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Brewers acquire veteran reliever John Axford

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The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired right-handed reliever John Axford from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations.  Axford will join the team in their series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight.

The 38-year-old Axford spent five seasons (2009-13) with the Brewers where he went 21-19 with a 3.35 ERA and 106 saves in 268 appearances.  He is the all-time franchise leader in saves for a single season with 46 back in 2011 and ranks second in franchise history to Dan Plesac (133) in career saves.  His 43 straight saves without a blow save in 2011 is a franchise record.

Axford hasn’t pitched in the Major leagues since 2018 and started as a studio analyst for Blue Jays television this season.  He then pitched for Team Canada in the Olympic qualifier before Toronto signed him to a Minor League contract on June 24.  He went 1-0 with a 0.84 ERA and 2 saves in 9 relief appearances at Triple-A Buffalo, holding opponents to a .061 batting average.

Axford has a career record of 38-34 with a 3.87 ERA and 144 saves in 543 games (1 start) during 10 Major League seasons with Milwaukee, St. Louis, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Oakland, Toronto and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

 

 

 

Bucks acquire draft rights to two players in draft night deal with Pacers

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The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired the draft rights to Sandro Mamukelashvili and Georgios Kalaitzakis, who were selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 54th and 60th overall picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, in exchange for the draft rights to Isaiah Todd, who was selected by the Bucks with the 31st overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.  The Bucks also receive two future second round draft picks to complete the trade.

Mamukelashvili, a 6’11, 240-pound-pound forward from Seton Hall, was named the 2020-21 co-Big East Player of the Year, earned First Team All-Big East honors and was named an AP All-America Honorable Mention after averaging 17.5 points (2nd in Big East), 7.6 rebounds (5th in the Big East) and 3.2 assists (12th in the Big East) per game as a senior last season.  The Republic of Georgia native was also a top-five finalist for the 2020-21 Karl Malone Award, which honors the top power forward in college basketball, and was one of only two players [Read more…]

Rodgers signs reworked deal

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Aaron Rodgers – WRN Photo

Green Bay Packers MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers is signing his reworked deal, allowing him to leave after the 2022 season if he so chooses.

The new contract voids the 2023 year in his original deal and saves the Packers around $10 million in 2021 cap space.

Rodgers counts #37.2 million against the cap and  by guaranteeing his $14.7 million base salary, the Packers gained the extra cap space.

Rodgers voiced his displeasure with the Packers front office this offseason and considered retiring amid his standoff.

It means Rodgers current deal expires after 2022.

Adams says there’ll be no home town discount

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Davante Adams (WRN Photo)

Contract talks have stalled between wide receiver Davante Adams and the Green Bay Packers but he made it clear on day one of training camp that there’ll be no discount for the home team.

Adams told reporters on Wednesday that he expects to be the NFL’s highest-paid receiver after being named first-team All-Pro last season.  Adams set a Packers franchise record with 115 receptions and tied another with 18 touchdowns.

“That’s not going to happen,” Adams said about accepting a discount.  “It’s not about being a baby, but what other profession do you take less than what you have earned?  It’s not how it goes.

‘I’ve earned the right to be paid highest in the league.’

Four receivers in the NFL average at least $20 million a year.  That group consists of DeAndre Hopkins, Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen.  Hopkins deal is worth $27.25 million a year.

Adams said they had all offseason to get a deal done and now that training camp has started, he’s ready to put his focus on football.  It is possible the two sides could reach a deal during the season.  The Packers made David Bakhtiari the highest paid offensive tackle back in November.

 

Cobb returning to Green Bay

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Randall Cobb (Photo Courtesy of Mike Clemens)

It would appear the Green Bay Packers are trying to keep Aaron Rodgers happy, at least for this season.  The Packers are bringing back Rodgers close friend Randall Cobb, who turns 31-years-old next month.

The Packers will send a 2022 sixth-round draft pick to the Houston Texans for Cobb.  To make the deal work, the Texans have agreed to pay roughly $3 million of Cobb’s guaranteed $8.25 million deal.

The Packers let Cobb walk after the 2018 season.  Cobb had 38 receptions for 383 yards and two touchdowns that season, but played in just nine games due to injury.  He signed as a free agent with Dallas and played in 2019 for the Cowboys and last year in Houston.

Cobb was the Packers second round pick in 2011 and has become a good friend with Rodgers.

Cobb’s return is questionable to those outside the organization after the Packers used a third-round draft pick on Clemson slot receiver Amari Rodgers.

