March 11, 2022

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Rain is wreaking havoc at The Players Championship. Thursday’s late wave has yet to complete Round 1, as a second consecutive long weather suspension holds up play. We could be looking at the fifth major’s first Monday finish since 2005.

End of MLB Lockout Restarts Historic Free-Agent Frenzy

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports/Design: John Regula

The MLB lockout [[link removed]] not only put the season on hold, it also held up a free-agency period for some of the biggest available names.

On Dec. 1, just prior to the lockout, teams spent a single-day record of $1.4 billion on free agents. In November, they spent $1.7 billion — more [[link removed]] than the total previous offseason.

Now that a CBA has been reached, the dominoes should begin to fall for a handful of high-profile stars.

After hiring super-agent Scott Boras in January, SS Carlos Correa is expected to sign for at least $300 million — the Cubs are the current frontrunners.Longtime Braves 1B Freddie Freeman is projected [[link removed]] to receive six years, $180 million; if he doesn’t re-sign with Atlanta, the Dodgers and Yankees are potential landing spots.Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (one year, $20M), whose elbow injury could delay his decision, is rumored [[link removed]] to be mulling a Texas homecoming with the Rangers, a return to the Dodgers, or retirement.

Where they go and the money they command could start a chain reaction for the remaining names on the market, including SS Trevor Story, 3B Kris Bryant, and Nippon Professional Baseball OF Seiya Suzuki.

No matter what happens, this offseason is expected to be a historic one.

The record for most money spent in an offseason currently stands at $2.4 billion (2015-16). With a projected [[link removed]] $1 billion still to be spent, MLB should cruise by that number.

With Khalil Mack Addition, Chargers Could Be Real Contender

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports/Design: John Regula

Khalil Mack is back in the AFC West — and the Chargers just took a big step toward contender status.

On Thursday, L.A. agreed to acquire the elite edge-rusher from the Bears in exchange for a 2022 second-round pick and a sixth-rounder in 2023, according to multiple reports.

The six-time Pro Bowler will join Joey Bosa to address the team’s biggest weakness — and form a defensive line capable of containing Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes, and Derek Carr.

L.A. was T-29 in points allowed (27.0), 23rd in yards (360.1), and 20th in sacks (35).In 2021, Mack recorded six sacks in seven games due to injuries; in 53 games with Chicago, he had 36 sacks, 35 TFL, 52 QB hits, and 14 FF.The Chargers will take on the remaining three years of the six-year, $141 million extension Mack signed with Chicago.They still have $24.3M in cap space (No. 13 in NFL) despite Mack’s $17.8M hit in 2022 this season.

Their moves this week are reminiscent of the Super Bowl champion Rams, who paired Odell Beckham Jr. with Cooper Kupp and stacked their defense with Aaron Donald and Von Miller.

On Tuesday, L.A. extended WR Mike Williams (three years, $60M), keeping him alongside Keenan Allen for blossoming superstar Justin Herbert.

The Chargers haven’t reached the postseason since 2018, but oddsmakers are getting on board: They have the eighth-best odds to win the Super Bowl (+2000*).

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Harden’s No-Show in Big Games Should Worry Sixers

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports/Design: John Regula

James Harden is notorious for choking in big games — and Thursday’s performance (3-17 FG) indicated that nothing has really changed.

And despite the Sixers’ recent win streak since acquiring him, the 29-point blowout to the Nets suggests that Brooklyn might’ve won this trade.

It’s only one game, but it could be a troubling sign for a Sixers team that arguably [[link removed]] mortgaged their future for a player with a poor track record in big games.

Harden is 9-12 in elimination games — averaging 24 PPG on 42.5% shooting and 32.5% from three (minus-17).His minus-30 on Thursday was tied for a game-worst; by comparison, Seth Curry — part of the Harden trade — was a plus-26.He finished 0-10 on two-point FGs, becoming just the second player after Russell Westbrook this season to do so inside the arc.

In June, Harden will opt [[link removed]] into the final year of his deal ($47.3M). Two months later, he’ll likely [[link removed]] sign a four-year, $223 million contract ($55.8M AAV) — and in 2026, he’d become the first $60 million player in NBA history.

Despite the embarrassing loss, he went out to “celebrate” with hip-hop artists Travis Scott and Lil Baby. The Nets were not fond of his preference for nightlife over the gym during his time in Brooklyn.

Last night’s rout justified Brooklyn’s status as third-favorites to win the Finals (+500*) — and the Sixers’ spot behind them (+650*).

Making Headlines

Alex Martin-IndyStar/Design: John Regula

NCAAM: Indiana (9) upset top-seed Illinois 65-63 in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals; 8-seed Texas A&M defeated 1-seed Auburn in the SEC Tournament quarters. Also: Georgia fired coach Tom Crean after the Bulldogs finished 6-26 (1-17 SEC) this season.

NFL: The Bears cut RB Tarik Cohen with an injury designation, per Adam Schefter [[link removed]]; the veteran suffered a torn ACL shortly after signing a three-year, $17.3 million contract extension in 2020. Also: The Jaguars will release RB Carlos Hyde.

MLB: The Cubs agreed to terms with manager David Ross on an extension through the 2024 season with a club option for 2025.

Today's Action

NHL

10:00 PM

Capitals (-105) at Canucks (-115)

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NBA

08:10 PM

Knicks (+320) at Grizzlies (-425)

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NHL

07:08 PM

Wild (-195) at Blue Jackets (+160)

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*All times are EST unless otherwise noted.

*Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See [[link removed]] for details.

Written by Doug Greenberg [[link removed]], Chris Kuc [[link removed]], Anthony Puccio [[link removed]]

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