The Cubs and Rays swapped third basemen Sunday, with Christopher Morel heading to Tampa Bay whereas All-Star Isaac Paredes goes again to Chicago.

The Cubs are additionally sending two prospects — pitchers Ty Johnson and Hunter Bigge — to the Rays within the introduced deal.

Paredes instantly will step in because the Cubs’ beginning third baseman, because the group has been trying to find a solution at that place since transferring on from Kris Bryant in 2021.

“As we now have acknowledged, our purpose is so as to add gamers that may assist us not simply this season, however into the long run,” Cubs president Jed Hoyer mentioned in a press release. “Within the final two days, we really feel we now have labored towards that by buying and selling for these kinds of controllable gamers. Buying Paredes provides a confirmed bat to our lineup instantly and for years to return.”

The 25-year-old Paredes, who’s hitting .247 with 16 residence runs and 19 doubles this season, was initially signed by the Cubs however by no means performed for them as he was traded to the Detroit Tigers in a 2017 deadline deal.

Morel, 25, had performed third base for the Cubs this season with various levels of enchancment on protection, however his offensive output stalled considerably after a promising first two years of his profession.

Each gamers are below group management for a number of extra seasons earlier than reaching free company.

Serving because the designated hitter Sunday, Morel, who set profession highs with 26 homers, 70 RBIs and a .247 batting common final season, popped out within the second inning of Sunday’s 7-3 victory in opposition to the Royals and obtained some hugs within the Cubs’ dugout within the backside of the third. He was changed by a pinch hitter within the fourth.

“He is a particular human. We will miss his power for positive, his smile,” Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong mentioned of Morel.

Morel is hitting .199 with a team-leading 18 residence runs this season.

“It is at all times unusual telling somebody in the course of the sport that they have been traded. It was definitely shocking and stunning to Chris,” Cubs supervisor Craig Counsell mentioned. “He is supplied Cubs followers plenty of reminiscences in a short while right here. Ultimately, we predict we obtained a 3rd baseman who’s been an excellent offensive participant on this league, one who can do very well for us at that place.

“He has an outlook and demeanor that makes it enjoyable to be round him. He loves taking part in, and that pleasure that is simply his outlook on life is current it doesn’t matter what’s happening. It is indicated by how he treats folks. He is an instance for all of us.”

Bigge, 26, simply made his MLB debut this month after being drafted within the twelfth spherical in 2019. Johnson was taken within the fifteenth spherical of the 2023 draft and has been pitching on the Class-A stage this season.

Each groups are in transition mode. The Rays have made a number of offers forward of the commerce deadline, delivery out reliever Jason Adam on Sunday in addition to Randy Arozarena and Zach Eflin earlier within the week. The Cubs, who started Sunday in final place within the NL Central, acquired reliever Nate Pearson on Saturday, vowing to transform their roster with future years in thoughts.

The Related Press contributed to this report.

HOUSTON (AP) — The gold bikini-style costume that Carrie Fisher wore as Princess Leia whereas making “Return of the Jedi” within the “Star Wars” franchise has bought for $175,000, based on the public sale home that dealt with the sale.

The costume was made well-known when Fisher wore it in the beginning of the 1983 movie when Leia was captured by Jabba the Hutt at his palace on Tatooine and compelled to be a slave.

The costume, one of the crucial memorable within the “ Star Wars ” films, was bought on Friday by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions.

Joe Maddalena, Heritage’s government vp, mentioned the costume that was bought was one which was display examined and worn by Fisher on the film’s set however finally didn’t make it onto the ultimate model of the movie because it was switched out for one which was extra snug.

The public sale home mentioned the costume sparked a bidding warfare amongst collectors.

Maddalena mentioned he wasn’t stunned by the eye bidders gave to the costume in addition to to a mannequin of a Y-wing fighter that took on the Loss of life Star within the unique “Star Wars” movie that bought for $1.55 million. He mentioned “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” have very avid fan bases.

“The facility of ‘Star Wars’ proves itself once more. These films are simply so impactful,” Maddalena mentioned.

