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The Rams traded for cornerback Roger McCreary, star receiver Puka Nacua is expected to return for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints and receiver Tutu Atwell will spend at least four games on injured reserve.

All of those moves were announced by the Rams or discussed by coach Sean McVay on Monday as the Rams returned from an off week.

With the NFL trade deadline approaching next week, the Rams acquired McCreary, 25, and a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a conditional 2026 fifth-round pick.

McCreary, a 2022 second-round pick from Auburn, has three career interceptions, including one this season. He is expected to provide depth to a cornerback group that lost Ahkello Witherspoon early in the season because of a broken collarbone. Witherspoon, who has been doing some individual work, was expected to be sidelined 12 weeks.

McVay said veteran Darious Williams also suffered a shoulder injury in the Rams’ Oct. 19 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

So McCreary, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, could fortify a position group that includes Cobie Durant and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. Safety Quentin Lake has played as a slot cornerback and hybrid linebacker.

The Rams played against McCreary and the Titans in Week 2.

“We were looking to be able to add some depth,” McVay said, according to a transcript of a videoconference with reporters. “He was a guy that we respected from playing against him earlier this year.”

Nacua sat out against the Jaguars because of a high ankle sprain he suffered during an Oct. 12 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua catches a pass against the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 12.

(Terrance Williams / Associated Press)

McVay said he expected that Nacua would practice this week and play against the Saints.

Nacua ranks fourth in NFL with 616 yards receiving.

“We do expect him to be back on Wednesday and expect him to play this week unless there are setbacks,” McVay said.

Atwell, who signed a one-year, $10-million contract before this season, played only 10 snaps against the Jaguars after sitting out against the Ravens because of a hamstring injury. He has four catches for 164 yards, including an 88-yard touchdown.

McVay said offensive tackle Rob Havenstein also is expected to return this week from an ankle injury that has sidelined him for three games.

The Rams are 5-2 heading into their game against the Saints (1-7) at SoFi Stadium.

The Chargers struck a deal Tuesday to acquire Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh in exchange for safety Alohi Gilman.

The Chargers, who play at Miami on Sunday and are looking to stop a two-game slide, are getting a pass rusher who had a career-high 10 sacks last season but had yet to collect one in Baltimore’s 1-4 start this season. Oweh was a first-round pick in 2021.

The Ravens, who host the Rams on Sunday, are in need of secondary help with safety Kyle Hamilton recovering from a groin injury that sidelined him last Sunday against Houston. It’s unclear if he will be ready to play against the Rams.

The Chargers and Ravens have close ties, with the teams coached by Harbaugh brothers Jim (Chargers) and John (Ravens), as well as Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz previously working in Baltimore’s front office.

The deal also involved a pick swap, with the Ravens getting a fifth-round selection next year, and the Chargers getting a seventh in 2027.

The Chargers had one sack Sunday in a 27-10 loss to Washington, and this move bolsters an edge rush that is missing Khalil Mack, whose return timeline from a dislocated elbow remains uncertain. The production of outside linebackers Bud Dupree and Caleb Murphy has been underwhelming opposite Tuli Tuipulotu, who had four sacks against the New York Giants.

Gilman started all five games for the Chargers this season with 22 tackles and three passes defensed. This is his sixth season, all with the Chargers, and for his career has five interceptions and 21 passes defensed.

Gilman played at Notre Dame but began his college career at Navy, so returning to Maryland is a homecoming.

Safety is one of the few areas where the Chargers are flush with healthy players. In addition to All-Pro Derwin James, they have Elijah Molden, Tony Jefferson and rookie RJ Mickens, so Gilman was more expendable.

Aug. 25 (UPI) — The Keurig Dr Pepper beverage company announced Monday that it will acquire the JDE Peet’s coffee business and then split into two companies.

The deal will see Keurig Dr Pepper buy JDE Peet’s for around $18 billion in cash, bringing all of JDE Peet’s brands into Keurig. Keurig Dr Pepper will then separate into an independent coffee company named “Global Coffee Co.” and a North American refreshment group called “Beverage Co.”

“Today’s announcement marks a transformational moment in the beverage industry, as we build on KDP’s disruptive legacy by creating two winning companies, including a new global coffee champion,” said Keurig Dr Pepper CEO Tim Cofer in the release.

“By creating two sharply focused beverage companies with attractive and tailored growth propositions and capital allocation strategies, we are poised to generate significant shareholder value in both the near and long term,” he added.

Once separated, the new Beverage Co. will do battle in the North American refreshment beverage market with its more than $11 billion in annual net sales. Cofer will be the CEO of Beverage Co., and Global Coffee will be led by Sudhanshu Priyadarshi, the current Keurig Dr Pepper Chief Financial Officer.

