Two-time All-Star Max Fried and the New York Yankees are in agreement on an eight-year, $218 million contract, sources told ESPN, the largest guarantee ever for a left-handed pitcher.

The deal, which is pending a physical, is the 12th contract of at least $100 million the Yankees have given out in franchise history, breaking a tie with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the most by any team.

Fried, 30, who blossomed into one of the best pitchers in the National League over seven years with the Braves, is a two-time All-Star with a 2.81 ERA over the past five seasons in Atlanta -- tops in the majors, just ahead of Corbin Burnes (2.88) among MLB starting pitchers over that span.

While he does not overwhelm hitters with his raw stuff, his artistry on the mound and his ability to go deep into games were attractive to teams in search of an Opening Day-type starter.

The Yankees made the move for Fried -- who was also pursued by the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers -- two days after outfielder Juan Soto left for the rival Mets on the largest contract in professional sports history.

Fried joins one of the deepest rotations in baseball that already includes Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, Nestor Cortes and Marcus Stroman.

His $218 million deal exceeds that of David Price, who signed with the Red Sox for $217 million in 2015. Price and the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw ($215 million) are the only other left-handed pitchers to receive $200 million contracts.

While Fried's career includes up-and-down postseason performances, it's impossible to forget his six shutout innings in Atlanta's World Series-clinching Game 6 in 2021. He arrived in Atlanta as the headliner in a trade for Justin Upton after undergoing Tommy John surgery following two disappointing seasons in San Diego's farm system.

The No. 7 pick in the 2012 draft, Fried projected as a classic spin-heavy left-hander whose command would be his biggest strength.

That proved prophetic. Fried's best pitches are his curveball and slider, and while models regard his fastball as below-average, his command of it -- and ability to mix pitches -- has brought him continued success. Over the past five years, Baseball-Reference has him third among all pitchers in WAR and FanGraphs 11th.

The biggest question regarding Fried is whether he can evolve into the rarest sort of starter: productive and prolific. His career-high innings total, 185, came in 2022.

In 2024, with Braves co-ace Spencer Strider out after Tommy John surgery, Fried posted a 3.25 ERA in 174 innings, struck out 166, walked 57, allowed only 13 home runs and led MLB with a pair of complete games. His year-by-year ERAs over the four prior seasons: 2.25, 3.04, 2.48 and 2.55.

ESPN Research contributed to this report.

Though none of them are confirmed as starters as of Monday, the matchups featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs at New Jersey Devils and Minnesota Wild at Utah Hockey Club may well feature goaltenders among the top 13 in goals-against average in each and every crease, as well as goaltenders among the top six in save percentage in three out of the four.

Among goalies with at least 300 minutes (a very generous qualifier), Filip Gustavsson is the runaway leader in both GAA and save percentage. Both Leafs netminders, Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, are among the top five in each statistical measure. Karel Vejmelka of Utah clocks in at fifth in goals-against average and sixth in save percentage. Jacob Markstrom is a stretch to include, ranking 13th in goals-against average but a distant 25th in save percentage.

Still, it's an impressive array of starters ready to tend twine in two key matchups on Tuesday.

This raises the question: Does having a statistically elite goaltender influence sports betting outcomes? Specifically, we'll focus on the over/under.

There are a couple of chicken-versus-egg problems that can't easily be solved here.

For one, the sportsbooks almost surely bake some of this into the odds, so the outcomes are slanted toward the under. The sportsbooks don't always know for certain who the starter will be in each game, particularly if we look at the Wild, where Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury have very different statistical outcomes. This season, 62% of games have had a 6.5 total for the over/under. However, when a starting goalie among the statistical leaders is involved, that number drops to 53%.

Secondly, the list of statistical leaders has evolved throughout the season, making this analysis specific to the current moment (as of Dec. 10). For instance, Joseph Woll wasn't among the leaders earlier in the season, when he started late due to injury. His inclusion in our sample reflects his recent performance rather than his season-long numbers. To clarify, the current leaders haven't necessarily been dominant all season, but we are analyzing past games based on their status as leaders now.