In a November 2016 interview with NPR’s “Recent Air,” Fisher mentioned carrying the costume was not her selection.

“When (director George Lucas) confirmed me the outfit, I believed he was kidding and it made me very nervous. I needed to sit very straight as a result of I couldn’t have traces on my sides, like little creases. No creases had been allowed, so I needed to sit very, very inflexible straight,” mentioned Fisher, who died a couple of month after the interview.

Richard Miller, who created the costume, mentioned in an interview that’s included in a “Star Wars” field set that he used smooth materials to construct the costume in order that Fisher might transfer round extra freely.

“Nevertheless, she nonetheless didn’t prefer it. I don’t blame her,” mentioned Miller, who was the chief sculptor for Industrial Mild & Magic, the visible results firm based by “Star Wars” creator George Lucas. “I did put leather-based on the again of it to assist it really feel higher.”

The costume had its share of critics, who thought it sexualized Fisher for the franchise’s male fan base.

In “Interview” journal in 2015, Fisher advised actor Daisy Ridley, who starred in “Star Wars: The Pressure Awakens,” “You’re going to have individuals have fantasies about you. That may make you uncomfortable, I’m guessing.” She pushed again towards the thought of being a intercourse image and advised Ridley to “struggle in your outfit.”

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Observe Juan A. Lozano on X:

Mercedes’ George Russell has been disqualified from the Belgian Grand Prix, denying the Britain a 3rd profession victory.

George Russell was disqualified from the Belgian Grand Prix after his Mercedes was discovered to be underweight following the race, handing victory to teammate Lewis Hamilton.

A technical report launched after the race on Sunday stated Russell’s automotive was discovered to be 1.5kg beneath the minimal weight restrict for automotive and driver mixed.

“Automotive 63 is disqualified from the race classification,” the stewards introduced in a press release.

“All different drivers transfer up within the classification,” they added.

The 26-year-old Briton began in sixth place on the grid earlier than edging Hamilton in second and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri who got here third.

Russell drove the 44-laps race with just one pit cease which led to him going 34 laps on his second set of tyres, a strategic determination taken in the course of the contest enabling him to take the lead and an surprising third profession victory.

“Heartbreaking,” Russell stated on social media.

“We got here in 1.5kg underweight and have been disqualified from the race.

“We left all of it on the monitor at this time and I take satisfaction in crossing the road first.

“There shall be extra to return,” he added.

Russell’s automotive was initially weighed at 798kg, which is precisely on the minimal weight restrict for automotive and driver mixed.

However stewards discovered the automotive had not been absolutely drained of gas.

“The automotive was weighed once more on the FIA inside and outdoors scales and the burden was 796.5kg,” the assertion stated.

“The calibration of the inside and outside scales was confirmed and witnessed by the competitor.”

In consequence, Russell’s teammate Hamilton now takes the victory, the one hundred and fifth of his profession and second of the season.

Piastri takes second whereas Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc strikes on to the rostrum in third.

Russell’s automobile was weighed after the race and located to be on the minimal weight (798 kilograms), however after gasoline was drained from the Mercedes, it was discovered to be 1.5kg underweight.

The matter was referred to the stewards, who decided Russell’s automobile be disqualified.

“Automobile 63 was weighed on the FIA inside and out of doors scales with each scales displaying the identical results of 796.5kg,” a stewards’ assertion mentioned. “The calibration of each scales was confirmed and witnessed by the competitor.

“In the course of the listening to the staff consultant confirmed that the measurement is appropriate and that each one required procedures had been carried out appropriately. The staff additionally acknowledged that there have been no mitigating circumstances and that it was a real error by the staff.

“The stewards decide that Article 4.1 of the FIA Formulation One Technical Rules has been breached and subsequently the usual penalty for such an infringement must be utilized.

“Rivals are reminded that they’ve the fitting to attraction sure choices of the stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA Worldwide Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Guidelines, throughout the relevant deadlines.”

Russell gained the race on a one-stop technique, that means he made a single set of tyres final 34 laps whereas others made an additional cease.

