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Dwarshuis is back in Australia’s squad for the final two T20Is while Reddy may be ready to return to action for India

Andrew McGlashan05-Nov-2025

Mitchell Marsh and Suryakumar Yadav exchange smiles•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

Big Picture: Who will strike gold on the coast?It’s not often an India series is overshadowed but, in many Australian cricket circles at least, this T20I series is not the major talking point, although it is far from insignificant for those involved. The day before the fourth match, with the series locked at 1-1, the Ashes squad dropped and it will likely continue to be picked over in the days ahead.There are even fewer links in Australia’s squad for this series to the upcoming Ashes with Travis Head and Sean Abbott having been released. Josh Inglis, who will have a quick turnaround into Sheffield Shield cricket after the series is done, is the only one who remains who is among those to be involved in Perth.Related

Short outlines clear pathway to next T20 World Cup

Arshdeep, Sundar help India level the series against Australia

Arshdeep's career highlights the balancing act T20 cricket imposes on India

Head leaves T20I squad for red-ball Ashes preparation

India were excellent in leveling the series in Hobart. The chase was an example of their immense batting depth in T20 cricket. Only Tilak Varma had a strike-rate below 125, Washington Sundar, playing his first game of the series, hurried the game to a conclusion with some powerful strokeplay and Jitesh Sharma played with confidence having also come into the team.Tim David batted brilliantly for Australia, a continuation of his evolving role higher up the order which has the makings of a critical change to the team’s T20 plans heading into the World Cup. His 74 off 38 included one of the biggest sixes seen. However, the home side couldn’t quite recover from losing Mitch Marsh (who had only faced 14 balls by the eighth over) and Mitch Owen in consecutive deliveries against Varun Chakravarthy, although Marcus Stoinis’ well-constructed 64 was another positive for them.For Australia the last two matches of this T20 series played across Thursday and Saturday bring an end to an intensive run in the format. They are the last before the selectors will need to name a T20 World Cup squad although BBL form may yet play a part.Form guideAustralia LWWWW
India WLWWWBen Dwarshuis brings left-arm variety to Australia’s attack•Getty ImagesIn the spotlight: Ben Dwarshuis and Abhishek SharmaLeft-arm seamer Ben Dwarshuis put together an impressive run of games against West Indies and South Africa earlier this year, but has had some niggly injuries the past month which has limited him to one T20I out of the last six. But he is back in the squad for the final two games against India, replacing Abbott, and will bring valuable variation to the attack. With Mitchell Starc having retired from T20Is and Spencer Johnson working through a long-term injury, Dwarshuis is the leading candidate to fill the left-arm pace role at the World Cup.If Abhishek Sharma hasn’t tried to hit every ball for four and six, then he’s come close. On a more serious note, he did show the layers to his game with the superb 68 at the MCG in tough conditions. He is the only India batter with over 100 runs in the series and they have come at a strike-rate of 167.16. However, in Hobart he was out-thought by Nathan Ellis’ bouncer. He needs 39 runs for 1000 in T20Is. If Abhishek reaches the mark in this match he would equal Virat Kohli’s record of 27 innings as the fastest for India and he would become the fastest globally balls faced. Suryakumar Yadav is currently the quickest from 573 balls; Abhishek has currently faced 500.Team news: Eyes on Maxwell, Reddy may be readyHead’s departure from the series creates a vacancy for Matt Short to return to his favoured opening position. Glenn Maxwell wasn’t quite ready to return from his wrist injury in Hobart but it’s understood he is expected to be available. Dwarshuis would appear a logical addition to the pace attack unless Mahli Beardman is handed a debut.Australia (possible): 1 Matt Short, 2 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 3 Josh Inglis (wk), 4 Tim David, 5 Mitch Owen, 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Xavier Bartlett, 9 Ben Dwarshuis, 10 Nathan Ellis, 11 Matt KuhnemannIndia may consider the role Shivam Dube is currently playing after an expensive three overs in Hobart although they have all bases covered with their plethora of allrounders. Nitish Kumar Reddy may be available again after injury. “He did all his work that was needed or expected of him in fielding, batting, and bowling,” bowling coach Morne Morkel said. “He ticked all of that, so we will find out now after assessment where he is at.”India (possible): 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Axar Patel, 6 Washington Sundar, 7 Jitesh Sharma, 8 Shivam Dube, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Jasprit BumrahPitch and conditionsThere have only been two previous men’s internationals at Carrara – and one became a 10-over game – so previous evidence is limited. In the BBL the ground has the sixth-highest batting strike of venues to have hosted at least 10 matches.Stats and trivia Glenn Maxwell needs one wicket for 50 in T20Is, Marcus Stoinis needs two. They could each be the first Australia men’s player to complete the 1000 runs/50 wickets double in T20Is. Nathan Ellis needs three wickets for 50 in T20Is. Tilak Varma needs nine runs for 1000 in T20Is.Quotes”You need to have options available. Every team across the world are playing around with options. In this game, you need to be adaptable and where certain players can give you options in different roles.”

