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  Alden GonzalezOct 20, 2025, 01:10 PM ET

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  ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.

Albert Pujols is no longer a candidate to be the manager of the Los Angeles Angels, sources confirmed to ESPN on Monday.

Pujols, though, is scheduled to interview for the San Diego Padres’ managerial vacancy on Wednesday, a source told ESPN. The Baltimore Orioles have also previously reached out with interest, though an interview has not been scheduled, a source said.

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The Padres became one of eight teams in search of a new manager after Mike Shildt announced he would retire from his role, joining the Angels, Orioles, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies and Minnesota Twins.

Pujols, 45, is held in high regard by the Padres’ two most influential players — Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr.

Pujols is currently a special assistant for the Angels, as part of a 10-year, $10 million contract that was triggered after he retired in 2022. He interviewed with Angels general manager Perry Minasian in St. Louis on Oct. 9, but the two sides are no longer in talks, which was first reported by the New York Post.

The Angels have since granted permission to the Padres to interview Pujols, which was first reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Pujols has expressed strong interest in managing at the big league level for years and led a Dominican winter ball team, the Leones del Escogido, to a championship in January. Pujols was previously named manager for his native Dominican Republic in next year’s World Baseball Classic, though he would likely rescind that role if he lands a big league job this offseason.

The Angels declined the 2026 option on manager Ron Washington’s contract after the regular season.

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The future Hall of Famer and current special assistant to general manager Perry Minasian is no longer in the running for the clubâ€s open managerial position, a source told MLB.comâ€s Mark Feinsand on Monday. The club has not confirmed the news.

Pujols was once considered the front-runner for the position and interviewed with Minasian in St. Louis on Oct. 9, but contract talks broke down. Pujols is already on the clubâ€s payroll, earning $1 million a year as part of his 10-year personal services contract that started before the 2023 season.

Pujols is now considered a candidate for both the Orioles and Padres’ managerial vacancies; the three-time MVP indicated during Spring Training that he wanted to become a Major League manager and believed he was ready for the role.

With Pujols now out of the mix, the Angels still have two internal candidates in Torii Hunter and Kurt Suzuki. Both are former Angels who are currently special assistants to Minasian.

Hunter and Suzuki also spent time with the club down the stretch as the Angels conducted their organizational exit interviews. Hunter spent time in the dugout in several series and said in Texas that heâ€d be interested in managing if the right situation came up.

Suzuki also interviewed for the Giants†managerial opening. Both players also played for the Twins and could be candidates for that club’s vacancy.

Additional candidates who have been linked to the Angels include Rangers special assistant Nick Hundley, Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty, former Orioles manager Brandon Hyde and ex-Twins manager Rocco Baldelli.

Angels first-base coach Bo Porter, who managed the Astros in 2013 and ’14, also told The Athletic he has interest in managing again, but itâ€s unclear if the club views him as a candidate. The Angels told all of their coaches they are free to look elsewhere for jobs because the new manager will select his own staff.

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Mikel Arteta has spoken of his admiration for Atlético Madrid boss Diego Simeone and believes he could succeed in the Premier League if he ever moved to England.

Arsenal face Simeone’s side at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday as the Champions League group stage continues in what will be their first meeting since Arteta took charge of the Gunners in December 2019.

Simeone has been at Atlético for 14 years — winning La Liga and the Europa League twice among eight honours — but has repeatedly been linked with a switch to the Premier League amid interest at one time or another from various clubs including Manchester United and Chelsea.

When asked if the 56-year-old would thrive in English football’s top flight, Arteta said on Monday: “If he works in the Champions League, which is the highest competition in Europe, he can do it anywhere and, I don’t know, you have to come here and try it and feel it, but I’m very sure that his know-how is unbelievable and his character and willingness will take him anywhere, I think.

“We have enough super-good managers here so I don’t know, that will be completely up to him. If one day he wants to experience that, what I can say is that from what I’ve seen and after analysing the team, how well they are coached.”

