Sports
White Sox acquire pitcher Jordan Hicks from Red Sox
Aug 22, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Jordan Hicks (46) prior to the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images The Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox exchanged pitching prospects and Chicago also acquired veteran right-handed hurler Jordan Hicks in a trade announced Sunday afternoon.
In addition to Hicks, Chicago received right-handed pitcher David Sandlin, cash considerations and two players to be named later. The Red Sox added righty Gage Ziehl and a player to be named later.
The Red Sox will reportedly pay $8 million of the $25 million Hicks is owed over the next two seasons as a condition of the trade.
Hicks, 29, spent his first five major league seasons (2018-19, 2021-23) with the St. Louis Cardinals. The 2015 Cards’ third-round draft selection was a key member of their bullpen in the first two years, recording 24 holds in 2018 and 14 saves with a 3.14 ERA and 0.94 WHIP the following year.
Hicks, who has Type 1 diabetes, did not pitch in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He developed inflammation in his throwing shoulder in May 2021 and was shut down for the remainder of the campaign.
The Houston native was traded to Toronto on July 30, 2023 and recorded four saves down the stretch.
The free agent signed a four-year, $44 million deal with the San Francisco Giants in January 2024. He started 29 games over 42 appearances, but struggled with a 6.47 ERA in 2025 and was one of four players traded to Boston for Rafael Devers in June.
For his career, Hicks has appeared in 275 games, posting a 17-35 record and a 4.41 ERA. He does have 409 strikeouts in 420 1/3 innings of work.
Sandlin, 24, split time between Boston’s Class AA Portland and Class AAA Worcester clubs in 2025. The Oklahoma native, who pitched for the Sooners in college, was primarily used as a starter in Portland and a reliever in Worcester.
Sandlin was an 11th-round draft pick by Kansas City in the 2022 MLB Draft and has a 4.69 ERA and 13-12 record over 232 minor league innings.
Ziehl, 22, heads to Boston after spending the final two months of the season in Chicago’s Class High-A affiliate in Winston-Salem.
The Macedon, N.Y. native pitched to a 2-2 record and 4.01 ERA in six starts last season after the trade. Ziehl was a fourth-round pick of the New York Yankees in 2024.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Acaden Lewis, Villanova thriving ahead of Marquette matchup
Feb 7, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Acaden Lewis (55) dribbles against the Georgetown Hoyas during the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images In his first season at Villanova, head coach Kevin Willard has been lucky to have another Wildcats newcomer running his offense.
Freshman point guard Acaden Lewis aims to lead Villanova to its fourth straight win Tuesday when the Wildcats host Marquette in Big East action.
While playing all 23 games for the Wildcats (18-5, 9-3 Big East), Lewis leads them in assists (5.3) and steals (2.0) while contributing 12.4 points per game. He made two clutch 3-pointers and finished with 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting in Saturday’s 80-73 road victory over Georgetown.
“I have the utmost confidence in him,” said Willard. “He is progressing just the way you want a freshman to progress. He’s been great at getting everyone involved. Tonight, we needed him to score and he did that.”
Tyler Perkins chipped in with 15 points while Duke Brennan added 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Wildcats, who remain on track to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022.
Meanwhile, Marquette (9-15, 4-9) is looking for its fourth win in six games following a stretch in which the team lost nine of its previous 10 contests.
The Golden Eagles topped Butler on Saturday, posting a 70-55 home victory as Chase Ross scored 19 points and Adrien Stevens pitched in with 18. Stevens and Ross combined to make 10 3-pointers for Marquette, which shot an impressive 45.2% from beyond the arc (14 of 31).
“It’s a testament to all of our guys, particularly our guards,” Golden Eagles coach Shaka Smart said. “Creating pretty high-quality outside shots.”
Villanova has won two straight meetings with Marquette after losing the previous eight matchups.
In the first encounter this season, the Wildcats posted a 76-73 victory in Milwaukee on Jan. 10. Lewis led the way with 20 points and eight assists, helping to overcome Nigel James Jr.’s 31 points for the Golden Eagles.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Why the New England Patriots Can Get Back to the Super Bowl After Ugly Loss
The New England Patriots were overmatched in Super Bowl LX, losing to the Seattle Seahawks 29-13 on Sunday night in Santa Clara, Calif.
After the sting subsides and the New England fan base has had time to lick its wounds, those fans will turn the page and begin thinking about next season. When they do, they’ll ponder the following question: Can the Patriots return to the Super Bowl next year?