GOAL takes a look at which American players are playing the best heading into the final weeks of 2025.

It’ll be a while before the U.S. men’s national team convene again – a few months, to be exact. With no international breaks until March, everything shifts back to the club level, even as that little thing called the World Cup looms in the distance.

As the U.S. build toward that tournament, most of the heavy lifting now happens with their clubs. From the Champions League to the MLS playoffs, several of the USMNT’s key players are finding form at the right time, putting in meaningful performances as 2025 winds down. Keeping that momentum rolling into the spring will be vital, especially for those hoping to carve out bigger roles by summer.

From established USMNT starters to those pushing for a breakthrough, these are the American stars thriving at the club level. This is not a ranking of the best players, overall, but rather a snapshot of who is showing the best form at the moment. GOAL takes a look at this recurring feature, tracking the pulse of U.S. talent worldwide.

Imagn5Sebastian Berhalter

The only MLS player on this list but, when you look at the quality of his recent performances, you can't leave him off.

Berhalter has been magnificent for the Vancouver Whitecaps all season long, which is why he's vaulted himself right into World Cup contention. Down the stretch, he's taken his game up a notch, particularly in the games that have mattered most. Just four days after scoring and assisting against Uruguay, Berhalter played 120 minutes in an instant classic against LAFC, finishing the game as a pseudo-fullback after seeing the Whitecaps go down two men. He was really good against San Diego FC, too, to help the Whitecaps book their spot in the MLS Cup final.

If the Whitecaps do beat Miami in that final, it is easy to assume Berhalter will have played a huge part.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport4Tyler Adams

If you don't know why he's here, check out his recent goal against Sunderland. That finish was nothing less than world-class. It was surprising, then, that it came from a player like Adams, who is much better known for his defensive prowess than his attacking contributions.

The Bournemouth midfielder, though, has been contributing more on that attacking end. He provided an assist in a win over Nottingham Forest, although, admittedly, that one was a bit lucky. He scored a goal against Manchester City to open November, netting his first Premier League goal of the season, and then, of course, scored that stunner against Sunderland.

This season, Adams is proving that he's more than just a midfield bulldog as he continues to show the world that he can make things happen with the ball at his feet, too.

Getty Images3Christian Pulisic

He'd almost certainly be higher on this list of injuries didn't limit him for a while, but Pulisic also seems eager to make up for lost time.

With his recent game-winning goal agaisnt Inter, Pulisic scored in his first start in six weeks, continuing the good form he showed throughout the early Serie A season. With that goal, he now has five goals and two assists in just 422 minutes played, a fantastic haul for a player that, throughout the campaign, has sure looked like world-class winger for AC Milan.

The challenge, as it has been, will be keeping Pulisic fit and firing. If he can stay on the field, Milan will be a much, much better team.

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AFP2Ricardo Pepi

It’s kind of crazy to have a player this high on the list when he isn’t even starting for his own team. But you can’t really hold that against Ricardo Pepi – he’s been that good.

Over the last month and a half, Pepi has scored against Napoli, Fortuna Sittard, Olympiacos, and FC Volendam. He added assists against Napoli and Volendam, and essentially created another when he sparked a goal against Liverpool. And yet, in that span, he’s started just once, with PSV unwilling to change a winning formula despite his consistent impact off the bench.

So we’re back to the familiar question: just how good could Pepi be if he finally gets a proper run of games as guy for PSV?

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo was irate after umpires determined that Jordan Lawlar interfered with San Francisco Giants base runner Christian Koss when he attempted to round second base.

Lawlar was standing in the base path in between second and third base when Koss ran straight into him while rounding second. Koss went to the ground in pain. After reviewing the play, umpires called Lawlar for interference, which set Lovullo off, and he stormed onto the field in order to give the officiating crew a piece of his mind.

