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LEBANON, Tenn. — Ross Chastain smiled and conceded he had no idea how having the No. 1 pit box selection would be for Sunday’s Ally 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway.

“I’d never had it before,” he said.

Chastain earned it with honors Saturday, claiming the Busch Light Pole in the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet with a blazing 160.687 mph lap in qualifying — a full 1 mph better than the field.

He earned the right to lead the field to green for the first time in his NASCAR Cup Series career — the first time a Trackhouse Racing car has ever started on pole.

“Definitely qualifying as a whole has not been a strong suit in my life, so a lot of work I’ve put into it and not a lot of payoff, not a lot of reward,” the 30-year old Floridian said. “Even the times I have put it together in Round 1, I’ve never been able to put Round 2 together in a way that I’m proud of, or I feel I did right by.

“And no matter how good the rest of the year goes, I will always have a memory of today,” Chastain added with a smile.

Tyler Reddick will start alongside Chastain in the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota. Kaulig Racing’s Justin Haley will start third — a career-best effort for the 24-year-old — alongside the reigning Cup Series champion, Penske Racing’s Joey Logano.

Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. — ranked second and first in the championship standings, respectively — will start on Row 3. Their teammates Kyle Larson (Hendrick) and Denny Hamlin (JGR) will roll off seventh and eighth, and 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace and Chastain’s teammate Daniel Suarez were ninth and 10th in final qualifying.

Defending race winner Chase Elliott just missed advancing to the final round and will start his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 14th.

“We’re in Nashville, this is where Trackhouse was formed,” Chastain said. “It was started here with [team owner] Justin [Marks] living here. We are Nashville’s team. … To have it happen here is amazing.”

Defending champ Chase Elliott Looks to repeat

Defending Nashville Superspeedway winner Elliott arrives in Tennessee eager to defend his victory for sentimental reasons, but also needing to take the trophy for his season’s playoff hopes. The 2020 series champion is ranked 27th in the championship standings, having missed seven races this season — six for injury and one for penalty.

With only 10 races left to set the 16-driver playoff field, the driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet likely needs to win a race to earn that automatic bid into the formal championship hunt. But the 27-year-old arrived in Nashville confident in his team’s approach for this playoff push.

“I think just being in that nice sweet spot of pushing but not pushing too far, and pushing yourself and your team, but not pushing them too far,” Elliott said of his mindset. “I think there is a balance there where I feel like we’ve done the best and had the best results and I think that’s just where we need to stay, personally.

“When we do our jobs at that level and to the best of our abilities, I feel like it’s been plenty good enough to go and contend. We just have to fall into that rhythm and just do our thing.”

Truex rides Victory Lane momentum through off week

With his victory in the series’ last race — at Sonoma, California — two weeks ago, Martin Truex Jr. has taken over the Cup Series championship lead for the first time since 2021. He has earned a pair of regular-season wins in the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (Dover and Sonoma) and also won the exhibition Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum to kick off the season in February.

“Honestly, just feeling really great about the team and what we’ve been able to do this year,” Truex said. “I feel like we’re back. Two wins and a lot of time running upfront and leading laps, that’s where we need to be and deserve to be. After last year, it’s a good feeling to be back.”

Truex has finished Top 10 in half the season’s 16 races, including five of the past six. He’s finished Top 3 in the previous three races. And only two drivers — William Byron and Kyle Larson — have led more laps (434). His five Top 5s already exceed the total (four) from 2022.

It’s an upswing Truex is enjoying. And expectations are high — including this weekend. Last year at Nashville, he won both stages and led 82 laps but finished 22nd.

“Everybody in the garage wants to be there, that’s where we want to be and anytime any team is in the position you feel like you’re doing great things,” Truex said. “This is a really difficult sport. It’s hard to win these races. It’s hard to be consistent at all these different race tracks. My team’s doing a great job. I’m just trying to be smart about things, and do what I know how to do which is be consistent, be smart, get our wins when we can and be in position.

“So far, so good.”

RFK Racing pushes to put both cars in the playoffs

With cars ranked 11th (Chris Buescher) and 12th (Brad Keselowski) in the championship standings, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing team co-owner Keselowski said he was optimistic about the pair’s chances of qualifying for the 2023 Playoffs. But he acknowledges it’s a big step for the team.

Although both drivers and their teams are still looking for that first trophy of 2023, they have combined for six Top-5s (three each) and 13 Top-10 finishes (Buescher, seven and Keselowski six) — a huge improvement over last season leading up to this 10-race push to the playoffs.