Setting aside those two issues, let's look at how the results have broken for over/unders involving the top goaltenders.

Overall, regardless of the over/under threshold, the games with the goalies have managed to trend more toward the under. In total this season, 53.6 percent of games have been under. Games with the top 13 goalies in goals-against average have been under 56.5 percent of the time, while games with the top six goalies in save percentage have been under 64.8 percent of the time. This showcases the ability of these leaders to definitely influence the results at least a little, especially if they have a sterling save percentage.

For games with a 6.5 over/under total, the overall hit rate for under this season is 57.8%, but for the GAA leaders it is 62.6% and for the save percentage leaders it jumps to 74%. That's right; In the 47 games with a 6.5 total involving the six leading goaltenders in save percentage (Gustavsson, Connor Hellebuyck, Stolarz, Lukas Dostal, Woll and Vejmelka), 35 of the games have gone under.

The margins narrow when sportsbooks account for these goaltenders. For games with a 5.5 total, the overall under hit rate is 46.7%, rising to 49.4% for GAA leaders and 53.7% for save percentage leaders.

Is there an edge to exploit here? Maybe, but it has to feel right, too. The Leafs and Devils have a 6.5 total on the board, but does it feel like these two power plays can be kept at bay to stay under that? Especially when we really had to stretch to get Markstrom into this conversation to begin with. I'll probably take the under in a same-game parlay, but it's not something I'm attacking.

I would feel stronger about games with goalies at both ends among the statistical leaders, like the potential for the Minnesota-Utah matchup. The problem there is that the line opened with a 5.5 total, so the quality goaltending is already accounted for.

Keep this tilt in mind though. If you see top goalies battling each other and a 6.5 total, that under is worth attacking most of the time. Maybe we'll get one on Thursday when Dostal and the Ducks visit Woll and the Leafs.

Latest odds as of publication. For latest odds movement, go to ESPN BET.

Featured games

Toronto Maple Leafs at New Jersey Devils

7 p.m., Prudential Center, Watch live on ESPN+, Hulu and now Disney+

• Devils (-1.5, +170), -135 money line

• Maple Leafs (+1.5, -215), +115 money line

• Total 6.5: (Over +105, Under -125)

Both teams enter the matchup following losses: two straight for the Leafs and a shutout defeat for the Devils. It's the second head-to-head matchup for Devils coach Sheldon Keefe against his old club, with the Leafs getting the better of him for his first home game at the Prudential Center way back on Oct. 10.

The Leafs have been rotating their goaltending evenly of late, with Stolarz next up if the rotation holds. Markstrom is a lock for the Devils after Jake Allen was in net for Sunday's loss to the Avalanche.

As mentioned already above, I'm bearish on the under even though it's a 6.5 total mostly because of the firepower on both power plays. However, there's a special on offer that I like for this game that finds a happy medium: Both Teams To Score 3-plus Goals (+130). It's stronger odds than the over and is the most likely way we get there, as this doesn't feel ripe for one side to dominate. Don't forget, technically the under could still hit if the game goes to a shootout at 3-3.

For players props, both of these teams currently have one player on their top power-play unit that gets better odds just because they aren't one of the superstars, so why not stack them? Matthew Knies for Over 0.5 total power-play points (+375) and Stefan Noesen for Over 0.5 total power-play points (+375) combine for +1581 in a same-game parlay.

Minnesota Wild at Utah Hockey Club

9:30 p.m., Delta Center, Watch live on ESPN+, Hulu and now Disney+

• Wild (-1.5, +200), -120 money line

• Utah HC (+1.5, -275), +100 money line

• Total 5.5: (Over -120, Under +100)

Gustavsson hasn't experienced a loss since Nov. 25 to the Winnipeg Jets, but it's been a stretch of less-than-dangerous opponents since then outside of one matchup with the Vancouver Canucks. Utah, meanwhile, has also had a quality run of games in that same timeframe, only not getting a point in the standings in a 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Dec. 2.