Mikel Arteta will face Diego Simeone for the first time in his managerial career. Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Atlético’s defensive style has drawn comparisons with Arsenal’s rearguard resilience, having conceded just three goals in all competitions so far this season.

Arteta played down any comparisons but continued: “Obviously there is someone that I look up to and learn from him in many situations and what is for me outstanding is his passion.

“I think for how long he’s been in the game and in the same club with the same players, how you still have that hand and that capacity to transmit such an energy and willingness to win. It’s a very tough environment that we live in and to keep convincing players you have to be extraordinary well.”

– Arsenal win again with a set piece, but need to score more goals
– Arsenal’s Arteta taking lessons from Rams coach McVay

Piero Hincapié is available to potentially make his full Arsenal debut after recovering from a groin problem after missing Saturday’s 1-0 win over Fulham, which sent Arsenal three points clear at the top of the table.

They are now many bookmakers’ favourites to win their first title since 2004 and pushed on whether he embraced the favourites’ tag, Arteta said: “The only thing that I embrace is when I see the team, the energy, the temperature, the commitment and the quality that they can deliver, that it gives me that conviction that we can go all the way.

“But that’s it, that’s just a feeling that the next day you have to prove it, the next training session you have to prove it and nothing else, and we cannot be busy thinking about those topics.”

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Bound For Glorywas a time of celebration for the entire TNA Wrestling roster. For McKenzie Mitchell, it was a time to reflect on the companyâ€s rollercoaster journey. Her start into the business came through a three-year stint with the company. Earlier this year she returned home back in the role of ring announcer. Certainly, things like introducing the Hardy Boyz and Team 3D in their “One Final Table†will be a career highlight.

“Standing in the ring at Bound For Glory in Boston with nearly 8,000 people. Sometimes you donâ€t take the moment to stop and truly look around and look at what is happening before your eyes. For me, it was a moment to soak everything in,†Mitchell said. “You talk about the ‘One Final Table†match with the Hardyz and Dudleys. That is the last time those two iconic tag teams will be in the ring together.

“I was lucky to be a smart part of that. I told Bubba this the other day that I wanted to really do them justice of their careers and everything theyâ€ve done putting their bodies on the line year after year. For me, I was very lucky. I was very honored to be a part of that. Again, in wrestling because it moves so quickly…For Bound For Glory, before I did the announcement for the Dudleys and the Hardyz, I just stopped and looked around and saw everyone on their feet for this moment. It was really an opportunity to pay respect to them. It was so cool I was just a small part.â€

Itâ€s a great time to be a pro wrestling fan in this landscape of collaboration. Among those partnerships has been an unheard of one between TNA and WWEâ€s NXT brand. The two sides have been sharing talent, meshing, and overall working together. So much so that Mitchell was able to go back to her old stomping grounds at the WWE Performance Center where she helped ring announce for the NXT x TNA ‘Showdown†special. An added bonus was getting to see her husband, voice of NXT Vic Joseph, at work.

“Obviously, I started my career at TNA for three or four years of my life. I remember back then, in my resume reel I was submitting to WWE to get hired by WWE, it was almost this feeling that Iâ€m this TNA girl,†Mitchell recalled. “I think back then…I applied on the website, WWECareers.com. I also made a new resume reel that was things that were outside of professional wrestling, that wasnâ€t just TNA wrestling. I didnâ€t know that for a fact, but it kind of felt like it was hurting my chances of being able to make the transition to WWE. I went out and filmed other things to show my versatility and what I could do as a broadcaster.