Cobb does bring leadership to the locker room and is well respected by his former teammates.

Rodgers unloads after first day of training camp (AUDIO)

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Aaron Rodgers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers returned to Green Bay for the start of training camp on Wednesday and told reporters afterwards that he considered retirement as his standoff with the team dragged on.  But Rodgers said he still has a “big, competitive hole” in his body and is all-in for the upcoming season.

Rodgers elaborated on his dispute with the team that was the subject of much speculation this offseason and said he wanted to help the Packers learn from previous mistakes they made.  He said some of those mistakes had to do with the release of “high character guys” like Charles Woodson and Jordy Nelson.

Rodgers believes all his years of service, three MVPs and a Super Bowl ring has earned him the right to be in the conversation on personal matters, even if he couldn’t sway GM Brian Gutekunst’s decisions.  He wants to be a recruiter in free agency and he wants the Packers to commit to him beyond the 2021 season. [Read more…]

Brewers add all-star infielder Eduardo Escobar before deadline (AUDIO)

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The Milwaukee Brewers have added some offensive help for the stretch as the Major League trade deadline approaches.  Milwaukee sent prospects (OF) Cooper Hummel and (Inf) Alberto Ciprian to the Arizona Diamondbacks for infielder Eduardo Escobar on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old Escobar was selected to his first All-Star game and is hitting .246 with 22 HR and 65 RBI in 98 games with Arizona this season.  He made 92 starts (61g at 3B and 31g at 2B).  The switch-hitter entered the day among the National League leaders in HR (T5th) and RBI (T6th).

Escobar is a career .256 hitter with 132 HR and 511 RBI in 1,080 games during 11 Major League seasons with the White Sox, Twins and Diamondbacks.

Escobar’s best season came in 2019 when he hit .269 with 35 HR and 118 RBI in 158 games with Arizona. [Read more…]

Bucks win second NBA title in 50 years, knock off the Suns in Six (AUDIO)

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Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Milwaukee Bucks are NBA champions for the first time in 50 years after knocking off the Phoenix Suns 105-98 in Game Six of the NBA Finals in Milwaukee.

Giannis Antetokounmpo saved the best for last, pouring in 50 points and pulling down 14 rebounds, earning NBA Finals MVP honors.  Giannis his 17 of 19 at the free throw line and the Bucks made 25 of 29 (86%) as a team from the charity stripe.

After falling behind 0-2 in the series, the Bucks reeled off four straight wins, becoming just the fifth NBA team to win a title after trailing 2-0 in the finals.

Antetokounmpo scored 20 points in the third quarter as the Bucks rebounded from a 47-42 halftime deficit. [Read more…]

Garcia picks North Carolina

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Dawson Garcia

Dawson Garcia pulled his name from consideration for the NBA Draft this week.  Today, the 6’11 forward announced he would be transferring to North Carolina where he’ll be able to play for the Tar Heels immediately.

Garcia averaged 13 points and 6.6 rebounds a game for Marquette in his first season.  He scored 24 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in a 83-70 Marquette victory over the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill last season.

Garcia had six games with 20 or more points last season for a Marquette team that finished 13-14 and missed the NCAA Tournament.

Garcia paid visits to North Carolina, Arizona and Illinois and considered a return to Marquette with new coach Shaka Smart.  But in the end, Garcia picked the Tar Heels and their new head coach Hubert Davis.

Because Garcia put his name into the NCAA’s transfer portal before July 1, he’ll be eligible to play for the Tar Heels immediately.

Garcia’s departure from Marquette opens up a scholarship for the Golden Eagles for the upcoming season.  Smart has already brought in nine new players for next season.

 

 

 

Suns grab game 1 of NBA finals

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Chris Paul poured in 32 points and Devin Booker added 27 to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 118-105 win in game one of the NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks in Phoenix.

Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the Bucks lineup after missing the previous two games with a hyperextended left knee.  Giannis had 20 points and 17 rebounds in 35 minutes.  Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 29 points.

The loss means the Bucks will have to play from behind after dropping Game 1 of their third straight series.

The series opener for the Suns was their first NBA Finals game in Phoenix since Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls won their third straight championship in six games in 1993.  The Suns made their only other finals appearance in 1976.

Prior to this year, the Suns hadn’t made the playoffs since 2010.  Just two years ago, the Suns were last in the Western Conference with a 19-63 record.

The Bucks are making their third finals appearance, having won their only title in 1971.  Their only other opportunity came in 1974.