NFL

Vikings sign WR Justin Jefferson to four-year, $140 million contract extension

The 24 year old is almost certainly the best wide receiver in the sport, but the market for the position has run amok. Don’t get me wrong, wideouts deserve their fair share — they’re less valuable than only quarterbacks, left tackles, edge rusher and arguably cornerbacks — but $35 million per year for Jefferson, more than Nick Bosa, is slightly too much.

Jefferson will surely help J.J. McCarthy’s development, and that’s critical. There’s tremendous value in that in and of itself, but the Vikings are making it harder on themselves to build a well-rounded roster with Jefferson’s lavish cap hit, which will start in 2025 and run through 2028. All in all, the wide receiver is young and one of the very best players in football, but this pact runs a bit high for my liking.

Grade: C+

NCAAB

San Francisco transfer SG Mike Sharavjamts commits to Utah

Sharavjamts doesn’t have the stats to catch the eye — 7.7 points per game on 42.4 percent shooting in 2024 — but the guard is loaded with potential and has the attention of NBA scouts. Perhaps Sharavjamts can take his game to the next level as a Ute.

MLB

Phillies 3, Brewers 1

This could be the year Zack Wheeler wins a Cy Young. The one-time All-Star — shocking, I know — is now 7-3 with a 2.23 ERA after pitching seven strong innings of one-run ball in this game. Really, any one of Wheeler, Aaron Nola or Ranger Suarez could bring home the hardware following this season; the front of the Phillies’ rotation is that good.

Orioles 7, Blue Jays 2

I don’t know you survive this Orioles lineup when even Austin Hays is mashing. Hays went long twice in this contest — his first and second of the year — and showed signs of the player he was from 2021-2023 when he accumulated 8.2 WAR.

Speaking of lineups, the Blue Jays, well, they don’t exactly hit like the Orioles. Toronto, at 28-31, has its shoes stuck in the mud and the club is a realistic candidate for all three trade-deadline paths: buying, selling and holding. Selling seems most likely for the Jays, but I don’t expect a full tear-down, which would include shipping out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and/or Bo Bichette.

Mets 8, Nationals 7

It’s been (another) disappointing season for the 25-35 Mets, but the light bulb turning on for Mark Vientos has been a positive for New York thus far. The third baseman filled up the box score yesterday, going 2-for-3 with a homer and two walks, increasing his OPS to 1.070 (small sample size alert). At just 24, regardless of how David Sterns maneuvers the transaction wire, Vientos will be a part of the club’s future.

Tigers 2, Rangers 1

Through 60 games, the Tigers’ season has to be viewed as a success, right? Detroit turned the corner, at least to a degree, in 2023 and finished 78-84, and has taken another step forward this year. The 30-30 Tigers still don’t plate a ton of runs, but the club can really pitch. Detroit’s biggest building block is Tarik Skubal, and the 27 year old had another great outing last night, lasting six innings of one-run ball. Skubal ranks top five in MLB with a 1.97 ERA.