It didn't take long for Lovullo to get ejected from the game, but before he left the field, he pulled out the UNO reverse card and gestured as if he was ejecting all four of the umpires from the game.

Have a look at an all-time meltdown from the Diamondbacks' skipper:

Lovullo pointed at each umpire individually and hilariously attempted to eject them from the game, but to no avail. After getting his money's worth, Lovullo eventually walked off the field and into the clubhouse, though he was clearly still fuming.

The ejection was the second time this season and the 22nd time in his managerial career that Lovullo was tossed from a game.

There’s nothing like a classic baseball ejection.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl was thrown in at the deep end at Ibrox after the Kevin Thelwell and Russell Martin double act lasted less than half a season.

The former Gers sporting director left the club a few weeks after Rohl’s arrival, and the German manager will now have an opportunity to spearhead recruitment heading into the January transfer window.

It will be interesting to see which areas of the squad he deems need to be added to after working with the group for the last couple of months, as a central defender will surely be on his agenda.

Why Rangers need to sign a centre-back

Rangers currently have Derek Cornelius, John Souttar, Emmanuel Fernandez, Nasser Djiga, and Clinton Nsiala as their centre-back options, whilst Dujon Sterling and James Tavernier are full-backs who can also play at centre-back.

On paper, that is a healthy set of options when they are all fit and available. However, the Gers have conceded 11 goals in six Europa League outings and 13 goals in 15 games in the Scottish Premiership, which shows that they have not had a tight defensive unit.

Nsiala has not played a single minute in any competition this season, per Transfermarkt, and may want to move on from Ibrox to pursue game time elsewhere.

That could open the door for Rohl to target a new centre-back addition, perhaps an experienced operator, because Fernandez and Djiga’s collective efforts have left a bit to be desired in recent weeks.

The German boss must find a way to drop both of them from the starting line-up because they look like they belong in the Pedro Caixinha era together.

Why Rohl must drop Fernandez and Djiga

Football FanCast recently noted that Djiga looked like the most improved player under Rohl, after he was dubbed a “rotten” player by Heart & Hand content creator David Edgar earlier this season.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Unfortunately, the Burkina Faso international, who is off to the African Cup of Nations after Monday’s game, regressed to his old self against Ferencvaros.

The Wolves loanee looked shaky throughout the match, losing 100% of his aerial duels (3/3), per Sofascore, and his central defensive partner, Fernandez, was arguably worse.

The English defender lost five of his nine aerial duels and five of his ten ground duels, per Sofascore, whilst he was caught out by Varga’s movement for what turned out to be the winning goal.

Fernandez left Ally McCoist, as shown in the clip below, lost for words as he somehow ended up facing the wrong way as their forward scored from close range in a bizarre moment.

Unfortunately, that mistake came only a couple of matches after he was beaten far too easily by Zac Sapsford in the 2-2 draw with Dundee United for the opening goal in that game, making it two high-profile errors in the last three matches.

During Caixinha’s time at Rangers, the club finished third in the Premiership in the 2016/17 campaign and were sat in third when he was sacked at the start of the 2017/18 season, per Transfermarkt, which speaks to the state that Ibrox giants were in before Steven Gerrard came through the door.

Djiga and Fernandez’s performances in recent matches suggest that they belong in that era of the Gers, as they have not shown that they can deliver consistently quality performances befitting of a team that wants to win trophies.

The English defender made two high-profile errors in the games against Dundee United and Ferencvaros, whilst Djiga lost three of his four aerial duels against the former and all three of his aerial duels against the latter, per Sofascore.

This shows that neither of them have shown that they have the consistency or quality, at this moment in time, to be relied upon by Rohl in the present day, which is why the manager should ruthlessly ditch both of them from the starting XI.

Djiga, of course, will have to come out of the team after the clash with Hibernian because of international duty, but Fernandez should also come out to provide another player with an opportunity to play, whether that is Sterling or Nsiala, or both of them.

Aasgaard upgrade: Rangers "could" re-sign £70k-per-week star in 2026

Rangers have been tipped to sign an attacking midfielder who would be a big upgrade on Thelo Aasgaard.

ByDan Emery 4 days ago

Then, when the January transfer window opens, Rangers will have an opportunity to find a permanent solution to that position by signing a new option.

