On July 8, 2025, before the New York Yankees’ game against the Seattle Mariners, manager Aaron Boone announced that DJ LeMahieu would be removed from the starting lineup. Jazz Chisholm Jr. returned to second base, the position he began the season playing. Boone stated that Chisholm would now play regularly at second base. Oswald Peraza started at third base that night in a corresponding move.

Boone confirmed that LeMahieu’s current role would be as “a bat off the bench” and that there were “no plans” to use him at third base “right now.” He said the decision was related to LeMahieu’s physical condition: “I think physically, it’s a challenge for him right now.” Boone also said that LeMahieu “took the news of being moved to the bench not great necessarily.”

LeMahieu, 36 years old, has played 45 games in 2025. Batting .266 with a .674 OPS, he has two home runs and 13 RBIs in 142 plate appearances. His 2025 defensive metrics include –1 Outs Above Average at second base. Boone said LeMahieu is “not presently a candidate for time at third” due to physical limitations.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. Learns of Position Switch from Lineup Sheet

Chisholm began the 2025 season playing second base, though he was moved to third after returning from an oblique injury on June 3. He started 28 consecutive games at third. Chisholm previously said on July 1, 2025, “Everybody knows I’m a second baseman. Of course, I want to play second base, but whatever it takes to help the team win. If that’s what the team chooses, that’s what I gotta do. I don’t write the lineups. You feel me?”

On July 8, Chisholm stated, “I woke this morning and saw the lineup.” He said he had “not really” talked to Boone about the change, and added, “We didn’t talk before this, so I guess we’ll talk about it later.” Boone said, “I spoke to him and gave him a heads up.”

Asked what he brings to second base, Chisholm responded, “Elite defender. Elite slugging. Fast. Great defense. I don’t know what else to tell you. Sounds like a complete player to me.”

Chisholm had a –3 Outs Above Average at third base before the July 8 game. He committed six throwing errors while playing third base, including three errors in his last four games. He had three Outs Above Average at second base before his move.

Boone said the decision to move Chisholm was also influenced by a shoulder issue Chisholm has had for approximately three weeks. Boone said, “Obviously the last week was a little bit of a struggle for him over at third.” He added that part of that struggle was due to being “a little banged up and not being able to do some of his prep work.”

Chisholm said the shoulder soreness started after he backhanded a ball and threw it to first base “as hard as I could.” Boone was asked if the shoulder injury was related to playing third base and said, “No, no. He hurt it separately.” When asked for further explanation, Boone said, “I’m not gonna get into it.”

Yankees’ 10–3 Win Coincides with Betting Market Adjustments

On July 8, the Yankees defeated the Mariners 10–3. Prior to the game, online sportsbooks had the Yankees favored at –165 on the moneyline. The total was set at 9.5 runs.

Earlier in the month, on July 1, the Yankees faced the Toronto Blue Jays. Betting lines from that game had the Yankees as –149 favorites and the Blue Jays at +125. The total was 8.0 runs, with implied win probabilities of 57.4% for the Yankees and 42.6% for the Blue Jays.

Before being benched, LeMahieu’s player props included the following: 0.76 hits per game (–140), 0.04 home runs per game (+1200), 0.96 total bases per game (–150), and 0.27 RBIs per game. After LeMahieu was designated for assignment on July 9 and released on July 10, those prop markets were removed or suspended.

Oswald Peraza Starts at Third as Yankees Explore Internal Options

Oswald Peraza was the starting third baseman on July 8. Boone said, “It’s been a struggle offensively.” Peraza entered that game with a .154 batting average, .225 on-base percentage, and .262 slugging percentage in 57 appearances. Boone also said Peraza’s defense was “phenomenal” and called him “a really talented defender.” He added, “I still think there’s that upside and talent in there offensively too.”

Oswaldo Cabrera is out for the season with an ankle injury. Ben Rice and J.C. Escarra, both backup catchers, have taken ground balls at third base in practice. Escarra has played two innings at third base in the major leagues.

The Yankees signed Jeimer Candelario and Nicky Lopez to minor league contracts the week before July 8. Jorbit Vivas and Andrew Velazquez are in Triple-A at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Jesus Rodriguez is on the 40-man roster.

