Associated Press. Franco’s attorneys appealed his two-year suspended sentence and pushed to have his sentence overturned.

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A new panel of judges will now oversee Franco’s case.

“The court understood that there were many flaws, many omissions … many issues, and decided to send the case to a new trial,” Franco’s attorney, Teodosio Jáquez, told the Associated Press.

Franco was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in June. He was accused of having a four-month relationship with a 14-year-old girl and transferring thousands of dollars to her mother to consent to the illegal relationship. He received a two-year suspended prison sentence for an illegal sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl, which allowed him to remain free so long as he meets certain conditions. Prosecutors had been seeking a five-year sentence.

The minor’s mother was also convicted on sex trafficking charges and received a 10-year prison sentence. The appeals court on Tuesday also granted the mother a new trial.

Franco has had several other legal issues since returning to the Dominican Republic, including accusations from two other girls. He was detained by police and sent to a mental health facility at his family’s urging in September.

“In a new trial, the procedures will be reevaluated,” prosecutor José Martínez Montan said, via the Associated Press. “We won the case in the first trial, and we expect the same in the new trial.”

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Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million deal with the Rays in 2022, which set a team record at the time. He was positioned as the cornerstone of the franchise and was quickly emerging as one of the younger faces of Major League Baseball.

In 2023, he landed on administrative leave and then on the restricted list as allegations came out against him. His MLB career is on hold indefinitely, and he remains on MLB’s restricted list as his contract runs out. A sex crimes conviction against a minor would be a significant obstacle preventing Franco from securing a work visa to enter the United States again, meaning his MLB career is likely over if he does not win his new trial.

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It’s unclear when Franco or the minor’s mother will be due back in court or when the new trials will begin. Neither was present in court Tuesday.

ORLANDO, Fla. — There were some in the industry who believed the Dodgers would be dormant this week at the MLB winter meetings. But the thing about the reigning World Series champs is that when they decide to push their chips in, they do it big.

L.A. made its first major move of this offseason on Tuesday, reportedly agreeing with All-Star closer Edwin Díaz on a three-year, $69 million contract. The deal comes with a $23 million average annual value, the highest ever for a closer.

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Díaz comes with bona fide credentials and has been in the conversation about the game’s best reliever for the better part of the past five years. The Dodgers’ new closer had another standout year in 2025, with an electric 1.63 ERA, 98 strikeouts and 28 saves for the New York Mets.

Since the departure of the franchise’s all-time saves leader, Kenley Jansen, in 2022, the Dodgers have been looking for a shutdown arm for the ninth inning and have left no stone unturned in their attempts to find one. L.A. has gone through different combinations of closers, including Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, Blake Treinen, Daniel Hudson and even Craig Kimbrel.

The Dodgers believed they’d found their closer of the foreseeable future last offseason, when they signed left-hander Tanner Scott to a four-year, $72 million deal. But then Scott was beyond ineffective in 2025, sporting a 4.74 ERA in 61 games, and injuries ended his season prematurely. The result was the Dodgers turning to rookie Roki Sasaki as their de facto closer en route to another World Series title.

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And so, having lost confidence in Scott as the answer, the Dodgers renewed their search for their next closer. This time, the result is a record agreement with the top reliever on the free-agent market.

While the Dodgers landing a high-priced star is never a surprise, the fact that Díaz ended up in L.A. and not back with the Mets, like many in the sport expected, does come as a bit of a shocker. Díaz was one of the most beloved figures in the Mets’ clubhouse, with the production to match. And after the team signed right-hander Devin Williams last week, the belief was that Williams would complement Díaz as the Mets’ eighth-inning weapon.

Instead, the Mets now find themselves in a precarious position and needing to pivot, either giving Williams the closer job or turning their attention to right-hander Robert Suárez, the next-best arm still available. With Díaz headed out of town, further bullpen reinforcements in Queens will be necessary

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According to sources, Suárez and his camp were waiting for a resolution with Díaz before signing. Now that Diaz has found his next home, expect Suárez’s market and the market for former Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks to move quickly.

Even before the addition of Díaz in the L.A. bullpen, it was hard to look at the Dodgers’ roster and find many holes. But the one major need they had has now been addressed.

With that, the back-to-back champs have made themselves even stronger as they set their eyes on a three-peat.