Despite how things unfolded Sunday, the answer is an unequivocal “yes.”
New England’s level of success this season was unexpected — the Patriots were 4-13 in 2023 and 2024 — and it’s certainly reasonable to expect the team to take another step forward next year.
New England will lose some players to free agency, but none who you would call “core” contributors. Edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, an unrestricted free agent, may be the best of the bunch.
What Vrabel said after Patriots loss
“Disappointed,” first-year New England head coach Mike Vrabel said following Sunday’s loss.
“I reminded them that we’re 307 days into what hopefully is a long, successful relationship and program. It’s OK to be disappointed and upset together. … Every year, somebody’s going to lose this game. We have to remember what it feels like and make sure it’s not repeatable.”
The quarterback/coach combo is in place with Drake Maye and Vrabel, and the defense has cornerstone pieces with cornerback Christian Gonzalez, 23, and tackle Milton Williams, 26, both of whom are in their prime.
Of course, to make another lengthy playoff run, Maye will have to perform like he did in the regular season — not the postseason. Maye was sacked 21 times and had four passes intercepted in four playoff games.
“You’re going to have times like this and it’s how you bounce back,” Maye said. “All those guys in the locker room are going to use this as fuel and I’d go to war with those guys any time, any day, anywhere. It’s motivation to get back here and not have this feeling and have what they’re feeling out there. … Can’t wait to get back and play in another one.”
Vrabel said the significant jump the Patriots made this season won’t be very valuable if the organization can’t find ways to improve the team in the offseason.
The New England fan base can also take solace in the fact that the team’s front office earned high marks in both free agency and the draft last season.
Sunday’s outcome certainly highlighted New England’s shortcomings and will undoubtedly influence what team management does to help the roster.
Even with a low draft position, the Patriots should be able to bolster their offensive line and add a much-needed playmaker to their offense. Those two areas are arguably where the team needs the most upgrading.
The schedule will be more difficult next season, but the Patriots play in the weaker of the two conferences. Two of the top teams in the AFC — Buffalo and Baltimore — will each have a first-year head coach next season, and the AFC East is certainly manageable. It always helps to play the New York Jets twice a year.
DraftKings lists New England at +1200 to reach next year’s Super Bowl, behind Seattle (+950), the Los Angeles Rams (+950), and Buffalo (+1000).
It shouldn’t surprise anybody if the Patriots get there.
Sports
David Coit takes over late as Maryland beats Minnesota
Feb 8, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Isaac Asuma (1) works around Maryland Terrapins guard George Turkson Jr. (11) during the first half at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images David Coit scored seven of his 29 points in the final 26 seconds as Maryland snapped a four-game losing streak, outlasting Minnesota 67-62 Sunday in Big Ten play at Minneapolis.
Andre Mills added 12 points and Darius Adams contributed 11 points as Maryland improved to 18-3 all-time against Minnesota.
Solomon Washington put up nine points and 10 rebounds for the Terrapins (9-14, 2-10 Big Ten), who had lost their previous four games by an average margin of 28 points.
After Cade Tyson hit two free throws with 53 seconds left to put Minnesota up 62-60, Coit scored the game’s final seven points.
The key play came with 26 seconds left when Coit drained a side-step 3-pointer to put the Terrapins up 63-62. Coit then added four free throws in the final 11 seconds.
“Coach got on me after the last game. He called me out. I was being selfish with my body language,” Coit said. “I had to respond.”
Coit made 9 of 13 shots from the floor, 4 of 7 from distance and hit all seven of his free throw attempts.
Isaac Asuma scored all 18 of his points from behind the arc to lead Minnesota (11-13, 4-9), which was coming off an upset of No. 10 Michigan State on Wednesday. The loss was the Golden Gophers’ eighth in their last nine games.
Tyson finished with 12 points and Langston Reynolds contributed 11 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Golden Gophers.
Midway through the first half, Mills made a 3-pointer which gave Maryland a 17-14 lead, before Asuma responded with consecutive triples to give Minnesota a lead that it held the rest of the period.
Two 3-pointers by Bobby Durkin pushed the Golden Gophers’ edge to 33-26. Coit answered with a 3-pointer and a driving three-point play to cut the deficit to 33-32 at the break.
Midway through the second half, two driving layups by Reynolds gave Minnesota the biggest lead of the second half, 53-47.
But Coit put the Terrapins on his back scoring 15 of his points in the final 8:41.
–Field Level Media
Call for speakers: TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026
Sukhie’s Lipstick Trick Is Too Good
