SPORTS LINE
The Milwaukee Brewers.
The Brewers drafted 20 players over the course of 20 rounds in the 2026 MLB Draft. The team now has until 4 p.m. CT on July 27 to sign each draft pick. Milwaukee’s total signing bonus pool is $8,042,900, which can be allocated as the team chooses (i.e., slot bonuses are not the guaranteed signing value). Rounds 11-20 automatically have $150,000 allocated to the slot — money given to these picks only counts toward the bonus pool if they exceed $150,000. Teams that exceed their bonus pool face financial penalties, with higher thresholds resulting in the loss of future picks. With the 25th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, the Milwaukee Brewers landed their guy in shortstop Trey Ebel.
Just one year ago, his older brother, Brady, was taken by Milwaukee with the 32nd overall pick and is currently playing in Low-A with the Wilson Warbirds. The Brewers’ long connection with the Ebel family certainly explains why they wasted no time selecting Trey with their first of four selections on Day 1 of the draft. Both Ebel brothers have played for the Brewers’ development teams in California and Florida, including games at American Family Field as well. Trey also trained extensively with Brice Turang last winter. At the plate, Trey displays a remarkably mature approach for a 17-year-old. He takes pride in producing quality at-bats, and MLB Pipeline noted in its pre-draft profile that he may have even logged more quality at-bats than any other high school hitter in this year’s class.
Beyond his advanced swing decisions, Trey is also a bit twitchier than his brother, giving him a higher offensive ceiling and greater power potential. His feel for the game is evident in the little things, from recognizing a pitcher’s approach and making in-game adjustments at the plate to reading opposing hitters and positioning himself effectively on defense. Those instincts and intangibles are what separate him from many of his peers. Growing up around the game at its highest level has undoubtedly helped shape Trey’s instincts and understanding of baseball.
The Milwaukee Bucks.
In a baffling move, the Milwaukee Bucks re-signed Gary Trent Jr. to a four-year, $64 million contract, fully guaranteed with no options on Saturday night. This does mean the Bucks are back to 17 standard contracts and a full backcourt, meaning some guards will be out the door before the season starts. Trent has spent the last two seasons in Milwaukee, where he has averaged 9.7 points on 41% shooting (39% from 3), and now earns a massive payday with the franchise. Trent signed for the league minimum in the summer of 2024 and then got a two-year, $7.5 million contract before the start of last season, but he opted out of his player option to become a free agent again. Trent was drawing interest from several teams and working through potential sign-and-trade deals with other destinations before he decided to return to Milwaukee.
Trent joins a crowded backcourt mix already in place in Milwaukee. The Bucks traded for Tyler Herro and Caris LeVert, have Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. on the roster, and drafted Brayden Burries at No. 10. After a player has averaged eight points per game and shot less than 40 percent from the field, they aren’t often rewarded with these sorts of deals. That has started to cause a stir among NBA reporters who believe it is clearly circumvention following a handshake deal between players and the front office last summer when Trent remained on a minimum deal.
Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay Packers Quietly Give Productive Veteran a Contract Extension. The Green Bay Packers have not given tight end Tucker Kraft a contract extension. Devonte Wyatt hasn’t received one, either. McDuffie was set to play this season under an expiring contract. Instead, the extension will keep him tied to the team that drafted him through the 2027 season. It’s a one-year extension worth $4.85 million for McDuffie. As part of the initial extension, McDuffie was going to play the upcoming season with a base salary of $2.4 million and per-game roster bonuses worth another $450,000. Including the $750,000 roster bonus he collected on the third day of the league year in March, his cap charge for 2026 was set to be $4.975 million. The extension, which includes a $1.5 million signing bonus, trims McDuffie’s base salary to $1.4 million and keeps the $450,000 of roster bonuses.
His new cap charge for the upcoming season is $4.725 million. McDuffie started 29 games in the last two seasons in former defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s 4-3 scheme, which included three off-the-ball linebackers in the base defense. New coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s 3-4 scheme includes two off-the-ball linebackers, with McDuffie the odd man out behind Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin. Still, McDuffie will provide valuable depth. Including tackles on special teams.