“Now you fast forward to this partnership, something we thought would never happen because they were separate brands. You were either TNA or WWE. Now to see this seamless blend of this partnership. I think itâ€s something the fans can appreciate. True TNA diehard fans are getting their feel. WWE fans are getting their feel. These are matches you would never have thought would happen. Jeâ€Von Evans and Leon Slater, what in the world? The talent these two have in the ring is really cool. Whatâ€s really awesome, to put it in a one-word way, but itâ€s awesome to see the growth that has been had and is still to come. Talking about working with my husband, itâ€s almost like this full-circle moment. Starting in TNA, going to WWE, and going back to TNA and still doing this handshake moment is really awesome for me.â€

Mitchell loves wearing many hats. Her skillset has taken her from ring announcing to broadcasting to interviewing. However, one part of the pro wrestling show we havenâ€t seen is an actual in-ring performer. Will that ever happen?

“I have never taken a bump,†Mitchell answered. “In all of my years in professional wrestling, Iâ€ve been in wrestling for 10 years, Iâ€ve never taken a bump. Now something you say in wrestling is never say never. I always have to say never say never. I would like to take one kind of bump, whether itâ€s in a match or just behind the scenes just so when I have kids one day I can say, ‘your mom did that one time and it hurt really, really bad.†I think I would want to because I would then be able to relate what these athletes do week in and week out, putting their body on the line.

“I have been approached several times about having the match. For me it’s a matter of, I think Iâ€m a better talker than I am wrestler or would-be wrestler. I did grow up an athlete. I was a cheerleader. I was a dancer. I played volleyball, so I was athletic growing up. If the right opportunity would present itself, maybe I would have my Michael Cole moment at WrestleMania. We all remember that moment. Never say never, but it would have to be the right opportunity for me.â€

Though she might be a little too busy these days to buckle down for training. After all Mitchell is a mogul in the making. Not only does she have her commitments to TNA, but she is a business owner and brand boss within the jewelry industry.  The entrepreneur owns a Headline by MM online store, as well as a formal store in Nashville. For Mitchell, the business venture follows in the footsteps of her family, which spans more than 75 years in the jewelry business. Her Drippin collection took off thanks to those who have worn custom pieces from Seth Rollins to Trick Williams. Jeff Hardy even sported a piece of Mitchellâ€s collection during Bound For Glory.She also has some of country musicâ€s biggest names like Sarah Evans and Lainey Wilson wearing her jewelry.

“I wanted it to be the perfect blend within my professional life and personal life kind of creating this moment coming together,†she said. “…It has snowballed, and Iâ€m so excited to see where we go with this and how we can build this dream.â€

One person who has yet to be a customer is her own husband. Joseph does support the wife, including the promotion of her upcoming book “Threads of Triumph Professional Wrestling’s Most Iconic Looks.â€However, McKenzie admits he owns zero Headline by MM products.

“I say this to my husband all the time. I know a thing or two about fashion, why do you not want to just listen to me,†she explained. “Put on a necklace, a lapel pin, there are so many things we can do. My husband is very set in his ways, and so weâ€re working on it. The other day we were at Disney with the Garganos, and Johnny was wearing a nice bracelet. I said, ‘See, Johnny is wearing a bracelet. Why canâ€t you wear a bracelet?†Shawn Michaels was wearing a nice watch the other day. I said, ‘See, Shawn is wearing a nice watch.â€

“This is how it goes. Maybe, maybe heâ€ll start wearing something. But to keep it simple, he owns zero pieces. It is one of those things too when you’re growing up and your mom says you should wear this. And you think, ‘mom thatâ€s a dumb idea.†Itâ€s similar. The fact he still doesn’t believe I know what I’m talking about. Maybe one day heâ€ll realize, ‘hey, maybe my wife does know what she is talking about.â€â€

