Aaron Judge
Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees will avoid arbitration. Per multiple reports, they have agreed on a $19 million deal for 2022 with incentives that include $250,000 if Judge is the AL MVP and $250,000 if Judge is the World Series MVP.
Judge is currently batting .304 with 27 home runs and 63 RBIs in 68 games. He had a game-winning RBI in Thursday night’s win over the Houston Astros (the key to my heart). The Yankees currently hold a 12.5-game first-place lead in the AL East and have won an MLB-best 52 games.
Bears LB Matt Adams Arrested
Chicago Bears linebacker Matt Adams was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor firearm possession on Thursday evening. He was also cited for having a high-capacity magazine and metal-piercing bullets.
The Bears released a statement Friday morning, saying: “Earlier this morning, we were made aware of an incident involving the arrest of Bears linebacker Matthew Adams. We are in the process of gathering more information. We will refrain from making any further comment at this time.”
Stanley Cup Final
The Colorado Avalanche are taking a 3-1 series lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning into Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals Friday night in Denver.
Cale Makar has been a star for Colorado in the series and is the third-leading scorer in this NHL postseason. Goalie Darcy Kuemper had 37 saves in Game 4 and has been a force for the Avalanche. If the Lightning have a chance to keep the series alive, they will need Andrei Vasilevskiy to shine and Steven Stamkos to lead.
The puck drops on Game 5 at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT from Ball Arena. The game will air on ABC and ESPN+.
Luke Richardson
Per multiple reports, the Chicago Blackhawks are expected to hire Luke Richardson as their new head coach. Richardson has been an assistant on the Montreal Canadiens’ bench for four seasons. He took over the Canadiens bench during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, after Dominique Ducharme entered the NHL COVID-19 protocol. He went 3-3, as Montreal advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.
Richardson would replace interim coach Derek King.
Salvador Perez
Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez has been placed on the 10-day injured list, as he will undergo surgery on his left thumb to repair the ulnar collateral ligament. The IL move is retroactive to this past Tuesday.
Perez, who missed nine games this season with a left thumb sprain, is batting .211 with 11 home runs, after hitting 48 with 121 RBIs last season. The Royals expect him to return this season.