Boone did not confirm whether Peraza would continue to start at third base moving forward.

Yankees Consider Trade Targets with Deadline Approaching

The New York Post reported that the Yankees are considering third base upgrades via trade. The team has reportedly inquired about Ryan McMahon (Rockies), Eugenio Suárez (Diamondbacks), Ke’Bryan Hayes (Pirates), and Isiah Kiner-Falefa (Blue Jays). The MLB trade deadline is July 31, 2025.

The New York Rangers have agreed to terms with forward Trey Fix-Wolansky on a one-year, two-way contract, as announced by President and General Manager Chris Drury. The contract is for the NHL league minimum of $775,000.

Fix-Wolansky, 26, played the 2024–25 season with the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL), appearing in 65 games. He recorded 26 goals and 34 assists for 60 points, along with 73 penalty minutes. He led Cleveland in total points, tied for first on the team in power-play goals with eight, and ranked second in goals and assists. He was selected to represent Cleveland in the AHL All-Star Challenge this past season and also appeared in six playoff games, contributing three assists.

AHL Track Record and NHL Appearances

Over six AHL seasons, Fix-Wolansky has played in 289 career games, tallying 112 goals, 147 assists, and 259 total points. He has also accumulated 254 penalty minutes. Having participated in the AHL All-Star Challenge in both 2022–23 and 2023–24, he was named to the AHL Second All-Star Team in each of those seasons. His highest single-season totals came in 2022–23 when he set career highs with 29 goals, 42 assists, and 71 points.

He has appeared in 26 NHL games across three seasons (2021–22 to 2023–24) with the Columbus Blue Jackets, posting four goals, two assists, and six points, while averaging 10:35 of ice time per game. He scored in his NHL debut on February 8, 2022, against the Washington Capitals and scored two goals in his most recent NHL game on April 13, 2024, against the Nashville Predators.

Organizational Moves and Offseason Signings

The Rangers’ signing of Fix-Wolansky follows several offseason additions aimed at reinforcing depth. The team signed defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year, $49 million contract. Additional signings include Taylor Raddysh to a two-year, $3 million deal, forward Justin Dowling, and defenseman Derrick Pouliot, who has 226 games of NHL experience and is expected to serve as a veteran in Hartford, the Rangers’ AHL affiliate.

As the Rangers strengthen their depth with this signing, futures markets have reflected relative stability around the team’s broader outlook. According to BetMGM, the Rangers are currently listed at +2800 to win the Stanley Cup. While this number has held steady in recent weeks, the team’s free agency activity has added to what online sportsbooks are viewing as a structurally deeper lineup. At this time, there are no individual betting markets available across major sportsbooks, which is typical for players transitioning between AHL and NHL levels.

The Rangers now have an estimated $778,000 in available salary cap space with a projected 23-player roster, according to PuckPedia.

Expected Role Within the Organization

Fix-Wolansky is expected to play in a top-six role with the Hartford Wolf Pack. While he is not currently projected to begin the season in the NHL, he remains eligible for recall. In addition to his point production, Fix-Wolansky has recorded 20 or more goals in each of the past three AHL seasons.

He is listed at 5-foot-7 and 193 pounds. The Rangers were reportedly among teams interested in signing Maxim Shabanov, a 5-foot-8 forward who finished third in the KHL scoring race last season and ultimately signed with the New York Islanders. Fix-Wolansky’s signing occurred one day after Shabanov agreed to terms with the Islanders.

Fix-Wolansky was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the seventh round, 204th overall, of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He has played exclusively for the Blue Jackets and their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, prior to this agreement with New York.

The one-year deal provides the Rangers with a player who has both AHL and NHL experience and who has been recognized in recent seasons for his offensive production at the AHL level.

During the fifth inning of Saturday’s 12-6 loss to the New York Mets, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was struck near the right eye by a throw from teammate Anthony Volpe. The incident occurred between innings and left Judge bleeding from the face as he came off the field.

Throw During Routine Play Hits Judge in the Face

The play occurred after Mark Vientos lined out to Oswald Peraza, ending the bottom of the fifth inning. As the Yankees jogged toward the dugout, Anthony Volpe, positioned past third base and in foul territory, launched a throw in Judge’s direction. Judge was running in from right field and was not looking when the ball hit him on the side of the face, breaking his sunglasses.