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Jurgen Klinsmann (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) Juergen Klinsmann enjoys a rare distinction of being part of Der Klassiker both as a player and a coach. He is one of the four managers to have played for Bayern Munich and coached the Bavarian elites. Croatian Niko Kovac, the current Borussia Dortmund coach plotting to disrupt Bayern Munichâ€s all-win record this season on Saturday, is also part of the unique club. Talking to TOI on Wednesday, an excited Klinsmann expressed his thoughts on the upcoming fixture, considered to be the biggest draw in the Bundesliga. With Dortmundâ€s Serhou Guirassy cleared to play, the German goal-scoring legend feels that his eyes will sway between the Guinean striker and Bayernâ€s in-form Harry Kane. “Well, I think these are the games that, as a striker, you wait for the whole year. You badly want to score in these matchups. So, obviously it doesnâ€t need extra motivation for any of the players when these two teams clash because itâ€s a big deal in Germany and for all the Bundesliga fans around the world.†Klinsmann obviously loves talking about strikers. “Kane, Guirassy, (Michael) Olise, (Karim) Adeyemi, all, Iâ€m sure, wait for such evenings. Days before, you kind of think through it and you wish you want to score. Immediately television and social media will showcase the moment around the world and thatâ€s pretty cool.†Scoring seems to come as naturally as breathing for Harry Kane, the English captain in Bayernâ€s forward lineup. He has already scored 21 goals for club and country. Guirassy, too, has 10 to his credit across all competitions. “I think games like that, you want to have somebody to stand out. You want to have somebody to put the stamp on the match. And when you have players of this calibre, then all us football fans want to wait for these moments. We want to see them kind of prove a point,†said the German goal-scoring legend. Klinsmann couldnâ€t help referring to his playing days but not in a glorifying nostalgic way. Accepting the evolution of the game, he said, “The video analysts and the coaching staff dissect your game so thoroughly that they know where the weaknesses of the opponents are, how to break them down. During my days, things werenâ€t that sophisticated. We were not so deeply prepared by video analysts about the opponents.†(Watch Bundesliga 2025-26 Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund on 18th October 2025 from 10 PM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 2 SD & HD.)

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Image: AEW

During a Thursday media call, AEW head Tony Khan talked about the contract situation with Andrade El Idolo (somewhat) in addition to the new ratings system, injury updates to two stars, potentially two Blood & Guts matches, and more.

The full audio from the call can be found below.

Andrade

Asked about the Andrade contract situation, Khan didn’t directly answer the question, even when offered the chance to do so on a follow-up. Khan said he has a ton of respect for him, calling him an amazing wrestler and said he would echo his statements at Worlds End in December 2023. He felt he left on a high note then and still feels that way. He’s excited to see what’s next for him and that was all he could say about it.

Nielsen ratings changes

Khan was asked about the new “Big Data + Panel” ratings methodology by Nielsen & how it’s affected wrestling. He said it will be interesting to look at and thinks they are overall having a really good year and “some of the best results of anybody.” Khan said he’s a part of different sports leagues and is aware of the differences & trying to learn from them. They need to adapt to the changing environment, but they are still trying to figure everything out.

Two Blood & Guts matches

Asked about whether there will be two Blood & Guts matches this year, he thinks they are heading toward both the men and women doing just that. He didn’t directly say the Greensboro, North Carolina, show in November will host two such matches, but he certainly seemed to hint at it.

Kota Ibushi & Swerve Strickland

Asked about Ibushi following his injury last week, Khan said the injury was “devastating for many reasons.” He was planned for the WrestleDream card and they had to make changes accordingly. He is looking forward to having him back if & when he is able. He added that sitting with Kenny Omega and Ibushi together at the Daily’s Place office last week was a “dream come true.”

On Strickland, Khan says he hopes he can come back “relatively soon” and based on conversations he had as recently as today, “he’s on a good pace and sooner than later.”

WrestleDream card updates

Khan said he has “undeniably” changed things for Saturday, but expects WrestleDream to be “an excellent, excellent show.” He is making changes and “going to try some things.” Ibushi was one of the things that necessitated a change.

Future AEW training/developmental facility?

