National Sports

National sports stories from The Associated Press.

NFL midseason trends: Why scoring is up, offenses are bigger, and finishes are dramatic

As the NFL passes the midpoint of the season, there are a few trends that have started to develop. Scoring is up thanks in part to some special teams rule changes and increased aggressiveness on fourth downs, offenses are getting bigger with more plays than ever with an extra lineman or tight ...

MLB spring training scheduled to open Feb. 20

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball's spring training schedule will open Feb. 20 with seven games, including the New York Yankees against Baltimore in Sarasota, Florida, and the Chicago Cubs against the Chicago White Sox at Mesa, Arizona. The schedule announced Wednesday also includes ...

153 MLB players enter free agency

NEW YORK (AP) — Boston third baseman Alex Bregman and right-hander Lucas Giolito, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and closer Edwin Díaz and New York Yankees outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger were among the players who turned down player options or exercised opt outs and become ...

Jets trade star cornerback Sauce Gardner to Colts in stunning deadline deal

The New York Jets pulled off a stunner by saying so long to Sauce Gardner. The star cornerback, one of the team's most popular and accomplished players, was traded to the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday for a first-round draft pick in 2026 and another in 2027, along with wide receiver Adonai ...