Sports

SPORTS BRIEFING

METS PAY PIRATES PITTSBURGH (AP) — The New York Mets will pay more than $8.1 million to Pittsburgh as part of this week's trade that sent pitcher Luke Weaver to the Pirates for minor league infielder Sammy Stafura, covering most of the nearly $13.4 million remaining on the right-hander's contract. Pittsburgh will in effect pay Weaver just $229,412 this year, a prorated share of the $780,000 minimum salary. Weaver had $2,352,941 remaining of his $8 million salary for 2026 at the time of Monday's trade and the Mets will pay the Pirates four installments of $530,882 on Aug. 24 and 28, ...

Maximum Effort eyes first career win at West Virginia Derby

NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va. — Maximum Effort, third in the Iowa Derby and Texas Derby in his last two starts, seeks the first win of his career in the $400,000 Grade III West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Casino, Resort & Races on Sunday. It may seem like a tall order, but he has the right connections. His trainer, Steve Asmussen, holds the West Virginia Derby record of six wins, and his owner, Winchell Thoroughbreds, has won three editions of the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds, all of them with Asmussen. Winchell Thoroughbreds purchased the Maxfield colt for $600,000 at the 2024 ...

Hall of Fame jockey to ride in W.Va. Derby

NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va. — Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who is scheduled to ride in the $400,000 Grade III West Virginia Derby and the $200,000 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes on Sunday, August 9, at Mountaineer Casino, Resort & Races, recently reached a major milestone in his long ...

ALTIUS EXCELLENCE

Guardians like new additions

CLEVELAND (AP) — Manager Stephen Vogt lauded the Cleveland Guardians' front office for adding three players during Monday's trade deadline. Now it's up to Vogt and the new-look Guardians to capitalize on the addition of outfielder Jo Adell, first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and pitcher Foster Griffin for a postseason push. "Now it's our turn to go out and let's go perform. Let's go win some games," Vogt said. Adell, Lowe and Griffin were in the clubhouse before Tuesday's game against the New York Mets, introducing themselves to their new teammates and getting up to speed before the ...

SPORTS BRIEFING

ZIPS WANT FANS TO CALL PLAYS AKRON — The University of Akron football team will look to fans to call the plays — at least for one drive. The university will select an "Offensive Coordinator of the Game" for the opportunity to help script the opening drive of the team's home opener with Robert Morris set for 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 12 at InfoCision Stadium. The selected fan will work with Akron head coach and former Morning Journal sports writer Joe Moorhead to design the plays that will open the game. "I'm looking forward to collaborating with the season ticket holder who wins this ...