In other words, both of these teams are coming in relatively strong, if you look past the Wild's loss on Saturday with Fleury in the crease ( his first loss of the season, by the way).

The Wild have been defying the odds when they are road favorites with a much better record both against the spread (7-4) and moneyline (8-3) than the rest of the league.

The strength of the recent goaltending has me interested in the under even though this is a 5.5 total. As much as I would prefer the odds from the spread for the Wild instead of the moneyline, picking a favorite to beat the spread and going with the under is a recipe for disaster. So the same-game parlay here might be Wild moneyline (-120) and Under 5.5 total goals (-105) for combined odds of +226. Those who feel a little spicier than I can change that to Wild -1.5 game spread (+200) with a custom Under 4.5 total goals (+240) to spike their parlay to +774, but that's really calling for a specific result (3-1 or 2-0 for the Wild).

Betting trends

While we are on the topic of over/under, let's check in on the overall data this season.

Of the 444 games through Monday, 238 games have been under (53.6%), while 206 games have been over (46.4%).

But, when it comes to games with 6.5 total, 160 games have been under (57.8%), while 117 games have been over (42.2%).

And, when it comes to games with 5.5 total, 78 games have been under (46.7%), while 89 games have been over (53.3%).

So how do those play out with the trusty $1 bet thought experiment?

• Putting $1 on every 6.5 game to be under would have grossed: $135.62 on 160 wins and lost $117 for a net result of $18.62.

• Putting $1 on every 6.5 game to be over would have grossed: $114.75 on 117 wins and lost $160 for a net result of -$45.25.

• Putting $1 on every 5.5 game to be under would have grossed: $80.41 on 78 wins and lost $89 for a net result of -$8.59.

• Putting $1 on every 5.5 game to be over would have grossed: $70.72 on 89 wins and lost $78 for a net result of -$7.28.

Of all the basic bet strategies, from over/under, to moneyline, to spread for favorites or underdogs on road or at home, the 6.5 under bet is the only one performing in the black. This is thanks to some pretty healthy odds hitting sometimes. While low odds like -130 and -125 have won the most (31 and 30 times, respectively), there have been a lot of hits on better-paying odds on the 6.5-total unders this season: -110 has won 16 times, -105 has won 10 times and even money has won nine times.

TURIN, Italy -- José Mourinho has hit back at Pep Guardiola's claim that he wants to see Manchester City relegated to League One by saying he only wants "justice in football."

Fenerbahce coach Mourinho, who built a fierce rivalry with then-Barcelona boss Guardiola during his time in charge of Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, reignited hostilities with Guardiola by saying he won three Premier League titles "fairly and cleanly" after the City manager had responded to taunts from Liverpool supporters by raising six fingers to signify the number of titles he has won at the Etihad.

Guardiola then said that Mourinho's comments were rooted in him being "on a huge list that they want the team [City] being in, I don't know, League One or the Conference" if the club loses its battle against 115 charge of breaking Premier League financial rules.

But speaking ahead of Fenerbahce's Europa League tie against Athletic Bilbao, former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Mourinho said that his comments were only made because he wants to see fairness.

"It's not true that I want Man City to be relegated," Mourinho said. "It's true that I like justice, and many times small clubs are punished by going 5, 10 over budget and the rules for Financial Fair Play.

"For example, I suffered in Roma three years with great limitations about it. I don't think it's fair that the big sharks - when I say sharks, I say financial sharks -- they always find a way to escape the rules.

"I'm just a football man, a man that loves football, more than being a professional football man I am very passionate, I just like justice in football. But apart from that, no bad feelings."

Guardiola was not asked about Mourinho's comments during his pre-match news conference ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash against Juventus in Turin.

But Mourinho attempted to play down suggestions of a new rift with Guardiola by saying there are "no problems" between the two men.

"In relation to Pep, let me say something -- we were together for three years [at Barcelona]," Mourinho said. "I was an assistant and he was a player.

"I like him a lot and he knows that. He likes me and I know that, there are no problems between us. One thing are words and another thing is deep feelings."