Judge was photographed bleeding from the right side of his face and picking up the shattered pieces of his sunglasses. He returned to the field in the next inning with a small bandage near his eye. Judge said after the game that he was fine, though he did not know whether it was the ball, the glasses, or both that caused the cut.

Manager Aaron Boone said his first reaction was confusion.

“Yeah, I mean, confusion. I didn’t know what happened initially,” Boone said. “I just saw kind of a, what felt like something happened. So yeah, of course I was concerned. Had a little cut. In the end, I don’t think it’s anything too serious, obviously. But yeah, initially, obviously very concerned.”

When asked whether he felt helpless watching the ball head toward Judge, Volpe responded, “Obviously.”

During the incident, Jazz Chisholm Jr., standing next to Volpe, was seen with his hands on his head in reaction to what had happened.

Betting Odds Shift Following Yankees’ Sixth Straight Loss

The Yankees’ loss on Saturday was their sixth consecutive defeat, matching their previous six-game losing streak from June 13–18. It is the first time since 2000 that the Yankees have experienced two separate six-game losing streaks in a single season.

Following the game, the Yankees’ American League East division odds moved from +210 to +340, according to major online sportsbooks. The change came as a result of the team’s ongoing struggles and increased distance from the division-leading Baltimore Orioles.

Public betting percentages also shifted during the Subway Series. Earlier in the week, 65% of wagers had backed the Yankees to win the series. After back-to-back losses, that figure dropped to 43% ahead of Sunday’s game. The team’s World Series odds were also updated from +900 to +1200 following Saturday’s result.

Volpe Hits Home Run After Incident, But Mets Pull Away

Later in the game, Anthony Volpe hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning off Richard Lovelady, cutting the Mets’ lead to two runs. It was his 10th home run of the season and his first since June 21.

However, the Mets responded by scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh, extending their lead. In the top of the eighth, Volpe batted with two runners on and two outs, but struck out against Ryne Stanek, ending the scoring opportunity.

Volpe entered the Subway Series in a prolonged slump. Over his last 12 games, he had gone 6-for-44, with six walks and 12 strikeouts. On Friday, July 4, he was replaced by Trent Grisham as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning of a one-run game, which the Yankees lost.

After that game, Volpe addressed the situation, acknowledging his desire to contribute but recognizing the decision was beyond his control. He explained that his focus remained on preparation and each opportunity depended on continuing to put in the necessary work.

Boone and Judge Address Team’s Performance

Manager Aaron Boone said the team was going through a difficult stretch. “It’s been a terrible week,” Boone said.

Judge commented on the team’s fundamentals and overall play. He said they simply need to play better and execute routine plays consistently. He touched on the fact small mistakes have compounded and contributed to the team’s slide, but viewed the slump as a challenge that even strong teams encounter during a season. Judge expressed confidence in the team’s ability to identify the issues, make necessary adjustments, and get back on track.

In the intense heat of a Philippine morning, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier met for the third and final time in a heavyweight title bout that would become one of the most storied events in boxing history. The fight took place at 10:00 a.m. local time on October 1, 1975, at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, part of the Metro Manila region in the Philippines. Due to time zone differences, the fight aired in the United States on September 30.

Dubbed the “Thrilla in Manila”, the bout lasted 14 rounds and was ultimately stopped when Frazier’s trainer, Eddie Futch, refused to let his fighter continue. Ali was declared the winner by technical knockout (TKO). Ali later described the experience as “the closest thing to dying” and referred to Joe Frazier as “the greatest fighter of all times, next to me.”

The fight was watched by over 500,000 viewers via pay-per-view, a record at the time. It was the first continuous global satellite signal ever delivered by HBO, which had launched in 1972.

A Rivalry Built on Respect, Betrayal, and Bitterness

Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s relationship was complex and deeply personal. Their trilogy began with the “Fight of the Century” on March 8, 1971, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where Frazier defeated Ali by unanimous decision after 15 rounds, scoring a knockdown in the final round.

