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The Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers over the weekend and they are just starting to answer questions about both the move and the overall health of the team. According to a new report, Devers was not the only dysfunctional part of the organization, and now people have no choice but to notice.

On Monday afternoon, Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow spoke with the media over Zoom and tried to explain the move from the team’s perspective. According to Breslow, they're trying to put together a functional team and it sounds like they don't even have to reach very lofty goals for the season to be a success.

"This isn't about the game that is played on paper," said Breslow. "This is about the game that is played on the field and ultimately about winning the most games that we can. And in order to do that, trying to put together the most functional and complete team that we can. So I think that when you consider the flexibility, the ability to give some of the young players some run, the opportunity to maybe repackage some of the resources and fill some voids in the roster as early as approaching this year's deadline and being really intentional about the environment that we create for these young players to thrive in, I do think there’s a real chance that at the end of the season, we’re looking back and we’ve won more games than we otherwise would’ve.”

The Red Sox are currently in fourth place in the AL East. Luckily, they only need to win more games than they otherwise would have with Rafael Devers for the season to truly be a success.

White-ball captain frustrated by failure of players to adapt to requirements of 50-over cricket

Cameron Ponsonby30-Oct-2025Harry Brook conceded his side had been “hammered” by New Zealand, with the white-ball captain at a loss to explain England’s struggles in the format.For the first time during Brook’s tenure as captain, he failed to hide his disappointment after England slipped to a sixth ODI series defeat in seven and the second of his brief captaincy career.For all the talk of wanting to entertain, Brook’s disappointment was tangible as he responded to a question as to whether the result in Hamilton was the first time he had been frustrated with his players.”It’s disappointing, isn’t it,” Brook said. “You go round every single player there and you think, ‘bloody hell, there aren’t many teams that they don’t get into in the world’. It’s disappointing we haven’t performed as well as we could. It happens. They’ve played well and sometimes you’ve got to hold your hand up and say they’ve been the better team.”England were bowled out for 175 in the second ODI, three days after they had fallen to 234 all out at Mount Maunganui – a total saved by Brook’s own superb 135.It is a concerning trend for an England side who have been bowled out in seven of their eight away ODIs this year. In a remarkable statistic that was raised on the podcast, in 2025 they have failed to reach 250 in any innings where Joe Root hasn’t made a half-century himself. Furthermore, their commitment to “going hard” is borne out by the fact that when batting first this year, they have either made 350, or failed to bat their overs.Related

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Brook brilliance can't mask issues for brittle England batting

For years, England had the excuse of their frontline players rarely competing in the ODI format, and the consequent difficulties that players face when adapting back to the format. That excuse doesn’t hold this year, with a settled batting line-up who have been available throughout. Furthermore, with five of England’s ODI top six also in the Test squad, the theory is that their natural attacking game should be well suited to the rhythms of one-day cricket, although this has also failed to be the case.”It’s not too dissimilar to the way we play Test cricket, really,” Brook said of the difficulties of switching formats. “We play aggressively in Test cricket and it’s not too far off. Obviously we haven’t played much one-day cricket in the last however many years. I can’t quite put my finger on why we haven’t batted well enough. It’s just one of those things. You come to play the second-best team in the world on their own patch and they’ve hammered us.”Brook also refused to be drawn on losing both tosses against New Zealand, where the chance to bowl first in the opening ODI at Mount Maunganui would have been a significant advantage.”That’s just an excuse,” Brook said. “I haven’t won many tosses, I’d have liked to have had a bowl today [in Hamilton] but that’s just an excuse. Everybody in that batting line-up is good enough to be able to face a swinging and seaming ball, cope with that and score runs against that.”There was one promising sign for England during the second ODI, with Jofra Archer returning to England colours for the first time this winter and producing a fantastic display of bowling where he claimed three for 23 from his ten overs.Having only arrived in the country a few days previously, Archer’s speeds were high as he averaged 88mph across his first spell. There was one moment of concern, when Archer appeared to injure himself diving for a ball in the outfield, but it later transpired that he had merely winded himself heavily, and he returned soon after to bowl out his remaining overs.”He’s gone back-to-back five-over spells there, after just getting off the plane a few days ago,” Brook said. “So hopefully he recovers alright. But thankfully he did run in for me. That’s all I asked from him and he was bowling wheels. He’s going to be good to touch for the rest of this winter.”England will hope to respond to the series defeat in a similar manner to how they bounced back in their last ODI against South Africa in September, where they put on 414 for 5, a game which Brook hopes they can take confidence from.”It’s disappointing for the fans, who want to watch us, we entertain people, because they know that we play such an exciting brand of cricket.”It was only a couple of games ago against South Africa in the summer when we got 400, so we’re not a million miles away. It’s just about a couple of scores here and there and then we nail it down and hopefully we do find that template.”

