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Akron has agreed to a contract extension with head football coach Joe Moorhead, sources told ESPN. The extension delivers an extra year to his contract through 2027. It also includes a retention bonus structure that puts his salary in the middle of the pack in the Mid-American Conference, per sources.

Moorhead is the former head coach at Mississippi State and offensive coordinator at Oregon and Penn State. He has been pursued heavily for coordinator jobs this offseason by multiple Power 5 programs and one NFL team, per sources. Akron will return 18 starters in Moorhead’s second season after going 2-10 in his debut season. The initial season came with distinct improvement at the end of the year, as Akron blew out Northern Illinois for its only MAC win and four of its five MAC losses to close the season were one-score games.

Moorhead is one of the country’s highest-regarded playcallers, which led to a bevy of interest this offseason. He’s a former Akron assistant and came back in part because of his familiarity with the school and area. Akron led the MAC in passing in 2022 after finishing No. 7 the year before Moorhead’s arrival.

Akron’s returning starters include multiple All-MAC players. Quarterback DJ Irons earned third-team All-MAC honors last year after throwing for 2,606 yards and running for 314 yards and four touchdowns. He’ll reunite next season with first-team All-MAC wide receiver Alex Adams, an LSU transfer who caught nine touchdowns and had 856 receiving yards last year. Second-team All-MAC linebacker Bubba Arslanian received a medical redshirt and will return for a seventh season. Moorhead was able to retain and promote well-regarded assistant Billy Fessler, who will serve as the offensive coordinator in his second season there.

Akron opens the season at Temple next year on Sept. 2.

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White Sox put Meidroth on IL with bruised thumb

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White Sox put Meidroth on IL with bruised thumb

SEATTLE — The Chicago White Sox placed rookie shortstop Chase Meidroth on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a right thumb contusion ahead of their 4-3, 11-inning loss in their series finale against the Seattle Mariners.

Meidroth, who is hitting .252 with three home runs, 15 RBIs and 11 stolen bases, said he will be shut down from swinging for “a few days.” He hasn’t registered an at-bat since July 30 against the Philadelphia Phillies, when he was hit by a Taijuan Walker sinker in the fifth inning.

Also Thursday, Chicago selected the contract of shortstop Jacob Amaya from Triple-A Charlotte and designated right-handed pitcher Gus Varland for assignment.

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Ticket to reprise: Mets honor Beatles’ Shea 60th

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Ticket to reprise: Mets honor Beatles' Shea 60th

NEW YORK — The Mets will honor the 60th anniversary of the Fab Four’s performance at Shea Stadium, where they will host the Mariners on Aug. 15 for The Beatles Night at Citi Field.

The 1965 performance was a milestone because The Beatles became the first rock band to perform a major stadium concert. A 50-minute documentary titled “The Beatles at Shea Stadium” captured the show. At the time, the multipurpose stadium was home to the Mets and New York Jets.

The celebration will begin with a performance by 1964 the Tribute in front of Shea Bridge at 6:15 p.m. ET. The first 15,000 fans to enter Citi Field will receive an exclusive Shea Stadium replica.

The first pitch will be thrown by members of the game-day staff who worked the famous concert. A themed fireworks show will be held after the game.

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M’s Naylor exits with sore shoulder after swing

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M's Naylor exits with sore shoulder after swing

SEATTLE — Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor left Thursday’s 4-3 victory against the Chicago White Sox in the third inning because of shoulder soreness, manager Dan Wilson said.

In his first at-bat against White Sox starter Shane Smith, Naylor grimaced after swinging at a high, inside fastball. He walked down the first base line and back before finishing his at-bat, which ended with a strikeout.

Naylor stayed in the game, but later exited after grounding out to second base to end the third inning.

Wilson told reporters after the game that Naylor is day-to-day.

Naylor, one of Seattle’s notable trade deadline acquisitions from the Arizona Diamondbacks, is hitting .289, with 14 home runs, 65 RBI and 21 stolen bases this season. Since joining the Mariners, the left-hander is batting .261 with three home runs and 10 stolen bases.

While with the Diamondbacks, the left-handed hitter was pulled from a June 23 game — also against the White Sox — in the fourth inning due to right shoulder discomfort. Naylor avoided a stint on the injured list and returned to the lineup two days later.

Donovan Solano, who hadn’t played in two weeks, took over at first base for Seattle when Naylor exited.

The Mariners, who swept a series for the first time since July 11-13, moved within 1 1/2 games of first-place Houston in the American League West.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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