This came after Ali had been stripped of his boxing license and heavyweight title in 1967 for refusing to be drafted into the Vietnam War. During Ali’s exile, Frazier supported him, including lending him money and advocating for his reinstatement. However, when Ali returned, he began verbally attacking Frazier, calling him, among other things, an “Uncle Tom.”

The animosity escalated since Frazier, who had grown up on a sharecropper’s farm in South Carolina, saw Ali’s attacks not as promotion but as a personal betrayal. Ali, who once referred to Frazier as “ignorant,” “ugly,” “stupid,” and a “gorilla,” directed insults that went beyond the ring. He frequently referred to Frazier by the name “Clay,” which Ali had abandoned upon converting to Islam. Needless to say, this stoked deep anger in Frazier, acting as fuel to defeat Ali.

Their second fight, held in 1974 in New York City, ended in a decision win for Ali, evening the series. Before that bout, the two engaged in a real physical altercation during a television appearance with Howard Cosell, in which they had to be separated by their entourages.

Promoter Don King and the Path to Manila

The final fight of the trilogy was promoted by Don King, who had also orchestrated Ali’s bout with George Foreman in 1974, known as the “Rumble in the Jungle.” King secured millions of dollars from Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos to stage the fight in the Philippines. Both Marcos and his wife, Imelda Marcos, were present among the 28,000 people in attendance at the Araneta Coliseum.

HBO bought the broadcast rights, and their satellite signal allowed the match to be seen live around the world.The fight became the first continuous satellite transmission of a live sporting event, marking a critical moment in television and sports media history.

The name “Thrilla in Manila” came from one of Ali’s poetic taunts in the lead-up to the fight: “It’ll be a thrilla, and a killa, and a chilla, when I get that gorilla in Manila.”

In the days before the match, Ali’s personal life made headlines when his wife, Belinda, arrived in Manila and confronted him in his hotel room after discovering reports that he had been seen with a 20-year-old woman named Veronica, whom he was introducing as his wife. Belinda reportedly argued with Ali for 15 minutes before returning to the airport.

The Fight: Fourteen Rounds in Extreme Heat

From the opening bell, Ali fought with aggressive intent, trying to knock Frazier out early. In the first round, he landed big punches and buckled Frazier’s knees twice. However, Frazier’s legendary resilience showed itself again when he began absorbing Ali’s punishment and gaining momentum by round five.

Between rounds six and ten, Frazier controlled the pace by going for Ali’s body alongside plenty of vicious left hooks to the head, forcing Ali to the ropes and causing him visible distress. According to observers, by the end of the tenth round, Ali sat on his stool exhausted, with his head bowed. Some believed he was close to quitting.

Ali’s longtime business manager, Gene Kilroy, who sat ringside, said, “I was thinking to myself, why don’t they just ban boxing now?” The punishment Ali took included hooks that “almost made it look like his head was on a swivel,” according to Ed Schuyler Jr., a retired Associated Press boxing writer.

Despite the beating, Ali rebounded. In rounds twelve through fourteen, he landed clean, heavy right hands, and Frazier’s face became so swollen that he could barely see. Frazier was already visually impaired in his right eye, due to an accident from 10 years earlier. His left eye was now nearly shut.

Before the fifteenth round, Eddie Futch decided to stop the fight. He told his fighter, “Joe, I’m going to stop it.”

Frazier replied, “No, no, Eddie, you can’t do that to me.”

Futch responded, “You couldn’t see in the last two rounds. What makes you think ya gonna see on the fifteenth?”

“I want him, boss,” said Frazier, attempting to stand.

“Sit down, son,” Futch said, placing a hand on Frazier’s shoulder. “It’s all over. No one will forget what you did here today.”

At the same time, Ali asked his corner to cut his gloves off, possibly signaling that he, too, was ready to quit. His cornerman, Wali Muhammad, later said, “cut ’em off,” referring to Ali’s gloves. But Angelo Dundee ignored the request and continued preparing him for the next round. The final round never came.

What Happened After

Frazier crossed the ring briefly to acknowledge Ali, but the two did not shake hands or embrace after the fight. In interviews that followed, both men spoke with a level of admiration. Frazier said he had hit Ali with “punches that’d bring down the walls of a city.”