Asked about interest in an AEW developmental/training facility, Khan said he’s interested in that, but was surprised at yesterday’s Fightful report about Asheville, North Carolina, saying there was some truth but was only part of the story. He played it off as kayfabe, saying he would be interested if FTR, Adam Copeland and Christian Cage could all make amends. He confirmed there were talks about such a place, but those issues would need to be figured out first.

Other Notes:

• He also mentioned the wife of Lou Thesz is expected to be at WrestleDream as he wants to honor the spirit of wrestling in St. Louis. He said he would honor Antonio Inoki (for whom the event was initially done in tribute to) but didn’t specify how.

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From Connor McDavid and Kirill Kaprizov to Anthony Stolarz and Jake Walman, many impending free agents have already locked up contract extensions.

Tuch has pressed pause on negotiations with the Atlantic Division club, agent Brian Bartlett told Daily Faceoff on Thursday.

“We werenâ€t able to kind of get to what made a deal before the season. And then at this point, weâ€ve just put it on the back burner,” Bartlett told Irfaan Gaffar and David Pagnotta on the DFO Rundown Inside Edition.

Tuch, 29, is set to be among the most highly sought free agents if he makes it to July 1. At 1-3, the Buffalo Sabres could even make him a prize of the trade deadline if they choose to sell.

In 82 games last season, Tuch matched a career high with 36 goals to go with 31 assists. The Syracuse, N.Y., native is now in his fifth season with the Sabres after being dealt from the Vegas Golden Knights as part of the trade sending former Buffalo captain Jack Eichel the other way.

Bartlett said he and the team engaged in “consistent” communication regarding Tuch throughout the past off-season.

“We had some good conversations, got kind of the parameters of whatever everyone was thinking. Itâ€s very clear to us that the Buffalo Sabres would like Alex Tuch to re-sign long-term. Thatâ€s been communicated very well, very clearly, very effectively by (Sabres general manager) Kevyn Adams and the staff there,” Bartlett said.

“And I think hopefully weâ€ve communicated back to them that Alex would be very happy to stay in Buffalo, as well.”

In 540 career games with the Minnesota Wild, Golden Knights and Sabres, Tuch owns 168 goals and 217 assists for 385 points.

He was originally selected 18th overall by the Wild in the 2014 draft, but was traded to the Golden Knights ahead of their 2017 expansion draft and became a key part of the ‘Golden Misfits’ that went to the Stanley Cup Final in their first year of existence.

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Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton will eventually recover from the torn Achilles he suffered in the 2025 NBA Finals. The significance of the injury is something he may never forget.

“I think the grief for me is Game 7,” Haliburton told Sports Illustrated‘s Chris Mannix. “That was what I grieved more than anything, that game, that moment, and really that series. It was really hard for me after to not think about Game 2, Game 4, Game 5. Because if something would’ve changed in that game for us to win, I would’ve never been in that situation. You know what I mean? You can’t play that game necessarily because you will drive yourself crazy, you’ll never know, but I think that’s what I really dealt with early.

“And I think even when I got hurt, when I was overcome with emotion, it was more about that game and the championship. Because I know, I have the utmost faith that I’m going to come back and be better and be able to get right back and do the same things I was doing before the injury. I have no doubt about that. I think a lot of the grief for me was the series itself, the championship, because it felt like it was right there.”

Haliburton added that “I’ll never be fully over it and just be able to move on.”

The Pacers may have come up short even if the two-time All-Star never goes down. The Oklahoma City Thunder were the stronger team in the regular season, and they won three of the last four games in the Finals. Would you have bet against them in a winner-take-all Game 7 at home?

Also, it’s not as simple as assuming the Finals end differently if Indiana takes Games 2, 4 or 5, since that may have invited a different response from OKC than what we saw.

Haliburton’s general lament is understandable. There’s no telling when or if he and the Pacers can put together a run like they did in the 2025 playoffs. They got red hot at the right time, and their best player was money in clutch situations time and again.