Keurig Dr Pepper, which owns beverage brands such as Snapple, 7Up, Green Mountain Coffee and Dr Pepper, had been coping with slumping coffee sales in the United States, down .2% to about $900 million in the second quarter due to “inflationary pressures” regarding the shipment of its Keurig coffee makers and single-serve coffee pods.

However, the acquisition of JDE Peet’s is expected to pump up Keurig Dr Pepper’s coffee global status, and once the acquisition is completed, the new Global Coffee Co. will be the world’s largest pure-play coffee company, with around $16 billion in combined annual net sales, and will compete in over 100 countries.

“We are excited to join forces with Keurig to chart the future of global coffee by leveraging our combined portfolio of the world’s most beloved coffee brands,” said JDEP CEO Rafa Oliveira in the release.

The separation of Keurig Dr Pepper into two companies is expected to take place “as soon as practicable following the close of the acquisition,” as per the release.

Deal announced as cereal giant Kellogg struggles as consumer demand slows due to inflation.

The Ferrero Group will acquire United States cereal brand WK Kellogg for roughly $3.1bn as the latter struggles with weakening consumer demand and inflationary pressures.

Kellogg and Ferrero announced the deal on Thursday.

Deal making in the snack industry has picked up pace as food brands battle muted sales in the wake of price hikes owing to higher input costs and a shift in consumer preference for healthier options.

Ferrero has offered WK Kellogg’s shareholders $23 per share, representing a 31 percent premium over the stock’s last close. Shares of the cereal maker were up 30.4 percent at $22.84 in early trading on Thursday.

The deal, which is Ferrero’s biggest acquisition in recent years, will bring legacy brands such as Nutella, Kinder, Tic Tac, Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops and Special K under one roof.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025.

WK Kellogg was spun off from Kellanova and holds the North American cereal business of Kellogg, the original parent. Cheez-It maker Kellanova is also in the process of being acquired by the candy giant Mars in a nearly $36bn deal.

WK Kellogg and other packaged food companies such as JM Smucker, Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo have flagged subdued demand due to cautious consumer spending in the US after consistent price increases by firms trying to navigate higher input costs.

The Raisin Bran owner said it expects second-quarter net sales to be in the range of $610m to $615m, below analysts’ average estimate of $653.7m, according to data compiled by LSEG. It also projected adjusted core profit of $43m to $48m.

Packaged food makers are also under pressure from US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr’s Make America Healthy Again Commission to eliminate the use of synthetic dyes.

Ferrero, the maker of the Nutella hazelnut spread, has turned into a global group, boosted by an aggressive acquisition campaign launched by Executive Chairman Giovanni Ferrero. In North America, Ferrero has 14,000 employees across 22 plants and 11 offices.

In 2018, Ferrero bought Nestle’s US confectionery business for $2.8bn.

The group reported turnover of 18.4 billion euros ($19.2bn) in the financial year ending on August 31 and said it had increased its investments to boost manufacturing capabilities and expand across categories.

On Wall Street in New York as of 11am (15:00 GMT), Kellogg’s stock was up about 0.2 percent since the market opened. The stock has trended downward over the past month amid its struggles, down about 2.5 percent.

The Lakers were busy making moves Thursday, doing all they could to move up in the second round of the NBA draft.

Moving up to No. 36 in the draft with their second trade of the day, the Lakers acquired Adou Thiero out of Arkansas.

To get what many with the Lakers and around the NBA view as a “super athletic wing” in the 6-foot-6 Thiero, the Lakers first traded their 55th pick and about $2.5 million in cash to the Chicago Bulls for their 45th pick. Then the Lakers sent that No. 45 pick and cash considerations to the Minnesota Timberwolves to acquire the rights to Thiero (originally selected by the Brooklyn Nets), according to a person with knowledge of the deal not authorized to speak publicly.

The deal will be finalized at a later date.

Thiero averaged 15.1 points on 54.5% shooting from the field and 5.8 rebounds last season for the Razorbacks.

He needs to improve his shooting, as do many second-round wing players, but the Lakers think Thiero will improve on that over time.

Adou Thiero speaks on the phone after being acquired by the Lakers at the NBA draft on Thursday.

(Jeff Haynes / NBAE via Getty Images)

The Lakers and other NBA scouts compare the 220-pound Thiero to Knicks forward OG Anunoby, a three-and-D player that L.A.’s scouts thought might be drafted in the first round.

Though the Lakers are in need of a center, they also need athleticism at the wing to play alongside Luka Doncic, and Thiero helps address that need.

One scout said Thiero is athletic and will “catch lob passes” from Doncic.

“It feels good. A dream come true,” Thiero said. “Just happy to be here. Playing for the Lakers, too, that’s a blessing for sure.”

When asked about the Lakers’ roster, Thiero said: “LeBron! It’s going to be fun learning from everybody. But you got Bron, you got Luka, AR (Austin Reaves). It’s a lot of people on that team. I’m just ready to get with the guys and work.”

