Mets acquire outfielder Jesse Winker from Nationals for Double-A pitcher Tyler Stuart

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Mets acquire outfielder Jesse Winker from Nationals for Double-A pitcher Tyler Stuart

2024-07-29 07:51 Last Updated At：08:00

NEW YORK (AP) — The resurgent New York Mets strengthened their lineup for a postseason run, obtaining outfielder Jesse Winker from the Washington Nationals for a minor league pitcher in a trade that was finalized Sunday.

Washington acquired 6-foot-9 right-hander Tyler Stuart, who was 3-7 with a 3.96 ERA in 17 starts for Double-A Binghamton this season. The 24-year-old Stuart was selected by New York in the sixth round of the 2022 amateur draft out of Southern Mississippi.

Winker adds a dangerous left-handed bat to a Mets offense that’s been one of the best in baseball over the past two months.

“I can’t say enough amazing things about this team,” he said. “I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Winker figures to start in the outfield against right-handers, giving New York even more punch with right fielder Starling Marte on the injured list since late June because of a bone bruise in his right knee.

“Big move,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He’s going to get a lot of opportunities, especially against right-handed pitching.”

To make room for Winker on the roster, outfielder DJ Stewart was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse before Sunday’s 9-2 loss to Atlanta. New York (55-50) fell 1 1/2 games behind the Braves for second place in the NL East, but the Mets still hold the league’s final wild card.

Since dropping 10 games behind the Braves on June 2, the Mets are 31-15. Atlanta snapped New York’s five-game winning streak Saturday behind a dominant pitching performance from rookie Spencer Schwellenbach in a 4-0 victory.

“You want to be a part of a playoff race and winning baseball games,” Winker said.

Winker hit .257 with 11 home runs, 45 RBIs and a .793 OPS in 101 games for Washington. He also had 14 stolen bases, 13 more than his previous career high, and ranked eighth in the National League with a .374 on-base percentage.

He learned of the trade Saturday night during the Nationals’ 14-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals — although the teams didn’t announce the deal until Sunday morning.

“It was shortly after my third at-bat,” Winker said. “Once I found out I was coming (to New York), I was extremely excited.”

Winker, who turns 31 next month, was an All-Star for Cincinnati in 2021 before a down year with Seattle in 2022 and an injury-wrecked one with Milwaukee in 2023.

He revived his career with the Nationals after signing a minor league contract in February that included an invitation to spring training. He is earning a $2 million salary this season and can become a free agent again after the World Series.

Winker was born in Buffalo, New York, and he’s enjoyed a playful back-and-forth with Mets fans at Citi Field over the years, drawing boos for waving at them following big home runs and a sliding catch to end a game. He moved to Orlando, Florida, at age 7 and played travel baseball with current Mets slugger Pete Alonso and against new teammate Francisco Lindor.

“It was fun,” Winker said of his relationship with the New York fan base. “I think my first couple of full seasons I was maybe a little on the immature side and I had some fun. Obviously, it’s a passionate fan base and I’m excited to play hard for them.”

Winker, who took a 7:30 a.m. flight from St. Louis, was not in the lineup Sunday. He received a nice ovation from the Citi Field crowd before striking out as a pinch hitter in the eighth.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

South Carolina returns to the NCAA title game and gets a rematch of 2022 against Bueckers and UConn

2025-04-05 13:18 Last Updated At：13:21

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The journey has been more challenging than usual, but Dawn Staley and defending national champion South Carolina are still getting the job done.

The Gamecocks (35-3) overwhelmed Southeastern Conference rival Texas 74-57 on Friday night in the Final Four of the women's NCAA Tournament, advancing to the title game Sunday against UConn (36-3), an 85-51 winner over No. 1 overall seed UCLA.

Coach Geno Auriemma's Huskies traveled to Columbia, South Carolina, in the regular season and dominated the Gamecocks, winning 87-58 on Feb. 16.

This is the seventh time The Associated Press preseason Nos. 1 and 2 teams will play in the women's NCAA championship game. South Carolina beat UConn in the 2022 title game after the teams began that season ranked 1-2.

The No. 1 preseason team is 6-0 in the previous title games against the preseason No. 2. The Huskies' Paige Bueckers will try to end that streak as she seeks a national title, the only prize left in a remarkable collegiate career. UConn's loss to South Carolina in 2022 concluded an injury-marred sophomore season for Bueckers, who is expected to be the top overall pick in the WNBA draft.

South Carolina enters its third title game in four years coming off its best all-around performance of this tournament and is trying to become the first program to repeat as national champion since Auriemma led UConn to four straight titles from 2013-2016.

UConn has won a record 11 national titles, and South Carolina’s emergence as a perennial championship contenders has come in the nine years since the Huskies have won a title, Auriemma suggested that Sunday’s matchup is only fitting.

"We’ve certainly played each other a number of times in big, big games … and so it does feel like the two most prominent programs right now in women’s college basketball are playing for the right to be national champions,” Auriemma said.

“They deserve to be here,” the UConn coach added. “We deserve to be here.”

Unlike previous title-winning teams led by Staley, South Carolina has endured a difficult run to the title game. Her resilient squad lacks superstars but finds ways to win.

Following double-digit victories over Tennessee Tech and Indiana in the first two rounds, the Gamecocks won close games against No. 4 seed Maryland and No. 2 seed Duke in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight.

They started slowly again Friday night, took their first lead early in the second quarter and wore down Texas after halftime.

The bench, led by freshman Joyce Edwards, once again sparked the Gamecocks. South Carolina’s reserves scored 35 points against the Longhorns, with Edwards finishing with 13 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

“Obviously, we have one more to go and we’re just really excited to get going on Sunday,” South Carolina’s Te-Hina Paopao said. “We’re going to be really prepared and ready. It’s going to be a 40-minute battle.”

UConn, appearing in its record 24th Final Four, advanced to the title game for the 13th time. It will try to become the fourth school to beat three No. 1 seeds on the way to an NCAA tournament title.

The others to do it: Tennessee in 1987, Louisiana Tech in 1988 and Baylor in 2005. In addition to toppling UCLA, UConn beat Southern California in the Elite Eight.

Bueckers can hardly wait.

"We prayed, we prepared and hoped to be playing on the last day of the season,” she said. “We got that opportunity, so we don’t want to take it for granted.”

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