Steven Heighway knew when Steven Gerrard was still only 14 years of age that the midfielder was going to "make it" as a footballer. The man himself, though, was less convinced of his quality – at least when he took his first tentative steps in the professional ranks. When Gerrard warmed up in front of the Kop for the first time ahead of his Liverpool debut on November 29, 1998, the nerve-racked teenager "could almost hear them saying, 'Who's this skinny tw*t?!'"

When Gerrard made his first start for the Reds the following week, against Tottenham, he felt completely out of his depth while David Ginola was running rings around him. It wouldn't take Gerrard long, though, to adjust to the pace of the Premier League. He became a first-team regular at Anfield during the 1990-2000 campaign before being voted the PFA's Young Player of the Year the following season.

Being recognised by his peers capped a remarkably rapid rise to prominence for a kid that had initially been racked by self-doubt. There was also the fact that Gerrard had also been dealing with a persistent back problem caused by a combination of growing pains and excessive game time during his teenage years.

However, the truly incredible thing about Gerrard's emergence as a future superstar was that he managed to perform at such a high level on the field while going through hell off it, having been targeted by a local gangster intent on exploiting the England international's success for his own financial gain…

'Hoodwinked' into a heist

In March 2006, John Kinsella, James Muldoon, Stephen McMullen and Thomas Hodgson were arrested on the M62 motorway near Huddersfield after a 130mph police chase. The four men – all from Liverpool – stood accused of stealing £41,000 worth of goods (Easter eggs, crisps and detergents) from a lorry depot in Grantham, Lincolnshire.

Hodgson subsequently admitted to a charge of robbery, but Kinsella, Muldoon and McMullen all maintained their innocence when they went on trial at Lincoln Crown Court in April 2008. Kinsella, who also denied an additional charge of dangerous driving, insisted that he was not a member of the gang responsible for the heist, with his solicitor, Gorden Aspden, claiming that his client had been "hoodwinked" into getting involved.

Kinsella stated that he knew nothing of the planned robbery beforehand and believed that he had been invited along to deal with a debt owed by a friend of his fellow accused Hodgson. According to Aspden, there was "a lot of evidence to back up” Kinsella’s story, while his defence also included a character reference from Steven Gerrard's father, Paul.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'Terrorised' by 'The Psycho'

In a letter submitted to the court, and verified by police, Paul Gerrard wrote: "I would like to say that in 2001 my son Steven was being terrorised by a notorious Liverpool gangster known as 'The Psycho' (George Bromley Junior), who was threatening to maim my son by shooting him in the legs. Also, he was trying to extort a large amount of money from Steven. We immediately contacted the police and asked for protection."

The letter also disclosed that Liverpool were in contact with the authorities during the period in question and had also provided extra security for their player. However, Paul Gerrard said that the threats and harassment "went on for a long time" and that his son had even been "chased" by the gangster as he drove home from training.

"It was really having a bad effect on Steven's career," Paul Gerrard confessed, while also revealing that his son's car had been "smashed up" at one point. "This was one of the worst times of our lives and we were at our wits’ end when we were introduced by a family friend to John Kinsella."

'Nightmare'

Kinsella was well-known within the Merseyside underworld, and had previously served a nine-year prison sentence for attempted robbery and carrying a firearm with intent to commit an offence. According to Paul Gerrard, after reaching out to Kinsella, the martial arts expert assured him and his family that he "would resolve our nightmare".

During his trial in 2008, Kinsella explained that he was already familiar with both Bromley Junior and his deceased father, George Bromley Senior.