Making the 2007 Finals wasn’t a springboard for the Cleveland Cavaliers during LeBron James’ first stint there. Two years later, the Orlando Magic made the Finals and haven’t since returned to those heights. Spurred on by their runner-up finish in 2021, the Phoenix Suns saw their all-in experiment blow up spectacularly in their faces.

You don’t want to get too morose, but some stars only get one crack at the Finals.

Haliburton, 25, still as a lot of career left ahead, and you hope the stars will align again to put him in contention for a championship.

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John Cena’s WWE Farewell Tour was about pulling off the Never Seen 17th World Title win, a heel turn fans salivated over during his career peak, and most importantly, a love letter to his wrestling career.

He squared off with some of his iconic past rivals, like Randy Orton, CM Punk, Brock Lesnar, and AJ Styles. One name that did not make the list was Rob Van Dam.

At ECW One Night Stand 2006, John Cena likely experienced, for the first time, a completely one-sided hostile reaction from the fans, with signs that read “If Cena wins, we riot” displayed in the crowd. That match against Van Dam in New York City was one of Cena’s career highlights, as he fell to RVD following too many shenanigans, much to the delight of the people.

Rob Van Dam Details The Conversation He Had With WWE Regarding A Match Against John Cena

Rob Van Dam had recently claimed that he was considered for John Cena’s WWE Farewell Tour in 2025 until his injury rendered it impossible.

Now, on WrestleBinge, Van Dam gave in to renowned journalist Bill Apter’s question about whether he was actually in talks with WWE’s higher-ups regarding a match as part of Cena’s Farewell Tour.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I did,” Van Dam said. “At first, I didn’t think [WWE] would be as interested as they apparently were, and so, I started to get a little excited about it. I don’t know if they actually talked to John [Cena] about it, you know? But one of the times, when I was talking to someone about it, they–I don’t remember if it was Paul [Levesque] or Paul [Heyman] in this conversation, but either way, they were like, ‘If John wants to do it, Boom! It’s a shoo-in; for sure. We just need to sell it to him,’ and I was like, ‘All right.’”

The ECW legend noted that WWE was interested in booking their match in Philadelphia, the home of Extreme Championship Wrestling. However, the double heel fracture he suffered in April changed everything.

And so, I don’t know if John was actually aware of it or not, but I was talking to the office about doing it, and was told, ‘If we’re in Philly, it’s a shoo-in.’ Easy. If we’re not doing a show in Philly, well, that doesn’t mean we can’t do it, but we’ll have to think about it; figure it out.’

I was feeling pretty good about the direction it was going, and then, I’m off my feet for most of the year with two broken heels,” RVD concluded.

John Cena’s last match against AJ Styles this past Saturday saw him and Styles pay tribute to many of their past rivals. The Phenomenal One is also in the twilight of his wrestling career, as he confirmed retirement in 2026.

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Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish says talks have taken place with Oliver Glasner about extending the contract of the Eagles manager as the two parties look to “align their interests”.

Glasner will be out of contract at the end of the season and there is uncertainty about the 51-year-old’s future at the club.

Sources have told BBC Sport the Austrian was offered a new contract earlier this summer, but he has yet to put pen to paper on an extension.

“We’ve had some early conversations,” Parish told Talksport. “We would love to keep Oliver, we’re building something. I think for Oliver it’s about the conditions being right.”

Glasner took over as Palace boss in February 2024 and won the FA Cup with them last season for the club’s first major trophy.

Their victory meant they qualified for the Europa League, but they were demoted to the Conference League for breaching multi-club ownership rules.

Glasner also led Palace to victory against Liverpool in the Community Shield in August and has steered them to sixth in the Premier League following a promising start to the season – four points off top spot.

“It’s about everything being in a way that he enjoys his work and he finds the conditions favourable to achieve,” added Parish.

“Oliver wants to win things, he makes no secret of that. That’s what he’s in football for.

“So if we can align those interests then hopefully we can make something happen.”

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