South African allrounder has played regularly across past two summers in Taunton

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-2025Somerset have confirmed the return of Migael Pretorius as one of their overseas players for 2026. The South African allrounder will available for the full season across formats.Pretorius has played for Somerset since 2024, making five fifties to go with 58 wickets in 21 appearances. Last season, he featured eight times in the County Championship, as well as both games on Blast Finals Day as Somerset lifted the trophy for the second time in three years.”From the moment he arrived in 2024, Migael wholeheartedly bought into the culture of the club,” Somerset’s director of cricket, Andy Hurry, said. “During his two previous spells with the club, he has shown that he has the ability to impact games with the bat, with the ball and in the field, and he will once again add valuable depth and experience to the squad.”Related

Injured Coetzee out of West Indies Tests

Leach, Pretorius give Somerset upper hand on green deck

Overton stars as Somerset take control

Pretorius, 30, has been named in various squads by South Africa but is yet to win an international cap. Overall, he has taken 230 first-class wickets at 27.50, to go with 61 in List A and 100 in T20 cricket.”I’ve really enjoyed playing for Somerset over the last two years,” Pretorius said. “From day one I was made to feel at home and it’s a pretty special place to play. To be part of the team that won the Blast was incredible and hopefully we can emulate and even exceed that success in 2026.”

There really is nothing like the World Cup. Even just qualifying generates a level of nationwide excitement that the club game simply cannot match, which is why we witnessed truly joyous scenes all across the globe during the November international break, as 14 more countries booked their seat at next summer's festival of football in North America.

It obviously came as no surprise to see the likes of France, Spain and Germany secure their spots at the finals, but Curacao's qualification was absolutely incredible, while Scotland, Norway and Austria are all bound for their first appearances at a World Cup since 1998. Of course, there are still six slots to be filled but it's fair to say that we now have a much better idea of who will be contention to lift the most famous trophy in sport at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19. 

So, who's looking like a potential victor and which countries still have a lot to work to do between now and the opening game in Mexico City on June 11? Below, GOAL assesses the prospects of the three co-hosts (United States, Mexico and Canada) and the other 39 teams to have confirmed their participation in the 2026 World Cup ahead of Friday's group-stage draw in Washington DC…

Getty Images Sport42New Zealand ⬇️

FIFA's decision to grant Oceania a guaranteed spot at the 2026 World Cup made New Zealand's qualification for the finals for the first time since 2010 a formality, as they have nothing remotely resembling worthy rivals in OFC. As defender Michael Boxall said after the All Whites progressed with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia, "We've gone through heartbreak in [previous campaigns] but once the tournament expanded, we expected this of ourselves."

The question now is whether they can make any kind of impact in North America next year. Much will obviously depend on their group-stage opponents, and a recent draw with Norway offered some grounds for optimism – but it's hard to be confident about the prospects of a team that has now slipped to 86th in the world rankings after a run of seven games without a win.

Indeed, they've still only won 11 games against non-OFC opposition in the past 15 years, and Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood is the only truly top-class player in New Zealand's squad.

AdvertisementAFP41Qatar ⬇️

After underwhelming everyone on their World Cup debut as hosts in 2022, Qatar will be aiming to leave a much more positive impression on the tournament four years on. However, their qualification was shrouded in controversy, with the two-time Asian champions inexplicably allowed to play both of their fourth-round matches on home soil and, after holding Oman to a scoreless draw in Al Rayyan, they beat the United Arab Emirates 2-1 at the same venue to clinch top spot in their three-team group.

Former Real Madrid and Spain boss Julen Lopetegui oversaw the conclusion of Qatar's campaign after taking the manager's job in May, and did a good job shoring up a defence that conceded 24 times in 10 matches during the third round of qualification. In striker Almoez Ali, Lopetegui is also in possession of a prolific striker who scored more goals (12) than anyone else in the AFC section.

Still, getting out of their group in North America is likely to be a tall order for Qatar, who lost a friendly against Zimbabwe in Doha last month and are presently struggling on home soil in the Arab Cup.

AFP40Jordan ⬇️

Jordan made history on June 5 by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time, sparking wild scenes of celebration all across the country. A 3-0 win over Oman, which came courtesy of a hat-trick from Ali Olwan, left Al Nashama on the verge of clinching a spot at the finals, and a top-two finish in AFC Group B was ensured thanks to South Korea's 2-0 win over third-placed Iraq later in the day.

