TAMPA, Fla. -- New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner on Friday emphasized that he has not ordered his front office to drop the team's player payroll below the highest competitive balance tax threshold of $301 million this season.

Steinbrenner, however, questioned whether fielding a payroll in that range is prudent.

"Does having a huge payroll really increase my chances that much of winning the championship?" Steinbrenner said. "I'm not sure there's a strong correlation there. Having said that, we're the New York Yankees, we know what our fans expect. We're always going to be one of the highest in payroll. That's not going to change. And it certainly didn't change this year."

In the wild-card era (since 1995), 21 of the 30 teams to win the World Series ranked in the top 10 in Opening Day payroll. However, just three teams since 2009, the year the Yankees claimed their last championship, have won the World Series ranked in the top three in payroll: The 2018 Boston Red Sox (first in the majors), 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers (second) and 2024 Dodgers (third).

This year, Steinbrenner said the Yankees, one of the most valuable franchises in professional sports, are currently projected to have a CBT payroll between $307 million and $308 million after a busy winter that included losing Juan Soto in free agency but adding Max Fried, Devin Williams, Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt. Cot's Contracts, which tracks baseball salaries and payrolls, estimates the number to be $304.7 million, ranking fourth in the majors behind the Dodgers, New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies.

The Yankees have ranked in the top three in payroll in 16 of the 17 seasons since Steinbrenner became chairman and controlling owner of the franchise in 2008. The exception was 2018, when the team finished seventh.

The team was one of the nine levied tax penalties last season -- the Yankees paid $62.5 million as one of four clubs taxed at a base rate of 50% for exceeding the lowest threshold in three or more straight years -- and one of four levied the stiffest penalties for surpassing the highest threshold. As a result, their first-round pick in the 2025 draft dropped 10 slots.

This season, any dollar spent over $301 million will come with a 60% surcharge.

"I would say no," Steinbrenner said when asked whether dropping below the highest threshold is a priority. "The threshold is not the concern to me."

The Yankees, however, have tried to trade right-hander Marcus Stroman to shed salary and perhaps allocate the money elsewhere, according to sources. Stroman is due to make $18.5 million this season, but he isn't projected to break camp in the team's starting rotation.

The two-time All-Star started the Yankees' first Grapefruit League game of the year Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays, tossing a scoreless inning a week after missing the first two days of workouts and emphasizing he would not pitch out of the bullpen this season. He maintained his stance Friday.

"I haven't thought about it, to be honest," Stroman said after departing the Yankees' 4-0 win. "I know who I am as a pitcher. I'm a very confident pitcher. I don't think you'd want someone in your starting rotation that would be like, 'Hey, I'm going to go to the bullpen.' That's not someone you'd want."

Steinbrenner also reiterated that he would consider supporting a salary cap for the next collective bargaining agreement if a floor is also implemented "so that clubs that I feel aren't spending enough on payroll to improve their team would have to spend more."

The current CBA is set to expire after the 2026 season.

Reds manager Terry Francona plans to opt out of elective participation in the automated ball-strike challenge trial during spring training but is willing to let Cincinnati's minor league players accustomed to the procedure use the system.

ABS allows pitchers, hitters and catchers an immediate objection to a ball-strike call. Major League Baseball is not fully adopting the system -- which has been used in the minor leagues -- this season but began a trial Thursday involving 13 spring training ballparks. Teams are allowed two challenges per game, which must come from on-field players and not the dugout or manager.

"I'm OK with seeing our younger kids do it because they've done it," Francona said. "It's not a strategy for [the MLB teams], so why work on it? I don't want to make a farce of anything, but we're here getting ready for a season and that's not helping us get ready."

ABS was used for the first time at Camelback Ranch in Thursday's spring training opener between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs.

For nearly a half-century, the New York Yankees' facial-hair policy kept the visages of some of the world's most famous baseball players whisker-free. Over the past week, with a nudge from a new player and the advice of an All-Star cast, team owner Hal Steinbrenner changed the face of the Yankees. Literally.

"Everyone was kind of stunned," said Yankees closer Devin Williams, whose desire to sport his signature beard helped spur the rule change that will allow players to wear more than a mustache. "There were a few guys who had heard it was being discussed and a possibility, but that it actually happened -- I'm just looking forward to it growing back."