The bodily put on of the 4 tyres can account for the automobile’s general weight reduction over an extended stint, though groups normally issue that into their calculations earlier than the race.

One other issue distinctive to the Belgian Grand Prix is that the size of the Spa-Francorchamps lap means drivers don’t full a cool-down lap after the chequered lap and as a substitute flip into the pit lane exit instantly after Flip 1.

The absence of a cool-down lap means drivers can’t choose up discarded rubber on their tyres, which is normal process after a race to assist substitute any misplaced weight.

“Heartbreaking. … We left all of it on the observe at the moment and I take satisfaction in crossing the road first,” Russell mentioned in a put up on social media after the race. “There might be extra to return.”

Talking earlier than the stewards’ determination, Mercedes staff principal Toto Wolff mentioned his staff must settle for a disqualification if it occurs.

“You must take it on the chin,” he mentioned. “If the stewards determine towards ourselves, it’s what it’s, a mistake has occurred, or might have occurred, and one-two would have been a fantastic outcome going into the summer season break. It would not go any higher.

“The constructive, the very constructive we are able to take from this race is we had two automobiles that had been the benchmark on this race, with two totally different methods. Who would have mentioned that just a few months in the past? That’s actually good to see.”

Requested if something was broken on Russell’s automobile, which could have contributed to it being underweight, Wolff added: “No, I feel it is a one-stop that … you count on lack of rubber, possibly extra, nevertheless it’s no excuse.

“If … if the stewards deem it to be a breach of laws, then it’s what it’s, and we have now to study from that, and as a staff, given there are extra positives to take, for George, however that is a large blow for a driver when his childhood dream is successful these races, then to be instructed it is taken away. However he will win many extra.”

Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach make their debut as “The Unbelievable 4” at Comedian-Con

SAN DIEGO — For the primary time ever, Marvel’s “Unbelievable 4” took the stage collectively alongside Marvel president, Kevin Feige, at San Diego Comedian-Con.

Often known as Marvel’s “first household,” The Unbelievable 4 are comprised of Reed Richards/Mr. Unbelievable (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/The Invisible Lady (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/The Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/Factor (Ebon Moss-Bachrach).

“We’re having a extremely, actually good time. I feel that I’m endlessly impressed by the forged that we’re in, and I do not know. I could not dream of one thing higher when it comes to getting into one thing like this,” mentioned Pascal.

With iterations of the Unbelievable 4 already launched, On The Crimson Carpet requested what would set this film other than the others. “I hope that, if you learn all of the comics and also you examine how many individuals have come in numerous years and considered new journeys for every of them to go on, there’s been so many contributing, inventive minds. That is what I really feel most impressed by,” Kirby defined.

Quinn could not assist however commend director Matt Shakman for his imaginative and prescient for the movie. Shakman had beforehand directed Disney+’s “WandaVision,” which was praised for its distinct fashion and storytelling.

Quinn famous that Shakman’s work on “WandaVision” had a “separate type of really feel to the remainder of the MCU, and I feel that is what he needs to convey to this.”

“The Unbelievable 4: First Steps” arrives in theaters July 25, 2025.

The Walt Disney Firm is the mum or dad firm of Marvel Studios and this ABC station.

PARIS (AP) — Charlie Riedel has been an AP workers photographer in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, for twenty-four years. That is his eighth Olympic video games. Here’s what Riedel needed to say about making this extraordinary picture.

Why this picture?

Simone Biles has been thought-about the most effective gymnast on the planet for a few years and curiosity in her has solely heightened since she walked away from the Tokyo Video games three years in the past. Since then, Biles has made a comeback and attracts enormous crowds. I needed to indicate a way of this pleasure for her first Olympic look since dropping out at Tokyo, so I made a decision to go vast and embody the vastness of Bercy Area in addition to the gang of photographers capturing this historic second.

How I made this picture

I shot this picture with a Sony A9iii digicam utilizing a 24-70mm lens. Being one in all a small group of photographers allowed entry to the ground, I used to be capable of shoot this from a singular angle and embody the lots of photographers capturing from the perimeter of the sector of play.