Obviously, not much will be expected of Jordan at the finals. The majority of Jamal Sellami's side ply their trade in their homeland, though star winger Mousa Tamari has spent the majority of his career in Europe, and left Montpellier for Rennes earlier this year.

Jordan, who are ranked 66th in the world, have also been steadily improving over the past few years and even upset South Korea on their way to a runners-up finish at the 2023 Asian Cup in Qatar, but recent friendly defeats to Bolivia, Albania and Tunisia underline that their World Cup campaign is likely to be a hard slog.

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AFP39Curacao 🆕

Curacao have improved enormously over the past 10 years, rising from 150th to 82nd in the world rankings, but their qualification for the finals is nonetheless astonishing. Indeed, it still looked unlikely during their decisive group game against a heavily-fancied Jamaica side, who hit the woodwork three times in last month's clash in Kingston and also had an injury-time penalty overturned by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

However, despite also being shorn of the services of coach Dick Advocaat, who missed the game for personal reasons, Curacao held firm to claim the point they needed to become the smallest nation – both in terms of size and population – to ever qualify for the World Cup. So, while The Blue Wave is unlikely to make a big impact in North America with a low-profile group of players (Manchester United academy product Tahith Chong will be the most familiar face to Premier League followers), it doesn't really matter. Curacao have already made history.

Fernando Tatis Jr. just made one of the best defensive plays you’ll ever see. The San Diego Padres All-Star right fielder showed why he won a Platinum Glove in 2023.

In the top of the fourth inning of the Padres' matchup with the New York Mets Monday night, Mark Vientos stepped to the plate to face Dylan Cease with a runner on first. On an 0-2 count, New York's designated hitter blasted a 96 mph fastball to deep right center field. It looked like a sure home run. Then Tatis sprang into action.

The 26-year-old drifted back toward the wall, then timed his jump perfectly and leaped while reaching far over the fence, and somehow hauled the ball in backhanded while twisting his body. It was such an improbable catch that Padres play-by-play man Don Orsillo said, "That ball is gone" before quickly realizing what had just happened.

Video is below.

And another look:

Here's a still that makes it look even cooler:

That is a stunning catch and might be the best play of Tatis's career.

Tatis dropped the ball as he attempted to fire it back in, and the umpires ruled the drop came on the transfer, so the out counted. The catch was huge as it kept the game tied at 1-1. The stats on the play are incredible, as Vientos hit the ball 380 feet and it went 103.3 mph off the bat.

Another incredible defensive play by Tatis, who continues to prove he might be the best defensive outfielder in baseball.

Paul Skenes's day on the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates was frustratingly familiar on Sunday.

Skenes was dominant, striking out 10 Seattle Mariners while scattering five hits across five innings before getting a surprising early hook, and watched the Pirates' bats once again fail to get across a single run. Pittsburgh fell 1–0 for the second consecutive game and were swept by the Mariners without scoring a run. Skenes was unable to improve on his 4–7 record, but the rest of his numbers continue to dazzle: He has a 1.94 ERA with 125 strikeouts and just 30 walks in 116 innings, for an impressive WHIP of 0.92.

Luckily for Skenes, the rest of baseball recognizes his dominance, even if the Pirates are more often than not unable to convert it into wins. Ahead of Sunday's game, manager Don Kelly announced to Skene and the rest of the Pirates that the young pitcher has been named to his second All-Star Game in as many years in the Big Leagues.

Pittsburgh captured a pretty special clubhouse moment for Skenes, who has a chance to start the game for the National League once again after doing so as a rookie in '24.

Skenes is the sole Pirates representative on this year's National League All-Star team, which also features arms like Chris Sale, Zack Wheeler, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and "Legend Pick" Clayton Kershaw.

Pittsburgh is 38–53 after the sweep at the hands of the Mariners, and find themselves in the basement of the NL Central, but Skenes remains a must-watch star every time he hits the mound.

Edwin Díaz is returning to free agency after turning down the qualifying offer from the Mets, which was worth $22 million. As such, he’ll be free to sign with any team entering his age-32 season.

Díaz could return to the Mets, where he’s played since 2019, but there will certainly be other teams in the mix to sign the talented reliever on the open market. After all, Díaz is a three-time All-Star and a two-time Hoffman Reliever of the Year award winner, and he’s coming off one of the best seasons of his career.

In turning down the qualifying offer, Díaz is signaling that he’s in the market for a long-term deal. He could be in line to make close to, if not more than Tanner Scott received from the Dodgers last offseason, when he signed a four-year, $72 million deal.