Meanwhile, Guardiola said he is unlikely to manage another club side when he leaves City after recently signing a new contract until 2027 at the Etihad.

"I won't coach another team," Guardiola told Dani Garcia's Desmontadito YouTube show. "I'm not talking about the long-term future, but what I won't do is leave Manchester City to go to another country and do the same thing I'm doing now.

"I won't have the energy. Maybe with a national team, but that's different, it's not every day, every three days.

"But right now, no. I'm right here. "

Liverpool maintained their 100% record in this season's Champions League with a 1-0 win at Girona on Tuesday, the only goal of the game coming from Mohamed Salah's second-half penalty.

Girona suffered their fifth defeat of the competition but made Liverpool work for the victory and in the opening half had chances to take the lead but were foiled by the visitors' keeper Alisson.

Liverpool struggled against a side happy to sit back and soak up the pressure and break on the counter-attack, but found the breakthrough from the penalty spot with Salah converting in the 63rd minute after Luis Diaz was fouled.

A sixth win from six keeps Liverpool top of the league phase standings on 18 points, five ahead of Inter Milan who are in action at Bayer Leverkusen later on Tuesday, while Girona remain on three points in 30th place. 

Welcome to matchday six of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League season! Europe's premier club competition returns in its new format with nine matches across the continent on Tuesday, providing exciting matchups, top talent and drama.

Enjoy the play-by-play from all the games such as Atalanta host Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen take on Internazionale and RB Leipzig face Aston Villa.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin on Tuesday called college football's current setup "a dumb system," and he wasn't referring to the playoff selection process for a change.

Kiffin, who has been outspoken about his team and others from the powerhouse Southeastern Conference getting left out of the College Football Playoff, ripped the college calendar, which forces many coaches to juggle a transfer window while preparing for bowl games. It came on the heels of several coaches having to squeeze national signing day into a week of preparation for conference championship games.

"We just try to make the best of the situations," Kiffin said during a videoconference call for coaches headed to the Gator Bowl. "It really is a dumb system."

"Just think if the NFL was getting ready for the AFC, NFC playoffs, postseason, and players are in free agency already. It's a really poor system, but we just try to manage the best we can through it, and hopefully someday it'll get fixed." Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin

Kiffin's comments came after first-year Duke coach Manny Diaz confirmed that starting quarterback Maalik Murphy had entered the transfer portal, leaving Henry Belin or Grayson Loftis to start the Jan. 2 bowl game in Jacksonville.

"Think about what we're talking about or what [Diaz] just had to address: a quarterback going in the portal," Kiffin said. "Just think about what we're talking about. The season's not over yet, and there's a free agency window open.

"Just think if the NFL was getting ready for the AFC, NFC playoffs, postseason, and players are in free agency already. It's a really poor system, but we just try to manage the best we can through it, and hopefully someday it'll get fixed."

Kiffin also said his quarterback, senior Jaxson Dart, is planning to play in the Gator Bowl. The 16th-ranked Rebels (9-3), though, could have some other starters opt out.

The Blue Devils (9-3) closed the regular season with three consecutive wins to improve their bowl spot, all of them coming after Diaz told his players, "The more we win, the warmer the [postseason] destination."

Now, they'll make the trip without Murphy. The California native transferred to Duke after one year at Texas. He completed 60% of his passes for 2,933 yards, 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while starting all 12 games in 2024. He led Duke to the program's most regular-season wins since 2014.

"From our standpoint, we adjust," Diaz said. "This is the new normal. What we're not doing right now is we're not on the road recruiting. We're not on the road babysitting our commits who, up until last year, were signing on the third Wednesday of December.

"So the fact we've already had a signing day, that takes one of the distressers out of December and removes that. However the landscape changes, we adapt to it. That's what football coaches are; we're problem-solvers and we're adjusters, and we adjust."

FRISCO, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown tore the ACL, MCL and PCL in his right knee and is scheduled to have surgery this week, according to multiple sources.

