The Sportsletter - All-Star Calls & Euro Trips

BY JEFF YODER

JULY 8, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Welcome Back, Team 👋

We hope everyone enjoyed the holiday weekend. Our team got some much-needed rest before the excitement coming with July sports — Wimbledon, MLB All-Stars, Tour de France, and of course, the Olympics. Much awaits this month, and we’re full speed ahead.

Letter Rip!

MLB

All-Star Rosters Are In ⭐️

Photo: Brandon Sloter / Getty Images

Rosters for the 94th MLB All-Star Game Are Set (July 16) & Home Run Derby Participants Announced

The full and final rosters for the 2024 MLB All-Star Game were announced yesterday, and there’s a long lineup of rookie selections. The 94th Midsummer Classic takes place next Tuesday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas (8:00 pm ET, FOX) after a fun build-up weekend with the Celebrity Softball Game (Saturday), MLB Draft (Sunday), and Home Run Derby (Monday). A total of 32 first-time selections and 24 international players highlight the rosters, but 13 players will get at least their third ASG nods. Mookie Betts (eight straight) leads the streaks while Paul Skenes and Bobby Witt Jr. headline the youngsters. The Phillies’ three selected starters and seven total players lead all teams. Let’s take a look at the starters:

⭐️ American League

C: Adley Rutschman (Orioles)

1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays)

2B: Jose Altuve (Astros)

3B: Jose Ramirez (Guardians)

SS: Gunnar Henderson (Orioles)

OF: Aaron Judge (Yankees)

OF: Juan Soto (Yankees)

OF: Steven Kwan (Guardians)

DH: Yordan Alvarez (Astros)

AL Pitchers: Corbin Burnes (BAL), Tyler Anderson (LAA), Emmanuel Clase (CLE), Kirby Yates (TEX), Clay Holmes (NYY), Logan Gilbert (SEA), Garrett Crochet (CWS), Tanner Houck (BOS), Seth Lugo (KC), Mason Miller (OAK), Cole Ragans (KC), Tarik Skubal (DET)

⭐️ National League

C: William Contreras (Brewers)

1B: Bryce Harper (Phillies)

2B: Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks)

3B: Alec Bohm (Phillies)

SS: Trea Turner (Phillies)

OF: Jurickson Profar (Padres)

OF: Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres)

OF: Christian Yelich (Brewers)

DH: Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers)

NL Pitchers: Tyler Glasnow (LAD), Chris Sale (ATL), Shota Imanaga (CHC), Zack Wheeler (PHI), Logan Webb (SF), Ranger Suarez (PHI), Paul Skenes (PIT), Matt Strahm (PHI), Robert Suarez (SD), Tanner Scott (MIA), Reynaldo Lopez (ATL), Jeff Hoffman (PHI), Ryan Helsley (STL)

⭐️ Complete MLB All-Star Rosters

⚾️ Home Run Derby Participants

CBS Sports: Pitchers Join MLB All-Star Rosters, Including Rookie Phenom Paul Skenes & 31 Other First-Timers

NBA

NBA Free-Agent Tracker

Photo: Mike Stobe / Getty Images

The NBA Free Agent Market Went Wild Last Week, But It’s Far From Over

In our lone edition last week before July 4th, we posted a lengthy list of all the NBA free-agent moves. Klay Thompson signed with the Mavericks while Paul George joined the 76ers and Jayson Tatum signed the largest max deal in NBA history with the Celtics after their championship run. Things have slowed down since then (5 days ago), but the FA frenzy is far from over. The biggest move of the past 48 hours featured journeyman DeMar DeRozan heading to Sacramento in a three-team sign-and-trade. Here are some of the latest/biggest deals:

NBA Free Agency Tracker

DeMar DeRozan → Kings

Contract: 3 Years, $74 Million (Sign-and-Trade)

LeBron James → Lakers (Re-Sign)

Contract: 2 Years, $104 Million

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope → Magic

Contract: 3 Years, $66 Million

Nicolas Claxton → Nets (Re-Sign)

Contract: 4 Years, $100 Million

Patrick Williams → Bulls (Re-Sign)

Contract: 5 Years, $90 Million

Buddy Hield → Warriors

Contract: $21 Million Sign-and-Trade

Full NBA Free Agency Tracker

ESPN: LeBron James Aids Lakers’ Cap Space by Signing Below-Max Deal

INTERNATIONAL SOCCER

Continental Crowns Coming 👑

Photo: Jean Catuffe / Getty Images

Pitch Notes: Get Ready for a Week of Continental Champions in the Americas & Europe

After a week away from the knockout rounds in both the UEFA Euros and Copa America tournaments, we’re down to four nations left in each competition. A whopping five out of eight quarterfinal matches went to penalty kicks over the weekend. England’s dream of a first Euro title is still intact with Spain, France, and the Netherlands standing in the way. And after the USMNT got booted in the group stage of Copa America, Canada’s underdog story still lives. The Canadians are the only North American club left in a semi-final that features Argentina, Uruguay, and Colombia. There are no matches today, but Tuesday and Wednesday will set up the finals.

UEFA Euros (Quarterfinals)

🇪🇸 Spain def. 🇩🇪 Germany (2-1)

🇫🇷 France def. 🇵🇹 Portugal (0-0, 5-3 PKs)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England def. 🇨🇭 Switzerland (1-1, 5-3 PKs)

🇳🇱 Netherlands def. 🇹🇷 Turkey (2-1)

Copa America (Quarterfinals)

🇦🇷 Argentina def. 🇪🇨 Ecuador (1-1, 4-2 PKs)

🇨🇦 Canada def. 🇻🇪 Venezuela (1-1, 4-3 PKs)

🇺🇾 Uruguay def. 🇧🇷 Brazil (0-0, 4-2 PKs)

🇨🇴 Colombia def. 🇵🇦 Panama (5-0)

UEFA Euros & Copa America Semi-Finals

(Tuesday & Wednesday)