And the Lakers were happy to go from No. 55 to No. 36 and not give up future assets to draft Thiero. The Lakers didn’t have a first-round pick in Wednesday night’s draft.

People around the league said the Lakers had their eye on Ryan Kalkbrenner out of Creighton, but the 7-foot-1 center didn’t last on the board long, going to the Charlotte Hornets at No. 34.

In other Lakers news, Austin Reaves declined the team’s maximum offer of four years for $89 million, according to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly.

Reaves, 27, still has two years left on his deal, for $13.9 million next season and $14.9 million in the 2026-27 season, and he holds a player option for the last year of his deal.

He was third on the Lakers in scoring last season, averaging career-highs in scoring (20.2), assists (5.8), rebounds (4.5) and minutes per game (34.9). He shot 46% from the field and 37.7% from three-point range.

Clippers move up to get Kobe Sanders

Nevada’s Kobe Sanders shoots a free throw during a game against Colorado State in December.

(Andrew Wevers / Getty Images)

The Knicks drafted guard Kobe Sanders out of Nevada at No. 50 and traded him to the Clippers for Mohamed Diawara, the No. 51 pick.

Sanders, 23, is a 6-9 wing player who averaged 15.8 points per game last season.

The Clippers chose Penn State center Yanic Konan Niederhauser with the 30th and final pick in the first round on Wednesday.

The Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday in a blockbuster deal.

Devers’ agent, Nelson Montes de Oca, confirmed that the slugger had been traded to San Francisco. ESPN reported that the package of players going back to the Red Sox includes starter Jordan Hicks and left-hander Kyle Harrison.

Devers, 28, is one of baseball’s most feared hitters. He is batting .272 with 15 homers and 58 RBIs in 73 games after he connected for a solo drive in Boston’s 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees on Sunday.

Devers, a three-time All-Star, agreed to a $313.5 million, 10-year contract in January 2023, but his relationship with the Red Sox began to deteriorate when the team signed third baseman Alex Bregman during spring training.

Devers insisted he was the team’s third baseman before switching to designated hitter. When Triston Casas was sidelined by a season-ending knee injury, the Red Sox approached Devers about filling in at first base. He declined, and suggested the front office “should do their jobs” and look for another player.

A day after Devers’ comments to the media about playing first, Red Sox owner John Henry, team president Sam Kennedy and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow flew to Kansas City to meet with Devers and manager Alex Cora.

Bregman has been out since May 23 with strained right quadriceps, similar to his left quad strain that cost him 58 games for the Houston Astros in 2021.

The Red Sox improved to 37-36 with their three-game sweep against New York. But they are fourth in the AL East, trailing the division-leading Yankees by 6½ games.

Devers first signed with Boston as an international free agent in August 2013. He was 20 when he made his major league debut with the Red Sox on July 25, 2017.

He helped the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series and led the team in RBIs for five consecutive seasons from 2020-24. He has finished in the top 20 in voting for AL MVP five times.

Devers is not the first Red Sox All-Star to be traded away: The team sent Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2020 season — just a year after he won the AL MVP award and led Boston to a franchise-record 108 wins and its fourth World Series title since 2004.

Two years ago, Alexis Díaz was an All-Star closer with the Cincinnati Reds.

Now, the 28-year-old right-hander is set to become a Dodgers reclamation project.

Amid a wave of early-season injuries to their bullpen and rotation, the Dodgers agreed to acquire Díaz from the Reds on Thursday, the team announced.

Díaz, who was demoted to triple-A earlier this month by the Reds, won’t be joining the Dodgers’ big-league roster right away. He will instead report to Arizona to work with the Dodgers’ pitching group there.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers transferred injured reliever Evan Phillips (who was initially expected to only miss 15 days with a forearm injury) to the 60-day IL.

Once a rising relief star who had a 1.84 ERA as a rookie in 2022, and 37 saves and a 3.07 earned-run average as an All-Star selection in 2023, Díaz has faded over the past two seasons.

In 2024, he was 28 of 32 in save opportunities, but posted a 3.99 ERA with 31 walks in 56 1/3 innings.

This season, he lost the closer’s job while battling a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the start of the season, then was optioned to triple-A after giving up eight runs, eight hits, four homers and five walks in his first six appearances. Five of the runs, and three of the homers, came in a single outing against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 30, the day before he was sent down.

Díaz, the brother of New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz, hasn’t experienced much greater success in the minors, holding a 4.61 ERA with 12 walks in 13 2/3 innings with the Reds’ Louisville affiliate.

Still, just two years removed from the early heights of his MLB career, the Dodgers were willing to take a flier on the once-promising talent, only giving up minor-league pitcher Mike Villani (a 13th-round pick in last year’s draft) in return.