Sports Daily Roundup 06.27.25: MLB Star CONVICTED of Sexual Abuse, MLB Trade Rumors, NBA Draft Talk, NHL Off-Season Drama, and much more

 This is part of my daily BuzzLine roundup, where I bring together all the biggest headlines, breaking news, and rumors from every corner of MainEvent.news — covering every section, every story, every day. 

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⚾ MLB

• Wander Franco Convicted: Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was convicted of sexually abusing a minor in the Dominican Republic and received a 2-year suspended sentence.

Standings & Games:

• Top Teams: As of June 27th, 2025, the Los Angeles Dodgers (51-31, NL West), Chicago Cubs (48-33, NL Central), and New York Mets (48-34, NL East) hold top spots in the National League. The Houston Astros (48-33, AL West), Detroit Tigers (51-31, AL Central), and New York Yankees (46-34, AL East) lead their divisions in the American League.
• Thursday's Action (June 26th):
  • Shutouts: Several teams had strong pitching performances with shutouts, including the Blue Jays (Kevin Gausman with 8 scoreless innings), Rays (Shane Baz with 8 innings), Cubs (Shota Imanaga returning from injury), and Tigers (Dietrich Enns with his first win).
  • Marlins Sweep Giants: The Miami Marlins completed a surprising 3-0 sweep of the San Francisco Giants, including a dominant 12-5 win on Thursday.
  • Dodgers Win: The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Colorado Rockies 3-1, with Shohei Ohtani hitting his 28th home run.
  • Injury Scare: Mets' pitcher Griffin Canning left his start against the Braves with a left Achilles injury. 

All-Star Game & Player News:

• Judge and Ohtani Lead All-Star Voting: Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani were the top vote-getters in Phase 1 of All-Star balloting, automatically qualifying for the game.
• Bobby Witt Jr. Joins Team USA: Bobby Witt Jr. announced his intention to play for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Day-to-Day: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is listed as day-to-day with a forearm injury after being hit by a pitch.
• Shohei Ohtani's Rehab: Shohei Ohtani is progressing with his rehab from injury, notably throwing live against MLB hitters, a unique approach to recovery. 

Trade Deadline Talk:

• Emmanuel Clase Rumors: There are rumors that the Cleveland Guardians might consider trading their closer, Emmanuel Clase, despite his recent strong performance.
• Pirates Open to Trading Stars?: Reports suggest the Pittsburgh Pirates might be willing to trade players like Mitch Keller, Bryan Reynolds, and Oneil Cruz, with the exception of Paul Skenes and Andrew McCutchen.
• Rangers' Offer to J.D. Martinez: The Texas Rangers reportedly made a recent offer to J.D. Martinez to improve their offense, but the offer was non-guaranteed.
• Teams Exploring Trades: Several teams, including the Cubs, Mets, Yankees, and Twins, are evaluating their options and potentially looking for trades to address weaknesses or capitalize on player values. 

Transactions & Injuries:

• Player Activations & Options: Several players were activated from the injured list or optioned to the minors, including Luis García Jr. (Dodgers activated), Kyle Freeland (Rockies activated), Brandon Young (Orioles optioned), and Sean Hjelle (Giants optioned).
• Notable Injuries: Updates were provided on players like Griffin Canning (Mets), Corbin Carroll (Diamondbacks), Max Meyer (Marlins), and Royce Lewis (Twins), among others.

🏈 NFL

League News:

• No NFL Supplemental Draft in 2025: For the second year in a row, the NFL will not hold a supplemental draft. This draft is typically for players who have eligibility issues after the regular draft.
• Kansas City Chiefs Stadium Financing: The Chiefs have requested an extension for a stadium financing package from the state of Kansas, suggesting a potential move across the state line is being considered.
• Washington Commanders Season Outlook: After a successful 2024 season, expectations are higher for the Commanders in 2025, but they face a tougher schedule and increased travel.
• Philadelphia Eagles Spending: The Eagles are projected to have the highest offensive spending in the NFL for 2025. 

Player News:

• Chiefs' Josh Simmons Impresses: Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes are reportedly impressed by rookie tackle Josh Simmons after spring activities.
• Christian McCaffrey's Injury Recovery: The 49ers running back, who had a significant injury in 2024, reports having "zero restrictions" during offseason activities.
• Aidan Hutchinson Cleared: The Lions defensive end is fully cleared to play after a leg injury and has rejoined the team for offseason workouts.
• Dak Prescott's Recovery: The Cowboys quarterback is participating in OTAs after a hamstring tear, expressing confidence in trusting his body after rehabilitation. 

Training Camp Dates (Announced):

• New York Giants: Open practice dates have been announced for the Giants' training camp, including sessions open to the public starting July 23rd.
• Cleveland Browns: The Browns will host eight free open practices for fans during their training camp, beginning on July 25th.

🏀 NBA

Draft News:

• Yang Hansen Introduced by Trail Blazers: The Portland Trail Blazers officially introduced Yang Hansen, their #16 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, making him the third Chinese-born player drafted in the first round.
• International Players in the Draft: A total of 23 international players from 15 countries were selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, the second-most in draft history. This included a record six players from France.
• Hornets Draft Haul: The Charlotte Hornets added to their draft picks by selecting Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner in the second round, focusing on improving defense and adding shooting.
• Second Round Wrap-up: The NBA's "Starting 5" daily recap highlighted the conclusion of the 2025 NBA Draft's second round, featuring notable moments, trades, and the start of NBA 2K26 Summer League preparations.
• Record Number of Seniors Drafted in Second Round: The second round of the 2025 NBA Draft saw a record number of college seniors selected.
• Warriors' Daily Discussion Thread: The Warriors subreddit had a discussion thread related to the draft, with fans commenting on draft picks and potential trades. 