The announcement by the Yankees on Friday morning that players would be allowed to grow a "well-groomed beard" sent shockwaves through the sport. The draconian rule instituted in 1976 by then-owner George Steinbrenner had been maintained for more than a decade and a half since his death, and Hal Steinbrenner, his son, had shown no signs of relenting.

When Williams showed up to Yankees spring training in Tampa, Florida, last week for the first time after arriving in an offseason trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, he finally came face-to-face with his longtime nemesis: a razor. Never had Williams thrown a pitch in the major leagues without at least a healthy layer of stubble. After shearing his beard, he looked in the mirror, didn't recognize who was looking back and eventually took his concerns to Yankees manager Aaron Boone.

Williams later relayed the frustration to general manager Brian Cashman, who listened to his points -- about how players who feel their best will play their best, about the hypocrisy of a policy implemented to promote clean-cut players applying only to facial hair below the upper lip -- and agreed. Steinbrenner then sat down with Williams, and the moment to push for a facial-hair revolution had arrived.

The inconsistent application of the policy -- from Goose Gossage's Fu Manchu to later-than-5-o'clock shadows on the faces of Thurman Munson to Andy Pettitte to Roger Clemens -- was just the beginning of the argument for change. There were concerns that players might pass up opportunities to play for the Yankees because of an attachment to their beards. Steinbrenner heard the case and Monday discussed with a cast of stars -- alumni Ron Guidry, Pettitte and newly minted Hall of Famer CC Sabathia plus current players Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton -- how they saw it.

In the days thereafter, Steinbrenner came away from the conversations convinced: No longer was banning stubble worth the trouble.

"Winning was the most important thing to my father," Steinbrenner said. "And again, if somebody came and told him that they were very sure that this could affect us getting the players we want to get, all we're trying to do every offseason, right, is put ourselves in the best position to get a player that we're trying to get. And if something like this would detract from that, lessen our chances, I don't know. I think he might be a little apt to do the change that I did than people think because it was about winning."

Steinbrenner and Cashman announced the change to the team Friday morning -- and the players responded with appreciation.

"It's a big deal," said Cole, who had worn a beard with his past two teams, Pittsburgh and Houston. "I just threw today, and no one cares. Nobody is talking about how I look. I feel like I obviously, being a Yankee fan [growing up], wanted to emulate everything the Yankees did, so it was kind of cool that I was able to shave and be a part of that legacy. And then it's also really cool at the same time that we're transitioning to a different legacy to a certain extent, moving forward."

Williams will be moving forward by not shaving. He said he expects his beard to grow back in two to three weeks. While he believes his past facial hair "was pretty well-groomed," he's happy to cut it shorter if the team desires "because it's nice to feel like you're being listened to."

"Hal took the time to hear Devin out, spoke with other players and made a decision that I'm sure was very difficult," said Nate Heisler of Klutch Sports Group, Williams' agent. "The Yankees showed today why they are one of the best organizations in professional sports."

No longer are they the most fresh-faced. Free agent signings with bearded pasts -- from Cole to Stanton to left-hander Carlos Rodon to first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to reliever Tim Hill -- are free to return to their hirsute ways. Homegrown players can celebrate no-shave November eight months early. And Boone -- once himself a cleanly shaven Yankees player -- summed up the mood in the clubhouse for everyone.

Said Boone: "It was time for this."

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Juan Soto wasted little time in showing off his power for his new team. Again.

Soto homered in his first spring training at-bat for the New York Mets, hitting a solo shot to left-center field in the first inning against Houston on Saturday. The Mets went on to win 6-2.

"I feel like everybody was really happy. I would say the worst reaction was [teammate] Jesse Winker, that I stepped on him," Soto said. "He was really [in] pain, but he was happy at the same time."

Soto also homered last year in his first spring training game with the New York Yankees, belting a three-run shot in the fourth inning of that matchup with Toronto.

Soto signed a record $765 million, 15-year contract this offseason, moving across New York from the Yankees to the Mets. He hit second in the order Saturday, between Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, and drilled a 426-foot homer on a 2-1 pitch from left-hander Colton Gordon. The following inning, Soto drove in another run with a ground ball. Those were his only plate appearances.