"George Bromley Jnr was a young lad," Kinsella told the court. "but he was a very violent figure in Liverpool. I took steps. I spoke to George Bromley Jnr. I told him to stop it and leave [Steven Gerrard] alone. After I had spoken to him, he followed my advice."

Indeed, Paul Gerrard confirmed in his letter that his family "never had any more problems from the Liverpool underworld", adding, "Steven and I have total respect for John."

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'Curious business'

Despite Paul Gerrard's testimony, Kinsella was found guilty of the robbery and sentenced to 14 years in jail – though he wasn't in court for the verdict. Rather, during a lunch break at the trial on April 17, 2008, Kinsella absconded after being allowed to wander Lincoln Crown Court's grounds.

Kinsella's legal team audaciously challenged the length of his sentence while he was still on the run – and actually managed to have it reduced by three years. Lord Justice Moses called the whole affair "curious business" but appeal judges accepted that the original jail term was "manifestly excessive".

However, Kinsella was eventually arrested by armed police in Amsterdam in February 2009 and he belatedly began his prison sentence two months later.

He died on May 5, 2018, after being shot in front of his partner while out walking his dog on a secluded footpath in a wooded area that runs alongside the M62 on Merseyside.

Tottenham Hotspur were left reeling after being thumped by north London neighbours Arsenal last weekend. It was a sobering afternoon for Thomas Frank, who did take solace days later in his side’s spirited 5-3 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain.

Much of the frustration around Spurs’ start to the season has centred around attacking struggles. To be sure, Ange Postecoglou’s unshackled offensive system is no longer discernible down N17, though Frank has undeniably instilled a more stable base.

(1) Chelsea

2nd

22.1

(2) Man City

3rd

21.8

(3) Arsenal

1st

20.7

(4) Crystal Palace

5th

20.2

(5) Man Utd

10th

19.9

(17) Tottenham

9th

11.1

However, while there is work to be made on the creative front – and remember, injured playmakers James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have not kicked a ball this season – nine goals shipped in the last week underlines the wider problems.

It’s for this reason that the new hierarchy is considering a winter move for a centre-back.

Spurs' search for a defender

In Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, Tottenham have one of the most robust defensive partnerships in the Premier League. However, the balance isn’t there at the back.

The Lilywhites have been sold short in key areas. You could make a top starting 11 in a fully-fit Spurs stadium, but the wider squad leave plenty to be desired, Kevin Danso and Ben Davies applicable in regard to central defence.

That’s why Spanish sources have confirmed that Tottenham are planning a winter move for Juventus centre-half Gleison Bremer, who could be available for a cut-price €40m (£35m)

The report suggests that Spurs ‘would be willing to negotiate’ and offer an ‘attractive financial package’ in order to tempt the Old Lady into a sale.

What Bremer would bring to Spurs

Two months ago, Bremer suffered a meniscus injury to his left knee. This week, he returned to full team training. Considered one of the best defenders in Europe for his defensive security and “world-class” performances, as said by CBS commentator Matteo Bonetti, against elite forwards.

In truth, he hasn’t played much football over the past year, but Bremer is returning to full fitness now and started the Serie A season off strongly, Sofascore recording that he won 63% of his ground duels across the first four fixtures of the term, averaging 5.5 clearances and 4.5 recoveries per game. He set up two goals, underscoring the ball-playing quality that Frank needs to help establish build-up patterns down N17.

Van de Ven, of course, would provide Bremer with stiff competition in front of Guglielmo Vicario’s goal, but there’s a case to be made that the Brazilian is a stronger defender than his Dutch counterpart, who has only won 52% of his duels in the Premier League this season, ranking among the bottom 36% of positional peers for tackles won per 90 (0.36).

The 24-year-old is an athletic phenomenon, and no mistake.

Micky van de Ven

Tottenham

37.38

Kyle Walker

Man City

37.31

Jackson Tchatchoua

Wolves

37.30

Micky van de Ven

Tottenham

37.23

Micky van de Ven

Tottenham

37.12

But he’s hardly flawless. Van de Ven has made two direct mistakes in the Premier League this year (Bremer has yet to blunder), and he needs to continue to develop his positioning and tactical alliance with those around him.