Team & Front Office News:

• Raptors Part Ways with Masai Ujiri: The Toronto Raptors fired Masai Ujiri as team president and vice chairman, a day after the draft.
• Rockets Trade Rumors: The Houston Rockets are reportedly in trade talks involving 20-year-old forward Cam Whitmore. This comes after the Rockets acquired Kevin Durant and are looking to be competitive.
• Lakers Address Center Position: Lakers GM Rob Pelinka sent a message about addressing the team's need for a center. 

Free Agency & Trade Speculation (Ahead of Official Start):

• Top 25 Potential Free Agents Ranked: USA Today released a list of the top 25 potential NBA free agents who could be available when the negotiating window opens on June 30th. This list includes LeBron James, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving.
• Ten Best Potential Free Agents: Another article highlighted the top 10 potential free agents, focusing on players like James Harden, Naz Reid, Julius Randle, Myles Turner, and Cam Thomas.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors: Five NBA teams are reportedly targeting Giannis Antetokounmpo amid trade rumors.
• Suns Targeting Russell Westbrook? The Arizona Republic reported that the Phoenix Suns could target Russell Westbrook in free agency.
• Mavericks Re-sign Kyrie Irving: Kyrie Irving opted out of the final year of his contract and plans to sign a three-year, $119 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks. He is recovering from a torn ACL and is expected to miss part of next season.
• Fred VanVleet Agrees to New Deal: Fred VanVleet and the Rockets have agreed to a new two-year, $50 million deal.
• Celtics Trade Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis: The Boston Celtics are making roster moves, trading Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers and Kristaps Porziņģis to the Hawks.
• Pelicans Acquire Jordan Poole: The New Orleans Pelicans acquired Jordan Poole from the Wizards for CJ McCollum.
• Kevin Durant Traded to Rockets: The Phoenix Suns traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and draft picks. 

Note: The free agency negotiating period opens on June 30th, and signings become official on July 6th.

🏒 NHL

Draft and Offseason:

• 2025 NHL Draft is Underway: The first round of the 2025 NHL Draft is taking place in Los Angeles at the Peacock Center.
• Draft Order and Prospects: The order of selection for the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft was announced. Matthew Schaefer is a highly-touted prospect, considered the top prospect in this draft class. Other top prospects like Michael Misa and James Hagens are also discussed.
• Noah Dobson Traded: The Montreal Canadiens acquired defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, signing him to an eight-year, $9.5 million AAV extension. The Islanders received two first-round picks (No. 16 and No. 17) and forward Emil Heineman. 

Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA):

• NHL and NHLPA Agree to New CBA Extension: The NHL and the NHL Players' Association have reached a tentative agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, set to take effect for the 2026-27 season.
• Key Changes in the New CBA:
  • The regular season will be lengthened to 84 games, starting in 2026-27.
  • Player contracts will have shorter maximum terms (seven years for re-signings, six for UFAs).
  • A comprehensive playoff salary cap mechanism will be implemented.
  • Other changes include limits on deferred salaries and signing bonuses, increased playoff bonus pools, and improved player benefits. 

Other Player and Team News:

• Tavares Re-signs with Maple Leafs: John Tavares signed a four-year, $17.52 million contract extension to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
• Frederic Signs with Oilers: Trent Frederic signed an eight-year, $30.8 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers.
• Vlasic Bought Out by Sharks: The San Jose Sharks bought out the final year of defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic's contract.
• Gaudreau Traded to Kraken: The Seattle Kraken acquired center Frederick Gaudreau from the Minnesota Wild.
• Tarasov Traded to Panthers: The Florida Panthers acquired goaltender Daniil Tarasov from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
• Benn Signs with Stars: Jamie Benn re-signed with the Dallas Stars on a one-year, bonus-heavy contract.
• Kane Joins Canucks: Evander Kane is "really excited" for a fresh start with the Vancouver Canucks after being traded from the Oilers.
• Marner Likely to Test Free Agency: Mitch Marner is expected to test the unrestricted free-agent market. 

⛳ PGA

PGA Tour & Tournament News:

• Jake Knapp Sets Rocket Classic Record: Jake Knapp shot an impressive 11-under 61 in the second round of the Rocket Classic, breaking the 18-hole record at Detroit Golf Club. This is Knapp's second time this season shooting 61 or better, making him the only PGA Tour player to achieve this feat. 

Other Golf News:

• Iwai Twins on LPGA Tour: Akie Iwai and Chisato Iwai are navigating their rookie year together on the LPGA Tour, a notable storyline.
• Young and Iacobelli Thrive at Dow Championship: Madison Young and Daniela Iacobelli are performing well as a team at the Dow Championship, appreciating the unique format of the event.
• Ellie Hildreth Wins N.C. Junior Girls' Championship: Ellie Hildreth won the 29th North Carolina Junior Girls' Championship with a strong final-round performance.
• May 2025 Rounds Played Down Slightly: The National Golf Foundation reported a slight decrease in national rounds played for May 2025 compared to the previous year, partly due to unfavorable weather conditions in some regions.
• NGF Partners with KONETiQ: The National Golf Foundation announced a partnership with KONETiQ to enhance golf marketing with data-driven and targeted digital solutions. 

LIV Golf News:

• Brooks Koepka Withdraws from LIV Golf Dallas: Brooks Koepka withdrew from the first round of LIV Golf Dallas due to illness after playing eight holes.
• Matthew Wolff Also Withdraws from LIV Golf Dallas: Matthew Wolff withdrew from the LIV Golf Dallas tournament due to injury before starting.
• LIV Golf Partners with MGM Resorts: LIV Golf and MGM Resorts International announced a new collaboration, with MGM Resorts becoming the host and presenting partner for LIV Golf Week starting in 2026.