He raised his career spring training average to .304 with 14 home runs and an OPS of 1.017 in 87 games.

The Mets may have been even more encouraged by the performance of starter Clay Holmes, another player who moved from one New York team to the other. Holmes has started just four of his 311 big league appearances, but he is converting to a starter for the Mets and threw 34 pitches Saturday in three perfect innings.

Holmes struck out three.

Approximately one in five women experience stalking in their lifetime, according to the UK's Office of National Statistics.

Being a well-known public personality increases exposure and a number of female tennis players have been subjected to predatory behaviour in recent years.

Raducanu, 22, has previously been the victim of a stalker, with another man given a five-year restraining order in 2022 after he walked 23 miles to her home.

Fellow British player Katie Boulter described to the Guardian last year, external how she had been followed by people in a car and on foot, while American players Danielle Collins, external and Sloane Stephens have also highlighted the harassment which they have faced.

A man was charged last month with stalking American basketball player Caitlin Clark, while sprinter Gabby Thomas and rugby player Ilona Maher have recently spoken out about their fears.

Bartoli recalled a similar harrowing experience during a match at the All England Club in 2007.

Bartoli described how a man followed her throughout the British grass-court season, turning up at the Birmingham and Eastbourne events before pretending to be a member of the Wimbledon groundstaff to get nearer to her.

"He found a way to purchase the same kit and get himself into my courts," she added.

"I recognised him during my first-round match against Flavia Pennetta and I pointed it out straight away.

"I said he was not a groundsperson, he was not working there, he was someone who has been stalking me for three weeks."

Stephanie Hilborne, the chief executive of the Women in Sport charity, told BBC Sport that "every single woman has a level of fear".

"That's not restricted to the more visible women - but the more visible you are, the greater that risk is and feels," she said.

"In sport, we have the situation where your body is very much on show so it makes for extra risk."

While it will be a proud day for Sheehan, the Leinster hooker said his sole focus was helping Ireland to victory in Cardiff.

They have beaten England and Scotland in their opening Six Nations matches and are favourites to beat Wales, who will be led by Cardiff boss Matt Sherratt after Warren Gatland left his role as head coach.

"That's the only thing on my mind, getting a performance," added Sheehan, who admitted the Principality Stadium can be a "daunting" venue.

"We've done well in the last two weeks but we had patches in the games where we weren't at our best.

"There were areas we really needed to work on to get an 80-minute performance, so that is one of he things we've talked about.

"All eyes are on Wales and there's not been one word talked about any other game. It's massive for us and it's a great stadium to play in."

Former Wales wing Mark Jones played alongside Easterby at Llanelli where they also began their coaching careers together.

"He was a good laugh off the pitch and always great company on the way to training or to games," said Jones, now head coach at Ospreys.

"But once he crossed that whitewash, he knew when it was time to switch on. He was very good at setting standards.

"Whenever he returned to Llanelli from being away with Ireland he was always ready to play the next week for the club. He never had to be asked, and that's actually quite rare. It marked him out as a real pro with a great work ethic."

The question remains whether Easterby would want the Wales job. Michael Cheika is understood to be keen and Franco Smith was eager to have his name included among the candidates while the WRU still believes the job is an enticing one.

"There's a lot to be positive about in Welsh rugby over the coming years and any coach might want to be part of that," said Jones.

"Simon is ambitious and I'm sure a top job would interest him, but I also think he's very happy in that Ireland environment at the moment."

On Saturday, Easterby will be intent on inflicting more misery on Welsh rugby. There are those who believe he could soon be part of the solution.

And that brings us back to Cockerill, head coach of Edinburgh at the time.

"We signed him for not a lot of money, but he had this hip issue," he said. "There was a problem with the cartilage in his hip and he failed his medical. He needed surgery. He was going to be missing for three or four months.

"I'm thinking, 'Well, he's going to be good and he's not expensive, let's look after him and over time that breeds trust and loyalty'.

"Some members of the SRU said, 'He's not fit, he's failed his medical, so we shouldn't keep him. He's effectively in breach of contract'.