Significant recovery time will be needed after surgery, sources said.

Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas that Overshown would have surgery, but was not sure when Overshown would return.

Multiple sources said after the Cowboys' 27-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals that Overshown's injury was more than just a tear of the ACL.

"I don't know at this time the time-date on his rehab," Jones said earlier Tuesday, "but I just can't tell you how bad I feel for him because he's just been through that mental and physical rehab on his other knee ... It's the toughest time for a player. And we all see the loss and know what it's going to mean for us in our remaining four games. Bottom line is it's really sad that he's having to have this surgery for him as an individual and obviously us as a team."

Overshown took a hit to the side of his right leg on a 2-yard run by Chase Brown with 12:49 left in the game. He remained on the field unable to move his leg before the medical team arrived to treat him. He immediately went to the locker room for more examination.

Coach Mike McCarthy said after the game it's "of a serious nature," and "it's not good." Overshown missed his rookie season in 2023 with a torn ACL in his left knee.

"I think the whole sideline felt that because it didn't look good," McCarthy said. "It definitely hit a lot of the guys."

Edge rusher Micah Parsons had tears in his eyes after the game when talking about Overshown.

"I cried," he said. "It's like my little bro, bro. He doesn't deserve that either. He really don't. Just to understand what he's going to go through and to be there for him physically, mentally. It's just so challenging because of the year he was having. I really just don't think that's fair either."

Overshown is the Cowboys' second-leading tackler and became just the third Cowboy since 1982 to record at least five sacks, an interception (which he returned for a touchdown), a fumble recovery and a forced fumble in the same season, joining DeMarcus Ware (2006) and Greg Ellis (1999).

"We're praying for him because a lot of us, honestly, we've been injured," cornerback Jourdan Lewis said. "We understand what he's going through. We're going to stay with him because we know he's a heck of a football player."

Overshown will be the 13th Cowboys player on injured reserve, joining the likes of quarterback Dak Prescott and guard Zack Martin, who is scheduled for surgery this week on his right ankle.

A court in Argentina has dismissed charges of aggravated rape against France rugby players Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, the players' lawyers say.

The pair, both 21, were arrested two days after making their international debuts in France's victory over Argentina in Mendoza in July.

They were accused of raping a 39-year-old woman in a hotel room in the city but denied any wrongdoing and said the sex was consensual.

"The judge has just ordered the players to be acquitted, arguing that the act was not a crime," lawyer Rafael Cuneo Libarona told Reuters after the hearing in Mendoza.

"As we expected, the French players have been acquitted because the sexual act was consensual, meaning there was no crime and no doubt that they are innocent," added lawyer German Hnatow.

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) said it welcomed the decision with "relief and satisfaction" and confirmed both players are eligible to play for the national team again.

Auradou and Jegou were permitted by the court to return home in September, nearly two months after being arrested.

Stem cells can help repair damaged bodily tissue, although it is a relatively new form of treatment.

Sanderson expects Curry to be back available around Christmas, and says he sought input from England head coach Steve Borthwick when mapping out how to manage the player for the rest of the campaign.

"We put a little bit of a plan together, of which the stem-cell procedure is a part of it, then looked at the rest of the season," Sanderson said.

"Steve Borthwick looked [at the plan] and is 100% behind it. We want to get him to the World Cup without having another operation."

An England player has a 30-game season limit, but given Curry's injury history and his robust style of play, Sanderson says he won't look to push him anyway near that maximum.

"He'll feature in around 23 games, and 16 of those will be for us," he added.

"And the rest internationals. So we have figured all that out so we don't push him to that 30-game max.

"The consideration is he has a chronic injury which he is managing really well, but the more he plays the less shelf-life he has.

"We generally go by the principle it's going to be three games on one off, or two on one off. I don't think it's wise [to push his game number to 30]."

Curry started England's autumn matches with New Zealand and Australia, but was knocked unconscious against the Wallabies, meaning he was unavailable for the visit of world champions South Africa.

However he returned to start the victory over Japan, a selection that was widely questioned.