Keselowski has already equaled his Top-10 total of a year ago — with 20 races remaining. And his three Top 5s exceeds the lone one he posted in 2022. Similarly, Buescher’s three Top-5 finishes equal his 2022 season total and his seven Top 10s are well within the 10 he had a year ago.

“We’ve got some good vibes going,” said the 2012 series champion Keselowski, who will start Sunday’s race 24th. “Chris is on a really big hot streak. He’s run really well here the last three or four races and been in contention to win. He won a stage in the Coke 600, won part of the All Star Race and ran really good at Sonoma, just really good energy there making their way up in the points. A lot of excitement there.

“Been up and down with my car, the 6 car, and felt like we were really strong at Charlotte and not as good as I’d like to be a couple other places. But either way, it’s better to be in than to be out, looking in. But we’re not as comfortable as we’d like to be. We’d like to have wins. That’s really what the sport is about.

“We’ve done a great job elevating ourselves from irrelevant to relevant, but I don’t want to stop there. We’ve got another step to take.”

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Ranking the top 50 MLB trade deadline candidates — and finding their best landing spots

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Ranking the top 50 MLB trade deadline candidates -- and finding their best landing spots

Major League Baseball’s trade market is ever evolving, and to keep you updated, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan have put together a list of potential trade candidates that will be updated regularly depending on their performance — and that of the teams which could be involved in potential deals leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.

Some of the players on the list are unlikely to be dealt but at least are being discussed in potential deals. Others might not be on the list now but will be added in the future should their team’s fortunes change. Either way, this will be the most up-to-date accounting of where MLB’s trade market stands.

Note: Players are ranked by value for their new team if traded, not likelihood of being dealt


Chance of trade: 10%

Bregman has been an elite big league hitter since he entered the league in 2016 but has leaned more into power this year, with his highest isolated power since 2019. Most of his underlying power indicators (barrel rate, maximum exit velo, average launch angle and hard hit rate) are at career highs. His $40 million salary — and the chance to opt into two more years at $40 million annually — significantly shortens the list of teams that would take on his deal.

Best fits: Chicago Cubs, Detroit, New York Yankees, New York Mets


Chance of trade: 25%

Duran had a huge breakout season in 2024, posting the seventh-best WAR in the majors at 6.7. He overperformed his underlying metrics, though — i.e., had some lucky outcomes — and those metrics have regressed a bit this year. Now he’s underperforming them — he has been unlucky — so his true talent is somewhere south of that star-level 6.7 figure but better than the roughly 2 WAR (commensurate with a solid regular) he’s on pace for this season.

Best fits: San Diego, Atlanta, Cleveland, Kansas City, San Francisco, Philadelphia


Chance of trade: 60%

Alcantara was arguably the best pitcher in baseball in 2022, winning the NL Cy Young unanimously. He was more solid than spectacular in 2023 and missed 2024 with Tommy John surgery. He has been tinkering this season to try to get his pitch mix and locations right in hopes of regaining his former glory. It is starting to look as though he is turning the corner to become a midrotation starter (or better?) once again as he has posted a 2.74 ERA in four June outings. The Marlins could hold on to him until the winter, when teams like Baltimore would be more inclined to acquire him and the final two years of his contract.

Best fits: Chicago Cubs, Houston, Boston, Toronto, Arizona, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego, Baltimore


Chance of trade: 20%

Peralta has been a steady presence for years, averaging 140 innings pitched with a 3.49 ERA over the past four seasons. He’s on track to do that again, with his heavily used fastball coming in at a career-high average velo of 94.9 mph this season. He has an ultra-cheap $8 million option for 2026.

Best fits: Boston, Houston, Toronto, St. Louis, Arizona, San Diego, Baltimore


Chance of trade: 50%

Suarez is in a contract year and, despite turning 34 years old before the trade deadline, is sitting near career highs in isolated power and wRC+ (which measures overall performance). His fielding metrics have declined in recent years, but he’s still an acceptable defender at third base. Even if the Diamondbacks don’t offload their free agents-to-be, Suarez could move because they have Jordan Lawlar raking in Triple-A and primed to take over at third.

Best fits: Detroit, Milwaukee, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Kansas City, Seattle, San Francisco


Chance of trade: 40%

Lugo has posted mid-3.00s or lower ERAs for five seasons despite having below-average fastball velocity and good-not-great strikeout rates. His ability to strand runners and limit hard contact comes in part due to his nine different pitches. With a Nathan Eovaldi-type contract awaiting Lugo in free agency, Kansas City could opt to move him, especially if Cole Ragans’ injured shoulder doesn’t improve.