"It was madness. Some at Murrayfield would not have had him because he was injured, but a little patience and he's turned out to be one of the best in the world."

Cockerill saved the SRU from itself. Of course, the irony of an Englishman fighting for a player who's been the slayer of England is not lost on him. The whole thing appeals to his sense of devilment.

But there was more to it than just signing Van der Merwe. There was developing him, too. And he needed some amount of developing.

There are still aspects of his game that are far from world class - defence, work-rate, ability in the air. He seems to save his best stuff for Test rugby, which can be a bugbear of Edinburgh fans.

But, when he's on, boy, he's unplayable.

"He understands the game better now than he did before," Cockerill said. "He's turned into more of a complete player, but back then it was just raw pace - and you can't coach speed, can you?

"In the early stages with Edinburgh, he was very wooden. Finishing wasn't a problem, but understanding the game defensively needed improving, to say the least.

"Catching the ball was a problem. At the start, when the the ball was in the air, you were closing your eyes and hoping he'd catch it.

"The boys used to take the mickey out of him because, you know, he's not going to win any crossword competitions. But put a rugby ball in his hands and watch out."

Head coach Fabien Galthie has made sweeping changes to his 23-man squad following his side's 26-25 defeat by England last time out.

Fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and wing Damian Penaud have been dropped with Thomas Ramos moving to number 10 and Leo Barre and Theo Attissogbe coming into the back three alongside Louis Bielle-Biarrey, the tournament's top try-scorer with four.

With Emmanuel Meafou unavailable because of an illness, Thibaud Flament makes his first appearance of the tournament alongside Mickael Guillard in the second row.

Galthie has opted for a 7-1 split on the bench, with scrum-half Maxime Lucu the only recognised back among the replacements.

France: 15-Barre; 14-Attissogbe, 13-Barassi, 12-Moefana, 11-Bielle-Biarrey; 10-Ramos; 9-Dupont (capt); 1-Gros, 2-Mauvaka, 3-Atonio; 4-Flament, 5-Guillard; 6- Cros, 7-Boudehent, 8-Alldritt.

Replacements: 16-Marchand, 17-Baille, 18-Aldegheri, 19-Taofifenua, 20-Roumat, 21-Jegou, 22-Jelonch, 23-Lucu.

Russell may share his first name with his opposite number, albeit with a slightly different spelling, but the similarities end when it comes to experience.

Scotland's fly-half will win his 84th cap on Saturday, while England's Fin Smith, aged 22, will make just his second Test start.

Their rivalry has grown from the club game as Smith's Northampton Saints overcame Russell's Bath in last season's Premiership final.

In the 2024-25 campaign, Russell has scored more points, beaten more defenders and had more touches than Smith,, external who in contrast has made more successful and dominant tackles.

Russell will want to get his hands on the ball and influence the game once more, while Smith retains the England number 10 jersey after his measured, man-of-the-match display against France, in which he created late tries for Tommy Freeman and Elliot Daly.

England centre Ollie Lawrence, who plays alongside Russell at Bath and has seen Smith develop from an academy prospect since their time together at Worcester Warriors, says the younger man is under no pressure to emulate the Scot.

"I don't really think there's too much pressure on Fin; certainly we aren't putting pressure on him to step up or anything like that," said Lawrence.

"The way he played against France and controlled the game put us in the right areas of the field. He managed to set up that try [for Daly] at the end, which was testament to how he's come on as a player.

"Ever since he left Worcester and went to [Northampton] Saints, he's only gone like this [upwards].

"Finn Russell is a world-class 10, a great player and I've got a huge amount of respect for him. But equally I'm definitely not looking at Fin and saying he has to match the other Finn during the game.

"He'll do his thing, he's a confident lad and we'll back him all the way. He has so much more potential and so much more to show in an England jersey."

Russell was the last fly-half to wear the British and Irish Lions jersey in a Test match, but he has yet to shine in this Six Nations after a relatively quiet game against Italy before his match-up against Ireland's Sam Prendergast was cut short because of his head injury.

The Scot needs a big performance to reassert his claim for Lions selection against a young contender aiming to take the shirt from him.