Ali admitted the punishment he took from Joe was unlike anything he had experienced and called him “a great champion.”

Following the fight, Frazier would fight only two more times, both efforts ineffective. Ali continued to box but suffered lasting effects from the punishment he endured, eventually being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Syndrome.

Frazier remained bitter about the way he was treated by Ali. When he died in 2011, Ali, who by then had advanced symptoms of Parkinson’s, attended the funeral. A wreath was laid at Frazier’s grave by Ali. It read: “To Joe Frazier from Muhammad Ali. Rest in peace, Joe, until we meet again. Next time we’re not going to fight, we’re just going to hug each other.”

New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham exited Monday night’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays after experiencing left hamstring tightness. Grisham scored in the fourth inning on a Jazz Chisholm Jr. home run and left the game in the fifth inning.

According to Bryan Hoch, Grisham went through a pregame workout the following evening, and manager Aaron Boone confirmed he would not be placed on the 10-day injured list.

Grisham joined the Yankees in 2023 as part of the trade that brought Juan Soto to New York from the San Diego Padres. In the 2025 season, Grisham played 72 games with a .246 batting average, .348 on-base percentage, and .467 slugging percentage. He has hit 15 home runs, which is two shy of his career-high of 17.

Grisham did not appear in the lineup on Tuesday. Cody Bellinger started in center field, and the Yankees added Bryan De La Cruz to the taxi squad from Allentown, Pennsylvania, in case an extra outfielder was needed. De La Cruz greeted former teammate Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the clubhouse with a brief hug and conversation, according to reports from Rogers Centre.

Austin Wells Returns to Lineup Following Finger Injury

Austin Wells, the Yankees’ catcher, missed four straight starts after suffering arterial damage in his left index finger. The injury was attributed to receiving numerous hard pitches, and tests confirmed there were no blood clots.

Wells underwent extensive evaluation, including testing involving arterial access in the groin, according to reporting from Pinstripe Alley. He resumed baseball activity and was back in the Yankees’ starting lineup on Thursday, July 3, for the series finale in Toronto, catching Clarke Schmidt and batting eighth.

Wells had appeared as a pinch-runner in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s game prior to his return. He had last started four games earlier. In the 14 games prior to his injury, Wells posted a .159 batting average, .191 OBP, and .205 slugging percentage.

Manager Aaron Boone stated that Wells’ catching and hitting were not impacted by the finger issue and the team placed additional padding inside his glove to protect the area.

Jasson Dominguez Gets Extended Playing Time

Jasson Dominguez, a 22-year-old switch-hitting outfielder, continues to receive more playing time amid Grisham’s absence. Before the injury, Dominguez had difficulty securing a regular spot in the lineup due to competition from Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Cody Bellinger, Ben Rice, and Grisham.

Dominguez currently holds a 108 wRC+ in the 2025 season, with an OPS of .941 over the last 7 days and .845 over the last 15, according to Rotowire. In the July 1 game against Toronto, he went 1-for-5 with three RBIs, which was his most productive offensive performance in over 26 games. Dominguez has not hit a home run in his last 31 games.

Betting Odds Adjust in Response to Lineup Changes

Leading sportsbooks adjusted their betting lines prior to the Yankees-Blue Jays series. At BetMGM, the Yankees opened as –167 favorites for Monday’s game. After Grisham’s removal from the lineup, the line shifted to –149, while Toronto’s odds moved from +140 to +125, according to Sports Betting Dime. Despite the shift, over 80% of betting tickets were still on the Yankees.

The total run line was set at 8.0, with the under slightly favored at –115. Entering the game, the Yankees had gone 31–49–4 on unders for the season.

In futures markets, the Yankees are listed at +700 to win the 2025 World Series and +310 to +320 to win the AL Pennant, per DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM.

Jasson Dominguez’s odds to win American League Rookie of the Year are currently +4000 on FanDuel, based on posted betting lines. These odds reflect his eligibility and recent increase in playing time, not a leading position in the race.

Aaron Judge, meanwhile, holds –8000 odds to win AL MVP at FanDuel. As of late May, Judge was batting .395 with a .488 OBP, .746 slugging, 18 home runs, and 47 RBIs.