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The San Diego Padres have officially hired former relief pitcher Craig Stammen as their new manager, signing him to a three-year deal, the team announced Thursday. Stammen, 41, becomes the sixth full-time manager under general manager A.J. Preller.

Preller said in a statement: “Craig has been a strong presence in our organization for nearly a decade. He possesses deep organizational knowledge and brings natural leadership qualities to the manager’s chair. As both a player and in his post-playing career, Craig has displayed an ability to elevate those around him. His strength of character, competitive nature and talent for bringing people together make him the ideal choice to lead the Padres.”  

Stammen replaces Mike Shildt, who retired in October after citing the physical and mental toll of managing. His hiring comes as somewhat of a surprise, as names including Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla, Rangers special assistant Nick Hundley, and future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols were reported as candidates – and Stammen’s name didn’t surface publicly until the deal was finalized.

A native of rural Ohio and a former standout at the University of Dayton, Stammen was drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2005 and made his big-league debut four years later. After mixed results as a starter, he reinvented himself as a reliever and became a key piece of Washington’s bullpen during its first playoff run in 2012.

Across his 13-year major league career, Stammen pitched for the Nationals (2009–2015) and the Padres (2017–2022), posting several strong seasons out of the bullpen. From 2012 to 2013, he recorded a 2.54 ERA in 170 innings with Washington. After missing time due to arm injuries and spending a season out of the majors, Stammen signed with San Diego in 2017 and revitalized his career. Over his first three seasons with the Padres, he logged a 3.06 ERA, establishing himself as a steady and reliable reliever.

Stammen’s playing career ended in 2023 following shoulder injuries, but he quickly transitioned into the Padres’ front office. In 2024, he became a special assistant in player development and worked closely with players at both the major and minor league levels.

Under Stammen, the Padres will look to build on a solid 90–72 season that ended in a disappointing Wild Card loss to the Chicago Cubs. Despite boasting a star-studded roster and an aggressive front office, the club hasn’t advanced beyond the National League Championship Series since 2020.

The Padres will open the 2026 season on March 26 against the Detroit Tigers, with Stammen set to make his managerial debut.

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Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has died at age 24, just days after scoring his first NFL touchdown. Authorities in Frisco, Texas, confirmed that Kneeland’s death was the result of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound early Thursday morning.

The Cowboys said in a statement: “It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning. Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”

Kneeland’s family shared the following statement: “The Kneeland family can confirm the heartbreaking news of the passing of our beloved Marshawn Kneeland. We are devastated by this tremendous loss and are still processing the depth of our grief. As Marshawn was making his mark on the football field with the Dallas Cowboys, he held an even more special place off the field — as a devoted son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, grandson, and friend. He was kind, determined, humble, and full of love. His light shone brightly in every life he touched, and his spirit will continue to live on through the countless hearts he inspired. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, fans, and the community. During this difficult time, we ask for privacy as we come together as a family to honor and remember Marshawn’s life and legacy.”

Police said the incident began late Wednesday night when Texas Department of Public Safety troopers pursued a vehicle that entered Frisco around 10:39 p.m. The car, identified as Kneeland’s, later crashed on the southbound Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway. According to the report, Kneeland fled on foot, prompting a search using drones and K-9 units. About three hours later, officers found him with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities noted they had received information during the search indicating that Kneeland had “expressed suicidal ideations.”

Kneeland’s agent, Jonathan Perzley, shared in a statement posted by ESPN’s Ian Rapoport: “I am shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night. I watched him fight his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream to being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys. Marshawn poured his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field. To lose someone with his talent, spirit and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words. My heart aches for his family, his teammates and everyone who loved him, and I hope they feel the support of the entire football community during this unimaginable time.”

The NFL said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland. Our thoughts and prayers are with his girlfriend Catalina, family, friends and his teammates. We have been in contact with the Cowboys and have offered support and counseling resources.”

Kneeland, a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, had been emerging as one of Dallas’ promising young defenders. Just two nights before his death, he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for his first career touchdown during Monday Night Football against the Arizona Cardinals. In 18 career games across two seasons, he recorded 26 tackles, four quarterback hits, and one sack.

Former Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer remembered Kneeland as a driven and resilient player. “He was a great person, eager to learn … wanted to be great. He didn’t take any crap from anyone on the field. He studied hard, loved playing the game. Tough. My last conversation with him was keep being you—you’re going to have a great career.”

Before joining the Cowboys, Kneeland built an impressive résumé at Western Michigan University, where he played from 2019 to 2023. He appeared in 38 games, recording 27.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, and earning second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors in his senior season.

Western Michigan head coach Lance Taylor expressed heartbreak over his former player’s death. “My heart is absolutely broken over the loss of Marshawn Kneeland,” Taylor said. “Marshawn was so much more than an incredible football player—he was a remarkable young man who meant so much to our program and to me personally. His leadership, energy, and smile were infectious. Our entire Bronco Football family is devastated, and we send our deepest prayers to his family, teammates, and all who loved him. Marshawn will forever be a part of the Bronco brotherhood.”

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Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. The injury will sideline him for the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Kessler, 24, was initially ruled out of Utah’s game against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, November 2, 2025 due to shoulder bursitis, a lingering issue that also caused him to miss time in the preseason. Further evaluation in Salt Lake City revealed the torn labrum, necessitating the season-ending procedure.

Kessler’s absence will be a significant blow for the Jazz, as Kessler (who appeared in only five games this season) was having a strong start, averaging a career-high 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. The timing is also unfortunate for Kessler personally, as he is set to become a restricted free agent next summer after he and the Jazz did not agree on a contract extension before the season’s deadline. Veteran center Jusuf Nurkic is expected to take over the starting center duties in his absence.

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The Atlanta Braves have exercised their $18 million option for the 2026 season on left-handed pitcher Chris Sale, which keeps the NL Cy Young award winner on their roster (according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network.)

Despite a fractured rib which cost Sale two months of the 2025 season, the lefty had another stellar season with a 2.58 ERA and 165 strikeouts in 125.2 innings, with his 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings ranked second among all players with at least 100 innings.

A native of Lakeland, FL, Sale, 36, is headed into his 16th big league season, and third with the Braves. The lefty was the 2024 National League Cy Young Award winner, claiming the Triple Crown with 18 wins, 225 strikeouts and a 2.38 ERA. Sale, a nine-time All-Star, has also previously played with the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox, winning the World Series with Boston in 2018.

In 393 career appearances (with 312 starts) Sale holds a 145-88 record, with a 3.01 ERA and WHIP of 1.046 over 2,084.0 IP.

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