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Orioles sign Jackson Baumeister, highest-drafted pitcher in Mike Elias era, for $1.6 million to complete 2023 class

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:40:12 GMT

Before the 2023 draft, the last time the Orioles selected a pitcher before the third round was in 2018 when they took a right-hander named Grayson Rodriguez No. 11 overall.The organization has displayed a clear preference for position players early in drafts since executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias took over in November 2018, with the Orioles using all 13 of their first- and second-round selections from 2019 to 2022 on hitters.That changed earlier this month when the Orioles selected Florida State right-handed pitcher Jackson Baumeister No. 63 overall in Competitive Balance Round B following the second round. Shortly before Tuesday’s 5 p.m. deadline for MLB teams to sign their draft picks, the Orioles announced they agreed to terms with Baumeister, who will be joining the No. 1-ranked farm system in the sport, according to Baseball America.Baumeister signed for just north of $1.6 million, according to a source with direct knowledge of the agreement. The bo...

Mets likely forgoing IL stint for Tommy Pham due to outfielder’s trade value ahead of deadline

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:40:12 GMT

Over the last two weeks, the Mets have continually lauded Tommy Pham for his honest assessments of his own health while dealing with groin soreness. The Mets trust that what he says is accurate and they appreciate the work he is putting into getting back on the field.“Tommy had another good day. He’s better today than he was Sunday,” manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday at Yankee Stadium ahead of the Subway Series. “I talked to him after he got through. We’re hoping that being able to turn him loose completely is imminent. He’s more available than he was yesterday to do some things. He’s a really good judge of where he is physically and he’s pretty frank about it. We trust him.”The trust is all well and good, but at this point, he’s been dealing with groin soreness and tightness since July 9. The Mets could’ve put him on the injured list but that would complicate his trade value.Pham and relievers Brooks Raley and Davi...

Haley returns to New Hampshire as campaign struggles to gain ground

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:40:12 GMT

HOLLIS, N.H. — Nikki Haley seems to be learning what voters want to hear — and what they don’t — as she travels.The former governor of South Carolina joined a small group of supporters in Hollis, N.H., the second in a pair of planned stops in the Granite State that comes as her presidential campaign struggles to keep up with other conservatives vying to unseat Donald Trump from the top of the Republican ticket and despite her blazing a campaign trail through the several early primary states.Haley, who served under the 45th President as his Ambassador to the United Nations, delivered an almost identical speech Tuesday to others she’s provided to first-in-the-nation primary voters before, complete with the same self-deprecating jokes about her personal and political past but occasionally varying outside of party talking points.The former governor seemed to surprise the audience somewhat when she made it clear that the current state of the economy cannot be laid...

Crews battle fire on MCAS Miramar base

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:40:12 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A fire caused by a military explosion broke out on Tuesday at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, according to officials.The fire, which started at two acres in East Miramar around 2:34 p.m., has now surpassed 105 acres, MCAS Miramar tweeted at 4:52 p.m.MCAS Miramar says the fire was caused by an Explosive Ordnance Disposal detonation during training. Man dies on hiking trail Multiple agencies are at the scene working to put out the fire. Two helicopters and two Type 3 Strike Teams from San Diego Fire-Rescue are also on site to assist in containing it.No injuries or structural damage has been reported at this time, officials said.Check back for updates on this developing story.

UK billionaire Joe Lewis, owner of Tottenham soccer team, charged with insider trading in US

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:40:12 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — British billionaire and Tottenham soccer team owner Joe Lewis has been indicted in the U.S. on charges of slipping confidential business information to others, including his romantic partners and private pilots, prosecutors said Tuesday. Manhattan-based U.S. attorney Damian Williams announced the insider trading case in a video posted on Twitter. Williams outlined charges of “brazen” insider dealing by Lewis, saying that he exploited his entrée to various corporations to reap tips that he slipped to people in his own inner circle, who deployed the knowledge to make stock trades and millions of dollars.“As we allege, he used insider information as a way to compensate his employees and shower gifts on his friends and lovers,” Williams said. “It’s cheating, and it’s against the law.” David M. Zornow, an attorney for Lewis, said in a statement that the “government has made an egregious error in judgment in charging Mr. Lewis, an 86-year-old man of impeccable integr...