Maybe Van de Ven feels overburdened by the weight of responsibility at times. He has a lot of ground to cover, after all, especially with Romero in and out of the team due to injuries.

Hailed as a “monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson for his physicality and power, Bremer might just be the solution for a Tottenham side desperate to make headway after an up-and-down start.

This ferocious defender would offer a different flavour, and maybe that’s what Frank’s rearguard need to stabilise and create a more fluent overarching system.

Juventus legend Sergi Brio described Bremer as the “best defender in Serie A” two years ago, and though his match action has been limited thereafter, there’s no question that this is a star who could make a marked difference at Frank’s Tottenham, providing a counterpoint at the back while deepening the squad as they look to kick on.

Frank can unearth his own Dembele by unleashing "generational" Spurs gem

Tottenham can unearth their next Mousa Dembele against Fulham this weekend by unleashing this star.

ByDan Emery Nov 29, 2025

Shohei Ohtani is man.

With the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves tied 5–5 in the bottom of the ninth, Ohtani smashed the first pitch he saw for a 399-foot walk-off home run to win the team's eighth game of the season.

It was fitting that Ohtani would win the game for the Dodgers on his own MVP bobblehead night. Fans lined up hours in advance of the game for a chance to take home one of his bobbleheads, and then the three-time MVP delivered exactly what those fans would've dreamt of seeing.

Dodger Stadium understandably went wild as Ohtani rounded the bases. His teammates drenched him when he got to home plate.

The Dodgers became the first reigning World Series champion in MLB history to start the season 8–0. And, of course, Dodgers fans can thank Ohtani for solidifying that piece of history.

Fans were already chanting "MVP" at Ohtani as he was doing his post-game interview on the field. Could he be a three-peat? There's a lot more baseball left to play this season, but doubt Ohtani at your own peril.

James Maddison dressed his eldest son, Leo, up in a Jude Bellingham Real Madrid kit. In a pair of wholesome snapshots taken at home, Maddison's boy throws his arms wide in pure, unfiltered delight while wearing a blue Real Madrid third strip, complete with the midfielder’s name and the iconic No.5 plastered across the back.

A kit rooted in history

The shirt Maddison’s son proudly wears is Real Madrid’s 2025-26 third strip. It arrives in a luxurious shade of blue, decorated with clean white accents that mirror the freshly installed seating at the renovated Bernabeu. The fabric itself carries subtle contours that mimic the stadium’s interior, a quiet tribute woven directly into the garment. Inside the collar rests a sentence etched into Madrid folklore: "90 minuti en el Bernabeu son molto longo." Those words, spoken by club legend Juanito to an Inter defender during the 1984–85 UEFA Cup semi-final, serve as a warning to opponents: "90 minutes in the Bernabeu feels like a lifetime."

The colour calls back to the 2013–14 season, the year Real Madrid clinched La Decima, their historic 10th European crown. It is a kit steeped in heritage, and now, thanks to Maddison’s son Leo, it has already found one of its most enthusiastic ambassadors.

Maddison added a mischievous caption to the images: "Wise choice, son." While Bellingham reposted the story in his account and wrote: "Leooo😍💙".

@madders Instagram

AdvertisementBellingham’s England story takes another twist

While Maddison’s social-media moment was light-hearted, Bellingham’s recent weeks with the national team have felt more intense. The Madrid midfielder was left out of England’s October plans while recovering from shoulder surgery, a spell that allowed speculation around his temperament to bubble up again as Thomas Tuchel seeks to build a harmonious squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Tuchel eventually restored him to the team for November’s fixtures against Serbia and Albania. Bellingham started the second of those matches but left without the shirt he wore, having swapped it with Inter defender Kristjan Asllani as he walked off the pitch. The decision triggered debate as many questioned the need for a shirt swap mid-match rather than waiting for the final whistle.

Midfielder defended from recent criticism

Last month, England midfielder Danny Murphy was quick to dispel any notion that Bellingham’s character should be questioned.

Speaking to GOAL, Murphy said: "I find the narrative around his character and any problems a little bit strange because when I have watched England – I have watched them a lot at tournaments and watched him closely, he is, by far, the best character on the football pitch when England play, in terms of producing big moments, grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck, leaving everything out there.