Best fits: Chicago Cubs, Houston, Toronto, San Diego, Los Angeles Dodgers


7. Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Chance of trade: 30%

Gallen was excellent for the past three seasons but now, in a contract year, is posting career-worst numbers in almost every category. His stuff looks pretty similar, but he’s allowing much more damage when hitters make contact. Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said the team does not plan to deal away players at the deadline, but if Arizona doesn’t make a run, it could reap a huge return with all of its impending free agents.

Best fits: Toronto, San Diego, Houston, Chicago Cubs


8. Merrill Kelly, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Chance of trade: 30%

Kelly doesn’t have big raw stuff, posting the second-lowest average fastball velocity among pitchers with 90 innings pitched this season. His changeup is his best pitch by a wide margin, and he gets by with location and off-speed stuff. He was a stalwart in the Diamondbacks’ run to the 2023 World Series, striking out 28 in 24 innings with a 2.25 ERA.

Best fits: Toronto, Boston, St. Louis, Houston, Chicago Cubs


9. Josh Naylor, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks

Chance of trade: 30%

Naylor is batting over .300 this year as a lefty-hitting first baseman in a contract year on pace for about 20 homers. Naylor faces left-handed pitchers more often than the next player on the list but hasn’t been particularly good at it. His on-base skills and lack of strikeouts make him an especially attractive acquisition candidate for postseason contenders.

Best fits: Seattle, Boston, San Francisco, Texas


Chance of trade: 85%

O’Hearn is having an out-of-nowhere career year, hitting over .300 (and with the underlying metrics to support that) along with being on pace for a career high in homers. He doesn’t face lefty pitchers much at all, and his splits suggest that he shouldn’t.

Best fits: Seattle, Boston, San Francisco, Texas


Chance of trade: 25%

Ozuna is a stone-cold DH, playing two games in the field in 2023 as his last regular-season experience defensively. Ozuna is also in a contract year, but his power numbers are down a notch from his standout .302 average and 39-homer performance last season. His on-base percentage remains among the highest of potential trade candidates. If anyone is moving from Atlanta, he’s the likeliest candidate, with free agency beckoning.

Best fits: San Diego, Seattle, Detroit, Kansas City, San Francisco, Cleveland, Boston


Chance of trade: 40%

Duran is one of the best relievers in the sport, thanks to his nasty stuff headlined by a fastball that averages 100.2 mph and a splinker that sits at 97.5 mph. He has two more years of team control after this season, so he’d demand a big trade package.

Best fits: Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Arizona, Texas


Chance of trade: 20%

Clase was nearly unhittable last season, but his numbers have regressed this season. He has issued more walks and gotten fewer ground balls while allowing more damage on his cutter that averages 99.0 mph — in part due to more center-cut locations. Under contract for less than $30 million through 2028, he would bring a big return to Cleveland.

Best fits: Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Arizona, Texas


Chance of trade: 15%

The Mountain is back from Tommy John surgery and looking like his former self. A dominant June — 8 innings, 1 hit, 3 walks, 12 strikeouts, 0.00 ERA — has seen him induce more popups than line drives allowed. He has another two years before free agency, and with the Orioles planning on contending between now and then, landing him will take more than most teams are willing to give.

Best fits: Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia, Detroit, Atlanta, Arizona, Texas


Chance of trade: 70%

Mullins is a 30-year-old center fielder in a contract year who contributes in a number of ways, but his power numbers are trending up this season and are at their best since 2021.

Best fits: Philadelphia, Cleveland, New York Mets


Chance of trade: 60%

McMahon is on pace to keep his four-year 20-homer streak alive, with above-average power, patience and third-base defense, but a more middling contact rate and baserunning value. He has two years and $32 million remaining on his contract after this season.

Best fits: New York Yankees, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Seattle


Chance of trade: 60%

Fairbanks raised his slot a bit this year, and now his 97.1 mph fastball has more cutting action and his slurvy slider has more depth, with both pitches playing a notch better than they did last season. He has a club option for 2026 that, with escalators, should wind up in the $10 million range.

Best fits: Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia, Detroit, Atlanta, Arizona, Texas


Chance of trade: 35%

You have probably heard this story before, but Chapman is left-handed and his superpower is that he throws really hard (averages just under 100 mph) and throws that heater a lot (over 75% of the time). He’s 37 years old, and he’s still dominant.

