What’s New

LAKELAND, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers on Thursday finalized a two-year, $13 million deal for left-hander Andrew Chafin, one of the top relief pitchers on the free-agent market.

Chafin, 31, gets a $1 million signing bonus, $5.5 million this season and $6.5 million in 2023.

He had a 1.83 ERA with a career-high five saves and 64 strikeouts in 71 games in 2021, splitting the season with the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics. His ERA ranked No. 5 in the majors among relievers and he ranked among baseball’s leaders in opponents’ on-base and slugging percentage and opponents’ slugging percentage.

Chafin has appeared in 311 games since 2017, trailing only Oakland’s Yusmeiro Petit total of 318 games. He was selected by Arizona as a supplemental first-round selection with the 43rd overall pick in the 2011 amateur draft. Chafin has a 3.30 ERA over eight seasons with 355 career strikeouts.

The newly acquired reliever joins a new-look team, which includes shortstop Javier Baez and left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who will start Friday’s exhibition opener and perhaps Detroit’s opener against the Chicago White Sox on April 8.

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The Chicago Cubs have added another veteran infielder, agreeing with Jonathan Villar on a one-year deal worth $6 million, a source confirmed to ESPN.

The switch-hitting Villar will provide defensive versatility plus a combination of power and speed for the new-look Cubs. The 10-year veteran played 142 games with the New York Mets last season, batting .249 with 18 home runs and 14 stolen bases.

FanSided first reported Thursday on Villar’s deal, which is pending a physical.

Villar has significant experience at second base, shortstop and third base and could serve in a utility role for the Cubs, who signed veteran shortstop Andrelton Simmons to a one-year deal earlier this week.

Chicago also made a big splash in free agency Wednesday with the signing of Japanese star outfielder Seiya Suzuki to a five-year, $85 million contract.

Villar, 30, is a .258 career hitter with 98 homers and 232 stolen bases in parts of nine seasons with the Mets, Marlins, Blue Jays, Brewers, Orioles and Astros.

The Cubs made a series of other moves Thursday, agreeing to contracts with pitchers Mychal Givens, Daniel Norris and Robert Gsellman.

Givens has closing experience, and the Cubs need somebody in the ninth inning role. He had eight saves for the Cincinnati Reds last season after he was traded by the Colorado Rockies in July.

The right-hander agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal with Chicago that could reach $6.25 million with bonuses, a source told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.

Right-hander Chris Martin also finalized his one-year deal with Chicago on Thursday, and left-hander Brad Wieck was placed on the 60-day injured list with a left elbow strain.

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ORLANDO, Fla. — Saddiq Bey went off for a career-high 51 points in the Detroit Pistons‘ 134-120 win over the Orlando Magic on Thursday night, continuing what has already been a torrid month of individual scoring in the NBA.

Bey’s performance marked the league’s eighth 50-point game in March, the most in one calendar month over the past 50 seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. The last month with more was December 1962, when there were nine 50-point games.

Overall, there have been 17 50-point games this season, and Bey is the 13th player to pull the feat, matching the most in a season in NBA history. At 22, he is the youngest player with a 50-point game in Pistons history, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

Two nights after being torched for 16 points in the first quarter by Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving on his way to a 60-point game, the Magic gave up 21 points in the first quarter to Bey.

Bey, whose previous career-high was 34, finished the first half in spectacular fashion, scoring five points in less than five seconds. He hit a 20-footer while falling out of bounds with 8.8 seconds left, came up with a back-court steal and made a 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds left, leaving the Pistons with a 73-62 lead.

The Magic scored the first nine points of the game, but that lead was quickly erased by Bey. The Pistons moved ahead for keeps on a dunk by Isaiah Stewart that broke a 50-50 tie midway through the second quarter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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As NFL free agency rolls on, the Chicago Bears have continued to stay patient and allow the signings come to them.

Other teams have spent big money and made huge moves, but general manager Ryan Poles has stuck to his plan. Poles refuses to overpay for anybody in his first year with the Bears, thus the team had only signed three outside free agents until Friday afternoon.

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When he signed with the Chicago Bears back in 2018, wide receiver Allen Robinson was coming off an ACL tear but still proved to become an integral part of the offense in his first year.

By his second and third year with the team, Robinson topped the 1,000-yard mark twice. But, when it came to his future beyond Year 3, Robinson’s relationship with the Bears took a turn for the worse — along with everything else.

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The Chicago Bears have done almost nothing right over the last few years. One of the many mistakes that they have made is the way that they handled Allen Robinson. For a lot of his Bears’ tenure, he was one of the best wide receivers in the National Football League.

In his final year with the club, however, he was badly mistreated. Matt Nagy did not call enough plays that targeted him or got him involved enough. It also seems like Robinson himself believed like it was being done on purpose which tells you how toxic things actually were.

