The Sportsletter - Signings on Ice 🏒

BY JEFF YODER

JULY 14, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning,

The 150th Open Championship is underway from St. Andrews this morning. Plus, Day 1 of NHL Free Agency sent shockwaves through the league, and The Sportsletter's Marissa Kasch features the home run heroics of Aaron Judge at the bottom of today's edition. Full steam ahead...

Letter Rip!

PGA

Open Championship Tracker

Stay up-to-date on the action from St. Andrews

NHL

NHL Free Agency Tracker

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images

All the Trades & Free Agent Deals on Day 1

The NHL’s free agent market opened on Wednesday, and teams wasted little time signing checks and filling out their rosters. Here’s a look at the biggest deals from Day 1:

Free Agency Tracker

Johnny Gaudreau → Blue Jackets

Deal: 7 Years, $68.25 Million

Claude Giroux → Senators

Deal: 3 Years, $19.5 Million

Evander Kane → Oilers

Deal: 4 Years, $20.5 Million

Vincent Trocheck → Hurricanes

Deal: 7 Years, TBD

Darcy Kuemper → Capitals

Deal: 5 Years, $26.25 Million

Jack Campbell → Oilers

Deal: 5 Years, $25 Million

Andre Burakovsky → Kraken

Deal: 5 Years, $27.5 Million

Complete Free Agent Tracker

Free Agency Day 1 Recap (Video)

Additional Storylines

NHL: Hurricanes Acquire Max Pacioretty From Golden Knights

ESPN+: Latest NHL Free Agency Intel as Market Opens

USA Today: NHL Free Agency Tracker: All the News & Analysis on Biggest Moves

MLB

Blue Jays Fire Montoyo

Photo: Cole Burston / Getty Images

Toronto Parts Ways With Manager Charlie Montoyo

The AL East made headlines again on Wednesday after a stunning mid-season firing of Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo. Toronto axed their skipper after a 46-42 start to a season where the Blue Jays entered with World Series aspirations. Montoyo signed an extension in April, but his club’s performance hasn’t lived up to the hype. Bench coach John Schneider was named the interim manager through the end of the year, and the Blue Jays hope they can swing the tide after losing seven of their last ten.

Read: Blue Jays Fire Manager Charlie Montoyo

MLB Quick-Hitters

Mariners Win 10th Straight: Seattle won both games in a doubleheader against the Nationals to garner their 9th and 10th straight wins.

Orioles Win 10th Straight: Baltimore added to its win streak with 7-1 thrashing of the Cubs to reach 10 in a row.

LeMahieu’s Birthday Walk-Off: DJ LeMahieu celebrated his 34th birthday by stealing home on a wild pitch to lift the Yankees over the Reds (7-6).

Ohtani Makes Halos History: Shohei Ohtani had another memorable performance on Wednesday with 12 Ks and two hits in a win over the Astros (7-1). He joined Nolan Ryan in Angels history as the second pitcher with at least 10 Ks in four straight starts.

🎥 OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

🚴‍♂️ TDF: Vingegaard Claims Lead in Stage 11

Jonas Vingegaard swiped the yellow jersey on Wednesday atop the Col de Granon in Stage 11 of the Tour de France. Former leader Tadej Pogacar stumbled with a brutal day to surrender the lead as the iconic race nears the halfway mark.

🏀 WNBA: Sun Shine Over Fever

The Connecticut Sun jumped back in the win column on Wednesday with a victory over the Fever (89-81) thanks to a 20-point, 14-rebound night from Jonquel Jones. The Sun (15-8) are now two games back of the top spot in the WNBA.

THE STORYLINES

⚾️ MLB Trade Deadline Moves

Major League Baseball's 2022 trade deadline is now less than three weeks away, with August 2 is fast approaching. Eventually, every team will become either a buyer or a seller, and we've put together a list of the one logical move each team should make. (Bleacher Report)

🏈 The NFL’s Least-Predictable Units

As the world’s calendar turns to the back half of summer, the NFL’s calendar turns to training camps and preseason games, all but a few short weeks away. It’s wild how time flies when the only thing to watch is baseball. (The Ringer)

⛳️ Tiger Woods Calls Out LIV Players

Tiger Woods left little room for interpretation Tuesday when the 15-time major champion hammered away at Greg Norman’s new Saudi-funded LIV Golf series. None is as famous as Woods. He is not just the engine that drives the train. He’s the entire railroad. (FOX Sports)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Blue Jays Fire Manager Charlie Montoyo After 46-42 Start (B/R)
• NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in Favor of Lowering Age Limit to 18 (CBS Sports)
• Big 12’s Brett Yormark Leaves Door Open for Texas & Oklahoma to Leave Early (SI)
• NBA Announces Nearly $25 Million in ‘Recognition Payments’ to Former ABA Players (Yahoo! Sports)
• Knicks Reportedly Looking at Trade Package for Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell (SI)

Support The Sportsletter Team

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Content Intern: Marissa Kasch

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Technical Lead: Kevin Lonergan

Judgment Day

Photo: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images

Inside the Historic Season of Homers From Yankees' Slugger Aaron Judge

All Rise: Aaron Judge is on his way to a very impressive accomplishment. With the MLB season about halfway over, Judge is sitting at 30 home runs, putting him on pace to become the first player to reach 60 home runs in a season since steroid testing began in 2003. 

However, to reach this record-breaking number, he must take advantage of every game left in the season. Lately, Judge has been absent from the Yankees starting lineup despite being healthy. When interviewed before batting practice, manager Aaron Boone said that he is “just being cautious” with certain players, including Judge. With a large lead in the AL East, Boone is giving Judge periodic rest in mid-July due to a lessened sense of urgency. Judge missed last Thursday’s game versus the Red Sox, as well as versus the Reds on Tuesday night. If this continues, it could be bad news for Judge’s home run situation, but great news for Yanks fans looking at the long game.

So far, Judge’s season has basically been a home-run derby. However, he will not participate in the official Home-Run Derby (just like last year, and the year before, and the year before). In fact, he hasn’t competed since winning in 2017. When interviewed by The New York Post about the reasoning behind his decision, Judge simply responded, “Nope. No need, I already did it once. I’m all good with that.”

Basically, he’s saying, been-there, done-that, no thanks. Can’t you see why New York loves this guy? But, I can’t blame him. Just like the Madden curse and the Master’s par 3 contest, he doesn’t want to fall victim to the Home-Run Derby jinx of strikeouts if he wins.

Though everyone knows Aaron Judge’s superpower is hitting home runs, it’s certainly not the only thing he can do. Currently, Judge is tied for fourth in RBI count, with 65 so far this season. He comes in second for slugging percentage and fifth for on-base plus slugging percentage. He tops the chart in total runs at 67. In almost every relevant statistical category, Judge is in the top 5 players. So I’d say he’s more than just a home-run machine.

Aside from his quest for 60 homers, everyone is wondering about Judge’s contract extension (or possible lack thereof). Judge has already said that he will not discuss this issue with the press as the Yankees seek their 28th World Series pennant. Currently, Judge is set to take the field on July 19th in Dodger Stadium for the All Star Game. After the All Star break, court is in session as Judge resumes his journey to 60 homers, assuming he maintains his normal playing schedule and is not put on periodic rest. Judge is closely trailed by Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber with 28 and Houston’s Yordan Alvarez with 26.

Did Someone Forward You This Email? Subscribe Here
Feedback? Contact Our Editor: Jeff@TheSportsletter.com
Not Loving The Letter? Unsubscribe
Follow us on Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Copyright © 2022 The Sportsletter
717 Market Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103