"If you could have 11 Jude Bellinghams, you would win most tournaments. The element of not talking to the press or not doing interviews or the odd swear word or rant or a little bit of what some people would call arrogance, that is what creates the player on the pitch. They are just rumours because a lot of the feedback from the players – Jordan Henderson recently said how much he likes him and how great a character he is – I think some of it has been exaggerated.

"From a footballing perspective, we have a much better chance of winning the World Cup if he is in the team. I don’t mean just in the squad, I mean in the team. He is a phenomenal talent. We should be – as pundits, fans, press – building him up, applauding him and being thankful that we have got him, not trying to pull him down because he is the best one we have got. He is the game-changer in our side. He is the one that can make things happen. He’s just a phenomenal player."

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GettyWhat comes next for Bellingham?

Bellingham has been a key figure for England for several years. He has become a talisman at Real Madrid. And now, even Premier League stars like Maddison find their children choosing his name on the back of their shirts. With the 2026 World Cup looming, Bellingham will be central to England’s ambitions. Shirt swaps, debates and social-media storms won’t change that.

Aston Villa have now joined the race to sign Abde Ezzalzouli, at Unai Emery’s request, and Real Betis’ asking price has been revealed.

Villa’s interest in signing a new forward comes amid doubts surrounding Harvey Elliott’s future, with widespread reports suggesting Liverpool could recall the attacking midfielder from his loan spell in the January transfer window.

Elliott has failed to establish himself as a first-team regular, featuring for just 97 minutes across four matches in the Premier League this season, and Fabrizio Romano has now provided an update on whether there is any way back for the Englishman.

The transfer expert said: “At the moment, it depends on his performances in training. The situation is still not changing and of course, Elliott is not happy.”

Should the 22-year-old exit Villa Park this winter, there may be room in the squad to bring in another attacker, and the Villans are now looking to sign a new winger…

Aston Villa join race to sign Abde Ezzalzouli at Unai Emery's request

According to a report from Spain, Aston Villa have now joined the race to sign Real Betis star Ezzalzouli, with the forward being monitored closely ahead of the January transfer window, although there could be competition for his signature from Crystal Palace.

The Betis board’s asking price is ‘significantly’ in excess of the Moroccan’s current value of €12m (£11m), with the Spanish club eager to retain one of their key players, and manager Manuel Pellegrini has made it clear he wants to keep hold of him.

The 23-year-old has been personally requested by Emery for January, with the manager setting out to sign a new winger in order to strengthen his side’s chances of winning the Europa League.

It is little wonder Pellegrini is keen to keep hold of the 25-time Morocco international, given that he has impressed at Real Betis for quite some time, with scout Ben Mattinson waxing lyrical about the left-winger during the 2024/25 campaign.

The former Osasuna man has also made a flying start to the season, chipping in with three goals and two assists in his opening eight games, which has helped propel his side to fifth in the La Liga table.

Emery strengthened his options at left-wing in the summer, signing Jadon Sancho, but the Manchester United loanee is yet to make an impact, failing to register a single goal or assist in his opening eight matches in all competitions.

As such, it would make sense to bring in a new winger in the January transfer window, and Ezzalzouli could be a fantastic long-term addition to the squad.

Aston Villa targeting Ansu Fati alongside Abde Ezzalzouli Aston Villa prepared to make Ansu Fati offer but face complicated roadblock

The Villans are willing to make a bid for a new forward, after Emery’s plea to the board.

ByDominic Lund Nov 4, 2025

The three players will start with their new state by playing in the Uttarakhand Premier League