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The ESPN fantasy and betting cheat sheet is your pregame destination for our best intel and data to help you make smart fantasy and wagering decisions. NBA game odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook, and fantasy advice is based on ESPN 10-team leagues.

What you need to know for Thursday night’s NBA slate

By Jim McCormick and Kyle Soppe

Bag Man: Jerami Grant and Hamidou Diallo are listed as out in Orlando this evening. When Grant is off the floor, Marvin Bagley III (45% available) sees his usage spike to 26% and he’s produced a whopping 13.3 more DraftKings points per 36 minutes. For those seeking a DFS building block or target for prop plays, Bagley faces an Orlando frontcourt that has ceded 48.3 DraftKings PPG to power forwards, the second-highest rate in the league.

Suggs Sitting: Orlando won’t have rookie guard Jalen Suggs in the lineup, so Markelle Fultz (83% available) should be a popular name to consider given his elite assist percentage. However, Fultz could also be limited to around 20 minutes even with Suggs’ absence as the Magic continue to use him conservatively after his ACL injury last season. An alternative might be R.J. Hampton (99% available), who has flashed some solid playmaking at times and should near or top 30 minutes of run time against Detroit.

Cade Watch: Cade Cunningham is listed as questionable for tonight’s game, so it’s prudent to consider Cory Joseph (97% available) if the Cunningham sits. Joseph won’t deliver a monster line, but his usage rate and fantasy production have both risen significantly when Cunningham has been off the court this season.

Trending Trendon: The Trail Blazers are running out a young and unproven roster most nights. If you have the space on your roster during this light one-game slate, acquire Trendon Watford (84% available) and/or Drew Eubanks (96%). Watford has become a fun source of passing production at the power forward spot, while Eubanks has averaged a double-double over the past week.

Game of the Night

Line: Magic (-4.5)
Moneyline: Magic (-177), Pistons (+143)
Total: 219 points
BPI Score Projection: Magic win: 109-106
BPI Win%: Magic (60.9%)

Key players ruled out: Jerami Grant, Hamidou Diallo, Jalen Suggs

Questionable: Cade Cunningham (illness), Wendell Carter Jr.

Notable: The Pistons are riding a 12-game unbeaten streak ATS and have seen six of their past seven games go under the total.

Best bet: Pistons 1H (+1.5). In a battle of two of the league’s worst teams with star players our or questionable, this game is a tossup. Suggs is ruled out and Carter Jr, Cunningham, and more are listed as questionable. This game could be sloppy so I am looking to back a trend here. Detroit is 10-0 ATS in the first half in the last 10 games overall and 8-2 in their last 10 games away from home. The Pistons are a covering machine. They have covered this number in two of the three matchups against Orlando and cashed this in the previous matchup. I would be more confident in this pick if Cunningham’s status wasn’t up in the air, but all things considered in a matchup that could go either way… ride the hot trends. — Erin Dolan

Best bet: Pistons +4.5. The Pistons have been money for weeks now, because oddsmakers don’t seem to have caught up to the way they’ve played since the All-Star Break. The question is health, particularly that of Cunningham. With Grant out, the Pistons will need Cunningham to compete. If he plays, they have the frontcourt depth to keep this game close even without Grant. — Andre Snellings

Best bet: Franz Wagner over 23.5 points + assists + rebounds.This season, Wagner has been one of the few bright spots for the Magic. In 69 games this season, the rookie has averaged 15.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 2.9 APG. Wagner faces a Pistons team that has allowed small forwards to average 23.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 4.0 APG. — Eric Moody

Fantasy Streamer: Markelle Fultz (84.5% available). Fultz was quiet in Tuesday’s blowout loss to the Nets, but was one of the best players on the court in his previous two outings despite his minutes limitation. With Suggs out, Fultz should have the opportunity to produce well in limited minutes on Thursday. — Snellings

With Cade Cunningham questionable, Isaiah Livers could be a quality fantasy streaming option for a limited NBA slate on Thursday night. Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Fantasy streamer: Isaiah Livers (98.4% available). Livers is an intriguing streamer for those in deeper formats and those looking for DFS value. Livers has missed a lot of time due to a foot injury, but is now healthy and earning minutes with the Pistons. A bad defensive team, the Magic rank 22nd in points allowed per 100 possessions. — Moody

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The Chicago Cubs now have a crowded middle infield after signing Jonathan Villar, and they are probably out on Carlos Correa.

The Chicago Cubs added depth to their middle infield on Thursday, coming to terms with former Milwaukee Brewer Jonathan Villar.

The 30-year-old spent last season with the New York Mets, posting a .249/.322/.416 slash line with 18 home runs and 42 RBIs to go along with 14 stolen bases. Villar saw a bounceback season in 2021 after posting not-so-great numbers split between the Marlins and Blue Jays in the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

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The ESPN fantasy and betting cheat sheet is your pregame destination for our best intel and data to help you make smart fantasy and wagering decisions. NBA game odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook, and fantasy advice is based on ESPN 10-team leagues.