So, where could Díaz end up signing? Let’s take a look at a few fits for the veteran reliever.

New York Mets

A return to Queens would make plenty of sense for both sides. It doesn’t come as a surprise that Díaz turned down the qualifying offer, but that is in no way an indication that he doesn’t want to continue playing in New York.

The Mets’ bullpen would be relatively barren without Díaz owning the ninth inning. As it stands, the team has just three relievers under contract for the 2026 season: A.J. Minter, Richard Lovelady and Brooks Raley. They’ll certainly address the position in the offseason, and Díaz will be at the forefront of their scope.

Díaz has had a somewhat up-and-down tenure with the Mets, but he had a 1.63 ERA with 98 strikeouts and 28 saves last season. And with Steve Cohen still desperate to assemble a winner in Queens, letting Díaz walk doesn’t seem like a move that would help the organization achieve its goal of winning a World Series.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays made a run to the World Series with Jeff Hoffman at closer. Díaz would be a significant upgrade over Hoffman, who blew seven saves in 2025 and had a 4.37 ERA. Díaz is one of the most established closing pitchers in MLB, with 253 saves in his career. The 31-year-old didn’t blow a single save last season, and having him out of the bullpen in Game 7 could’ve been exactly what Toronto needed against the Dodgers.

Spending big hasn’t been a concern for the Blue Jays, who have been willing to dole out hefty contracts in order to compete with likes of the Dodgers and Yankees, among others.

Hoffman is still under contract for another two years, but it may make more sense for him to return to the setup role in which he’s previously excelled. In 2023 and ‘24 with the Phillies, Hoffman was one of MLB’s best relief pitchers. He logged a 2.28 ERA across 122 appearances and even earned a trip to the All-Star Game in ‘24.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers will likely be in on a number of this offseason’s biggest free agents as they look to continue their reign. The bullpen was by far their biggest cause for concern in 2025, and bringing in the reliable arm of Díaz would instantly help to alleviate their woes.

Of course, that would mean the Dodgers have nearly $40 million allotted to two relievers annually in Scott and Díaz. If Scott can return to form after leading MLB with 10 blown saves last year, Los Angeles would have the league’s most formidable one-two punch to handle the late innings, in addition to their top-tier starting rotation.

If money isn’t an issue, and it isn’t, the Dodgers should not balk at the idea of bringing Díaz to Hollywood. The idea of competing for championships alongside some of the biggest stars in MLB is anything but a tough sell, so it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Díaz pitching at Dodger Stadium in 2026.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have plenty of relievers hitting free agency this offseason, so they’ll certainly be in the market for new bullpen arms. The tandem of Danny Palencia and Andrew Kittredge was effective in 2025, but they could elevate the bullpen in a big way by bringing Díaz on board.

Palencia and Kittredge could work out as setup men, getting Chicago to the ninth inning for Díaz to shut the door on opponents.

The Cubs haven’t had a stable closer since Craig Kimbrel in 2018. They’ve tried to swing big at closer in the past, but the results haven’t been there. They landed Ryan Pressly in a trade with the Astros ahead of the ‘25 season, but he quickly lost the closer’s role and struggled in his lone year in Chicago. Diaz could be the long-term solution to their long-standing problem out of the back-end of the bullpen, though he’d come at a significant cost.

The Yankees made a move to fortify their pitching staff Thursday, signing veteran righty Paul Blackburn to a major league deal, per a team announcement.

Blackburn, 31, was designated for assignment by the Mets earlier this month, and has made seven pitching appearances, including four starts, in 2025. He struggled during his time with the Mets, leading to his release. This season, he owns a 6.85 ERA with 18 strikeouts and 18 earned runs in 23 2/3 innings.

The right-hander was an All-Star as recently as 2022, when he pitched for the Athletics. That year, Blackburn had a 4.28 ERA with 89 strikeouts and 30 walks across 21 outings.

In a corresponding move after signing and activating Blackburn to the active roster, the Yankees optioned right-handed pitcher Allan Winans to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Blackburn is in his ninth MLB season, and the Yankees will be the third team he's played for in his career. He's made a total of 93 appearances and 86 starts in the league, and owns a 4.96 ERA.

Blackburn will likely pitch out of the bullpen in the Bronx, and he'll join a bullpen consisting of Luke Weaver, David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Mark Leiter Jr., Tim Hill and Yerry De los Santos.