The Sportsletter - Free Agent Frenzy ⚾️

BY JEFF YODER

NOV. 30, 2021  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  BROWSER VIEW

Good Morning,

Big bucks were spent Monday in MLB free agency, and the Rangers have officially dedicated a half-billion dollars to their infield in less than 48 hours. Talk about a Texas-sized spending spree. Baseball’s offseason headlines are just heating up…

Letter Rip!

MLB

Free Agency: The Rangers' $500 Million Infield

Photo: Daniel Shirey / Getty Images

Corey Seager, Max Scherzer & Robbie Ray All on the Move in Busy Monday of Free Agency

MLB free agency took off like lightning on Monday as three major names signed deals with new teams. The top story? The Rangers’ infield is officially loaded. Texas added former Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager to a 10-year, $325 million contract just one day after signing Marcus Semien to a seven-year deal. The 27-year-old Seager was the 2020 World Series MVP, but he wasn’t the only big name to switch jerseys on Monday.

SS Corey Seager — Rangers

Deal: 10 Years, $325 Million

P Max Scherzer — Mets

Deal: 3 Years, $130 Million

P Robbie Ray — Mariners

Deal: 5 Years, $115 Million

Additional Storylines

USA Today: A $500 Million Middle Infield: Rangers Reel In Seager

MLB: Dodgers Eyeing Freddie Freeman as Corey Seager’s Replacement?

CBS Sports: MLB Rumors & Live Updates from Free Agency

NCAA

Top-25: Duke Takes Over No. 1

Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images

Purdue, Gonzaga, Baylor & UCLA Round Out Top-5 in Latest AP Poll

After a big win toppling No. 1 Gonzaga over the holiday break, the Duke Blue Devils are the new No. 1 in this week’s AP Poll. Undefeated teams — Purdue, Baylor and Arkansas — all moved up in the Top-10. Duke’s entire remaining schedule, including ACC play, doesn’t include a currently ranked opponent. It’s the Blue Devils’ first time reaching No. 1 in the poll since 2019.

Men’s AP Poll (Top-10)

1. Duke (7-0) | ↑4

2. Purdue (6-0) | ↑1

3. Gonzaga (6-1) | ↓2

4. Baylor (7-0) | ↑2

5. UCLA (6-1) | ↓3

6. Villanova (4-2) | ↑1

7. Texas (4-1) | ↑1

8. Kansas (5-1) | ↓4

9. Kentucky (5-1) | ↑1

10. Arkansas (6-0) | ↑3

Full AP Top-25

Women’s AP Poll (Top-10)

1. South Carolina (7-0) | —

2. N.C. State (6-1) | ↑3

2. UConn (3-1) | ↑1

4. Stanford (5-2) | ↑3

5. Baylor (6-1) | ↑1

6. Indiana (5-1) | ↓2

7. Arizona (7-0) | ↑2

8. Maryland (6-2) | ↓6

9. Iowa (4-0) | ↓1

10. Louisville (5-1) | —

Full Women’s AP Top-25

Additional Storylines

SI: Duke Takes Over Men’s AP No. 1 After Week of Top-5 Carnage

ESPN: South Carolina Remains No. 1 in Women’s Poll While 8 Top-10 Schools Shuffle

SOCCER

Messi Wins 7th Ballon d'Or

Photo: Franck Fife / Getty Images

PSG’s Lionel Messi Beats Out Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski

Lionel Messi, once again, is the recipient of the prestigious Ballon d’Or award for the world’s greatest soccer player. The PSG star was honored Monday in Paris at the Theatre du Chatelet. The award was Messi’s seventh — 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021 — to add to his record. Messi led Argentina to the Copa America title this summer before transitioning from Barcelona to PSG in the summer. He beat out Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) who won the Striker of the Year award.

Most Ballon d’Or Awards

Lionel Messi (7)

Cristiano Ronaldo (5)

Johann Cruyff (3)

Michel Platini (3)

Marco van Basten (3)

Additional Storylines

CNN: Messi Wins 7th Ballon d’Or; Alexia Putellas Wins First Women’s Title

Sporting News: Why Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or Win Was a Snub of Robert Lewandowski

🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

🏈 NFL: Washington Holds Off Seahawks (17-15)

The Washington Football Team survived a late comeback attempt by the Seahawks on Monday Night Football (17-15) to improve to 5-6 and enter the NFC playoff picture. Seattle scored a touchdown before failing on the tying two-point conversion with 15 seconds left.

🏀 NBA: Lonzo Wins Battle of the Ball Brothers

The Ball brothers — Lonzo and LaMelo — met for the first time this season in Monday night’s Bulls-Hornets matchup. The Bulls won (133-119) and Lonzo (18 points, 13 assists, 7 rebounds) got the better of the battle against younger brother LaMelo (16 points, 8 assists).

🏒 NHL: Flames Win Epic 7-Round Shootout

Among Monday’s NHL action was an absolute stunner between Calgary and Pittsburgh that needed a seven-round shootout to find a winner. The Flames won (1-1, 2-1 S/O) on Mikael Backlund’s winner.

THE STORYLINES

🏈  2022 NFL Mock Draft

In our latest mock draft, the Texans, Falcons and Saints roll the dice on a quarterback class filled with questions. Here are the QBs we’re expecting to go in the 1st round next April. (CBS Sports)

🏀  NBA Power Rankings

The battle for No. 1 is on. The Golden State Warriors, winners of seven straight games, take their league-best 18-2 record into Tuesday night's Western Conference showdown with the Phoenix Suns. (ESPN)

⚾️  4 Keys to Ending the Potential MLB Lockout

Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, after which the league’s owners will almost assuredly usher in a lockout, putting the entire sport on pause until a new agreement is reached. (FOX Sports)

📰 THE HEADLINES

LSU Football Hires Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly

(SI)

Tiger Woods Discusses Future Golf Plans in Interview With Golf Digest

(USA Today)

Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey to Miss Rest of Season With Ankle Injury

(NBC Sports)

Lee Elder, First Black Golfer to Play in The Masters, Dies at Age 87

(ESPN)

Cowboys’ Head Coach Mike McCarthy Tests Positive for COVID-19

(CBS Sports)

Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr. to Miss Remainder of Season After Back Surgery

(Yahoo! Sports)

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