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Sep-2025Left-arm spinner J Suchith, opener Prashant Chopra and batter Bhupen Lalwani have moved to Uttarakhand ahead of the domestic season in 2025-26. The three players will start with their new state by playing in the Uttarakhand Premier League.Suchith, who represented Karnataka before playing for Nagaland, first played domestic cricket in April 2014 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy before going on to make his List A and first-class debuts in the coming seasons. He played for Nagaland only for one season, in 2024-25, where picked up 43 wickets in six first-class matches and was the highest wicket-taker in the Plate group.Chopra, meanwhile, made his debut for Himachal Pradesh as an 18-year-old in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in February 2011, and has represented them in his entire domestic career so far. Last season, he made 386 runs in seven first-class matches, which included 171 against Uttarakhand. Overall, he has played 81 first-class matches and scored 5093 runs and hit 14 hundreds. He has also notched up 4012 runs in 103 List A games at an average of 41.79, and 2035 runs in 70 T20s at a strike rate of 114.58.Lalwani has represented Mumbai and Chhattisgarh in a short domestic career so far that started in January 2020. He switched to Chhattisgarh ahead of the 2024-25 season, where he played just two first-class matches for them. Overall, he has played 16 first-class matches and three List A games.The change of teams continue a bunch of transfers ahead of the upcoming domestic season, the most notable among them being Karun Nair returning to Karnataka, Harshal Patel switching back to Gujarat from Haryana, and Jalaj Saxena moving from Kerala to Maharashtra.

The MLB season marches on today with teams across the country beginning their weekend series. For us bettors, there's no better way to start our weekend than by putting some extra money in our pocket by winning a few Friday bets.

I have three wagers locked in for Friday's slate, including a bet on the total between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. Let's dive into them.

Top MLB Picks Today

Rays -124 vs. BravesAngels +134 vs. AstrosCubs vs. Dodgers UNDER 8 (-112)Braves vs. Rays Prediction

The Braves' offense has started to turn things around, but they still enter the weekend batting just .218 on the season. I think there's still some meat on the bone in terms of fading them, especially tonight when they're playing on the road with Bryce Elder on the mound. Elder recorded a 6.52 ERA in 10 starts last season and allowed three earned runs in just 4.0 innings in his first start in 2025.

A combination of poor hitting and bad pitching by the Braves tonight puts the Rays in a favorable spot. I think -124 is more than a fair price for Tampa Bay.

Angels vs. Astros Prediction

I can't believe I'm typing this right now, but the Los Angeles Angels have been one of the best offensive teams in the Majors in the early part of the season while the Houston Astros have been one of the worst. The Angels are seventh in OPS at .767 while the Astros are 29th at .583. Additionally, Ronel Blanco is starting for the Astros, and there are signs we're going to see some significant regression from him this season. He has allowed seven earned runs in just 6.2 innings pitched across his first two starts.

If you're betting on the Astros as home favorites today, you're completely throwing out the results from the first two weeks of the season. Instead, I'm going to ride the momentum (or lack thereof) from both teams and take the Angels to win as significant underdogs in Houston.

Cubs vs. Dodgers Prediction

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has already had one solid performance against the Cubs, keeping them to three hits and one earned run across 5.0 innings in the opening series of the season in Japan, so why not bet on another strong outing against Chicago tonight? Matthew Boyd is also coming into this game hot, having pitched 11.0 scoreless innings so far in 2025.

You may be surprised to find out the Dodgers, while showcasing some power, have been batting just .230 on the season.

With all of that in mind, I'll take the UNDER in this National League duel.

Mustafizur Rahman and Mahedi Hasan picked up five wickets between them in eight overs

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-2025Dasun Shanaka clobbered 64 not out off 37 balls to propel Sri Lanka through the middle and death overs, after their openers had provided a rapid 44-run opening stand.In between those batters, however, Bangladesh imposed themselves, mainly through Mustafizur Rahman and Mahedi Hasan, who took five wickets between them, and were also economical. Mustafizur was especially impressive, taking 3 for 20. His last over – the 19th of the innings – cost Sri Lanka three wickets, but they could only scramble five runs off it. Mustafizur had also had Shanaka dropped off his bowling on 38 off 27, in the 17th over.Related

Tait confident Mustafizur Rahman will do better against Sri Lanka

Bereaved Dunith Wellalage rejoins SL squad in Dubai

Shanaka’s was not the only catch Bangladesh missed. Mustafizur himself had failed to attack a dying chance at fine leg (he likely could have got there), to reprieve Kusal Perera on 11. Charith Asalanka was also put down by Towhid Hridoy at deep point, on 16. Both those batters made five further runs. Asalanka was also dropped a second time by Hridoy, but was run out off that same delivery, attempting a second.Sri Lanka will feel their total competitive, on a Dubai track known to be tough for batters. Bangladesh are unlikely to be fazed by its heft either, however.