Why this picture works

I consider this picture works as a result of Simone is a small a part of the body in an enormous area. However regardless that she is small within the body, she is towering above all of the people who find themselves there to observe her.

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For extra extraordinary AP pictures, click on right here. For AP’s full protection of the 2024 Paris Olympics, click on right here.

SAINT-DENIS, France — Kassidy Cook dinner and Sarah Bacon received silver within the girls’s 3-meter synchronized springboard occasion on Saturday, securing America’s first medal of the 2024 Paris Olympic Video games.

Their five-dive rating of 314.64 put People on the rostrum on this occasion for the primary time since 2012, as Bacon and Cook dinner sandwiched between the gold medal-winning duo of Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen (337.68) from China and bronze-winning Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen (302.28) of Nice Britain.

For the duo, dubbed Cook dinner N’ Bacon, familiarity and friendship have been key elements for his or her successful recipe, in response to the divers, who’ve been pals since they have been youngsters and diving as a pair since 2019.

“I imply, I am ecstatic. I am overcome with so many feelings proper now,” Cook dinner informed reporters. “You already know, to have the ability to go up there and carry out [and] put collectively a stable record and find yourself on that medal stand with certainly one of my finest pals feels wonderful.”

The reigning world champs, Chang and Chen, led wire-to-wire however Bacon and Cook dinner mentioned combating to maintain up with the highly effective Chinese language duo helped them safe silver.

“Clearly, we have been diving behind the nice group of China, in order that they have been placing a whole lot of strain on us,” Cook dinner mentioned. “However seeing them hit their dives made us desperate to hit our dives. I believe that they made us higher and I’m actually joyful to remove that silver.”

The 29-year-old Cook dinner, who lives simply outdoors Houston, competed in Rio in 2016, making her the primary U.S. diver to compete in nonconsecutive video games.

“After which we discovered after that we’re the primary medal for Group USA, which is an much more superior feeling,” Cook dinner mentioned.

This occasion has been held seven occasions in Olympics historical past and a duo from China has received six of these competitions, solely failing to take the highest podium spot in 2000.

Bacon, who narrowly missed making the U.S. diving group for Tokyo, mentioned that disappointment changed into a blessing.

“Yeah, I imply, we ended up not making the Olympic group in 2020 and my plan was to retire after that Olympic Video games,” mentioned Bacon, a 27-year-old Indianapolis native.

“I used to be burned out and able to be completed. So not making the Olympic group saved me round diving and introduced me to this Olympic Video games with Kassidy. To be on the award stand with the silver medal is simply unbelievable. I’ve no phrases to explain it proper now.”

Each rivals mentioned, in hindsight, lacking out on Tokyo led to a greater final result.

Saturday’s motion unfolded to loud, raucous cheers for all rivals, however notably for the Chinese language, the People, the hometown French and the Ukrainians.

“Every little thing occurs for a purpose,” Cook dinner informed NBC Information later Saturday. “These video games [in Tokyo], though they have been nonetheless the Olympic Video games, they weren’t the true expertise. And had we gone to that, we in all probability would have retired as a result of we [would have] achieved that purpose.”

She added: “I’m actually glad that we held on and made it right here.”

Cook dinner now has the remainder of the Olympics to unwind and cheer for her teammates. Bacon continues to be competing, within the particular person 3-meter springboard, which begins on Aug. 7.

As soon as the Olympics are completed, each girls can have robust selections to make — about the place to place the medals of their houses.

“I need to put it on show,” Cook dinner mentioned. “Perhaps I am going to need to make a trophy room centered across the silver metallic.”

“I will must filter a spot in my home earlier than I can work out precisely the place I will put it,” Bacon mentioned. “Perhaps on a body on a wall someplace? It will be the middle level of one thing.”

Can you are taking me by way of your morning right this moment, the way you slept final night time, all the pieces you probably did to organize for this morning? 