As Twitter fades to X, TikTok steps up with new text-based posts

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:40:12 GMT

The same day Elon Musk abruptly dropped Twitter’s name and bird logo as part of its supposed transition to an “anything app” called X, TikTok impishly announced it will begin letting its users post — you guessed it — text-based messages. The popular Chinese-owned app, best known for lip-synced dances, often farcical “challenges” and other short videos, didn’t offer much explanation for the new feature. It did note in a statement that the service is “expanding the boundaries of content creation” by showcasing the written creativity users have previously had to share via comments and video captions. TikTok announced the new feature late Monday.It wasn’t clear to what extent users have embraced text posts in their first full day of availability. That’s partly because searching on variations of the term “text post” largely turned up examples of a popular video genre — those focused on text message phone conversations, typically selected for humorous effect. There were also a...

Attorney for ex-student charged in California stabbing deaths says he’s not mentally fit for trial

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:40:12 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The former college student charged with murder in the stabbing deaths of two people and attempted murder of a third in a Northern California university town has not showered in the nearly three months he’s been in jail, goes days without eating and believes he will return to classes, his attorney said Tuesday. The remarks by Dan Hutchinson, a Yolo County deputy public defender, came during a proceeding to determine whether Carlos Dominguez is mentally competent to participate in a criminal trial over the stabbings that rocked the University of California, Davis, campus and surrounding community. Hutchinson said he will present evidence showing that Dominguez started showing outward signs of schizophrenia toward the end of his freshman year. Prosecutors said Dominguez is “toying with the system” and should face a criminal trial. Jurors will ultimately decide whether he is fit for trial. To be found mentally unfit, the defense must show that Dominguez cannot...

Michael K. Williams’ nephew urges compassion for defendant at sentencing related to actor’s death

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:40:12 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A 71-year-old man linked to a crew of drug dealers blamed in the fentanyl-laced heroin death of “The Wire” actor Michael K. Williams was sentenced Tuesday to more than two years in prison at a proceeding in which the actor’s nephew recommended compassion for the defendant.Carlos Macci was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams, who told Macci that selling heroin and fentanyl “not only cost Mr. Williams his life, but it’s costing your freedom,” in part because he did not stop selling drugs after Williams died.Macci had pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess and distribute narcotics.The judge noted that more than 3,000 fatal overdoses occurred in New York City last year, killing many who never understood the threat they faced from lethal doses of drugs whose components were unclear.Williams, who also starred in films and other TV series including “Boardwalk Empire,” overdosed in his Brooklyn penthouse apartment in September 2021....

Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz dies at age 70

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:40:12 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Rocky Wirtz, who won three Stanley Cups as owner of the Chicago Blackhawks and presided over the team during one of the NHL’s biggest scandals, has died. He was 70.The Blackhawks said in a release that Wirtz died on Tuesday, and it said it was a “sudden passing.” But no further details were provided.NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a release that the league was “deeply saddened” by Wirtz’s death.“Devoted to family and the Chicago Blackhawks, Rocky was a native son of Chicago and an accomplished businessman,” Bettman said. “Rocky took over control of the Blackhawks in 2007 and almost immediately restored the passion and following of this storied, Original Six franchise.”Rocky Wirtz was two years old when his grandfather, Arthur Wirtz, purchased the Blackhawks in 1954. Rocky Wirtz took over the team after his father, William, died in September 2007.William Wirtz was nicknamed “Dollar Bill” for his frugality when it came to acquiring the services o...

Man and woman charged in human trafficking, forced minor into sex trade: police

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:40:12 GMT

Toronto police have arrested and charged a man and a woman for their involvement in human trafficking after an underage female victim was forced into the sex trade “through a combination of deception, direction and control.”Investigators said the Toronto Police Service Human Trafficking Enforcement Team looked into allegations in June. It’s alleged that the accused manipulated the victim into human trafficking.Police noted that all of the money earned by the female victim was surrendered to the accused.Authorities arrested two people on June 27. They were identified as 24-year-old Isaac Shakur Semi-Bi and 30-year-old Jade Marchand Rondeau.The man faces 16 total charges. They include trafficking in persons under 18 years by exercising control, trafficking in persons under 18 years by recruiting, financial benefit/trafficking person under 18, material benefit from sexual services provided by a person under 18, procuring/recruiting a person under 18 to provide sexual ...