What you need to know for Thursday night’s NBA slate

By Jim McCormick and Kyle Soppe

Bag Man: Jerami Grant and Hamidou Diallo are listed as out in Orlando this evening. When Grant is off the floor, Marvin Bagley III (45% available) sees his usage spike to 26% and he’s produced a whopping 13.3 more DraftKings points per 36 minutes. For those seeking a DFS building block or target for prop plays, Bagley faces an Orlando frontcourt that has ceded 48.3 DraftKings PPG to power forwards, the second-highest rate in the league.

Suggs Sitting: Orlando won’t have rookie guard Jalen Suggs in the lineup, so Markelle Fultz (83% available) should be a popular name to consider given his elite assist percentage. However, Fultz could also be limited to around 20 minutes even with Suggs’ absence as the Magic continue to use him conservatively after his ACL injury last season. An alternative might be R.J. Hampton (99% available), who has flashed some solid playmaking at times and should near or top 30 minutes of run time against Detroit.

Cade Watch: Cade Cunningham is listed as questionable for tonight’s game, so it’s prudent to consider Cory Joseph (97% available) if the Cunningham sits. Joseph won’t deliver a monster line, but his usage rate and fantasy production have both risen significantly when Cunningham has been off the court this season.

Trending Trendon: The Trail Blazers are running out a young and unproven roster most nights. If you have the space on your roster during this light one-game slate, acquire Trendon Watford (84% available) and/or Drew Eubanks (96%). Watford has become a fun source of passing production at the power forward spot, while Eubanks has averaged a double-double over the past week.

Game of the Night

Line: Magic (-4.5)
Moneyline: Magic (-177), Pistons (+143)
Total: 219 points
BPI Score Projection: Magic win: 109-106
BPI Win%: Magic (60.9%)

Key players ruled out: Jerami Grant, Hamidou Diallo, Jalen Suggs

Questionable: Cade Cunningham (illness), Wendell Carter Jr.

Notable: The Pistons are riding a 12-game unbeaten streak ATS and have seen six of their past seven games go under the total.

Best bet: Pistons 1H (+1.5). In a battle of two of the league’s worst teams with star players our or questionable, this game is a tossup. Suggs is ruled out and Carter Jr, Cunningham, and more are listed as questionable. This game could be sloppy so I am looking to back a trend here. Detroit is 10-0 ATS in the first half in the last 10 games overall and 8-2 in their last 10 games away from home. The Pistons are a covering machine. They have covered this number in two of the three matchups against Orlando and cashed this in the previous matchup. I would be more confident in this pick if Cunningham’s status wasn’t up in the air, but all things considered in a matchup that could go either way… ride the hot trends. — Erin Dolan

Best bet: Pistons +4.5. The Pistons have been money for weeks now, because oddsmakers don’t seem to have caught up to the way they’ve played since the All-Star Break. The question is health, particularly that of Cunningham. With Grant out, the Pistons will need Cunningham to compete. If he plays, they have the frontcourt depth to keep this game close even without Grant. — Andre Snellings

Best bet: Franz Wagner over 23.5 points + assists + rebounds.This season, Wagner has been one of the few bright spots for the Magic. In 69 games this season, the rookie has averaged 15.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 2.9 APG. Wagner faces a Pistons team that has allowed small forwards to average 23.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 4.0 APG. — Eric Moody

Fantasy Streamer: Markelle Fultz (84.5% available). Fultz was quiet in Tuesday’s blowout loss to the Nets, but was one of the best players on the court in his previous two outings despite his minutes limitation. With Suggs out, Fultz should have the opportunity to produce well in limited minutes on Thursday. — Snellings

With Cade Cunningham questionable, Isaiah Livers could be a quality fantasy streaming option for a limited NBA slate on Thursday night. Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Fantasy streamer: Isaiah Livers (98.4% available). Livers is an intriguing streamer for those in deeper formats and those looking for DFS value. Livers has missed a lot of time due to a foot injury, but is now healthy and earning minutes with the Pistons. A bad defensive team, the Magic rank 22nd in points allowed per 100 possessions. — Moody

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The Chicago Blackhawks are going nowhere this year so the question is should they rebuild or reload? Maybe they can do both. Hear me out, the Hawks can fix the roster without a huge asset dump. It will certainly be tricky and not easy for new GM Kyle Davidson to do but it is possible.

To be sure, there are some players who most certainly need to be moved if the Hawks are to improve. I like Dominik Kubalik but he’s a restricted free agent. He could bring back some assets in a trade. So, too, could Caleb Jones. I’m less certain about Philipp Kurashev.

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