Best fits: New York Mets, Philadelphia, Detroit


Chance of trade: 90%

Robert has been extremely unlucky with ball-in-play results this season, so that could turn around at any point. He remains a strong defender and baserunner. But the .185/.267/.305 line is unsightly, and his trade value has cratered over the past two seasons. He has a pair of $20 million-a-year club options that the acquiring team will be hesitant to exercise absent a turnaround.

Best fits: San Diego, Philadelphia, Cleveland, New York Mets, San Francisco


Chance of trade: 45%

Ward comes with an additional year of team control after this season, and his underlying numbers suggest he is still largely the same hitter as last year, when he posted a .246 average and 25 homers.

Best fits: San Diego, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Seattle, San Francisco, Kansas City


Chance of trade: 30%

Arenado is around a career best in strikeout rate, and he’s still an above-average defender, but his power and patience are both trending down to around the worst of his career. He’s still a solid starter but no longer a star, and the team taking him on a deal would still have to pay him like one. Potentially complicating any deal: a full no-trade clause.

Best fits: New York Yankees, Detroit, Milwaukee, Seattle


Chance of trade: 40%

Severino tunnels his fastball/sinker/sweeper combo well to limit damage, but because he has a middling strikeout rate, his upside is limited to a No. 3/No. 4 starter. Teams are intrigued by his road numbers, which are exceptional: 0.93 ERA in 38.2 innings over six starts without a home run allowed. They are not so intrigued by his contract, which goes two more years at $47 million.

Best fits: Toronto, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore, New York Mets


23. Ryan Helsley, RP, St. Louis Cardinals

Chance of trade: 30%

Scouting report: Helsley had the fourth-best WAR among relievers last season and is in a contract year now but has been notably worse this season. His stuff and locations are pretty similar, but the main difference is his fastball is getting hit hard — with one byproduct being his spiking home run rate.

Best fits: Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia, Arizona, New York Yankees, Detroit


Chance of trade: 30%

Mahle was thriving after returning from his 2023 Tommy John surgery, looking like a third or fourth starter despite a 2.34 ERA fueled by a very favorable stranded runner rate and BABIP. But he’s currently on the injured list with right shoulder fatigue. Should he return healthy, he’ll jump up this list.

Best fits: Toronto, San Diego, Boston, Chicago Cubs


25. Zach Eflin, SP, Baltimore Orioles

Chance of trade: 75%

Eflin is in a contract year, and his ERA has spiked from 3.59 last year to 5.46 this season, though his underlying numbers are still pretty solid. He’s more of an innings-eating No. 4 starter type now than he was during his breakout 2023 season, but there’s still some value to a contender.

Best fits: Houston, San Diego, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta


Chance of trade: 80%

Garcia averaged 30 homers in 2021 through 2024, but he has fallen off since his 2023 career year. It’s worth noting that per xwOBA, he has been the 17th-most unlucky hitter in the big leagues this year, and he has another year of team control, so some teams could see a trade as a good value opportunity.

Best fits: Philadelphia, Seattle, Cleveland, San Diego, San Francisco


27. Reid Detmers, RP, Los Angeles Angels

Chance of trade: 15%

The No. 10 pick in 2020 transitioned to relief this season and has found some success, similar to other highly drafted college lefties including A.J. Puk, Andrew Miller and Drew Pomeranz. He comes with three more years of control after this season and his velo is up 1.5 mph in the new role, so this might be where he fits long term, and trading him away could fetch a hefty return. Some teams still see Detmers as a starter.

Best fits: New York Mets, Arizona, Baltimore, St. Louis, Minnesota, New York Yankees


Chance of trade: 35%

If the Red Sox do punt on this year, Buehler will have plenty of suitors in spite of his mediocre numbers this season. His postseason bona fides are obvious, and his sinker and slider have both played this season despite his fastball and curveball getting tagged. Starter, reliever, whatever: October is Buehler’s time.

Best fits: Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Houston, Toronto, San Diego


Chance of trade: 65%

Martinez took the qualifying offer of $21.05 million and might have a bigger market this winter after pitching almost exclusively as a starter, though he’ll turn 35 years old later this season and looks like a fourth starter now.

Best fits: Houston, San Diego, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto


30. Erick Fedde, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

Chance of trade: 50%

Fedde’s strikeout and walk numbers have regressed from his breakout 2024 season (after coming back from a stint in the KBO), but he’s allowing less damage on batted balls to keep him in the rotation.

