‘Big development’ in NCAAB corruption case

The Baltimore Orioles apparently are ready to step to the bargaining table. The Orioles would be willing to trade franchise shortstop Manny Machado to the Yankees if New York includes left-handed pitching prospect Justus Sheffield in the return package, MLB Network’s Jon Morosio reported Wednesday, citing a source. A Yankees-Orioles blockbuster is by no means a done deal, though: according to Morosi, there’s “skepticism� the Yanks would part with Sheffield to acquire a rental, as Machado will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Part of New York’s “skepticism� is understandable: MLB.com ranks Sheffield as the No. 2 prospect in the Yankees’ system, and there’s a chance the 22-year-old hurler, who was promoted to Triple-A in early May, could break into the big leagues later this season.

As Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell continues to stay away from the team in advance of the first game of the regular season, his teammates have provided fairly stunning on-the-record criticism of Bell’s failure to show up. “One veteran Steeler told me players waited a day to criticize Bell to give him a chance to come in Wednesday but ‘he f—ed us,’â€� reports Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Bell’s plan isn’t clear, but the comments that have come on Wednesday surely require his agent, Adisa Bakari, to re-evaluate things.