Bacon: So surprisingly we, Kassidy and I, each slept extraordinarily effectively final night time. Even with the Opening Ceremony happening final night time that we did not get to attend as a result of we knew that relaxation at this level was going to be extra vital for us main into our competitors right this moment. So we bought dressed up, took some Opening Ceremony photos across the Village with the athletes, however did not truly attend the ceremony. We had been in our dorms round 8 o’clock resting our legs after which went to mattress, lights out round 9. Our roommates had been superb and got here residence very quiet, didn’t wake both of us up, so we bought an excellent night time of sleep. Awakened round 6:30ish, 6ish, did some restoration stuff for the primary half-hour once we bought up after which ate breakfast, then headed to the pool, warmed up, heated.

They stored exhibiting your households and cheering part on the TV broadcast. Had been you guys in a position to hear them in any respect whenever you had been on the market? 

Cook dinner: Oh yeah, we heard these USA chants and the “Go Kass,” “Go Sarah,” “Cook dinner’N Bacon.” I believe that simply brings a smile to my face on the board and helps me really feel just a little bit, like, OK, it doesn’t matter what occurs my household’s nonetheless going to like me, after which that makes me really feel extra snug. 

Bacon: Yeah, it is like just a little piece of residence. We’re standing up there on that board. The one title that I might hear cheering for us was Kassidy’s dad. I do not know why he caught out, however her dad I might hear, for positive. 

Having that household assist, not simply right this moment however throughout coaching main as much as the Olympics, what does that imply to you all? 

Cook dinner: They all the time say it takes a village and it is a cliché, nevertheless it’s very true. I’ve made quite a lot of private sacrifices, however my household has as effectively, so this medal is each little bit of theirs as it’s mine. I grew up with 5 brothers and sisters, and so they’re all simply so supportive of me irrespective of the place they’re at in life. They made the journey out right here. Most of my sisters are married and have children underneath three years previous and so they nonetheless made this journey out right here, so their assist really means all the pieces. Like I mentioned, it takes a village and that is their celebration as effectively.   

Bacon: I additionally grew up with three brothers, in order that they had been all in a position to come out right here. My little nephew was in a position to come, all my brother’s wives, my mother, my dad, my boyfriend. So simply having them right here having the ability to share this second with me, I couldn’t be happier that they had been in a position to make the journey out right here, come out right here and cheer for me.

PARIS (AP) — Paris Olympics organizers apologized to anybody who was offended by a tableau that evoked Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Final Supper” through the glamorous opening ceremony, however defended the idea behind it Sunday.

Da Vinci’s portray depicts the second when Jesus Christ declared that an apostle would betray him. The scene throughout Friday’s ceremony featured DJ and producer Barbara Butch — an LGBTQ+ icon — flanked by drag artists and dancers.

Spiritual conservatives from around the globe decried the section, with the French Catholic Church’s convention of bishops deploring “scenes of derision” that they stated made a mockery of Christianity — a sentiment echoed by Russian Overseas Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. The Anglican Communion in Egypt expressed its “deep remorse” Sunday, saying the ceremony may trigger the IOC to “lose its distinctive sporting identification and its humanitarian message.”

The ceremony’s inventive director Thomas Jolly had distanced his scene from any “Final Supper” parallels after the ceremony, saying it was meant to rejoice range and pay tribute to feasting and French gastronomy. Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps was requested in regards to the outcry throughout an Worldwide Olympic Committee information convention on Sunday.

“Clearly there was by no means an intention to point out disrespect to any spiritual group. Quite the opposite, I believe (with) Thomas Jolly, we actually did attempt to rejoice group tolerance,” Descamps stated. “ the results of the polls that we shared, we imagine that this ambition was achieved. If individuals have taken any offense we’re, after all, actually, actually sorry.”

Jolly defined his intentions to The Related Press after the ceremony.

“My want isn’t to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock,” Jolly stated. “Most of all, I needed to ship a message of affection, a message of inclusion and under no circumstances to divide.”

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Related Press journalist Samy Magdy contributed reporting from Cairo.

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Comply with AP protection of the Olympics at