Best fits: San Diego, Toronto, Houston


Nos. 31-50

31. Andrew Heaney, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates
32. Edward Cabrera, SP, Miami Marlins
33. Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers
34. Zack Littell, SP, Tampa Bay Rays
35. Tyler Anderson, SP, Los Angeles Angels
36. Ramon Urias, 3B, Baltimore Orioles
37. Jesus Sanchez, RF, Miami Marlins
38. Jake Bird, RP, Colorado Rockies
39. Luis Urias, 2B, Athletics
40. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates
41. Kyle Finnegan, RP, Washington Nationals
42. Chris Martin, RP, Texas Rangers
43. Mike Soroka, SP, Washington Nationals
44. Tomoyuki Sugano, SP, Baltimore Orioles
45. Phil Maton, RP, St. Louis Cardinals
46. Emilio Pagan, RP, Cincinnati Reds
47. Yoan Moncada, 3B, Los Angeles Angels
48. Shelby Miller, RP, Arizona Diamondbacks
49. Dennis Santana, RP, Pittsburgh Pirates
50. Steven Matz, RP, St. Louis Cardinals

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White Sox give minors deal to righty Syndergaard

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White Sox give minors deal to righty Syndergaard

CHICAGO — Former All-Star pitcher Noah Syndergaard has signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox, the team confirmed Tuesday.

Syndergaard, 32, hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2023 when he appeared in 18 games split between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Guardians. He has a career 3.71 ERA over the course of eight seasons, mostly with the New York Mets where he spent the first six years in the big leagues.

The latter half of his career has been plagued by injuries including a right elbow ailment which required Tommy John surgery in 2020 as well as lat and finger issues more recently.

Syndergaard finished fourth in rookie of the year voting for the Mets in 2015, helping them reach the World Series. He followed that up with an All-Star appearance in 2016 when he compiled a 2.60 ERA.

Post Tommy John surgery he bounced around his final couple of seasons in the big leagues, playing for the Angels, Phillies, Dodgers and Guardians before missing all of last year.

Syndergaard will report to the White Sox spring facility in Glendale, Arizona, before taking next steps.

After setting the loss record last season, Chicago has the second-worst record this year. Only the Rockies are worse. The White Sox are in the midst of a major rebuild, with three of their starters 25 years old or younger.

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Tatis sues company to void future earnings deal

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Tatis sues company to void future earnings deal

SAN DIEGO — Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. filed a lawsuit Monday against Big League Advance in an attempt to void the future earnings contract he signed as a 17-year-old minor leaguer that could cost him $34 million.

The lawsuit, filed in San Diego County Superior Court, accuses BLA of using predatory tactics to lure him into an “investment deal” that was actually an illegal loan. BLA misrepresented itself to Tatis, hiding its unlicensed status and pushing him into loan terms banned by California’s consumer protection laws, the suit alleges.

Attorney Robert Hertzberg said the suit also seeks public injunctive relief to protect young athletes from being lured into such deals.

Hertzberg said Tatis received $2 million up front in exchange for 10% of future earnings. Tatis signed a $340 million, 14-year contract in February 2021. Hertzberg said Tatis also would be on the hook for future earnings from any subsequent contract he might sign, unless the deal is voided.

“I’m fighting this battle not just for myself but for everyone still chasing their dream and hoping to provide a better life for their family,” Tatis said in a statement provided by a publicist. “I want to help protect those young players who don’t yet know how to protect themselves from these predatory lenders and illegal financial schemes — kids’ focus should be on their passion for baseball, not dodging shady business deals.”

Tatis, a son of the former big league infielder, declined further comment before Monday night’s game against the Washington Nationals.

Hertzberg said that even though Tatis signed the deal in his native Dominican Republic, he is covered by California consumer protection laws.

BLA declined comment.

“California lawmakers have put in place serious, straightforward protections against predatory financial activity, but BLA has still disregarded our laws to pursue a business model built on prohibited, deceptive and abusive practices,” said Hertzberg, a former speaker of the California State Assembly and majority leader of the California Senate.

Tatis has blossomed into one of the game’s biggest stars, although he has been dogged by injuries and an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs handed down by MLB in 2022. He debuted in 2019 and was an All-Star at shortstop in 2021 before being moved to right field, where he was an All-Star last year.

BLA sued onetime Padres outfielder Franmil Reyes on June 16 in Delaware Superior Court, claiming breach of contract. BLA says Reyes owes $404,908.87 in past-due payments plus $298,749.13 in interest, as well as a yet-to-be-determined amount from when he played in Japan.

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