5:11 PM ET Left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman has reportedly agreed to terms on a one-year, $3.75 million contract with the Kansas City Royals. A seven-time All-Star, Chapman struggled mightily last season with the New York Yankees. He posted a 4-4 record with 9 saves, a 4.46 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP in 43 relief appearances.
7:16 PM ET Raul Rosas Jr., the 18-year-old prodigy who became the youngest fighter to ever sign with the UFC, will return to the Octagon on April 8 to fight fellow prospect Christian Rodriguez at UFC 287, sources confirmed with ESPN on Thursday. Former UFC champion Anthony Pettis, who represents Rodriguez under the Showtime Group
3:24 PM ET NEW ORLEANS, La. — New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan has successfully appealed his $50,000 fine after he was accused of faking an injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Dec. 5. The NFL has also rescinded separate fines against the team, head coach Dennis Allen and co-defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen,
6:57 PM ET CINCINNATI — Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins said it will be all smiles if he gets an opportunity to meet with Damar Hamlin on Sunday now that the Buffalo Bills safety is out of the hospital. Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after tackling Higgins in the Week 17 game between the teams. He
6:44 PM ET EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings fired defensive coordinator Ed Donatell on Thursday, an unsurprising decision even after winning 13 games under first-year coach Kevin O’Connell. The team did not immediately name a replacement. In a statement, O’Connell said in part: “We will immediately begin our search to fill this critical role
5:27 PM ET LSU has bolstered its defense for the 2023 season by adding Oregon State transfer linebacker Omar Speights, a first-team All-Pac-12 selection last fall, sources told ESPN. Speights, who led a much-improved Beavers defense with 83 tackles in 2022, entered the transfer portal last week. The Philadelphia native recorded 308 career tackles with
6:02 PM ET Pete ThamelESPN South Dakota State head coach John Stiegelmeier, one of the most accomplished coaches in FCS football, is set to retire, sources told ESPN. Stiegelmeier will exit on top, as South Dakota State won the school’s first-ever national title in Stiegelmeier’s 26th and final season as head coach. He’ll be replaced
4:00 PM ET Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice has been fined $25,000 by the NHL for criticizing officials after Florida’s 5-4 overtime loss Tuesday to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Maurice took issue with how referees Pierre Lambert and Francois St. Laurent doled out penalties to his squad, specifically a charging call against defenseman Radko Gudas
5:37 PM ET Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. — Brooke Henderson enjoyed the opening day of a fresh LPGA Tour season a whole lot more than the tough, waning days of last season. Her balky back feeling stronger and swinging a club more freely than she’d been able to since October, Henderson attacked Lake Nona on
5:00 PM ET A California lawmaker introduced a bill Thursday that would reshape how college athletic departments in the state are required to share their earnings with athletes. The proposed legislation, named the College Athlete Protection Act, calls for major money-generating college sports teams to create a fund that would pay players a share of